It is that time of year again when youmight sit on the couch, in bed, or at the computer with a blanket on and a warm drink next to you while playing a cozy game. Fall is the perfect time of year to find your next cozy game that is relaxing and full of autumn vibes.
Everyone’s definition of cozy might change depending on the game they want to play or recommend others to play. For this list, you will be looking at entries with vibrant storytelling, calming gameplay with tons of exploration, and cute and stunning graphics that will have you coming back to the game again and again.
10The Garden Path
A New Modern Classic For Autumn Gaming
A recent 2024 release is The Garden Path, which might have flown under the radar for some, but is worth checking out this fall season. This slice-of-life game focuses on thejoy of gardeningand brings some wonderful surprises.
The Garden Path is designed for you to play as long or as little as you like while also delivering a unique aesthetic visually. There are plenty of charming characters to meet, quests to do, secrets to learn, and activities such as gardening and fishing all set to a soundtrack as unique as the graphics.
If you’re looking for a game where you may just go on a hike and explore beautiful and peaceful mountainside landscapes, then you should check out A Short Hike. It will let you explore an island setting in a cozy way.
There are different paths to take that will let you wander on a trail, through the countryside, near rivers, or even a beach and meet different folks along the way. As you travel through the wilderness, you will be accompanied by a soundtrack that progresses dynamically with you.
Have you ever wanted to own your own bed and breakfast out in the woods? Well, now you can, but as a bear in Bear and Breakfast. This is a laid-back management game with some fun adventure added in.
There is plenty to do in this game, such as building your B+B with guest rooms, bathrooms, and entertainment rooms to your liking, completing quests and collecting new items, and even making friends. You can also go out into the forest to explore and forage.
Mineko’s Night Market is a narrative-driven game that celebrates Japanese culture through social adventures. You will get to discover the secrets of the town and the Sun Cat that the locals worship in this heartwarming story.
There is much to do in this game, such as competing in parades and stage performances, solving puzzles, crafting items with resources from around the world, making friends with the townsfolk, and bartering with them. Not to mention there are many cats in the game.
With cozy in the name of the game, it must be right for this list. Cozy Grove is a life-sim game where you play as Spirit Scout camping on a haunted island. The campaign is filled with side quests that add to the 40+ hour main storyline.
You will get to wander through the forest and help soothe the local ghosts. You will find many secrets, collect spirit animals and fish, and spend plenty of time crafting. The characters themselves also each have a unique story for you to explore. On top of all of that, the landscapes are hand-drawn, which adds to the charm of this game.
A cozy games list isn’t complete without at least mentioning Animal Crossing: New Horizons. If you would like to spend your time on a deserted island exploring and crafting, then this game just might be for you.
You will get to build your home and community from scratch exactly how you want it with the help of its many residents. There is plenty to do, such as decorating, gardening, fishing, and more, all while watching the seasons pass by. One of the best parts of the game is being able to show off your island.
Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about the dying. To most, that doesn’t sound very cozy at all, but when you get to play through it, you will understand why it has a place on this list.
You play as Stella, a ferrymaster for the deceased, and your job is to build a boat to explore the world and befriend and care for spirits before helping them crossover into the afterlife. There is plenty to do, such as craft, cook, and farm all while taking in the beautiful and imaginativehand-drawn world.
Stardew Valley is one of the biggest indie games and for good reason. While it is all about farming, there is much more depth to it than that. There are plenty of townsfolk to meet and learn about.
Not only that, but there are also a variety of events that take place during each season along with music that helps set the mood for them. If you want a fun and relaxing title where you may see the beauty of fall, then Stardew Valley should be on your list. Not to mention, there are also quite a few aesthetic mods that can add even more of those autumn vibes year round.
Another release from 2024 on this list is Tiny Glade. This free-form building game will let you build castles, cottages, ruins, and much more to your liking. You can turn a forest into a hidden village or a meadow in a relaxing farming town.
There are no goals here, which means there is no combat and no management or side quests. Tiny Glade is solely focused onletting you build castlesin a gridless environment. If that isn’t enough to entice you, then maybe the relaxing gameplay, stunning graphics, and adorable sheep that waddle along your paths just might.
If you’re looking for a cozy game that is focused on adventure, exploration, stories, and characters, then check out Night In The Woods. You play as Mae, who returns home only to find things and your friends aren’t the same.
There is a vibrant world for you to explore with dozens of characters for you to meet and interact with. There is much to do and learn from the storyline that grips you from the moment you begin to play and dive deeper into the story. All this along with the charming visuals and soundtrack makes this one of the best cozy games to play during the fall.
