Cozy games can be defined in many ways, but common characteristics include being able to go at your own pace, simple or easygoing gameplay, and often freedom from any sense of urgency. If you haven’t noticed though, a lot of ‘cozy’ branded games involve farming.
That isn’t to say farming features and mechanics are a bad thing, since games likeStardew Valleyprove it can be fun. The point is, cozy games can have a place in everyone’s schedule, especially when you’re feeling worn out and want something simple to play, and you can do it all without moving to another farming simulator.
8PowerWash Simulator
Platforms
PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Release Date
2021
Thanks toPowerWash Simulator, you’re able to dive into the relaxing world of powerwashing various objects, all without having to invest in a real power washer, deal with your hands feeling weird from the vibration of the engine, or spend extra on your water bill.
Go ‘zen mode’ on a wide variety of jobs, from typical gigs like cleaning the sides of houses and driveways, all the way to more farfetched, but no less relaxing jobs, like traveling to Mars and cleaning a rover.
If this sounds fun to you,check out how we rank all of PowerWash Simulator’s DLCbefore you buy.
2018
If you’re a tech-oriented person and find joy in building PCs, or you want to learn how to build a PC in a safe, cost-free environment, PC Building Simulator will be a great fit for you. Diagnose problems for clients, make repairs, and build your dream machine, all without breaking the bank.
If the learning curve seems steep, you can get up to speed by checking out ourbeginner tips for PC Building Simulator. Other than that, tackle it when you’re in a problem-solving or tinkering mood, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a PC building god.
2022
Smushi Come Home is a cute, 3D game where you play as a little mushroom fella that got lost in a forest and needs to find their way back home. Except, there isn’t any rush to get home. In fact, you can explore every area at your own pace.
Take a swim in a stream, jump from platform to platform, chat with a blend of friendly, quirky, and interesting NPCs, and as an added, educational bonus, learn about actual mushrooms you’d find in real life through an in-game mycology journal.
5Townscaper
Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac, Web Browser
While goals can be a very important, valuable, and rewarding part of life, there is something equally inviting about finding joy and beauty in being; approaching life with no real goal, just experiencing it for what it is.
In Townscaper, no real goal or specific gameplay is the point; it’s just you, a blank ocean canvas, and the ability to build and paint buildings on an irregular, unique grid that’s influenced by an intelligent, underlying algorithm. Go ahead, channel the architectural version of your inner Bob Ross.
2014
While you’re technically under pressure to fill customer orders, Good Pizza, Great Pizza’s gameplay mechanics aren’t difficult, and the cute, warm art style should keep your nervous system regulated as you play. Bonus points if you’re playing under the covers in bed.
As you learn the ropes of running a pizza place, and dish out hot pies day in, day out, you’ll unlock new toppings, equipment, and furniture to create an environment that truly feels like an extension of yourself and your shop’s unique brand.
A Little To The Left is a pleasing combination of puzzle mechanics and organization, resulting in a cozy game that makes you feel productive. That is, until you look away from your screen and have Plato’s allegory of the cave played out in real time.
Regardless of the state of your living environment, this game provides a comforting escape into a world of sorting, stacking, and organizing household objects in whatever way your brain finds most pleasing. Heck, it might just inspire you to clean up your space.
2023
Chillquarium is a fitting and clever name for this relaxing, fish-collecting idle game. Chill out and throw this game on a second monitor as you buy fish, feed them, watch them grow up, and appreciate the ever-growing, diverse, marine environment you’re creating.
Getting more fish through booster packs can be tackled through focusing on one, or blending, two main strategies: buying, raising, and selling the most profitable fish, or keeping a wide array of interesting, beautiful fish in your tank, which provide passive income through ticket sales at your aquarium.
Melatonin is a relaxing rhythm game that merges your character’s reality with their dreams. Don’t get this mixed up with high-energy games likeHi-Fi Rush, though; this game uses animations and sound cues to guide you through the core gameplay loop.
In tandem with pleasing, hand-drawn art,semi-repetitive but relaxing levels, and over 20 vibrant soundtracks, this game might just replace your nightly melatonin routine. That is, if you don’t lay in bed thinking about Melatonin’s intriguing exploration of the relationship between our dreams and reality.
