Whether you want to start life over on a run-down farm or you want a new challenge to absorb all of your sp??are time, there’s never a shortage of cozy games ready and waiting to distract you from reality. 2025 is set to be a big year for the genre, with a myriad of announced titles set to release. 

Although games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing served to propel the cozy gaming genre to a huge number of new players, the genre has been around for far longer. Some would pinpoint the birth of cozy games with Little Computer People, released for multiple platforms in 1985. We’ve come a long way since then,?? but cozy gam??es are still a firm favorite for many. 

Many cozy titles are set to release this year, make ??their way to new platforms, or leave early access behind. As something of a cozy gamer myself, here are 15 that I’m looking forward to getting into. 

Kitori Academy

Although there is no set release date for Kitori Academy yet, and the Kickstarter page still suggests that the game should have been fully released in 2023, all signs point to this magical cozy ga?me being released at some p??oint in 2025. Of course, that’s not set in stone, but the gorgeous art style and promising concept of the game are hard not to be hopeful about. 

In Kitori Academy, you take on the role of a wizard apprentice who attends the academy? alongside their pet cat. If you’ve ever wanted to head off to Hogwarts, this will definitely appeal to you. Not only can you train in the arts of potion brewing and spellcasting with an aim to tackle the curse that threatens the land, but you can also grow vegetables and build relationships with those around you. 

Discounty

Discounty is what would h??appen if Jojamart were in charge of Stardew Valley. Rather than trying to save the town from a money-hungry conglomera?te, Discounty will give you control over the local town store and hand you the power to pour contamination into the water stream. Or, you could take the other, more honorable route, but that’s been done before, right?

There are plenty of townsfolk to make friends with in Blomkest �or turn into enemies if you disturb the peace of the quiet town by growing your business too rapidly. You get to pick your stock, set the prices, and make trade deals to thrive one way? or another. Essentially, you get to become Pierre, and that’s wei?rdly appealing. 

We Harvest Shadows

Admittedly, We Harvest Shadows can only be described as ‘cozyâ€?if you ignore the large number of horror elements at play, but there are some who find relaxation in creepy surroundings. The game takes inspiration from th??e terrifying folklore surrounding the Appalachian mountains. You know the ones â€?“if you hear someone calling your name, no, you didn’tâ€? 

But that’s just one side of We Harvest Shadows. The cozy elements come in the form of farming, fixing up your house, looking after your animals, and getting ??to know t??hose who live in the area surrounding the farm. There’s a huge focus on slow-burn storytelling, rather than throwing you in at the deep end with pure horror and jump scares, so you can take your time enjoying the cozy before giving yourself nightmares. 

Fields of Mistria

Fields of Mistria is technically already available to play and has been since it entered Early Access in August 2024. There’s already so much to do, including over 40 hours of gameplay and endless customization, never mind all of the friends you can make along the way. However, it is set to leave early access behind at some point during 2025, fully packed with features that currently aren’t?? implemented. 

According to the roadmap, more levels are set to be added to the Mines, new NPCs are due to arrive, and many new items are likely to arrive, too. I’m very much a fan of Fields of Mistria, and those who have ??played it already have fallen in l??ove with the world and the people in it. It’s easy to lose hours while playing, and it’s worth diving in whenever you’re ready. 

Solarpunk

If you’re looking for a cozy game with space to drag your friends along for the ride, Solarpunk might be it, although it’s perfect if ??you want to do some solo gaming as well. It is a survival game with an emphasis on rebuilding and thriving on futuristic floating islands, although there’s a huge amount of cottagecore goodness to be found even in the technologically advanced setting. 

While the game will center around building up a farmstead using farming, crafting, and gathering skills and harnessing natural energy to power it all, there’s also an exploration element to Solarpunk. Eventually, you??’ll be able to build a private airship, facilitating travel to islands further afield so that you can gather resources and materials or make new friends along the way. 

Witchbrook 

2025 might be the year of magic-based cozy games, with Witchbrook being the second on this list based in the more fantastical realm. With instantly familiar graphics and an emphasis on friendship building, Witchbrook has all of the elements that point to success and is definitely wor??th keeping an eye on as we get closer to release ?day. 

Once again, you enroll at a College of Witchcraft to learn everything there is to know about magic, but that’s not all there is to Witchbrook. You’ll be able to cook, ??grow plan?ts, forage, and even soar through the skies on a broom. Eventually, you move on to postgraduate studies and take on deliveries for the locals, allowing you to build friendships or romantic relationships with those both inside and outside of the college walls. 

While Waiting

Sometimes, it can be hard to sit back and watch the world around you without any input, but While Waiting is a cozy game that aims to challenge the control freak in all? of us, no matter how big or small that part of us may be. The game even comes with a warning?? that it might get boring at times, but that’s not necessarily the case.

While the aim of Just Waiting is overwhelmingly simple �just wait �ther??e is no shortage of things to do or experience while you do. I mean, yes, you might technically be waiting for a bus or for the rain to stop, and nothing you do will make that waiting time go any quicker, but there’s still a lot to interact with in each scene and many puzzles to figure out to complete objectives. 

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

I know that Hello Kitty Island Adventure was first released in 2023, but thanks to the exclusi??ve availability on only the Apple Arcade, many people have never had the chance to play. Now, it’s coming to both Nintendo Switch and PC through Steam, openi?ng up the Sanrio world to a whole new influx of players. 

With all of the most well-loved Sanrio characters (including Gudetama, a fact that makes my heart sing), Hello Kitty Island Adventure has won a long list of rewards for gameplay and de?sign. There are 80 quests to complete, many friends to make, crafting and gathering to be done, ??and all of it in Sanrio’s telltale kawaii style. 

Ritual of Raven

Ritual of Raven isn’t the first cozy game from Spellgarden Games, but it is their first foray into the world of farming sims. You might be familiar with its previous cozy gem, Sticky Business, and the now familiar art style has been transformed into a lively, story-based life sim that revolves around growing?? herbs in a magical world while accompanied by your trusty raven. 

Not only can you cultivate your herb garden with the power of magic, but you can also truly personalize your space with decorations. A few friendly neighbors are waiting to form friendships with you, and you can even learn how to control the phases of the moon in your own self-interest. Ritual of Raven has been on my radar since i??t was announced in August 2?024, and I can’t wait to dive in and play. 

Outbound

In Outbound, you’re in control of a camper van with a huge map to explore, materials to be scavenged, and endless customization options as you turn the camper van into your own ideal home on wheels. You can play both solo or with up to four friends, and there’s no right or wrong, making Outbound truly cozy in every sense of the word. 

You’ll need to adapt your play style depending on how far you venture, with everything from ex?pansive fi??elds to treacherous mountains to explore, but your trusty camper van can go everywhere with you. You can also establish a base camp by building around the camper van, growing plants, and learning to cook the ingredients you cultivate. 

Crimson Hollow

And just like that, another magic-based cozy game is waiting to be tried. Crimson Hollow will allow you to try your hand at skills like mining, blacksmithing, herbalism, alchemy, and fishing because what would a cozy game be if there was no fishing? It’s almost? a basic ??requirement at this point. Almost. 

Outside of your own farming and gathering tasks, there are also quests to complete and townsfolk to meet, befriend, or become romantically entangled with. Building relationships will uncover new secrets or perks, and you’ll also be able to customize not only your character but also your home. With a cute cartoon art style and an intriguing story waiting to be told, Crimson Hollow is worth keeping on your radar.

Date Everything

Date Everything is proof that there’s a fine line between just-plain-weird and weirdly-cozy. Dating sims aren’t exactly a new thing, but Date Everything takes, well, everything, to the extreme. Rather than meeting and picking up regular people, Date Everything puts you ??in a house and offers you the chance to date everything from the lamps?? to the dishwasher. How many times can I say “date everything�in one paragraph?

The concept is bizarre, but there’s a lot of appeal there. While I can’t say I’ve ever thought about the potential personified appearance of my TV cabinet, I’m intrigued to see what it could look like if given the chance to become something more than it currently is. There are 100 characters waiting to be pulled from? the furniture and appliances; the whole pun-filled experience is fully voice-acted by a large number of recognizable voices, featuring three endings pe?r character. That’s a lot to get absorbed in.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

There’s something infinitely appealing about life in Hobbiton, The Shire, Middle Earth. It’s picturesque, quiet, laid back, and outside of the appearance of Gandalf and Pippin and Merry’s insiste?nce on causing chaos, the??re’s very little drama. That sounds relaxing, peaceful, and, dare I say it, ultimately cozy. 

In Tales of the Shire, you can immerse yourself in Hobbit life. Farming, fishing, foraging, and, of course, the most important task for any Hobbit, cooking. No Hobbit hole is complete without a well-stocked pantry, and second breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Stock up on potatoes, and explore the village of Bywater to create connections with your fellow Hobbits, which is greatly helped ?by sharing meals.

Loftia

Loftia is a cross between a life sim and a small-scale MMO. You have your own floating island that can be customized and used to farm, forage, and craft your way to a brighter future. You can then join players nearby to form neighborhoods, using ethical energy to power y?our creations in this sustainable new world. 

Through the use of hydroponics, trellis farming, repurposing trash into usable furniture, and scavenging from abandoned factories, you can create a utopia while uncovering hidden stories to play through and locations to explore. There’s also the ability to adopt companions, including capybaras, turtles, and even some as-yet unrevealed endangered creatures. As if that’s not enough, you can dress them in adorable outfits, instantly making Loftia worth your time. 

inZOI

It’s been hard to avoid hearing about inZOI over the last few months, especially for those heavily into The Sims and other similar titles. inZOI takes the proven life sim concept and throws it into the 21st century with almost photo-realistic graphics and endless customization possibilities powered by what KRAFT?ON has promised to be ethical generative AI. 

There have been countless videos of early gameplay released through YouTubers such as MadMorph, and KRAFTON also released the character studio demo for a few weeks toward the end of 2024, allowing players a glimpse of what’s to come. And what’s to come looks incredibly impressive. With ultimate control over everything from the weather to the type of wild creatures you can encounter and the possibility to upload photos of your own items to import and use in the game, there’s no end of new things to try when inZOI eventually gets a full release on March 28.

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Throughout the years I’ve spent gaming on various platforms, I’ve always found myself drawn to the more cozy side of virtual life. Not exclusively, of course, but I always find myself drifting back to slice-of-life experiences when I need some rest and relaxation.&nbs??p;

2024 has been one hell of a year for cozy ga?ming. Not only did we get updates for ever-popular games, but there were also some surprises along the way that took hold and cemented their place in the cozy sphere. In short, it was a good year to be a cozy gaming fan. 

With 2024 rapidly coming to an end, h?ere are my top 12 cozy titles from the last 12 months ranked from good to incredible, and every single one of them is worth checking out if you want to de-stress and escape from the real world for a little while. 

12. Botany Manor

As someone who is seemingly incapable of keeping a succulent alive (seriously, I just took a look at it on my shelf and it’s in a sorry state, but I was at the very least reminded to water it), even I can see the appeal and relaxation that comes with honing your horticultural knowledge and raising a selection of plants from seed to flower. Botany Manor allows you to do just that, without the danger o??f killing any real-life plants. 

With point-and-click puzzles and a frankly stunning Victorian Manor setting, it’s easy to kill hours of time just wandering around, getting your virtual fingers dirty as you rediscover lost and forgotten magical flora. Unlocking new areas is done through successfully getting a plant to bloo??m, giving you a much needed sense of accomplishment every time something grows.

11. Little Kitty, Big City

There’s something about cats that can make any game feel cozy, although I might be biased as something of a burgeoning crazy cat lady. However, Little Kitty, Big City deserves a place on this list due to the relaxed way in which you play, as long as?? you’re not trying to speed run through all of the challenges you face along the way. 

With a myriad of critters to meet and befriend, from the sewer-portal-creating Raccoon, to the duck with questionable parenting skills, Little Kitty, Big City is almost guaranteed to make you smile as you play. Then there’s the art style, which is undeniably cute, and the stor?y of this little house cat who slowly learns how to exist in the outside world. 

10. Shashingo

Okay look, Shashingo might not seem all that cozy at first glance, but I urge you to hear me out. At its core, Shashingo is a game designed to help you learn Japanese through virtual photography. Armed with only a camera, you wander around a Japanese city center and take photo??s of the various items and characters you encounter, with the photo coming complete with both spoken and written translations. 

So yes, while you’re learning as you play, the concept of stretching your legs and just snapping photos of your surroundings is absolutely a relaxing experience. You can add frames, more of which are available to unlock through gacha machines in various locations, and there’s ?a mode that challenges you to find different objects so you can test your memory. 

9. Little-Known Galaxy

Little-Known Galaxy is one of what seems like thousands of pixel life sims that are currently available to download and play, but there’s something just different about it. It has everything that you likely expect fr??om a game of its type - farming, friendships, mining, crafting, and decorating to name but a few - but it’s set on a spaceship in the middle of space. 

You’re not confined to the spaceship though. As you progress, you’ll unlock your ow?n tiny shuttle that can be used to explore planets both near and far to gather more resources that can’t be found elsewhere. The planets are essentially the equivalent of the Mines in other similar games, but every one of them is different, and the exploration potential seems positively endless. 

8. Minami Lane

Bizarrely, Minami Lane might be the most stress-inducing entry on this list of supposedly stress-free cozy games?, and it doesn’t seem like it would be stressful at all from a quick glance. The art style is completely adorable, the characters are sweet, and the concept is addictive in a weird sort of way. 

However, trying to meet the requirements to pass a level can be infuriating. You need to balance the wants and needs of? both old and young residents, both of which want va??stly different things from their street. You need to pick the stock for bookstores, ramen stands, and convenience stores, while making sure everything is aesthetically appealing, and also keeping the trash off the streets. 

So yes, infuriating, but weirdly enjoyable. 

7. Snufkin: Melody of Moomin Valley

I love the fact that our review of Snufkin begins with the sentence “I grew up absolutely terrified of Moomins.� because I feel like that’s a pretty common experience for most people my age, and Melody of Moomin Valley came out at just the right time to change a lot of minds a?bout the strangely creepy little hippo-esque creatures. 

Without any combat to work your way through, Melody of Moomin Valley centers around various instruments that can be used to overcome obstacles, solve puzzle?s, and generally interact with the world around you as you play. The art style is b?eautiful, and the waves of nostalgia will hit you like a rock to the face, even if you were creeped out by Moomins as a child. 

6. Stardew Valley

Before you say anything, yes I know that Stardew Valley first released eight years ago, but we did get a hefty update in the form of 1.6 and that has dragged a lot of players to Pelican Town, both new and returning after long breaks. I know that this entry is a bit of a cheeky one, but there were various parts of 1.6 that earned Stardew Valley at least a mention on this list. 

Stardew needs no description at this point. It’s the grandfather ??of endless cozy games that have tried to ride on its coattails, some of which have succeeded. It’s always cozy, and there’s an endless number of things to ke?ep you entertained. With 1.6 now available on all platforms, now is the time to jump back in or give it a try. 

5. Summerhouse

While the majority of the titles on this list are life sims, Summerhouse is different. Rather than living out a life through your mouse, all that’s required of you is to build. Each item placed down has the possibility of unlocking a new building block, making Summerhouse feel like LEGO for adults. 

You can play with two different art styles, either pixelated or not, and there’s no end to what can be achieved using t??he pieces at your disposal. Everything just slots together in such a satisfying way and even if you have absolutely no building skills, you’ll be able to create something beautiful. I speak from experience. 

4. Tavern Talk

Tavern Talk takes the concept of an RPG and flips it on its head, turning you into a partially controllable NP?C. You’re the barkeep at a fantasy Tavern, and through your conversations with various fantasy folk, you learn about the world around you while crafting drinks imbued with magical properties to help them on the quests you dish out. 

Tavern Talk has a stunning, anime-esque art style ??and every single character you encounter is unique and relatable??. Whether you have issues believing in yourself like Fable, or you’re a loner like Caerlin, you’re sure to find someone who reminds you of yourself. There’s comedy, too, and did I mention that there’s a cute little creature called Andu that will happily slurp down any drinks you make incorrectly? Adorable.

3. Infinity Nikki

There are two groups of people when it comes to Infinity Nikki: those who have played the previous Nikki games, and those who have just discovered it through the latest iteration. For those who had never played the previous mobile games, the success and joy of Infinity Nikki might come? as a surprise, but the open-wor??ld RPG release has taken a firm hold in the cozy gaming community. 

Yes, it’s a dress-up game filled with frilly dresses and adorable creatures. But it’s more than just?? that. There are endless quests to complete, a compelling story, an absolutely stunning world to expl??ore, and the possibilities for future updates are practically infinite - pun intended. 

If you don’t want to gamble on new outfits, one of the best things about Infinity Nikki is that you don’t have to, even if it ??is ?a gacha game. Most of the outfits are purely cosmetic, and you’re given everything you need as you progress through the main story, making the gacha side of things truly optional. 

2. Tiny Glade

If you’ve ever read any of my previous outpourings of love for Tiny Glade, then you’ll know how I feel about it, but I’m always happy for further opportunities to shout my praise for this glorious title from the rooftops. 

Tiny Glade is a stunning game that, much like Summerhouse, only requires you to build. The development duo at PounceLight have poured their souls into the game, constantly listening to player feedback and implementing new features as they’re requested. These features allow players to build absolutely stunning dioramas that mess with perspective and challenge what should be poss??ible.

The latest update gave players the freedom to move clutter items, which was my single gripe, so now I can safely say that Tiny Glade is the perfect game t?o pour hours of your life into if you need something utterly relaxing and stress-free. 

1. Fields of Mistria

I’m pretty sure that this will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody. Fields of Mistria released into early access back in August 2024, and it cemented its place in the cozy gaming history books remarkably quickly. Back in June, during Steam Next Fest, I wrote that I could see myself pouring hours of my life into the pixel world, but even I? didn’t expect to fall in love with it quite as much as I did. For those inte??rested, my hour-count is now hovering somewhere around 500. 

Not only is the art style cute, it’s also impeccably clean. Every single character has their own personality, all of which are likable in their own way, and there is never a shortage of things to do. You can spend hours perfecting the aesthetic of your farm and house, or you can explore the Mines, or simply build relationships with all of the villagers in Mistria. Did I mention that you can both jump and swim? That alone puts Fields of Mistria firmly at the top of the cozy games list.

Perhaps this shouldn’t come as a shock, considering the fact that the developers are also responsible for the household name that is Pusheen, but Fields of Mistria has proven that it has all of ??the elements that cozy gamers ar??e looking for, and it’s here to stay, with more updates promised in 2025.

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Critical Reflex has revealed Denkiworksâ€?upcoming courier title, Tanuki: Pon’s Summer. It stars one of Japan’s beloved â€?œraccoonâ€?d??ogs and is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

It’s going to be very difficult to not make juvenile innuendo here, so I’m first going to point you in the direction of this article to help you understand what I’m referring to when I speak of the Tanuki’s subst?antial endowment.

I’m not sure said tacklebox is going to be alluded to in Tanuki: Pon’s Summer. Instead, you play as the stripèd canid as they go about their business as a bike courier, which must be unco??mfortable for them. I feel like I’ve been talking about mail delivery games a lot lately, but I also think that it’s a good profession to center a game around. 

But beyond just thrusting packages toward waiting recipients, you also can take part in other summer activities such as bug catching, plating sushi, karaoke, baseball, and everyone’s favorite summer pastime: sumo. If this game doesn’t end with a fireworks festival, I don’t know what’s real anymore. You can also pull off tricks on your bike. I doubt it will be quite as stylish as Courier Corps, but I also se?e no reason why you wouldn’t want to do backflips on your bike.

Tanuki: Pon’s Summer is clearly aiming for the cozy descriptor, which I’ve had mixed feelings on. It also promises that you can befriend the locals and “manage your relationships with an? intuitive, emoji-based?? dialogue system!�My snob sensibilities go into overdrive at the word “emoji.�Surely a Tanuki would have other ways to impress the locals.

Tanuki: Pon’s Summer is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

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I think it’s plain to see that cozy games are something of a soft spot for me. There’s nothing I love more than relaxing with friends, real or in-game, to escape the pressur??es of the real world and the stress I encounter every day. 

What ?better way to unwind than relaxing in bed, or in the bath, or simply away from the computer, with a Switch in hand. Cozy isn’t restricted t?o big consoles and PCs, you can take the entire experience on the go. 

I’ve played a lot of games which could be considered ‘cozy�in my time, and here’s 10 of the best that I’ve found. The good news? All of them ??can be purchased through the Nintendo eShop, so there’s nothing stopping you from starting a play through right now.

A Little to the Left

The concept of A Little to the Left is simple; organise household items into small spaces in order to make them fit, with the occasional interruption of a chaos causing cat. If you get a kick out of a good spring clean, or enjoy organizing the space around you, then you’ll love A Little to the Left. Some of the puzzles can be a little challenging at first, but there's a huge sense of satisfaction when you figure out where everything ?goes.

Unpacking

If you want a deeper look at Unpacking, check out our in-depth look at it, but here’s the TLDR:

Unpacking is about, as you might expect, unpacking. You’ve got to unpack boxes and place items in a variety of rooms in a way which makes sense. What might surprise you is the depth of the story, and the strong connection that you’ll end up having with the person whose belongings have been entrusted to you. Alth?ough you never meet them, you get to know them and their story through their household items. 

Donut County

I think it’s safe to say that I’m a fan of Raccoons, so I might be a little biassed here. However, Donut County is a hole.io style game with added stories and characters to fall in love wit??h. Although the gameplay is pretty linear,? there’s a weird sense of satisfaction that comes from swallowing the items of the world in a big dark hole, and that leads to replayability. 

Stardew Valley

I think this one goes without saying, but Stardew Valley? is definitely a cozy game that you need on the Switch. Wherever you are, you can take the farm with you and progress your story. Farm on the go, or connect to the TV and form connections with the villagers in P??elican Town on the big screen. 

New Pokémon Snap

There are no battles in New Pokémon Snap, which already puts this right up there on my own personal list of cozy?? Switch titles. It’s essentially a Pokémon where you take photos of the Pokémon in order to document them, and get to the bottom of weird phenomena in the area. You don’t even have to move, as you move along a sort of track that takes you where you need to go, so you can just get snap happy.

Dorfromantik

Dorfromantik is like a puzzle with no pre-determined result. All you need to do is place down individual hexagonal pieces in order to create a landscape. Connecting similar tiles together will cross off goals and unlock new tiles, allowing you to create endlessly changing worlds. This one is really good for getting mildly creative and allowing yourself to forget ??a??bout the real world.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing is one of the OG cozy games, and you’re never going to be short of things to do if you start a ?new game. Meeting new villagers is only ?part of the fun, and creating and designing your island is endlessly satisfying. There’s a whole community of people willing to share their items, open their island for visits, and even allow you to come shopping. 

Tavern Talk

Tavern Talk is what happens when a game makes you the NPC. As the bartender of a fantasy taver??n, you don’t move or go anywhere, but you still get to see the world change around you through the people who come to drink at the bar. Your tasks are simple - make drinks and create quests for patrons to complete, then li?sten to their stories. 

Spirittea

Spirittea is adorable, and although it can be hard to get to grips with the enormous map to begin with, the characters you meet in your new countryside life are fun ?and memorable. You leave the c??ity and begin a new life in the countryside, but things aren’t all as they seem and there are spirits in the town, which often scare the residents. 

Things get more complicated as you progress, and eventually you'll need to run your own bath house for the spirits. Spirittea is like Spirited Away if? it were ?a pixel sim, and it's one of my favorites.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Imagine taking Animal Crossing and replacing all of the villagers with beloved Disney characters, and you’ll end up with Dreamlight Valley. To begin with, the Valley is fairly empty and overtaken by darkness. You unlock new characters as you progress, unlock new biomes, place their homes, and become closer to them to get rewards. Fishing, mining, and farming still play their role in Dreamlight Valley, and you’ll never run out of things to do.

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There seems to be something of a tidal wave of cozy farming sims hitting the market currently, and it can be hard to tell what makes one stand out against all the rest. Back in June, I played the demo for Garden Witch Life, and fell in love with it.

Garden Witch Life is out now on PC (via Steam and Epic Games), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. If you play on an??y of the mentioned platforms and have been looking for a new cozy game to dive into, you should give it a try??. 

After losing your job to mass layoffs and realizing that you’re not quite ready to head home to your parents and admit defeat just yet, you bump into May, who is a rather lovely anthropomorphic cactus with a café on Moonflower Island. Not only does she give you cake (which makes anyone instantly likeable in my eyes) and good life advice??, but she goes out of her way to let you stay with her overnight. This cactus lady is very trusting of strangers.

Then, in what is perhaps the most generous move anyone could possibly make, she gives you the keys to an entire (admittedly run down) treehouse, along with a bunch of land that you can do with as you please. Apparently nobody else wants it, for reasons which are left unsaid, and of course you bite her hand off because who wouldn’t? If only real life were more like a farming sim. This is the first step? in a massive life change, and we've all needed one of those at some point.

You’re then left to pretty much fend for yourself. Of? course you have regular interactions with the many anthropomorphized townsfolk, and you have to do quests for them as well, but? it’s very easy to forget about that aspect of the game entirely. There are endless corners of the map to explore, items to be foraged, and even a few animals to be petted. You’ll keep going until you pass out. No, literally, but more on that later.

One of the best things about Garden Witch Life is the decoration aspect. In a move that makes me more happy than I could ever say, you’re not limited to right angles or a grid system when it comes to placing furniture. You can more or less freely rotate?? everything, and place it wherever you want. Ite??ms can slightly overlap to prevent irritating gaps, and squares are a thing of the past. It’s beautiful. 

I will say that Garden Witch Life is not my perfect cozy sim game. There are things not currently in the game which definitely should be, such as craf??ting from storage. In order to craft or cook anythin?g, you have to have the necessary resources in your inventory. It’s not that much of a big deal, and you can easily work around it by placing chests close to the crafting bench, but it does add an unnecessary extra step.

Crafting or cooking anything, especially early on in a playthrough, will unlock more recipes. Turning logs into planks will provide the recipe for a wooden storage chest, for example. Gathering items works in very much the same way, with everything you pick up unlocking some form of recipe. It’s always exciting to see the pop-up telling you what you’ve learned, and I’ve found that I’m more driven to craft, knowing that Iâ€??™ll get new recipes from doing so. 

The cooking mini-game is a joy in itself. It reminds me of my dearly beloved Cooking Mama. You use the chopping board to prepare ingredients and then you need to cook them in the cauldron. You?? control the temperature, add ingredients one at a time, stir the mix, and eventually end up with a fully cooked meal to increase your stamina. All that’s missing is an interactive? blow feature.

One of the things I’m hoping is added in future updates is some kind of warning before the end of the day. It’s very easy to lose track of time in Garden Witch Life, and I’ve found myself passing out at the end of the day multiple times simply because I for?got to look at th??e clock. I pride myself on my ability to never pass out from exhaustion in cozy games, so this has been a humbling experience. 

I’ve only just started my play through of Garden Witch Life, and I know that I am very far from unlocking and understanding all of the features that await me, bu??t I know that I could throw hours of my life into creating the perfect hideaway treehouse and exploring everything Moonflower Island has to offer. I think the things that make me love Garden Witch Life are the very issues that I've mentioned above.

Life isn't perfect, but sometimes it throws you curveballs taking you in a direction you never imagined you could go. That's the lingering thought when playing, and I happen to love it when games impart valuable wisdom without really even trying. While Garden Witch Life might not be perfect, it's beautiful, charming, and it feels... Fre?e. You can be whoever you want to be on Moonflower Island, and we a?ll need more of that kind of freedom.

The post Looking for a new cozy gam??e? Try Garden Witch Life appeared first on Destructoid.

There are always new games being released which hope to break into the cozy market, and the latest is Critter Cove. The 3D animal-based game takes inspiration from all of t?he usual titles, and was released into early access on September 10. 

Before the game was even available to play, developer Gentleman Rat Studio revealed some of the updates which have already happened due to player feedback from the demo. It also revealed a roadmap for the game's first two major updates, se?t to arrive at some point during early access.

If you’re hoping to dive into Critter Cove and have previously played the demo, you’ll be happy to know that your save file from the demo can carry over into the full game. This is something that the dev ?team hopes to continue with future updates, although it has been acknowledged that there may be issues wit??h this moving forward. 

Updates to the demo

If you played the demo, you’ll know that there were some pretty standard features which were missing from it. However, the devs have put a ton of effort in to improving Critter Cove in time ??for the early access launch, with a lot of improvements and adjustments coming as a direct r?esult of player feedback:

• New locations

  • Sunken City
  • Hotter Tropic
  • Boomerang Bay
  • Five Little Crabs
  • Rig’s Outpost
  • Underwater areas to explore

• New quests and critters
• New plants, seeds, and recipes
• Recycler and underwater farming
• Improved and additional relationship building
• Radio to track weather and tourists
• Fins and wetsuits
• Fishing*
• Tourism updates

  • Sales carts
  • New recipes for tourist activities
  • Upgrade and decorate the town

• Additional customization, including a mirror to change character appearance
• Wall and floor customization in player house
• Museum ready for donations
• Clothing and furniture shop

*Gentleman Rat Studio revealed on Twitter? that its has removed the Fishing minigame from the early access build for the moment, due to ‘accessibility issuesâ€? You can still fish, just without the ?minigame aspect. 

First major update

The first major update, which doesn’t have an estimated date of arrival as of yet, will increase the size of Critter Cove? by a third, while also introducing further quest lines and other game play features.

Gentleman Rat Studio has said that while this is the planned course of u??pdates over the coming months, there is a possibility that things will change depending on pla?yer feedback and priorities as the game goes through early access.

Here’s everything we can expect in th??e first major update:

• New locations

  • Reflection Pool
  • Research Island
  • Villager Island
  • Botanical Island

• Robo-helpers
• Copperbottom’s Story quest line
• New quests and critters
• Further customization options
• Crafting upgrades
• A whole new museum wing and gift shop
• Control remapping
• Steam achievements
• Options to change who lives in the town
• Bakery and Gym

Second major update

Again, there is no ballpark date for when to expect this second update, but it will add a lot of basic features to Critter Cove, as well as new areas to explore:

• New Locations and points of interest
• Expanded player housing
• Woolington’s Story quest line
• New equipment

  • Sea Scooter
  • Plunger Launcher
  • Metal Detector

• Townsfolk relationship enhancements

  • Seasonal celebrations
  • Birthdays
  • Home visits
  • Nicknames
  • Catchphrases

• Tourist attractions

  • Carnival
  • Ferris Wheel

• Further customization options
• New quests and critters
• Additional weather effects
• New recipes and salvage items
• Boat upgrades, including a new ship type
• Additional town buildings

  • Clinic
  • Dye system at the clothing shop
  • Salon
  • School

The post As Critter Cove enters Early Access, dev shares roadmap and details of future u??pdates appeared first on Destructoid.

The Wholesome Games Steam event is here to announce new games and spotlight current releases, and one of today's reveals is Ritual of Raven. This witchy farming sim comes from Spellgarden Games, who previously worked on Sticky Business. It's curr??ently due out th??rough publisher Team17 sometime in 2025.

Beyond Steam, Ritual of Raven is eyeing a release on Ninten?do Switch. Spellgarden is aiming for maximum coziness with this one, as previewed in the announcement trailer below.

Ritual of Raven describes itself as a farming sim, but you actually collect and enchant Arcana Constructs to work on your magical herb garden for you. Whi?le these magical creatures help grow ingredients for rituals, it's up to you to embark upon quests, befriend various characters, and get to t?radin'. You'll also want to suss out what's up with all these portals that have been popping up throughout the land.

If the crux of your coziness lies in customization, it seems there's plenty of it to go around here. You can decorate your farm as you see fit, and you can also apply ??a bunch of customization options to the wider world of magic beyond your farm's borders.

Enchanting ingredients

So far, it all looks like it's eyeing a nice balance between chill sim gameplay and a touch of mystery lurking around the edges. If you want to try it out for yourself and happen to be heading to gamescom, Ritual of Raven will be pla??yable at the event. Look for the demo at the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2 | F010 E019 for all your occult-adjacent cultivating needs.  

The post ??Ritual of Raven is a witchy farming si?m from the Sticky Business devs appeared first on Destructoid.

Pounce Light has announced that its free-form scene creator, Tiny Glade, now has a release date. It’s hitting PC on September 14, 2024.

Tiny Glade (I keep writing “Groveâ€? is a cozy game where you construct little buildings using an impressively intuitive editor. There’s no judgem?ent (no “wrong answersâ€?as the developer says), so the goal is to simply create scenes that please you. Maybe pet the sheep while youâ€?™re at it.

The unique hook here is its editor. It’s not grid-based, and features that you p??lace adapt to being morphed. The structure adapts to objects placed, such as windows, so it’s all about plopping and dragging. It’s a game that really sells itself because ev??en watching the trailer and the gifs on the store page is satisfying. 

I’m someone whose mind has been polluted enough by modernity that I feel the need to have some sort of progression, and it doesn’t look like Tiny Glade has that, but the creation kit alone has me wanting to play it. Co??nsidering the fact that poor life choices have practically ensured that I will never own a home of my own, the idea of being able to easily create? one from my imagination is appealing.

Tiny Glade had an impressive demo this past May’s Steam Next Fest. Paula Vaynshteyn gave it a look and came away with a craving for more.

We won’t have to wait long, as Tiny Glade launches on PC September 14, 2024.

The post Cozy scene-building game Tiny Glade is ou??t in Septe?mber appeared first on Destructoid.

Dear Villagers and Studio Plane Toast are closer to nailing down a release date for their post-apocalyptic adventure, Caravan SandWitch. It will be out in September for P?C, PS5, and Switch. ?The exact day hasn’t been announced.

Based on the name, if you asked me what Caravan SandWitch was, I would have guessed that it was? a whimsical food truck game. Not so, as it’s actually a sci-fi, post-apocalyptic exploration game set on the planet C?igalo. It’s post-apocalyptic in the sense that humans ruined the environment, as we’re wont to do. There wasn’t an actual apocalypse there in the cosmic or religious sense.

Caravan SandWitch is billed as a “semi-open�world. It’s a journey, and along the way, you meet folks and help them with their problems. You drive across a “Provence-like�world in a van. There is no combat, no death, no timer. The ?art style and aesthetic execution look top-notch based on the trailers.

It’s been in development for a while, starting off as a small indie project that was described as an anti-Mad Max. There was also a demo released a while back. From what I hear, it did a good job highlighting the graphics and movement system, but ended abruptly before you got to any r??eal meat. Hopefully, the meat i??s good.

We’ll find out next month when Caravan SandWitch launches on PC, PS5, and Switch.

The post Cozy post-apocalyptic exploration game Caravan SandWitch isn’t as delicious as it sounds, out in September appeared first on Destructoid.

If you’re a fan of the cozy side of gaming, August is set to be a very good month. August 15 in particular shou?ld be a date you ??mark off in the calendar, but there are other games coming this month as well to give you all the cozy vibes. 

On August 13, Tavern Manager Simulator finally gets its full release. This game?? sees you as, and I’m sure this will come as no surprise, the manager of a medieval tavern where you serve wanderers who come through the doors. You need to balance your stock levels, do the dishes, and gradually rebuild your tavern to what I’m sure was its former glory. 

Love, Ghostie is fully releasing on August 14. This game, which had a demo available during the latest Steam Next Fest, has you playing as a dead cupid. In a house full of animals, it’s up to you to? decide who will make the best couples, and use your ghostly abilities to set them up using a variety of methods. It’s very cute, and the stories which emerge are heartwarmi??ng. 

Oddada is the first game releasing fully on August 15, and if you took part in Steam Next Fest then you likely already know what this is. There’s no real goals in Oddada, all you need to do is make music by playing with toys. At the end of the game, once you’ve constructed your melody, you have the option to download your own music as a .wav file. The visuals are simple yet oddly hypnotic, and I can’t wait to somehow lose hours to Oddada.

Next up on August 15 is the latest DLC for Sticky Business, Camp Zinnias. This is the only of these releases that I haven’t played a demo of, but I have spent far too many hours on Sticky Business so I can attest to the ease at which this game will steal away hours of your life. Camp Zinnias promises new interconnected stories and lots of new nature themed s??ticker elements. 

And last, but absolutely not least, Just Crow Things is coming on August 15 to cause chaos and steal all the shinies. This is one of my most anticipated games of the Summer, and there??’s something so appealing about wreaking havoc on unsuspecting people from above. Poop and fart on random members of the public while helping your animal friends with bizarre quests - doesn’t that sound like fun?

These aren't the only cozy games launching in ??August, but they're a small selection of so??me solid-looking offerings. Got any you're keeping an eye on? Let us know down below.

The post Five cozy games are releasing this August, and you should play them ?al??l appeared first on Destructoid.

If you’re a fan of cozy games that inspire creativity, challenge organizational skills, and feature a ton of unlockables, then I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of Sticky Business. Just a year after its launch, deve?loper Spellgarden Games has a new DLC on the way. 

This will be the second Sticky Business DLC. The first, Plan With Me, was released back in December 2023, and the second, Camp Zinnias, launches on August 15. 

There’s more to Sticky Business than meets the eye at first glance. Yes, at the most basic level, it’s a game about designing stickers. However, once you really get into it and start receiving requests for specific designs and filling orders, things quickly?? grow complicated.

Designing stickers is just one aspect of Sticky Business. You’ve got to come up with your prices, and those affect how many much-needed sales you’ll make. This money goes right back into your virtual sticker business as you unlock new sticker slots and more designs to work with, ??purchase more paper, and set up your online store. 

Each DLC for Sticky Business comes with new design elements, packaging styles, and even more requests that need to be fulfilled. Camp Zinnias adds a bunch of nature-themed goodies and new interconnected customer stories, which will have you sending out stickers and fulfilling orders for new characters Zelia, Hazel, and others at Camp Zinnias. 

And, as I have a particular soft spot for making glitter stickers in this pixelated slice of cosy gaming, I’m happy to say that there are more glitter sticker designs on the way in Camp Zinnias, too. 

If you’re wanting to dive in and run your own virtual sticker business, you’ll need to first purchase the Sticky Business base game. It’s currently available on Nintendo Switch, Mac, and PC, where you can purchase it through Steam for $9.99 USD. Plan With Me is currently available for an additional $3.99 USD, with Camp Zinnias likely to be priced similarly.

The post Sticky Business expands its sticker shop with nature-them?e?d DLC Camp Zinnias appeared first on Destructoid.

The Lucky Dragon update is coming to Disney Dreamlight Valley on June 16. After the update, players will not only have a new realm and quests with Mulan and Mushu, as well as the brand new Majesty and Magnolias Star Path event, but a??lso?? a new time-limited event too.

The Inside Out 2 themed event, Memory Mania, wi?ll be available as soon as the update goes live on June ??26 and will run until July 17, giving players three weeks to complete daily requirements and unlock exclusive event rewards. 

The rewards for this event will be companions inspired by characters from Inside Out 2, including what is likely a very anxious squirrel who reminds me of Bucky from The Emperor’s New Groove, and a turtle in a hoodie who seems to be inspired by Embarrassment in Inside Out 2. 

In order to get these rewards, as well as any others associated with the Memory Mania event, players will need to fin??d event items which will spawn daily in order to complete memories. Once these memories are completed, you’ll be able to obtain the rewards. 

While it’s nice that players will have plenty to do when the Lucky Dragon update drops, there are some players (myself included) who feel that time-limited events would benefit players more if they took place during downtime. With everything coming all at once, it can feel slightly overwhelmin??g and?? players can be left feeling as though their attention is split in too many directions. 

Hopefully the requirements for Memory Mania will be quick to compl??ete each day, leaving plenty of time free to grind away at the Majesty and Magnolias Star Path event, or otherwise build friendships with Mulan and Mushu.

The post Memory Mania event and new companion?s co??ming to Disney Dreamlight Valley with Lucky Dragon update appeared first on Destructoid.

Tiny Glade has taken the cozy corner of the internet by storm since the release of its demo on May 30, with players sharing their builds and figu??ring out all of the?? tiny details over on Twitter and the game's official Discord server. 

Today, though, marks a huge milestone for the two-person development team Pouncelight �Tiny Glade is now on over one million wishlists on Steam, and it comes as no surprise. So what’s next for Ana and Tom, the minds behind Tiny Glade?

Well, not least of all they’re hoping to clean their kitchen, and honestly I know the feeling. However, top priority is a break after the chaos they’ve faced since releasing the Tiny Glade demo.?? With nearly constant de?mo patches, they’ve definitely been busy making sure that everything runs smoothly. 

Tiny Glade Steam demo extended one week

Most importantly, they’ve decided to extend how long the demo will be live, giving players another week to dive in and start building their own tiny worlds. You now have until June 23 to download Tiny Glade on Steam and experience the ??joy t??hat so many already have, and continue to on a daily basis. 

Sadly, the daily prompts provided by the Nok Nok audio pair Oda and Martin will be coming to an end. These prompts have proved hugely inspirational, allowing p?layers to really test their build??ing skills and come up with some gorgeous tiny builds. 

Over the last week, we’v?e had the following prompt??s:

• Tiny House on a Hill
• Tiny Secret Garden
• Tiny Neighborhood
• Tiny Wizard Tower
• Tiny Mysterious Ruins

The final of these prompts is perhaps the best yet. Players have been tasked with building a Tiny Tavern, w?ith Oda and Martin citing the need for somewhere? to gather and celebrate all of the excellent demos experienced during Steam Next Fest. 

I first heard about Tiny Glade way back in 2022 and now that I’ve been able to experience the joy of playing it, I’m even more excited for the game to release fully later in 2024. I can’t wait to see how far Tiny Glade will go.

The post Ultimate cozy game Tiny Glade hits one million wish??lists on Steam appeared first on Destructoid.

Special Delivery

When I checked out the Mail Time demo earlier this year, I had a number of reservations. It felt rough and directionless, both of which are okay in a pre-release demo, but don’t inspire much faith. I need some indication that the concept will be delivered on. I need to see some chops. There weren’t a lot of chops on display in the Mail Time demo, which left me feeling cold.

So cold that I almost passed on the opportunity to review it. I was afraid that this would be yet another “cozy�game that th??inks that being wholesome means?? not having any potato on its plate. That it would focus so much on being non-threatening that it loses all it’s depth and becomes a hollow, uncharming experience.

And I was right.

No, I’m joking. I’m never right. Mail Time is a good time.

[caption id="attachment_375713" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Mail Time (PC [Reviewed], Switch, PS4, PS5)
Developer: Kela van der Deijl
Publisher: Freedom Games
Release: April 27, 2023 (PC), TBA (Console)
MSRP: TBA

Mail Time puts you in the tiny s?ocks of a mail sc??out (in training). It’s your first delivery, and if you manage to succeed, you become a full-blown mail scout. Mail scouts deliver letters, if you weren’t aware. There are a lot of rules, and your avatar knows them all by heart.

The big problem is that y?ou’ve only got a name to tell you where your delivery is going. To find them, you’re going to have to ask around, and you’ll soon find that everyone has a problem and want their mail delivered.

You’re very tiny, and everything else is extremely big. T??he aesthetic evokes a hand-drawn style, and while it’s not technically impressive, it’s visually appealing. As much as I love the lo-fi aesthetic that is currently conquering the indie market, it’s nice to see such a unique art style. The way the dialogue windows are presented using expressive 2D images of the characters, much like a visual novel, is a very nice ??touch.

//youtu.be/6F5CJHqCruM

There goes the neighborhood

Mail Time isn’t a very big game, and I don’t mean that as a complaint. You’re let loose in a smallish open-world. It doesn’t take you very long to? cross it, especially when using your glider. However, all of its characters are nestled nicely in their homes. If anythin??g, it’s a decent representation of an isolated neighborhood. Everybody knows each other and has some sort of opinion and gossip.

Considering objectives largely see you going from point A to point B to deliver messages and fetch items, the smaller world map is probably ideal. I kept hoping that there’d be another map that ?you move onto after completing the first one, but I later realized that would require you to leave all the characters you met behind, which probably wouldn’t be as cozy.

There’s a decent amount of verticality and much to explore. The movement physics in Mail Time are rather loose and weightless in a less modern sense,?? but it really works for the game’s exploration. While the area you trek through is rather small, there are a lot of vis?ibly distinct areas to it. It reads very easily, making it difficult to get very lost.

[caption id="attachment_375716" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Fat cat

The story isn’t very deep, but the dialogue is charming. Just beware if you’re the type to skip ?dialogue, because it’s extremely easy here. Text boxes pop up already populated, so you can end up strik??ing them down as quickly as they appear.

The ?writing has a light and optimistic touch. People can be jerks, but not in a very offensive way. There’s a lot of clever wordplay and a tonne of amusing jokes mixed throughout. Skipping through it would?? be an unfortunate waste, which is why I bring up that it’s so easy to do. The concept of delivering mail works in an interactive medium because it gives you the opportunity to get to know the characters better,

Even if you do read every last drop of language, Mail Time is a rather short game at maybe around 2 hours. There are stamps to collect, secrets to find, and you can generally go at your own pace, but even if you go out of your way to e??xperience everything, it’s not going to stack up very high.

[caption id="attachment_375717" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Cottage-core fringe

I’ve become somewhat skeptical of the cozy cottage-core fringe of the indie market after being left disappointed by a few titles, but I’m happy to say that Mail Time delivers where I’ve seen others fall short. Trying to be friendly and welcoming doesn’t compromise it as a game. It manages to be compelling while not being challe??nging. It does t??his through breezy design, a lightweight world map, and enjoyable writing. It’s an excellent execution on its philosophy.

At the same time, it comes with a warning that applies to a lot of cozy games. It’s not a transcendental experience that is going to leave a permanent mark. It doesn’t aim to be taken very seriously. Mail Time wants to be an enjoyable and easy-going experience for everyone. It’s cute, inoffensive, and creative. Mail Time is perhaps exactly what we need more of.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Mail Time appeared first on Destructoid.

Who doesn't need a lil gator in their life?

I don't know about you guys, but I'm always hunting for the next cozy, relaxing game I can lose myself in. Based on the news I've seen today, it seems that experience is right around the corner in the form of Lil Gator Game. Wholesome Games is one of my favorite Twitter accounts to follow seeing as they keep me up to date on all of my wholesome game needs (of which I have many), so their endorsement means a lot to me. They've been thrilled about the upcoming release of Lil Gator Game, so I am absolutely on board.

As ??you may have guessed, you play as a lil gator who is exploring a beautiful island. You'll make friends with other animals, complete little tasks like skipping rocks on the water, or shooting at little cardboard targets, and o??f course you can take things at your own pace to fully enjoy everything the island has to offer.

//twitter.com/PlaytonicGames/status??/1602692402053058560

As much as I've love the many excellent action-centric games that have come out this year, the idea of not having any fail state or time limit sounds like a dream. The Steam page advertises that you can "climb, swim, and glide" your way around, and it seems to me like we're still seeing Breath of the Wild's influence on open world game desi??gn �whi??ch I will take as a win.

Lil Gator Game is the debut for indie studio MegaWobble, and if the game lives up the trailers I've seen so far, I think they're going to be in it for the long haul. Their publisher, Playtonic Friends, has also helped release indie favorites like Blossom Tales II, Demon Turf, and A Little Golf Journey.

Lil Gator Game is available December 14, 2022 on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.

The post Wholesome Games highlight L?il Gator Game is out tom??orrow appeared first on Destructoid.