There are several video game genres in the gaming world, each catering to a different target audience. While some gamers prefer high-octane, action-packed games, some prefer cozy games that are relaxing and laid back. The best cozy games evoke an emotional response in the player that is warm, comfortable, and relaxing.
While cozy games may sound like something kids would play, they are actually very popular among gamers. This is because, unlike other games that are loud and competitive, cozy games offer a forgiving and relaxing experience that players can easily get lost in.
We are also huge fans of the genre and pick up some cozy titles from time to time. In this blog, we will list the best-of-the-best cozy game titles that every fan should play.
Let’s dive in.
| Game Title | Genre/Type | Platform (PC/Steam Deck/Switch) | Special Features | Vibe |
| Sun Haven | Farming Sim + Fantasy Adventure | PC, Steam Deck | Skill trees, exploration, fantasy elements | Relaxing, adventurous |
| Stardew Valley | Farming & Life Sim | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Farming, relationship-building, exploration | Chill, heartwarming |
| Cozy Grove | Life Sim + Story-rich Adventure | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Time-gated daily tasks, dynamic island, ghost bears’ lore | Calm, slightly eerie |
| PowerWash Simulator | Cleaning Simulation | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | ASMR-like powerwashing, crossover DLCs | Extremely relaxing |
| The SIMS 4 | Life Simulation | PC (Switch not available) | Building houses, relationships, many DLCs | Creative, casual |
| Unpacking | Narrative-driven Puzzle | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Storytelling through belongings, beautiful sound design | Emotional, cozy |
| Disney Dreamlight Valley | Life Sim + Adventure | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Disney/Pixar characters, farming, cooking, updates | Magical, charming |
| Kind Words | Interactive Letter Writing | PC, Steam Deck | Write anonymous kind letters, receive letters | Wholesome, healing |
| Spiritfarer | Management + Emotional Adventure | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Help spirits move on, fishing, farming | Bittersweet, peaceful |
| Moonstone Island | Monster-catching + Life Sim | PC, Steam Deck | Farming, battling, relationship-building | Light fantasy, cozy |
| Cult of the Lamb | Base-building + Dark Humor Adventure | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Cult management, exploration, dark humor | Silly, cozy with a dark twist |
| Planet Zoo | Zoo Management Sim | PC (Switch not available) | Build zoos, manage animals and visitors | Relaxing, detailed |
| Tavern Talk | Interactive Visual Novel (Fantasy) | PC, Steam Deck | Tavern management, dialogue choices | Cozy, story-driven |
| A Little to the Left | Sorting Puzzle Game | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Organizing items, creative puzzle solutions | Satisfying, cozy |
| Journey | Narrative Exploration Adventure | PC, Steam Deck, Switch | Minimalistic storytelling, meeting silent players | Meditative, calming |
Sun Haven is a game that I often return to. This is because it is just like Stardew Valley but with a fantasy feeling. At first glance, it seems like a simple farming and life simulation game but Sun Haven has much more to do than just simple farming.
There is a vast map to explore where players can visit towns, fight monsters, and also unlock new skills. The skill tree was a nice addition that lets players choose their playstyle. Sun Haven is one of the few games that will appeal to fans of the fantasy genre like me. If you already have a lot of hours into farming simulation games, Sun Haven should be your next pick.
Who doesn’t know Stardew Valley? A cozy game list would be incomplete without Stardew Valley. For most gamers, this title was their introduction to the farming sim genre. It is as simple as it gets. You move out of the city to operate your family farm. The game is quite in-depth and focuses on farming, building relationships, exploration, and resource management.
In fact, it lets you do all that at your own pace so you can just chill out and relax. If you are looking for cozy games on the Switch platform, you can never go wrong with Stardew Valley.
Cozy Grove is as cozy as it gets. The game itself encourages you to sit back, relax, and not play too much. The game only progresses a set amount in a given day so there is no chance of overdoing it and suffering burnout. That being said, I found the premise very intriguing. You play as a Spirit Scout who helps ghost bears. But that’s not all!
There is basic resource collection but the island changes dynamically so there is always something new to do. As you progress through the game, you learn the backstories of the Ghost Bears. One mechanic that impressed me was that each backstory brings some color back to the black-and-white island. Storytelling at its best!
Have you ever watched those ASMR powerwashing videos? If you are anything like me, you will definitely like PowerWash Simulator. While cleaning in real life seems frustrating, in a video game, it is weirdly relaxing and calming. PowerWash Simulator features various dirty locations that you have to wash with your power washer. That’s the whole game! But the amount of relaxation and chill vibes this game offers often goes unnoticed.
In fact, there are various DLC maps from popular gaming franchises like Warhammer, Final Fantasy, Shrek, SpongeBob, etc.
The SIMS franchise is the OG life simulation game. While the previous titles were good, The SIMS 4 opened doors to entirely new avenues. With a ton of DLCs featuring new content, The SIMS 4 is one of the best cozy games to escape reality and just chill with your SIM.
Personally, I love to just design houses, create my own family, and build relationships with other townspeople. It may seem boring to an action-adventure lover, but the satisfaction and calm of the game hit the right notes.
Unpacking is exactly as it sounds. The entire gameplay is just unpacking boxes and sorting belongings. However, the game is a narrative masterpiece with one of the best sound designs I have ever witnessed. The game tells the story of a person’s life based on their possessions and the things that they leave behind when moving out.
Although the game is only a few hours long, it will be one of the best few hours of your life. The gameplay strikes the perfect balance of a cozy game, just enough to engage you but not overwhelming at all. I cannot sell this game enough. So, go ahead and try it out yourself.
Dreamlight Valley is Disney’s life sims title. Fans of the Disney franchises will definitely have a fun time playing it as all the NPCs are Disney and Pixar characters. You can do the basic stuff like farming, cooking, collecting resources, helping characters, and more. However, what stood out for me was the mature dialogues and frequent updates.
The developers provide new updates with extra content, giving players hours of unlockable content. There are some microtransactions but you can skip them if you want. Overall, if you are a fan of Disney characters and a magical world, this is the game for you.
When I first heard about Kind Words, I thought it was an interesting concept. However, after playing it, I understand that it does not get cozier than this. It is a unique concept where you have to write letters to strangers. Real-life people will ask for advice or solutions and you will write an anonymous letter that can be customized to your liking.
In case you are ever feeling down, you can request some kind letters and get wholesome words from strangers. With melodious lo-fi beats playing in the background, this game has such a vibe. If you like handing out advice or simply want to encourage others, Kind Words should be your next cozy game.
In Spiritfarer, you play as Stella, who is a ferrymaster and guides souls to the afterlife. While the theme may seem dark and gloomy, it is actually quite wholesome and satisfying. Just like Unpacking, it also features a great sound design. Besides the usual fishing, farming, and cooking, you can talk to spirits and complete their final wishes to help them move on to the afterlife.
While the visuals and sound design are near-perfect, the real charm of the game is its conversations and dialogues. You will stop fearing death once you play Spiritfarer.
Here is something for all monster-catching fans. Moonstone Island is a pretty chill cozy game where you play as an alchemist in a magical world full of islands. You can do all sorts of activities including farming, fishing, building relationships, and even battling monsters.
You can also raise animals to help you in battles. Overall, I really liked Moonstone Island since I am a huge monster-catching and fantasy fan. But, you go ahead and try it on your own.
Cult of the Lamb is exactly as it sounds. It is a base-building cozy game where you build and manage a cult started by a Lamb who is saved from a sacrifice. You operate a cult and have to manage a small community of followers, reaffirming their faith and keeping them loyal.
Besides that, the game also focuses on exploration, some light combat, new skills, and resource-gathering. While the core premise of the game is quite dark, it features cartoonish graphics and dark humor dialogues.
Planet Zoo is basically a Zoo Tycoon with a relaxing vibe. You are tasked with building and managing a zoo from scratch. From making habitats for animals and designing the zoo to decorations and ensuring that visitors are having a good time, you are responsible for everything.
While the game may feel overwhelming to some players, its detailed and realistic visuals are some of the best. Moreover, if you are an animal lover, you will definitely love nurturing and caring for the animals in your zoo. It is definitely a must-play for animal lovers.
Tavern Talk is another fantasy-themed interactive visual novel game. You are the owner of a tavern in a fantasy world and have to interact with your customers. That’s the whole game. Many people come into your tavern and share gossip, interests, and rumors, and sometimes ask for advice.
It is a choice-based game where your job is to keep your customers happy and build healthy relationships. Since I love fantasy-based games, I had a lot of fun with Tavern Talk and highly recommend it to cozy game enthusiasts.
If you like sorting and organizing, A Little to the Left is perfect to scratch that itch. The game features dozens of creative challenges disguised as a puzzle. The core gameplay is stacking household items and moving them into place. And trust me, it’s very satisfying! Moreover, the game also encourages you to be creative, providing various solutions to a single puzzle.
It is one of the best cozy games that play on the human psychology of organization. People fundamentally like it when things are placed perfectly. Besides sorting and organizing, there is also an adorable cat that hampers your progress.
Journey is a simple narrative-driven video game that follows the journey of a mysterious scarf-wearing traveler. You are exploring a vast desert with the sole objective of reaching the top of a distant mountain. No weapons, no conversations, no combat!
However, you can meet other players who are on their journey but cannot interact with them. The game is a pacifist run with zero dialogues and an oddly meditative feel to it. It features stunning visuals and gives off a unique cozy vibe.
Cozy games are a beautiful reminder that gaming does not always have to be about high scores, boss fights, high-octane adventures, or competitiveness. Sometimes, it’s about taking a step back, relaxing, and simply enjoying the virtual world at your own pace. Whether you are farming under the sky in Stardew Valley, talking to adventurers in Tavern Talk, or just sorting items in Unpacking, the best cozy games offer a wholesome escape that offers a sense of warmth. So, switch on your PC and dive into one of these charming worlds today!
Ans. Cozy games are simple games that feature a warm and relaxing vibe. Basically, any game that offers a relaxing and satisfying gaming experience without overwhelming the user with complex game mechanics can be referred to as a cozy game.
Ans. In my opinion, Journey is one of the best cozy games for someone who has never played these types of games before. It is a visually stunning game with a simple playthrough and a very calm feel. If you are a beginner in cozy games, definitely try out Journey.
Ans. Yes, the Steam Deck supports your entire Steam library and is a powerful device for running simple cozy games. However, some games may be limited by platform compatibility and will only be available on PC.
Ans. While most cozy games feature a custom art style that matches its theme, games like Stardew Valley and Journey are visually stunning masterpieces.
Ans. Yes, you can play most cozy games offline on the Steam Deck. However, make sure that they are downloaded and installed on your device. Also, real-time multiplayer games won’t work without an active internet connection.
