Minecraft is my favorite for podcast-listening. Sometimes I actively build stuff, sometimes I just run around.

I'm all for Minecraft, too. Great playing with friends, as well.

I guess Train Sim is on sale now, too. But that seems to be exploitative, isnt that the one with $4,000 in DLC? I wonder if you'd get much out of the main game. Truck Sim was on sale a few weeks back for $20, if it hits that again soon, its another big choice.

Non of the above. I always go for Civ 5, Bejeweled 3, or FTL for this sort of thing.

Minecrat hands down...and if you get tired of the vanilla experience there are tons of mods to drastically change it up. Listen to podcast and dig a 2x1 tunnel to nowhere 60 meters under ground hoping to find diamond is unbeatable.

Torchlight is this for me.

Minecraft, Borderlands, DOOM, and Torchlight are all great podcast games.

Minecraft, Farming Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator, Terraria. I've spent the last week sinking hours into Terraria and catching up on podcasts.

I'm partial to Terraria myself. But in that vein Minecraft would be good too.

Terraria is maybe the epitome of a podcast game.

World of Warcraft for me. If you ever want to burn through 10 seasons of The Biggest Loser... get into WoW.

EDIT: Didn't realize you included a price range. I'm actually not sure what base WoW goes for now days, but it can't be too expensive.

Trackmania is far from relaxing. I vote Minecraft.

Lately Dragon's Dogma's been a really great podcast game for me while I'm replaying it and waiting for the expansion but I usually fall back to something like Civ V or Terraria when I want to just hang out and chill.

As crazy as the DLC is I don't think you're supposed to buy all of it. I think it's more if you're like a major train nerd and you HAVE to play this one train on this one train track, that option is there for you if you want to spend 40 bucks. I've owned this game back when it was Train Simulator 2, and they upgrade you to the new versions as they come out for free, which includes extra stuff.

So the main game has enough content to keep you satisfied, the real question is, is the game worth 20 bucks and can you derive any enjoyment out of it? I'm not sure I managed to. I don't care too much for trains, so the novelty of simulating one wore off after a few missions.

Team Fortress 2

Other: Splice.

I would also like to mention Terraria. I like it way better than these games.

Already had Terraria. Never got it to scale right full screen on my hardware.

The music in that game is incredible, it seems a shame to mute it :(

Anyway, Dungeons of Dredmor and Bookworm Adventures 2 have been good podcast games for me.

Yeah, I was gonna mention that. It's worth listening to at least once.

Listening to GOTY discussions playing Torchlight is a yearly tradition for me. Two times playing Torchlight I, last time playing Torchlight II.

From the given selection, I chose Minecraft, but pretty much any sandboxy game will do.

I heard Euro Truck Sim 2 fits right into this bracket.

Audiosurf is great. Playing on the ninja mode is super relaxing.

When Minecraft first came out, I spent way too many hours playing that game. Nowadays, my little sister plays it, but if you want a relaxing time to just build stuff. Minecraft would be good.

Also, Terraria. Though I had more fun playing with other people than by myself.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

Football Manager... and everyone goes whaaaaa?

Driving games, yo.

Or, as others have mentioned, a Torchlight or a Diablo.

How do you not have Minecraft? Also, that game is pretty good for that sort of stuff, but I think it's best enjoyed with people so I would really suggest against it. I'd suggest something like Euro Truck Sim 2, or Farming Sim. Unless you want to play that in multiplayer too.

Victoria 2

Burnout Paradise is by far my favorite "podcast game". I've tried other racing games, but they just don't work as well for me. Too many menus or something.

I've recently been listening/watching other things while playing Warframe.

I usually play some Left 4 Dead 2 co-op while listening to podcasts. Makes the game harder cause I turn the volume way low so it makes it hard to hear the audio cues, but that just makes the experience that much better.

Well, Dungeons of Dredmor, or other various dungeon crawlers/rogue-likes are always great.

This and/or FTL are perfect for it.

Terraria. Love that game, even though I can't stand Minecraft.

Just Cause 2 is my go-to.

FTL, Binding Of Isaac, Peggle, Puzzle Quest are my favorites.