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Island Development, but Cozy
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Moving, but Cozy
Unpacking
Farming, but Cozy
Stardew Valley
Detective Work, but Cozy
Strange Horticulture
It’s the perfect time of the year to start playing cozy games. When you think of video games, you might think of loud noises, intense competition, and cutthroat leaderboards. Cozy games embody the opposite feeling. They’re mindless, but not uninvolved; inviting, but not harrying. They’re meant to evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and peace. In my opinion, they’re best enjoyed solo alongside a cup of tea.
I’ve always loved cozy games, but the colder months of the year are my favorite time to play them. Take a chance and add a few to your gaming library. It’s important to note that “cozy” is relative—if it makes you feel warm and fuzzy, then it’s cozy. These are my favorites.
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Courtesy of Nintendo
Island Development, but Cozy
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons
I already wrote an entire love letter about this game, but suffice it to say that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of the coziest games I’ve ever played. Your character is in charge of developing a deserted island. There are seemingly endless customization and decoration options, and as you progress, you’ll meet more neighbors and unlock more activities. (I’ve got lots of starter tips here!) Highlights include collecting bugs and fish, renovating your home, and decorating your island to perfection. It kills me that Nintendo stopped adding new content to the game, but if you haven’t put hundreds of hours into it like I have, welcome to your new favorite hobby. (As with all things, it might not be for everyone.)
Available on Nintendo Switch
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Courtesy of Humble Games
Moving, but Cozy
Unpacking
This sweet title is only a few hours long, but it is so, so worthwhile. The narrative-driven gameplay revolves around unpacking boxes and sorting their contents into various environments. It’s a masterpiece. The sound design is incredible, as is the story. It made our list of the Best Nintendo Switch Games. I can’t go into too much detail without risking spoilers, but if a genie came out of a lamp and granted me three wishes, one of them would be to play this game again for the first time.
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Apple App Store, and Google Play
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Courtesy of ConcernedApe
Farming, but Cozy
Stardew Valley
A cozy game roundup would be completely remiss without Stardew Valley. It’s iconic, a certified classic, but it’s still receiving updates to keep things fresh. The formula is probably one you’re familiar with: Your character leaves the Big City to take care of the family farm. But, while Stardew Valley is a wonderful farming simulator, it’s so much more than that. You can go fishing, dig up treasures, build relationships with other characters, take part in seasonal events, and take down a capitalist regime. All in a day’s work.
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Apple App Store, and Google Play
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Courtesy of Iceberg Interactive
Detective Work, but Cozy
Strange Horticulture
It’s one of the simpler options on the list, but no less fun. You play as the proprietor of a plant store. Collect and identify maps, solve puzzles, and piece together the eerie storyline bit by bit. The point-and-click gameplay isn’t too intensive, and it’s refreshing to play a detective title that doesn’t have too much pressure or intensity as a motivational factor. It’s also a little bit creepy.
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox
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Courtesy of Nintendo
Memories, but Cozy
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Many WIRED staffers love this game. It’s similar to other life sims, but the NPCs are various Disney characters. Lest you feel like the game will be too childish, the dialog is grown-up and sometimes a little dark. There are oodles of quests and decoration items, plus hours of unlockable content. The game launches globally on December 5, but you can purchase and play various editions in Early Access before that date. Originally, it was going to be released as a free-to-play title, but the developers recently announced that this will not be the case. It’s still worthwhile in my opinion (even if I’ll be planting pumpkins ’til I’m 50).
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and Apple App Store
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Courtesy of EA
Life, but Cozy
The Sims 4
Okay, maybe your experience with The Sims has been more about removing pool ladders and forcing your crushes to marry you than it has been about being cozy. But have you considered making your Sims knit? Or raise farm animals? Or grow plants? If you remove some of the pressures the game tries to place on you, then The Sims can be extremely cozy. I’ve spent hours just building houses. With oodles of inexpensive expansion packs (I rank many of them here), plus the option for mods, you can achieve that comforting feeling in many different ways. Best of all, the base game is free.
Available on Steam, macOS, Xbox, PlayStation
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Courtesy of Cozy Bee Games
Cooking, but Cozy
Lemon Cake
In her dedicated rave, WIRED reviewer Brenda Stolyar described Lemon Cake as “a mixture of Stardew Valley, Cooking Mama, and Diner Dash in one—but more subdued.” Your goal is to fix up a bakery while keeping your customers happy. It’s not too hectic or frenzied, but there are some strategy elements and unlockables to keep things interesting.
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation
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Courtesy of Studio Drydock
Spell-Casting, but Cozy
Wylde Flowers
This title is similar to other life simulators on this list. You control the main character, Tara, as she navigates life in a new town. You’ll take care of a farm, mine in dungeons, develop relationships with the townspeople, and unravel a mystery with your coven. (Surprise! You’re also a witch!) The magical vibes of this game lend a fresh feel to the genre, which—while still fun—can feel a bit formulaic. Wylde Flowers is also available on iOS with an Apple Arcade membership.
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Apple Arcade
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Courtesy of Popcannibal
Penpals, but Cozy
Kind Words
This chill and relaxing game is all about writing kind letters to real-life people. Strangers will share a concern or ask for advice, and you’ll write anonymous replies, customizing the letters with stickers or different stationery. You can also request letters and receive some kind words in return. Every note is different, but in my experience, they’re all touching. Lo-fi beats playing in the background complete the vibe. If you like giving advice, or you just want to spread kindness, this cozy game is as feel-good as it gets.
Available on Steam
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Courtesy of Nintendo
Ghosts, but Cozy
Cozy Grove
Sometimes life simulation games give you too many options at once. Your character sprints from farm to general store to fishing hole and back again, and somewhere along the way, you burn out. Cozy Grove actively encourages you not to play too much. The game only progresses so much in a given day, so unless you want to cheat (and risk bricking your save file), you can’t overdo it. Nobody will get mad at you. Nobody will guilt trip you. Your ghost bear friends will be there to give you badges and ask you to collect their mail or some seashells. What could be cozier?
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and Apple Arcade