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The best cozy games are those that take you out of the hardships of life and cocoon you in comfort. Whether you've had a rough day at work, the weather is keeping you inside, or you're in dire need of a holiday, these warm and familiar titles provide the perfect mix of escapism and gentle challenge. All of these cozy games are fairly wholesome, and without (significant) combat or violence, focusing more on the simple pleasures of farming, going to work, being creative, or making friends. Cozy games are a great way to connect with nature without literally touching grass, or to play with a friend on a rainy evening when you're separated by distance. There's something about these games that feels like a warm hug--they may even be responsible for improving our mental health. If you're looking specifically for games like Stardew Valley, or thinking of branching out into low-stakes mysteries, virtual pets, or puzzles, this list has something for everyone in the cozy game crew. Advertisement Animal Crossing: New Horizons Platform: Nintendo Switch Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Vibe: Real-time island management simulator Animal Crossing gives you total free rein over an island resort, turning it from an untamed wilderness into a tropical paradise. The quirky series' latest instalment still features all the same potential residents, plus a few coveted additions, who are free to move in or visit your campsite as you progress. Over time you'll landscape, make money, improve facilities, go shopping, make friends, and collect exhibits for the museum. You can also invite friends to your island, and visit other islands on special excursions. If you were one of the millions of people playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons during lockdown, it's about time you picked it up again. Those weeds aren't going to clear themselves! You'll also find plenty of recommendations for where to go next on our games like Animal Crossing list. See at Amazon Featured in this image Animal Crossing: New Horizons View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Thrifty Business Platform: PC Developer: Spellgarden Games Publisher: Spellgarden Games Vibe: Thrift shop management sim A cute and colorful management sim where you get to find hidden second-hand treasures, Thrifty Business is a real indie gem. You're tasked with running your own thrift shop, sorting through boxes of donations and finding the best stuff to line the shelves of your store. You'll be able to befriend regular visitors, help people find things that matter to them, and expand your shop to cater to the needs of the community. '90s kids will especially enjoy the nostalgic vibes, with bright colors and vintage fashions as far as the eye can see--you can even create a welcoming space for patrons to browse and reminisce. There are more than 500 different items to stock shelves with, and plenty of decor to spice up your environment--it's the perfect game for de-stressing after a long day. See on Steam Advertisement Stardew Valley Platform: PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, mobile Developer: ConcernedApe Publisher: ConcernedApe Vibe: Life and farming sim with dating Stardew Valley is most peoples' first thought when they hear "cozy game," and it certainly helped push a revival of the life/farming sim to a whole new generation. It takes inspiration from older titles like Harvest Moon and turns them into something more detailed and modern, all while keeping the best bits. You're gifted a farm overrun with weeds in a small town, and over time become a skilled farmer and a part of this tight-knit community. Through taking part in town events and talking with the locals, you'll become an indispensable part of valley life, and can even get married and start a family on your farm. You'll make improvements to the town and your farm, gather resources, raise animals, craft and build, and even engage in (fairly gentle) combat down in the mines. If you've already mastered the game and think you've explored every possibility, don't forget there's a wide range of Stardew Valley mods to keep things fresh--from new locations and NPCs to total design overhauls. See at Amazon Featured in this image Stardew Valley View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Doors: Paradox Platform: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Mobile Developer: Snapbreak / Big Loop Studios Publisher: Snapbreak Vibe: Diorama-based puzzle escape room Cozy games don't all have to be about farming. Doors: Paradox is a great way to unwind while playing with mini dioramas and unlocking their secrets. Each of the highly detailed dioramas can be rotated and examined, zooming in and out and finding useful items, nooks, and crannies to help you progress. It's a beautiful game worthy of carving out a peaceful bit of time to explore, like a cross between a hidden object game and an escape room, and full of satisfyingly tactile contraptions. See on Steam Advertisement Fields of Mistria Platform: PC (Early Access) Developer: NPC Studio Publisher: NPC Studio Vibe: Life and farming sim with dating Fields of Mistria is still in Early Access, but it's already one of the most charming cozy games on PC. The game is similar to Stardew Valley, but a little cuter, and a little more infused with magic and folklore. There's plenty to do on your own farm, from clearing away the debris when you arrive to growing seasonal plants and raising adorable animals. Branch out a little further and you can meet new friends, get married, and experience cultural events in the town. Even further still, and there are mysterious ruins to venture into, unraveling a centuries-old history. If you're just getting started and have your eye on that special someone already, check out our Fields of Mistria gift guide so you can be sure of their affections. See at Steam Featured in this image Fields of Mistria View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts Platform: PC Developer: Yaza Games Publisher: Mythwright Vibe: Running a medieval manuscript workshop If you're a fan of weird medieval guys, whimsical art, and games that give you an astonishing amount of free rein to be creative, Scriptorium belongs in your library. Between the two main gameplay modes, you're given access to an incredible artistic tool, where elements of various shapes and sizes can be used to create intricate collages based on illuminated manuscript artwork.  Scriptorium's campaign mode takes you through challenges set by clients--from rats to kings--who will all have different needs and aesthetic requests. Over time, you earn money and renown, gathering steam as a one-man manuscript powerhouse. In creative mode, you're let loose on a variety of blank book pages. Using the hundreds of available elements, colors, and text tools, you can use it to make just about anything you can dream of. The community around the game has already made event flyers, wedding invites, posters, memes, and more using the wide range of kooky stickers at their disposal. See on Fanatical Advertisement Nanomon Virtual Pet Platform: PC Developer: Oscar Brittain Publisher: Akupara Games Vibe: Mini desktop virtual pet Nanomon feels like a throwback to a more innocent time. A tiny window that stays open on your PC, this little beast is either a help or a hindrance to your concentration levels. Pet them, feed them, and clean up their poop--as is the traditional style of a virtual pet--but you can also take them out on adventures to find treasure and decor, and to battle other Nanomon across the world. Each Nanomon grows from a tiny egg into a fully-formed being, going through several stages in between. How you care for them and what you feed them all plays into what they might become. Nanomon is a great idle game that can be as active or passive as you like, although it might tank your productivity at work. See at Steam Featured in this image Nanomon Virtual Pet View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Sims 4 Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One Developer: Maxis Publisher: Electronic Arts Vibe: Sandbox life and building sim The Sims 4 is another classic of the genre, and although all the Sims games fit neatly in the cozy game category, none of them are quite as expansive as The Sims 4. The flexibility of the game is what gives it its truly comforting vibe, as you can spend hours building and decorating cute houses before you've even pressed play. It's a dress-up game, a room decorator, and a city builder as much as it's a life sim. Expansion packs range from floral decor to full-on werewolves, meaning there's a niche for everyone. It's possible to build a cozy off-the-grid cottage farm next to a hyper-modern apartment complex (complete with greedy landlords). You can also jump into pre-built houses and pre-made Sims and focus more on their story--picking careers, going to school, building relationships, having kids, and maybe even going into outer space. If you want to up the ante a little, though, we've compiled a list of the best Sims 4 challenges to spice up your gameplay. See at Amazon Featured in this image The Sims 4 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Wanderstop Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X Developer: Ivy Road Publisher: Annapurna Interactive Vibe: Tea shop management sim with an emotional story Wanderstop is a bit more story-led than some of the other cozy games on this list, but it's just as warm and welcoming to players looking for a casual experience without too much challenge. In fact, the challenge in Wanderstop comes from its emotional depth, asking players and its main character alike to question if they are ever able to truly relax and settle down. As such, it deals with some heavier themes, looking at managing burnout and exhaustion in a meaningful way. In between story beats is a wonderfully relaxing tea shop management simulator, however, where you can brew tea from just about anything you find. Experimenting with brews results in different moods and reactions from your patrons. There are plants to grow and little creatures to pet, and a calming soundtrack by C418 of Minecraft fame. Check out our Wanderstop review for a little more detail. See at Fanatical Fanatical and GameSpot are both owned by Fandom. Featured in this image Wanderstop View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Mythwrecked Platform: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One Developer: Polygon Treehouse Publisher: Whitethorn Games Vibe: Point-and-click mystery set on a mythical island Greek mythology has been enjoying a bit of a cultural moment of late, and Mythwrecked is a charming, quirky game that encapsulates everything we love about these ancient stories. The heart of Mythwrecked is a mystery, as Alex is shipwrecked on Ambrosia Island--a beautiful locale seemingly populated singularly with magical amnesiacs. Over time and through various puzzles, Alex helps the residents piece together their mythical past and bring light back to the island. It's a chill game with a calming soundtrack, full of tiny details and collectable objects, making Mythwrecked the ultimate cozy game for when you want a bit of a brain-teaser but nothing too high-stakes. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Tiny Glade Platform: PC Developer: Pounce Light Publisher: Pounce Light Vibe: Sandbox medieval diorama builder In Tiny Glade, you're doodling with architecture. Gorgeous, lush landscapes are yours to command as you sweep your mouse across them, causing great medieval structures and cute cottages to spring up. It's not a city builder in the traditional sense, you're sort of painting the structures, which are procedurally generated and snap together automatically. Once placed, the town works around them, changing the course of rivers or hemming in sheep. You can place animals and decor, as well as terrain and building types, customising these little outcrops however you please. There's no real aim or goal in Tiny Glade, just chill vibes and cottagecore aesthetics. You could easily waste hours in Tiny Glade and you'd feel like it had just been minutes. See at Steam Featured in this image Tiny Glade View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Unpacking Platform: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, mobile Developer: Witch Beam Publisher: Humble Bundle Vibe: Gentle puzzle game In our review of Unpacking, we called it both a "zen puzzle game" and a "profound experience." A game about unboxing after a big move, Unpacking takes you through several stages in one person's life, exploring their story through their possessions, trinkets, and photos. Everything has a proper place, and your job is to find it, clearing every box until the house looks fully lived-in. As you delve into this person's boxes, you'll find memories both wonderful and painful, choosing whether to hide them away or cherish them. The story is told silently, as you move objects around and reveal parts of the building. It's a great game for reflecting on nostalgia and your own life journey, and how you make peace with the things you lose along the way. See at Amazon Featured in this image Unpacking View Game Hub Follow Advertisement The Darkside Detective Platform: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X Developer: Spooky Doorway Publisher: Akupara Games Vibe: Otherworldly point-and-click mystery adventure If you're comfortable bringing a bit of witchy spookiness into your chill games, The Darkside Detective is not to be missed. From the wholesome pixel art to the singular focus of solving each mystery, and despite some slightly-scary themes, The Darkside Detective still manages to be one of the best cozy games for stormy nights in. Especially those evenings around Halloween. The game is split into multiple case files, allowing you to work through one at a time and get to the bottom of the mysterious and bizarre happenings in Twin Lakes. The dialogue is genuinely funny and the characters have their own strengths and weaknesses while they're on the case, capturing ghouls and casting hexes to save the day. See at Steam Featured in this image The Darkside Detective View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Chicory: A Colorful Tale Platform: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X Developer: Wishes Unlimited Publisher: Finji Vibe: Adventure RPG with a giant paintbrush Chicory is a 2D adventure with a lot of heart. Using a somewhat unique method of control, where you paint the otherwise black-and-white world to solve puzzles, there are deeper themes nestled within its calming atmosphere. The magic paintbrush that has bestowed this town-painting power upon you used to have another (more highly-trained) owner. The owner has gone missing, and you need to figure out where she's gone. You can team up with a friend in split-screen mode and paint the town red (or any other color), too. In our Chicory: A Colorful Tale review, we explore the game's approach to heavier themes, and how they play out alongside genuinely satisfying puzzles and laid-back gameplay. Chicory is a wholesome but sometimes challenging tale about friendship, imposter syndrome, and duty that will leave you feeling both cozy and creative. See at Steam Featured in this image Chicory: A Colorful Tale View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Tiny Bookshop Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch Developer: Neoludic Games Publisher: Skystone Games/2P Games Vibe: Wholesome, bookish seaside management sim Perhaps the best type of escapism is the kind that asks you to leave your life behind and start over by the sea. Tiny Bookshop is a cozy, narrative-led management game where you run a second-hand book store and get to know your new neighbours. It's got a gorgeous hand-painted aesthetic that compliments its intuitive visual controls, and gives you plenty to do without ever feeling overwhelming. Your bookshop truly is tiny, a mere trailer that can be decorated and stocked however you like. The small town of Bookstonbury-by-the-Sea has plenty of its own secrets and people to meet, as well as an array of collectibles and puzzles. Perfect for picking up between reading sessions. See at Steam Featured in this image Tiny Bookshop View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Hello Kitty Island Adventure Platform: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, mobile Developer: Sunblink Publisher: Sunblink Vibe: Cute and colorful island life Hello Kitty Island Adventure took a lot of adults by surprise. It would be easy to dismiss the game as something for younger kids, but in fact, it is packed with rich gameplay, jokes, references, and challenges for all ages. First appearing on Apple Arcade, the game has now been released to significant success on PC and consoles too, albeit with slightly slower updates. Hello Kitty and her friends land at an abandoned island resort in serious need of rejuvenation, which is where you come in. Making friends will reward you with gifts and expansions, as well as new quests and challenges. There's something new to do every day, with seasonal items and festivals as well as regular updates and unlockables. Crafting and customising are a big part of the game, as well as puzzle-platformer sections, fishing, and cooking. Check out our Hello Kitty Island Adventure recipes list for guidance on whipping up a fancy feast. See at Gamestop Featured in this image Hello Kitty Island Adventure View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch Developer: Marvelous Inc Publisher: XSEED Games Vibe: Remake of a classic DS farming and life sim Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar has many fans claiming it as not just the best Story of Seasons game, but the best cozy game of all time. A remake of the original 2008 game, then called Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar, the game is packed with activities and features that'll keep you entertained through those cold winter months. The peaceful surroundings of Zephyr Town might tempt you to lie around and swap stories with the locals, but you'll also be expected to grow crops, raise animals, and master the markets as an up-and-coming entrepreneur. It has all the usual Story of Seasons accoutrements, like falling in love and having children with your spouse, cultivating a rich farm, and appeasing the Harvest Sprites... but adds the fast-paced, high-reward Bazaar as a whole new concept. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar View Game Hub Follow Advertisement A Little to the Left Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, mobile Developer: Max Inferno Publisher: Secret Mode Vibe: Sorting and tidying objects in a cluttered house If you're the kind of person who finds tidying up relaxing, look no further. A Little To The Left presents you with a range of jumbled items and simply asks you to sort them into order. This ranges from puzzle pieces to size order, and sometimes putting things away in drawers and cupboards. But don't be fooled, the game may be cozy and quiet but it still has its challenges--you're encouraged to twist and turn and play with every object as much as you can to find a solution, but they won't always be straightforward. A Little To The Left is one of the most satisfying games, and makes some wonderfully tactile noises when things slide into the right spot. There are also daily challenges and a number of DLC add-ons if you've filed and sorted everything in good time. See at Fanatical Featured in this image A Little To The Left View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Dinkum Platform: PC Developer: James Bendon Publisher: KRAFTON Inc. Vibe: Aussie-themed survival sim and town builder Rounding off with another farming game just to keep things on track, Dinkum is technically a survival sim but never seems to feel too stressful. Set in the Australian Outback, you can join with friends to master the wilderness or play alone--just don't go unarmed against big critters, because it is Australia, after all. Your town starts as nothing more than a campfire, and can slowly expand out to be anything you dream of. You can landscape, forage, make money, and encourage the economy until Dinkum is a thriving town of shops, residents, and charming decor. See at Steam Featured in this image Dinkum View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Strange Horticulture Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One Developer: Bad Viking Publisher: Iceberg Interactive Vibe: Match botanical remedies to a cast of unusual characters In Strange Horticulture, you inherit a peculiar plant shop in a mysterious town, and from day one you’re immersed in cataloguing weird botanicals, mixing obscure tinctures, and unpacking cryptic requests from villagers. Each customer who passes through your doors carries a story, a secret, or a problem that might be solved with the right combination of ingredients. What starts as a simple stock-and-sell rhythm gradually unfolds into deeper threads of folklore, intrigue, and hidden connections between the town’s communities. But it’s not all gentle botanizing; moral grey areas and the consequences of your choices crop up in unexpected ways. How you choose to support--or hinder--the other inhabitants in Strange Horticulture dictates how things will end for all of you. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Strange Horticulture View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Coffee Talk Platform: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, mobile Developer: Toge Productions Publisher: Toge Productions / Chorus Worldwide Vibe: Slow and heartfelt coffee shop simulator inspired by '90s anime Coffee Talk is a narrative-driven visual novel where you step into the drink-mixing shoes of a late-night barista running a cozy cafe in an alternate version of Seattle--one inhabited by elves, mermaids, vampires, werewolves, and more. If you enjoy games like Life Is Strange, where choices matter and characters have huge depth to them, you'll love Coffee Talk. Your day-to-day chores consist of brewing drinks from a modest ingredient list and serving them to an eclectic cast of patrons, all while tuning into their problems and stories as they unfold during quiet evening visits. Each character has unique needs and a tale to tell, you just have to be patient, attentive, and coax it out of them. See at Fanatical Featured in this image Coffee Talk View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Whisper Of The House Platform: PC Developer: GD Studio Publisher: GD Studio Vibe: Uncover hidden stories by organizing and decorating houses If you enjoy the calm of sorting and putting things away, or low-stakes home decorating games like Unpacking or Make Room, you'll definitely enjoy Whisper Of The House. You're a sort of generalized specialist housekeeper in Whisper Town, attending to the residents' needs and unpacking, sorting, and organizing their things. As you prepare new shops, homes, and rooms, you'll discover secrets about the residents, making a difference to their lives and helping them live in beautifully clean spaces. It's a laid-back pixel art gem, packed with tiny details and items for you to poke and prod. Completing tasks means you win rewards and can design your own little pad, tweaking it to your liking in any way you want. See at Steam Featured in this image Whisper of the House View Game Hub Follow Advertisement...