Summary
There aren’t too many video games that provide more satisfaction than a good oldcozy game.What makes these games so good is their calming nature, whether it be in the form of their visual design, in-game elements, or just through their simple gameplay.
The simplistic nature of these games means they are also easier to make, which is why we see many indie companies and novice developers try their hands at them and succeed as well. This article will list some of the best and most underrated cozy games we have come across and give you reasons for trying them out as well.
Littlewood is probably the most popular cozy game on this list, but we still believe it isn’t half as popular as it should be. The retro,8-bit art stylewill make you feel nostalgic as soon as you open up the game, and the comforting soundtrack perfectly accompanies it to give a cozy and relaxing vibe.
In terms of gameplay, there is a lot to do, such as crafting, fishing, exploring the world, cooking, and much more which can keep you entertained for days. All of it is also very easy to pick up and the game never feels challenging at all.
8Röki
Röki is a completely non-violent adventure game with a beautiful environment in Scandinavian mountains and forests. You will come across many monsters in this game, with most of them being cute and friendly rather than creepy and violent.
There is a certain relaxing charm to exploring in this game, and the puzzles along the way also provide a decent bit of a challenge. Although the gameplay is pretty good, it’sthe unique art styleand graphics that make this game different from others, and make it so charming.
7Wildmender
Wildmender is one of theprettiest-looking garden simulator gameswe have ever played, although there is much more to it than just growing your garden. This game’s basic concept is to transform the huge desert around you into a beautiful garden, and you do that by growing seeds, taking care of your plants, making structures, and much more.
The pure satisfaction you get by transforming this barren land into something so beautiful is unreal, and the fact that you can also do it co-op with up to 4 people makes it even better. There is also a lot of room for exploration, with there being plenty of temples, ruins, and other structures with loot in them to find.
Arise: A Simple Story is a short game of roughly 4 hours that takes you on a beautiful journey with a brilliant narrative. The key theme to this game’s story is about reliving a life full of love and loss, and the joyful and the tough moments that come alongside it. This is one of those games that will make you contemplate many aspects of your life and provide you with a different perspective.
Arise is very simple in terms of its gameplay, and it’s its amazing Disney movie-esque art style, beautiful narrative, and a great soundtrack that make it so good.
Melatonin provides a rare mix of a rhythm game combined with a cozy game. Unlikemost other rhythm games,this one doesn’t really challenge you unless you are playing its hard mode, and it is mostly about vibing your way through its unique levels, all of which are made with the same pastel and lo-fi art style.
This game is perfect for the Nintendo Switch, as it has very short levels that can easily be picked up and completed within a few minutes. There is something so simple yet so oddly satisfying about Melatonin thatit will have you coming back in the hunt to get better and better scores.
4Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills lets you be a robot chef and control a sushi restaurant while also managing your life and social situations. You take full control of your restaurant in this game and get to handle all the stuff, from customizing your food to making sure you get good reviews and earn coins, and decorating your restaurant to make your customers happy.
This is the ultimate cozy game, and everything from its gameplay to its cute animated graphics fits this genre perfectly well. The fact that you’re able to also socialize with townspeople and help them with their chores is also a good addition that makes this much more than a simplerestaurant management game.
3Minami Lane
Minami Lane is asmall and cozy street management gamethat lets you create and customize your own street. Setting up buildings and stores, and making sure your citizens are satisfied is a big part of this game, but it never gets too challenging or complicated.
The relaxing art style of Minami Lane, paired with the fact that it is a relatively short game and can be completed within a couple of hours, makes it another great cozy game for the Switch.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a cozy and wholesome game that follows the adventures of a little girl called Alba and her attempts to save the wildlife of a small Mediterranean island. Most of the gameplay revolves around exploring the beautiful island, recruiting other people for help, and capturing all the different species of animals you can find.
The relaxing nature of this game allows you to explore the island at your own pace, andthere is no rush to complete any mission or objective. Just roaming around the detailed and well-crafted island while listening to the calming soundtrack of the game is what makes it feel so comforting and wholesome.
1Part-Time UFO
Although it was developed by HAL Laboratory, who are the creators behind iconic games such as Kirby and Super Smash Bros, Part Time UFO is a game that doesn’t get half as much love as it deserves. This is one of the mostfun puzzle platformer games we have played on the Switch, and its adorable art style and fun gameplay make it a great cozy game as well.
You take on the role of Jobski, a UFO, and your tasks revolve around helping the people of the town with their chores, in exchange for some in-game currency that you’re able to use to purchase cute costumes and accessories.Althoughsome of the jobs can get challenging at times, this is still a relatively simple and relaxing cozy gamethat you will have a lot of fun playing.
