Our 12 Favorite Cozy Video Games to Relax With

As the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, it’s time to embrace cozy hobbies we can do indoors under a warm blanket with a hot beverage on hand. Playing cozy video games is a comforting, low-stress experience you can enjoy with a second screen on, offering an escape to a quieter, simpler life. I’ve compiled a list of cozy games to play that will bring all these vibes to your gaming experience.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley; Image credit: ConcernedApe

This cozy game is a classic by design. Farm simulators are a staple in the cozy video game genre. Many gamers have fond memories of playing old 8-bit series like Harvest Moon. The creator behind Stardew Valley wanted to capture the charm of a series like this and improve on it, and legions of fans agreed he succeeded. He kept the old simple graphics and combined them with lovable characters with strong storylines, tons of fun side quests, an iconic soundtrack, and plenty of customizable options to build your dream farm.

A Short Hike

A Short Hike; Image credit: Adam Robinson-Yu

This game is simple and short, but it hits hard. A poignant, beautifully illustrated tale, A Short Hike is the story of a young bird who’s taking a break from city life and trying to conquer a mountain. You’ll solve puzzles and build up stamina to make your way to the top. There are many charming characters to discover, and the repetitive gameplay almost feels like a low-stakes rogue-like game.

Discounty

Discounty; Image credit: PQube

Fans of farming sims that want a change of pace should try out a shop-keeping game, and Discounty is the perfect choice. With simple graphics and intriguing characters, you’ll get to build up a little discount grocery store in town while navigating local tensions and the wariness of driving out businesses. As you build the trust of the townspeople, you’ll build up the shop, keep it stocked, and cash out customers.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar; Image credit: Marvelous USA (formerly Natsume Inc. and Xseed Games)

Why not combine a farm and shopkeeping sim with the new release, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar? This franchise is very popular in the cozy game community, and many consider this game the best in the franchise. You’ll grow crops and make products to sell at your farm stand as you try to revive this once-popular bazaar. The option to pursue friendships and romance makes this series ultra-popular.

Tiny Book Shop

Tiny Book Shop; Image credit: Skystone Games

This game lets book lovers live a dream: running a tiny mobile bookshop in an adorable seaside town. You’ll get to customize your book van, choose your stock to suit your customers’ needs, make recommendations, pursue side quests, and unlock new locations to park your shop. Decorations matter and can help improve sales of certain genres.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons; Image credit: Nintendo

This cozy game took the world by storm in 2020. This franchise has a long history and fans loved the newest addition. Start up your fully customizable island life and enjoy it how you see fit. In Animal Crossing, you can design every aspect of your island, invite friends over, and explore what others have done with their setup. This is a very community-focused game where you can discover and use pixelated designs for your clothing and décor.

Two Point Campus

Two Point Campus; Image credit: Sega

You’re the dean of a new campus. The Two Point world is funny and engaging. You might design a college for clowns and goths, for example! As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock new campuses, each with its own unique challenges. Your magic college for sorcerers might get cursed with raining frogs! Your culinary college needs land for massive commercial kitchens. This game is a classic building sim in the vein of Roller Coaster Tycoon.

Unpacking

Unpacking; Image credit: Humble Bundle

No cozy game list is complete without some puzzle games. Unpacking is the perfect choice. You’ll pull items out of boxes and find ways to fit them in your new home. Fans love Unpacking because it’s more than just a puzzle game, but a clever story game as well. The intimacy of unpacking objects for a character you never see reveals their story in a touchingly unique way. As a point-and-click puzzle game, many people prefer playing it on a PC rather than a console.

Tetris Forever

Tetris Forever; Image credit: Digital Eclipse

Tetris Forever is an excellent way to play the king of all puzzle games. This release celebrates the game’s 40-year history and includes 15 classic Tetris games. There are plenty of modernized versions of Tetris that are excellent and progress the game and genre, but if you want a taste of the classic, the simplicity of slotting falling blocks where they’ll fit best to a jaunty Russian tune, then this is the game for you.

New Pokémon Snap

New Pokémon Snap; Image credit: Nintendo and The Pokémon Company

Pokémon is a powerhouse franchise, and some may consider the foundational series of turn-based combat and strategy games to be cozy, but there are lower-stakes options to play. The New Pokémon Snap game redesigns an N64 classic and adds new Pokémon and new life to the gameplay. Rather than catch and battle your Pokémon, you’re on a mission to take pictures of every Pokémon you can. There’s a comforting, repetitive aspect to the gameplay and the photography allows players to bring some design sensibility to it, too. The game features many additional challenges and puzzles that require the player to find pictures of Pokémon in unusual poses and behaviors.

Untitled Goose Game

Untitled Goose Game; Image credit: Panic Inc.

This naughty goose stole the hearts of gamers everywhere. This game is described as a “slapstick, stealth sandbox” game as you play a goose wreaking havoc in a little village. You’ll be able to steal hats, set up pranks, and generally ruin the lives of townsfolk. It’s an aimless, chaotic, and funny time.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game; Image credit: Private Division

This cozy farm sim feels at home in the Shire, the land of hobbits from The Lord of the Rings series. You’ll play a plucky hobbit befriending neighbors, growing a garden, cooking meals, and trying to make your little village a real town. Of course, the main event is customizing your own sprawling, cozy hobbit hole.

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Featured image photo credit: Nintendo