Give the Grind a Break
Not all games can have the stress of Call of Duty, the crime sprees of Grand Theft Auto, or the unbridled chaos that people unleash in The Sims 4. And that’s okay. Whether you want something low-stakes to play after work or just need something to turn your brain off to, these 20 cozy games are like a blanket fort in digital form.
1. Stardew Valley
While some Stardew Valley players run their farms like it’s the Navy, the game is, at its heart, a farming simulator. In one of the OG cozy games, you’re tasked with restoring your deceased grandfather’s farm to its former glory. Along the way you can improve the town, explore the mines, and even marry one of 12 potential spouses.
2. Tiny Glade
If SimCity and Medieval Times had a lovechild, it would be Tiny Glade. Tiny Glade lets players construct the castles of their dreams without challenges or needing to upgrade skills. The game is open-ended, giving you the freedom to create anything you want using the tools at your disposal.
3. Station To Station
For players who want the creative control of Tiny Glade but with enough challenge to prevent aimlessness, Station To Station is one of the best options on the market. A picturesque railway simulator that allows you to create towns by connecting railway lines, Station to Station is particularly beloved by players due to its endless replay value and customization.
4. Sun Haven
Another farming simulator, Sun Haven gives Stardew Valley a Dungeons & Dragons twist. Though the objectives, mechanics, and art style are similar, Sun Haven has a fantastical setting. Another thing that makes Sun Haven stand out from traditional RPGs is the pacifist options, which are well-integrated into the story beats and allow for rich character development.
5. Good Pizza, Great Pizza
Running a pizza shop in real life is a nightmare; running a pizza shop in a video game is a dream. Good Pizza, Great Pizza is exactly what it says on the tin: a comforting cooking game about community. Whether you’re competing with the pizzeria across the street or bringing your community together, this game will restore a little bit of your faith in humanity.
6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The latest and greatest installment in the Animal Crossing franchise offers some of the most rewarding gameplay out there. For the times when you get overwhelmed, feel disconnected from the world, or lack control, Animal Crossing will give you a shoulder to lean on. Ultimately, the anthropomorphic characters of Animal Crossing live in a happier world that we should aspire to make real.
7. Unpacking
Cozy games excel at taking otherwise stressful scenarios and removing the external stakes from them, resulting in a methodical and soothing experience. Unpacking is one of the best examples of this. Without dialogue or on-screen characters, the game charts a woman’s development from childhood to young adulthood through the objects she owns.
8. Strange Horticulture
Strange Horticulture harkens back to point-and-click games of the early Internet with a twist. As the proprietor of a plant store, you’re tasked with playing detective through puzzles and maps. With an eerie atmosphere that gradually builds, Strange Horticulture offers an alternative to traditional high-intensity detective games.
9. Wylde Flowers
If you want the farming simulator base of Stardew Valley or Sun Haven with a witchy twist, then Wylde Flowers is the game for you! Wylde Flowers follows a witch-in-training named Tara who gets more than she expects from a visit to her grandmother. Unlike similar games, Wylde Flowers allows players to choose how long a day will last and play at their own speed.
10. Hades
For gamers who want something a little more high-stakes than a farming sim, Hades may be exactly what they’re looking for. While battling your way through the underworld may not seem cozy at first, some fans like to treat it as a mythological dating sim. Once you’ve gotten the hang of things, Hades is as easy to sink into as your favorite spot on the couch.
11. Spiritfarer
Bet you didn’t expect to see two afterlife-themed games on our cozy list, huh? Spiritfarer follows a ferrymaster to the deceased (and her cat!) along with the passengers she helps move on. The game’s gorgeous visuals combined with the orchestral score confront the unknown in a way that players find reassuring.
12. Donut County
There’s no way to explain Donut County without it sounding like a parody. You play as a large hole in the ground that expands every time you swallow an object. To prevent your reign of terror from swallowing the town, a human girl and her raccoon companion try to figure out exactly what is up with the hole situation (get it?).
13. Melatonin
Much like the hormone that regulates your sleep cycle, melatonin, Melatonin is a lo-fi rhythm game that helps you relax. The pastel purple design and low-key gameplay—you use visual cues to complete beats rather than traditional overlays—make this a cozy game to dream about.
14. Snufkin: Melody of Moomin Valley
Few things are more comforting than the Moomins. Playing as wandering Snufkin, you are tasked with helping the residents of Moomin Valley face intense, high-stakes challenges such as helping a frightened dog avoid a scary spider. Whether you’re a longtime Moomin fan or are new to the franchise, Melody of Moomin Valley is sure to delight.
Lars Jansson, Gotlands museum on Wikimedia
15. A Little To The Left
A Little To The Left offers more than 100 cozy puzzles to solve as you procrastinate cleaning up the clutter that’s piling up in your home irl. Whether it’s removing fruit stickers, stacking video game cartridges, or keeping your mischievous cat out of trouble, this game offers a soothing alternative to deep-cleaning.
16. Dorfromantik
Inspired by the Romantic and Impressionist art movements, this German puzzle game is all about making maps. Without the pressure of economy or other statistics, players are free to create rivers, towns, and forests one hexagonal tile at a time. Or, play on creative mode for unlimited cozy freedom.
17. Dredge
Dredge will make you understand why your grandpa got up at the crack of dawn to go fishing…well, sort of. While the game starts as a straightforward fishing simulator, nightfall brings sea monsters and occultists to face. Dredge has all the routine of a normal simulation game with a spooky edge that’s never too scary.
18. Lil Gator Game
Lil Gator Game will make you nostalgic for a childhood you never had. Inspired by Zelda, you play as the titular Lil Gator by exploring the island, battling cardboard “enemies,” and doing arts and crafts. Even if you never had to fight for an older sibling’s attention, Lil Gator Game will have you believing in the magic of play.
19. Sea Of Thieves (Safer Seas Mode)
Like Hades, Sea of Thieves may be a controversial pick for a “cozy” game, but we’re recommending it with a caveat. Normal gameplay features skeletons, sea creatures, and enemy ships, but Safer Seas mode removes the PvP aspect of the game. What’s left is a serene sailing game soundtracked by waves, creaking timber, and hurdy-gurdy tunes.
20. Venba
One of the shorter games on our list, Venba is a soul-nourishing cooking game. The cooking mechanics are just the base for a richer story about a family immigrating from India to Canada. Combining cooking puzzles and visual novel story beats, Venba explores love and loss through Tamil culture.
