Back in 2020, we were ALL looking for Cozy Games: The perfect video games to chill out and ignore all the COVID stuff that was going on. Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the first to use this tag in its advertising, giving the world a low-key video game that allowed us to socialise when we weren’t allowed to. The Nintendo Switch was sold out everywhere, mostly due to the popularity of this game. Full disclosure: I am not a fan of AC: NH; I don’t like the capitalist push that comes with it. I don’t really need a world that replicated the one I was living in. For me, cozy games are comforting and worry about the sale of my turnips is not comforting.
Cozy Games have been around longer than AC: NH. Some of the earliest cozy games are simulators, like The Sim (2000) and Little Computer People (1985), a fave on the good ol’ Commodore 64. Even Pokemon had cozy-vibes, if you avoided the battles–though they really tapped into the cozy when they introduced cooking/camping/playing. One of my fave features in Pokemon: Sword and Pokemon: Shield. This is also probably why Farming-Simulators are among the most popular games ever. I don’t get it myself, but the stats don’t lie. All I know is that cozy games give the warm-fuzzy vibes we seek when we need comfort from the world. Gather and grow. nurture. Follow the narrative. Whatever comfort you seek, you can usually find a cozy game that helps. Here are my favourites to help you out.
Best Cozy Games
A Short Hike
If you are not convinced by my views about AC: NH, let me introduce you to A Short Hike. This is the sweetest and most relaxing of all the games I have ever played. It is such a delight to play. Even its humble beginnings are about stress relief: It started as a personal art project, spawning from the developer’s burnout on an RPG project. Adam Robinson-Yu took time out to design some natural landscapes, building on his happiest memories of hiking and exploring beautiful forests. All of this is captured in such a warm and fuzzy way, it just smooths the sharp edges of your day.
The characters are adorable and lovely to look at, with colours and graphics far more natural than those like AC: NH. And while there is a core story/journey, there is no hard-fast rule to do so. The initial motivation is for your character to find some mobile reception. That’s the story but not the journey. Instead, there are plenty of ‘side-quests’ and side paths to discover.
A Short Hike was developed by Adam Robinson-Yu. You can learn more about it on the official website here. It is available on PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Epic, GOG, Humble Monthly, and Itch.io.
Feather
Keeping to the theme of relaxing surroundings, take your time exploring with Feather. It is a perfect game for days when you just want to take off and fly away from it all. It is a simple and quietly meditative game focused on nothing more than the experience—no direction or mission, just freedom.
The game is one huge landscape, and you are a bird flying above it all. You control where the bird flies from a perspective a little above and behind the bird. You can dive, soar, barrel-roll, and simply explore to your feathery delight. The scenery also comes with a range of environments, various weather systems, and time shifts between day and night. There are no enemies, no combats, no threats. It is all exploration with a soothing soundtrack to match. There are little treats to discover around the island, such as towers to change your bird, new songs to find, and even friends to make. Overall, it is a smooth game to lull your mind into a happy place.
Feather comes from indie developer Samurai Punk, with more information available on their website here. The game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. I have been playing it on Steam on my PC, but I would LOVE to see how it looks on the big-screen TV via the Switch.
Wingspan
Okay, I have one more for the bird theme. Birds are very relaxing creatures and often a sign of a healthy environment. For those who are less interested in ‘being’ a bird and more interested in relaxing with bird-watching, you might like to play a game or two of Wingspan. Based on the tabletop of the same game, the video game version keeps the same format with added animation of the birds and the environment. The ease of mechanics and relaxing nature is why I included it in my list of Best Cozy Games.
The goal is to observe, learn from, and attract various birds to your wildlife reserve. Each bird adds to a combination of features in one of your habitats. Each habitat subsequently focuses on key aspects of your wildlife preserve. It’s a great way to learn about multiple levels of life in our environments. The game can be played in single-player or multiplayer with up to five (5) people; however, this will make the game competitive and maybe a little less relaxing. The graphics are replicates of the tabletop game, equally beautiful and delicate in their details. The real gift for me is in the soundtrack: each of the 170 unique birds has real-life sound recordings and individual features that echo their natural behaviour: hunting, diving, and flying as a flock.
Wingspan (the video game) was developed by Monster Couch. Their website has more details. The game is currently available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. If you like tabletop games for the Switch, I also recommend Evolution, with the same gameplay but more of an Island of Dr Moreau vibe.
The Gardens Between
Bring on the sweet nostalgia and relax in The Gardens Between. I first saw this game at PAX Aust 2017, and I am pleased to see it develop into a full gaming experience. It’s also exhibited at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne. Deservedly, due to its glorious animation, compelling narrative, and its use of nostalgic symbolism to evoke a connection between generations of gamers in Australia.
The two main characters are Arina and Frendt, two friends who live next door to each other. On a rainy night, the pair sneak out to their treehouse built on a small garden next to both houses. During the storm, a light visits them and transports the treehouse to a dream ocean with lots of islands, built around their shared experiences and memories.
The game itself is a scrolling platform based on time manipulation. The movement of the characters is dependent on the management of time: the ‘little light’ allows you to move time back and forth for certain events or items, and use them at the right time to help the characters continue on their journey. There is abstract problem-solving and a lot of consequential analysis; If I do this, then this will happen, but then I have to move that to allow this other thing to move. If it sounds a little like a scene from Minority Report then you are right! One of the producers and designers, Simon Joslin, confirmed some inspiration came from the ability to move time back and forth like the interface in Minority Report.
For me, the landscape of memories is soothing in how it is designed to move us through our memories. There are 20 levels in total, each with its own smaller puzzles to solve. There is nothing too challenging or distracting about this game, which is why it is one of the best cozy games. This is not so much a game of escapism as it is a game of acceptance. It is a touching tribute to friendship and the power of nostalgia. From someone who has lived through the stress of moving and leaving friends many times, this game is like a balm on my soul. It calms my mind and brings peace to my heart.
The Gardens Between is developed by The Voxel Agents, whose website is here. The game is available on all the regular platforms (Steam, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One) and on iOS and Android, so you can chill out almost anywhere!
The Stairway
I found this one by accident, and it has been my best secret find so far. The Stairway is a simple, straightforward storyline with small puzzle elements to move you along. It is intended to be a calming experience with very gentle social interactions and problem-solving.
You play the main character, Stella, who was invited to an event by her friend. However, Stella has lost her friend and is worried the friend left without her! While searching for her friend, Stella discovers a mysterious stairway and a short adventure into a new world. Along the way, you meet various people who all need a little help in their own ways. The entire game takes about an hour at the absolute most (maybe 30 minutes) and is the perfect thing for unwinding some of the pent-up stress we are all carrying. With cute pixelated images and a beautiful, calming piano soundtrack, it is definitely one of the best cozy games. And because it was always intended to be relaxing, the ending will resonate with many cozy gamers (let me know what you think in the comments).
The Stairway is a small game from indie developer illydna and is available for free on Itch.io here. There is a developer note on the font used in the game; I recommend you install the additional font file “RM2000 8” as the initial font is very difficult to read. The rest of the game is sweet, innocent joy.
Flutter Away
You can read my full review of Flutter Away here, published in August 2023. Needless to say, I love it. EG Zaltu loves it, thanks to the art. EG Sinister enjoyed it because it used all the best parts of field work, without reliving the trauma of fieldwork going wrong. It’s a winner.
This short first-person exploration game is set in the Amazon Rainforest. It’s based on a five-day fieldwork trip to observe and record the butterflies and moths(plus other flora and fauna). There are plenty of sweet moments across a range of simple tasks. For example, if you’re into photography, today’s task is to take a photo of the waterfall. Make it as visually complex as you like! Curious about butterflies? Then you can read up on all the facts for ‘Dazzling Nightfighter’, with its cool pro-wrestler name.
Your observation journal notes each task and achievement. My favourite feature about this game is the ability to personalise the journal. Each task includes images, and you are in control of the camera. On Day 2, I fully embraced this extra feature and spent more time lining up the best shot. I almost wish there was some way to print out the diary to keep as a physical memento. If anything, it has helped how I view the real world through travel and photography.
Flutter Away is developed by Runaway Play, an indie game dev and publisher based in New Zealand. They enjoy working on projects to promote conservation and environmental awareness. Flutter Away is currently available on Steam and Nintendo Switch, while the similar-themed Flutter: Starlight and Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary is available on mobile. Check out all of their games here.
Cozy Grove
Every time someone suggests I play AC: NH, I show them Cozy Grove. It’s a very obvious comparison, but it’s a bit like comparing Disney with Studio Ghibli. Cozy Grove has far more spirit. Personally, Cozy Grove is the epitome of ‘cozy games’, like a warm blanket wrapped around me. I would rather make friends with a ghost bear on a haunted island than trade beetroot with a racoon any day.
Cozy Grove is a life-sim game played out while camping on a haunted island. You play as a Spirit Scout, wandering around the island and meeting the local ghosts. With each new friend you help, you gain badges and rewards, along with the personal satisfaction of improving this quaint little place. The opening scenes feature beautifully hand-drawn but washed scenery. As you help various ghosts, it all starts to fill out with texture and colour. Your character is rewarded with their own acknowledgement and with a visible improvement in the area. It is a brilliant way to show how good deeds can make the world a better place without being too preachy about it.
What distinguishes Cozy Grove from games like AC: NH is the real-time mechanic within the game, changing from day to night as you do. Each day, there is a new set of tasks given to players to help them move around the island and complete quests. However, unlike AC: NH, there is no big push for you to forever check the game. The majority of tasks in Cozy Grove can be completed within 30-60mins. Once you are finished, Flamey tells you there’s no more spirit wood, and you can return tomorrow. Sure, you can hang around to check out the fishing, but that’s about it.
Cozy Grove is developed by SpryFox. You can learn more about the game on their official website here. It is currently available on Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, iOS Arcade, Epic Games, and Xbox One.
Abzû
I don’t think we could really have a list of the best video games for relaxing if I didn’t include Abzû on the list. It is the perfect stress relief video game for anyone who seeks tranquillity beneath the waves. It is the ultimate relaxed adventure game; there are no checkpoints, deaths, or time limits. There are some side-story elements, but there is no stress to follow through with any of them. This is a computer game adventure set to environmental art.
It is stunningly beautiful. And I mean stunningly beautiful. It is filled with environments, each filled again with a multitude of life forms. There is so much to see and explore and just look at. On that note, there is very little to do in this game. As in, almost nothing. There is nothing to do. Okay, there are a few puzzles but in all honesty, that’s not why you would be playing this game. It is there to be seen. This is like poetry to our oceans. The soundtrack is equally moving, encouraging you to float around forever. Put the kids to bed and settle in for a night swim through the ocean. Then let me know about your dreams in the comments below.
Abzû comes from the creative team at Giant Squid, including Creative Director and Co-Founder Matt Nava (the art director behind Flower and Journey; two games that almost made it on this list). It is available on Steam, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. Check out their website here for more details.
Unpacking
It would be remiss of me not to include Unpacking on this list. It grabbed our attention at PAX Aust in 2019 and then won Australia’s Game of the Year in 2021. To be fair, this is not your typical ‘Game of the Year,’ but it is absolutely worthy of the accolades. Why? because it meets every expectation in the narrative, art, music, development, and the feels.
Unpacking has a simple mechanic based on the very real-life experience of unpacking. In the spirit of upfront honesty, when I first walked past this game at PAX Aust 2019, I cringed–I am an Army Brat, having moved around A LOT in my life. The devs are also experienced with this, but they also saw the opportunity for gamification but with a gentle twist. As with real life, each item must be taken out of the box one at a time. You can’t look ahead or choose something different.
The beauty is in the 8-bit graphics and animation. As you unpack each item, you start to see a personality unfold from the layers. Why was this book separate? Oooh, look at the change in the music tastes! Hey, there’s the pig again! The narrative unfolds gently, drawing you into the game. Each item reveals something about the character, and each placement reveals something about you.
Bonus points need to be given for the care and detail in every graphic. There are over 1,000 unique items and 35 separate rooms to consider. Each image is done in 8-bit style, kept simple but with enough detail to recognise both the item and the emotional connection. This is the most important part because we all know how much sentimentality is invested in packing and unpacking our lives.
Unpacking is from the creative team at WitchBeam. You can learn more from their website here. Unpacking is available on Steam, Switch, Xbox, PS4/5, the App Store, and Google Play. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for their new game, Tempopo, which was exhibited at PAX Aust 2022 but has yet to be officially released.
Europa
Brand new and fresh for all the cozy gamers, Europa is absolutely gorgeous and adorable and quirky. Truly inspired by Studio Ghibli, and not just in the animation. Europa is a cozy action/adventure exploring game, set on the moon of Europa after being terraformed into a lush paradise. You play as an android named Zee, searching for answers and hopefully some understanding of the last human.
This is a peaceful game, built on exploration and meditation. There are puzzles to solve and clues to discover, but generally speaking, it is a game of discovery and appreciation. Soak up that vista! Dance along the water! Explore those ruins that look far older than they could possibly be!
Helder Pinto, along with friends Alex Petherick-Brian and Brian Horn, is the primary dev for this game. Originally planned for release today (16 April 2014), the game has been delayed for a few months. However, you can give the Demo a try on Steam right now, and it’s worth a quick look. Check out the publisher’s official website here.
The purpose of cozy games is to make us feel a little better than when we started. Wrap us up in a blanket. Put a mug of hot chocolate in our hands. Bring a smile to our faces, even if it is tinged with nostalgia. There are no expectations and you really don’t even need to keep score. Just enjoy the story and the feels.
Let me know your fave cozy games in the comments. I’m always looking to add more to the list.
Categories: General Evil Genius video games
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