Sometimes, the world is a dangerous place to be, and in those moments, the least some people need is the adrenaline rush of FPS games or the mini-heart attacks they feel in horror video games. No, what they need is a dose of the Best Cozy Games that are currently available.
What is a cozy game?
When it comes to cozy games, many people think of them as games to be enjoyed in their gaming room, curled up on the couch, with a blanket over their shoulders, a cup of hot chocolate on the side, and low lights. And while in some ways this is correct, it is not entirely accurate.
Cozy games, although they can be considered their own video game genre, do not have specific gameplay mechanics. But they do have to meet some of these characteristics:
- They have few dangers and violent mechanics
- The gameplay is usually calm, validating the experiences of the players
- They don’t usually have negative consequences
- They don’t usually cause stress (they can cause it in some cases… I’m looking at you, Stardew Valley’s fishes)
- The mechanics are simple; most do not require complicated combinations of moves or keystrokes
- Their goals are simple and relatively easy to achieve
- The progression is not linear, nor do they have a definite end goal
- They involve mostly relaxing activities
- They might help you meditate on real-life situations
- They can be played both in short and long sessions without any problem
While not every cozy game fulfills all the characteristics simultaneously, they have an important starting point: they allow you to exploit self-expression and give you a general feeling of peace, comfort, or coziness.
These types of games are perfect for both hardcore gamers who want to relax and non-gamers who wish to enjoy a casual game that helps them unwind after a hard day.
Top 7 best cozy games that you should play right now!
If you want to start enjoying these relaxing games but don’t know where to start or which one to choose, from Gamevolved, we have compiled a list of the best cozy games that can serve as an entry into this genre.
1) Cozy Grove
This is one of the best cozy games available and is inspired by Animal Crossing. It was released in 2021 and is a single-player life simulation game whose plot takes place on an island. In Cozy Grove, the main character can be customized, and their main task is to help different spirits cross over to the afterlife by completing various tasks that vary among the different characters.
Among these tasks are crafting items or scavenging for them. Another important point of Cozy Grove is that the game takes place in real-time, so you cannot skip or speed up time, and each day has a series of tasks available to players.
Currently, it is possible to play Cozy Grove on Switch, PC (Windows and macOS, found on the Steam store), PS4, PS5, iOS, and Xbox One.
2) The Big Con
Although this game is classified into genres such as adventure and comedy, it is undoubtedly cozy. In it, you play a girl during the 90s who must travel highways to get the money needed to save her mom’s video club.
The Big Con has several fun mechanics in its gameplay, focused on stealing, pickpocketing, cheating, and other criminal activities to achieve your goals. At a graphic level, it transports you to the 90s, as well as its soundtrack. You can play it in a span of 3 to 6 hours (depending on how many achievements you want to get), but the best thing is that there are really no negative consequences to your actions. You should just focus on having fun and, of course, do not forget to call your mom in every new place you visit.
This game is available for Windows (Steam and Epic; in fact, Epic has given this game away for free a couple of times), Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation.
3) Stardew Valley
No list of cozy and relaxing games would be complete without including one of the best cozy games ever: Stardew Valley. This is a farming simulator game that, although it resembles titles like the Harvest Moon saga, offers much more.
One of the best features of this video game is that it is constantly updated, so there is always new content and A LOT of things to do. Among the activities you can do are farming, fishing, improving your relationships with other characters, taking part in events, deciding the future of the city, mining, digging for treasures, discovering mysteries, and much more.
This is one of the most popular cozy games on Steam available for PC, Mac, and Linux, but it can also be enjoyed on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
4) Camper Van: Make it Home
This can be considered as one of the next stars of the cute games. Camper Van: Make it Home is a casual game where you can go on a trip in your own van to embark on a route of personal self-discovery.
Not only will you get to know incredible places, but you will also be able to decorate the van to your liking and fill it with your belongings. The goal is to create a home on wheels, organizing and designing the interior space. In the process, you will discover more about the protagonist’s story and why she embarked on this journey.
You can currently play the demo for free on Steam (PC and Mac), and the final release of this title is expected this year. It is also available for Nintendo Switch.
5) Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing is another of the best cozy games that exist. In this title, you’ll have to develop a deserted island with infinite customization and decoration options. During your progress, you’ll meet your neighbors, and you’ll be able to unlock a new set of activities.
You’ll also be able to collect items such as fish and insects, each with its own difficulty level, and renovating the island can be quite a relaxing activity. A word of warning: this game is highly addictive, not for nothing, but it is one of the most popular cozy switch games. Yes, you read that right; this game is currently only available on Nintendo Switch.
6) Tiny Glade
Tiny Glade game is one of the surprises of the season. It is a building game; you will do just that: create animated dioramas. You will also get to enjoy a new level of coziness and relaxation in the process. Here, the only goal is to enjoy creating; you will be able to build small villages, houses, castles, and much more, without any limits.
The building animations are exquisite, and the sound part creates the most perfect ASMR imaginable. The game adapts the buildings to the elements you add so you won’t experience any frustration. There are also sheep near your construction sites, but don’t worry; you won’t be able to hurt them accidentally. In conclusion, there’s no way you can go wrong with anything during this game.
You can find it only on Steam (Windows and Linux) for now.
7) House Flipper
If you like organizing, cleaning, and redecorating, House Flipper is definitely one of the best cozy games for you; not in vain, it is one of the most popular cozy Steam games. In this simulation video game, you will have to get money to buy properties, remodel them, and sell them for a profit, but to do this, you will have to accept job offers at the beginning.
These jobs consist of cleaning houses, painting, installing heating and plumbing, and even furnishing. After that, you can start investing in properties to continue doing it, but completely to your liking. The animations of the actions are satisfying, and the steps to follow also add a plus (for example, to install a sink, you must place the pipes, adjust nuts, fit the drain, and then you can have the sink completely installed).
Didn’t we tell you that you can also break walls with a sledgehammer? Well, you’ll be able to do that too; it’s very de-stressing. This game saga has several DLCs that add more gameplay, and you’re sure to have hours of fun. It is currently available on Steam (Windows and Mac), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Android, and Xbox One.
You will surely find the Best Cozy Games for you!
As you can see, there are infinite styles of this type of video game, from cozy pc game simulators to more adventurous ones (many qualify Baldur’s Gate as a cozy game). The important thing is that you find a title that allows you to escape from the routine and stress of everyday life and enjoy a moment of relaxation and fun.
Find your favorite cozy genre, prepare a cup of hot chocolate and a blanket, and sit back and enjoy. Let us know in the comments what your favorite cozy games are, and don’t forget to check out the other articles we have available for you.
