Quick answer: The best video games to play when high are forgiving, self-paced and great to look at or listen to. Top picks: Stardew Valley and A Short Hike for cozy nights, Tetris Effect: Connected and Journey for trippy visuals and music, Minecraft (Creative mode) for building, and Mario Kart, Overcooked or Jackbox for groups. Skip ranked shooters, punishing boss fights and horror.
Cannabis changes how games feel. Music and colour can feel more vivid, simple loops like watering crops or placing blocks become oddly satisfying, and funny moments get funnier. On the other hand, reaction time and short-term memory take a hit, so games built around split-second timing or complicated menus can turn frustrating fast. The sweet spot is a game that lets you set the pace. Here are the best video games to play when high, sorted by the kind of night you’re after.
What Makes a Good Game to Play High?
- Low punishment: no harsh fail states, or a quick retry when you mess up.
- You set the pace: pausable, turn-based or timer-free.
- Strong art and sound: games built around atmosphere get even better.
- Simple controls: nothing you need a guide to remember.
- Easy stopping points: so a “quick session” doesn’t become 3 a.m.
Cozy Games for a Chill Night
Stardew Valley
The modern classic of farming games. Plant crops, go fishing, decorate your house and get to know the town, at whatever speed you like. Each in-game day is short, which gives you natural places to stop. Available on PC, consoles and mobile, and it supports co-op if you want to farm with friends.
A Short Hike (made in Toronto)
Created by Toronto developer Adam Robinson-Yu, this little gem has you hiking, climbing and gliding your way to the top of a mountain in a provincial park. You can follow the trail or wander off to fish, dig for treasure and chat with other hikers. Most players finish it in an hour or two, which makes it a perfect one-night game.
Spiritfarer (made in Montreal)
From Montreal studio Thunder Lotus, Spiritfarer calls itself a “cozy management game about dying.” You captain a boat that ferries spirits to the afterlife, cooking for them, building on deck and hearing their stories. The hand-drawn art is gorgeous and the loop is relaxing, but some storylines are emotional, so pick a night when you’re in a good headspace.
Unpacking
A puzzle game about unpacking boxes into new homes across someone’s life. There are no timers and no enemies, just the quiet satisfaction of finding where everything goes, and a story told entirely through objects. It’s one of the safest picks on this list.
Trippy Games for Music and Visuals
Tetris Effect: Connected
Tetris, but every move adds to the music and the background pulses with light and particles. It’s the closest a game gets to a light show. Stick to Journey mode at a comfortable speed and play with headphones in a dark room. A VR version exists too, but see the note on VR below.
Journey
A wordless trip across a desert toward a distant mountain. There’s nothing to read, almost nothing to fail, and the score is one of the most celebrated in gaming. It takes about two hours start to finish and works best played in one sitting.
Flower
From the same studio as Journey. You’re the wind, carrying petals across fields that burst into colour as you pass. It’s short, beautiful and almost impossible to play wrong.
Abzû
An underwater swim through coral reefs and huge schools of fish. There’s a “meditate” option that lets you sit back and watch sea life drift by, which is about as relaxing as gaming gets.
Games for Exploring and Building
Minecraft (Creative mode)
Unlimited blocks, no monsters, no hunger bar. Creative mode turns Minecraft into a digital Lego set, and “just one more block” is a very easy place to lose an evening. Pick a project before you start so you have somewhere to stop.
No Man’s Sky
Fly between strange, procedurally generated planets and see what’s there. Landing on a new world and wandering around is the fun part; the crafting and base-building menus can get confusing, so save those for a sober session.
Townscaper
Less a game than a toy. Click on the water and colourful houses, stairs and bridges grow into a little seaside town. There are no goals, no score and nothing to lose, and it’s great for 20 minutes or two hours.
Party Games for Groups
Mario Kart
Short races, chaotic items and simple controls mean everyone has a shot, whatever their skill level. Turn on smart steering and auto-accelerate for anyone who’s newer, and stick to the slower speed classes.
Overcooked
A co-op cooking game where kitchens move, fires break out and everyone yells about onions. When you’re high, failing is half the fun. It works best when everyone is at a similar level, so nobody ends up carrying the team.
Jackbox Party Packs
Drawing, trivia and joke-writing games that everyone plays using their own phone as the controller, so you don’t need extra gamepads. Writing-based games like Quiplash tend to get very funny when the room is a little high.
Untitled Goose Game
You are a goose, and your job is to ruin a quiet village’s day: steal a gardener’s keys, trap a kid in a phone booth, honk at everyone. It’s short, silly and easy to pass the controller around.
Pick a Game by Vibe
| If you want… | Try | Session length |
|---|---|---|
| A short, complete game tonight | A Short Hike, Journey, Flower | 1–2 hours |
| A long, cozy evening | Stardew Valley, Spiritfarer, Unpacking | As long as you like |
| A light show with headphones | Tetris Effect: Connected, Abzû | 30–60 minutes |
| Something to build | Minecraft (Creative), Townscaper | Open-ended |
| Laughs with friends | Mario Kart, Overcooked, Jackbox, Untitled Goose Game | A few rounds |
Games to Skip When You’re High
- Ranked online shooters. You’re up against sharp, sober players, and it’s no fun losing your rank.
- Punishing boss fights and precision platformers. Tight timing windows get frustrating quickly.
- Horror games. Jump scares and creeping dread can tip into real anxiety.
- Games with loot boxes or in-game stores. Lower impulse control plus a saved credit card is an expensive combination.
- Brand-new complex strategy games. Learn the systems sober, then come back.
- VR, if you’re prone to motion sickness. Being high can make that feel worse, so start with short sessions seated.
How to Set Up a Good Gaming Session
- Start low. With edibles, start with a small amount (2.5 mg of THC or less if you’re new) and wait before taking more, since effects can take up to four hours to fully kick in. Our edibles dosage guide for beginners covers this in detail.
- Want more control over timing? Pre-rolls and vapes act within minutes. See our guide on how to use a THC vape pen.
- Set up before you start. Water, snacks, charged controllers and headphones within reach.
- Set a soft stop time. Cozy games are designed to keep you playing.
- Too much? Switch to something calm and read what to do if you’re too high.
- Don’t drive for snacks. Never drive after consuming cannabis. Order in instead.
Curious why different products feel different? Read our breakdown of sativa vs indica vs hybrid effects, and if you’re gaming at home with roommates, here’s how to keep the smell down. Ready to stock up for game night? Browse flower, pre-rolls and edibles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best games to play when high?
Forgiving, self-paced games with great art and sound work best: Stardew Valley, A Short Hike, Spiritfarer, Tetris Effect: Connected, Journey and Minecraft in Creative mode. For groups, try Mario Kart, Overcooked or Jackbox.
Is it a bad idea to play competitive games high?
It’s not dangerous, but cannabis can slow reaction time, so ranked shooters and timing-heavy games are usually more frustrating than fun. Casual modes and co-op games are a better fit.
Are there any Canadian games that are good to play high?
Yes. A Short Hike was made by Toronto developer Adam Robinson-Yu, and Spiritfarer comes from Montreal studio Thunder Lotus. Both are relaxing, beautiful and low-pressure.
How much THC should I take before gaming?
Start low, especially with edibles: 2.5 mg of THC or less if you’re new, and wait before taking more, since edibles can take up to four hours to fully take effect. Inhaled cannabis acts within minutes, which makes it easier to adjust.
Can you play VR games high?
Some people enjoy it, but if you’re prone to motion sickness, being high can make it worse. Start with short, seated sessions and calm games.
Weekday orders (Monday to Friday) placed before noon (12:00 PM EST) are delivered the same day; see our London, Ontario delivery page for details. Cannabis is for adults 19+ in Ontario.
Same-day weed delivery in London, Ontario on weekday orders placed before noon (12:00 PM EST).
