Summary
There are plenty of different genres in the wide world of video games. No matter what sort of games draw you in, there is a wealth of choices that you have to make to figure out what you want to play next. While many of them arefast-paced and high-energy, some are a bit more easy-going.
Across genres, none are quite like RPGs. Known for unique characters, interesting lore, and remarkable settings, this genre is impressively broad on its own. While there are plenty of RPGs full of brutal combat, sometimes you just want to relax with a cozy RPG, like one of these games.
A mix of sim and RPG, Fields Of Mistria is a quaint game with simple graphics and mechanics for when you don’t want a high-stress RPG to get your heart rate going. But, that’s not all this game has for you.
There is also a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. If you’re already a fan of the RPG/sim mix from other games that have tried it, then you will definitely like this one. But, sometimes it feels like it tried to do too much.
While it has been known to jump genres from time to time the Super Mario RPG was an interesting idea from Nintendo. Taking plenty of the classic characters, and a fun storyline, and implanting it on the Switch seems like an obvious choice once you dive into it.
Mario games are a classic choice for relaxing thanks to the bright colors, easy conflicts, and simple gameplay. Hang out with Mallow, face Bowser’s army, and explore the world around you as a plumber on a mission.
8Dragon Quest (Series)
Watch Those Slimes
If you talk about RPGs for long enough, you will get to the classic fantasy RPG series known as Dragon Quest. It plays homage to a lot of theRPG standard tropes, like ‘the chosen one’ and ‘saving the world,’ but it does so in a pretty whimsical way.
There are a lot of bright colors, friendly faces, and comedic moments throughout the series. It doesn’t take long to fall in love with the simple turn-based combat, especially against enemies like the classic slime.
A blast from the past, EarthBound is a simple JRPG where your character and a group of his friends go on a journey that is quite unlike any other. You investigate a crashing meteor, and a simple idea suddenly spirals into a grand quest.
It sounds tense, but most of the game is traveling through the fictional Eagleland and meeting friends and aliens along the way. It set a baseline for a lot of JRPG games from then on, and it’s always nice to go back to the beginning.
Longtime Nintendo fans will recognize Ness as the main character of EarthBound, a staple of the Smash Bros. roster.
Moonlighter is an interesting concept. Where so many RPGs dive into other genres for a little bit of intrigue, Moonlighter is an interesting binary as it is an RPG that is half shop sim, and half action-packed roguelite.
Your protagonist is a simple shop owner in a small village, but to keep the store afloat, he must go to different realms to fight monsters and loot dungeonsto sell the valuablesduring the day. It’s a fun concept that balances combat with plenty of coziness.
The Land Of Bugaria is, you guessed it, full of bugs. As three of these sentient six-legged creatures, you roam the world on a quest that will change the world around you. It’s a cute game from start to finish, with plenty to bring you in.
Puzzles, enemies, and a fun kind-of-2D art style that you don’t see in many other places, it’s a fun dive into cozy RPGs if you either need something new to play, or you want a simple look at the genre as a new player.
You can’t talk about cozy RPGs without talking about Stardew Valley. It touches on some of the major facets of the genre, and leaves plenty of others behind to mix easily with a farming sim. The result is a game that is easy to lose days with.
The main plot is simple enough: your late grandfather left you his farm in the will. You move to the titular valley to refurbish the place and start a new life. It’s easy-going, relaxing, and often times cuter than you’d think possible for a farming game.
3Pokemon (Series)
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
Becoming the very best trainer has always been the goal of Pokémon fans, and it doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon. You’ll spend most of your time in this unique RPG moving across various villages, towns, and landscapes.
Along the way you’ll meet new challengers, meet new friends, and even learn what bonds a good trainer to their pokémon. It’s often an emotional journey, with plenty of fun moments, and oftena great soundtrackto boot.
Skyrim took the lore that the Elder Scrolls series has built from the ground up and breathed new life into it. There’s a lot of combat, but it doesn’t often feel strenuous, especially at higher levels. Instead, you are in for quite an adventure.
A beautiful snowy setting, a wild roster of various characters and creatures, and plenty of ways to customize your character, this all combines into an experience that is full of awe that is still talked about years later.
Not to mention you’re able to get married, adopt a kid, and build your own house.
The Legend of Zelda series has been a staple that has revolutionized the RPG genre. Once again, the series brings new ideas and a new challenge with Tears Of The Kingdom, with an open world and even crafting now.
While there is combat, it often isn’t too disheartening, and with an open world, you can often avoid it for large sections of timeas you explore Hyrule, create giant robots, and even meet new friends along your journey.
