After a long and busy day at work or after enduring a stressful weekend, we all need something to help us wind down for the evening. Sometimes, all we want is to relax and escape into a different world where life is simpler, calmer, and just more cozy. And what better way is there to do that than through video games that are designed to be comforting? With adorable animations, calming music, and anything-but-hectic gameplay, let’s take a moment to explore six amazingly cozy games that are just the thing you need to close out your day.
1. Stardew Valley
A fan favourite, Stardew Valley is the ultimate relaxing simulation game. It’s a quaint, countryside farming simulator that’ll make you yearn for the peaceful life of living in a rural area. After inheriting an old farm from your late grandfather, you’re tasked with transforming this tangle of weeds into a thriving farm. This game will never rush you - you can take as long as you want to build and develop your farm. You can always go at your own pace and do whatever you want for the day as you slowly create your dream home. Spend a day mingling with the townsfolk, going on a fishing extravaganza, or even exploring the mysterious mines. How you choose to spend your time is entirely up to you. With its adorable 8-bit graphics and catchy tunes, you’ll be reveling in all the joys of watching your crops grow.
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2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch handy, do yourself a favour and purchase this exceptionally cozy game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Helping plenty of people around the world during the COVID-19 lockdown, there’s a reason why this beloved game became a massive hit - it’s just so calming! As a new resident of a deserted island, your job is to create your own personal paradise from scratch. You can spend lazy afternoons fishing, hunting for bugs, or arranging your furniture to create the perfect home. With a charming set of adorable animal neighbours and ever-changing activities to keep you busy, this game will let you live out your ideal island life.
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3. Coffee Talk
A completely different genre of game, Coffee Talk is a relaxing talking simulator all about human connection and storytelling. In this game, you don the apron of a barista in a comforting late-night cafe, but there’s a twist. It takes place in a magical world where fantasy creatures coexist with humans. As you work your shift, you’ll engage in heartwarming conversations with diverse customers, lending an attentive ear to their stories as you serve them their preferred drinks. As you blend, brew, and steam a variety of different drinks, the intimate storytelling and lo-fi tunes create an undeniably cozy atmosphere that’ll make you want to curl up with a warm drink of your own.
Photo by Fahmi Fakhrudin on Unsplash
4. Slime Rancher
This farming simulation game is a bit different than what you may expect. In Slime Rancher, instead of farming crops like you usually do, you collect a bunch of adorable, bouncy slimes which you then raise on your farm. Playing as Beatrix LeBeau, you get to embark on a wildly new lifestyle that’s thousands of light years away. With the simple task of feeding your slimes the appropriate food so you can earn more money, you’ll slowly get to upgrade your equipment and expand your ranch. With the colourful and joyful slimes jiggling around all over your screen, the relaxed pace of this game will surely brighten your day while providing you with a dose of calming relaxation.
5. Cozy Grove
Despite having to do with ghosts and the supernatural, this game is all cozy and has zero levels of scary. Cozy Grove invites you to set up camp on a haunted, ever-changing island where you get to interact with its ghostly residents. Playing as a Spirit Scout, you get to wander around the island, unlock hidden secrets, and help the apparitions you come across find peace. In the process of doing so, you’ll restore colour to the world and bring back life to the grove. With stunning hand-drawn art and a soothing soundtrack, Cozy Grove brings a wonderful mix of calming exploration and gentle problem-solving.
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash
6. Kind Words
Kind Words is an incredibly simple game, but it’s also one that’s super heartwarming and laid back. In this game, you’re part of an online community that exchanges supportive letters with one another. It’s all about sharing problems and offering consolation and words of advice. As you read requests from other players dealing with real-life issues, you can send them words of encouragement or advice to help them. Set to a relaxing lo-fi soundtrack, this game fosters a deep sense of connection and warmth that’s so so comforting and utterly unique. Just sit back, read some letters, and relax.
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Each game on this list holds unique characteristics that set them apart, with the only overlapping trait being that they’re all comforting and cozy to play. Whether you’re ready to live your life out on a peaceful farm, write positive letters to friends in need, or work as a friendly barista, these games are great for helping you take your mind off whatever’s worrying you. So change into your most comfortable clothes, settle into your coziest chair, maybe prepare a warm drink, and escape into these beautiful virtual worlds that promise to soothe your heart and soul.
