If there’s one thing we can probably all agree on right now, it’s that there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism. The urge to hunker down and disengage is stronga feeling that will only rise as temperatures continue to drop. Unfortunately, we’re also in that weird time of year when many of our favorite shows have ended or are entering the winter holiday season, leaving us looking for the perfect diversion to unwind. Enter: cozy video games.
What is a comfortable video game? As the name suggests, this is an arcade game that evokes feelings of warmth and comfort. These games involve finding magic in the mundane. Their world is painted in calming pastel colors, set to a cool instrumental soundtrack. The focus isn’t on winning or completing time-sensitive tasks, as Comfortable Games embodies the concept of joy in the journey. They’re basically like the video game version of a soothing cup of tea.
Since we could all use a little soul salve right now, we’ve rounded up a collection of the best comfort games. Some you may have heard of, like the super popular ones Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Others prefer amazing independent experiences neva rivermay become your new favorite way to avoid the dystopian hellscape of our current timeline.
Stardew Valley
exist Stardew Valleyyou are a city dweller who inherits your grandfather’s farm in a rural town and moves there to start a new life. There’s a lot to do and see – you can raise animals, grow crops, mine crystals, gather food, decorate your house, make friends (and even marry) the townspeople. It’s slow-paced, richly rewarding, and perhaps the best farm comfort game available today. Keep an eye out for the developer’s newest game, Haunted Chocolatier, coming soon.
Available on PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation.
harvest moon
The developer is Stardew Valley based on his love harvest moonOG Comfort Farm video game. The premise is similar, but when your characters land in their new little hometown, it’s up to you to help the people rebuild after a big storm destroys their lighthouse. It also has some fun magical elements, with cute elves helping you move around the farm as you go through the seasons.
Available on PC, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
Unboxing
If you find decluttering soothing, you’ll love this Unboxing. In this game, you never see any of the characters, and you don’t get much information about who you’re unpacking for. But as they move through eight different homes, and as you arrange their books on your shelves with satisfaction, you get a better sense of who they are. It’s honestly a surprisingly sweet game.
Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation, Mac and PC.
mental danger
If comfort for you involves magical creatures and fantasy worlds, then you must try Spiritfarer (named one of the best games of 2020). Play as Stella, a ferry captain who transports souls to the afterlife. You’ll learn farming, crafting, and more to expand your ferry and care for the souls on board, all while forming connections with them and making memories along the way before saying your final goodbyes.
Available on Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Pokémon Snap
You don’t have to love the Pokémon series (or even know anything about it) to play this game—but obviously, a deep love for Pikachu will make you enjoy it even more. You are a budding photographer tasked by your professor to travel to different environments—like active volcanoes, the ocean floor, mysterious forests, and more—and capture new images of Pokémon to aid his research. You’ll unlock new tools to help you get better shots, and you’ll need to travel through the same areas again and again to actually shoot every Pokémon along the way.
Available on Nintendo Switch.
wild flower
Cozy farming witch simulation game? Yes please! In this utterly charming game, twentysomething Tara moves from the city to her grandmother Hazel’s farm in the quaint town of Fairhaven. When Tara discovers her grandmother is a witch, she begins a heartfelt journey to become the next member of the Secret Coven of Fairhaven. Diverse characters, top-notch voice acting, and beautiful animations are just a few of the main attractions of this cozy game that lets you live your best cabin coding life. Honestly, where else can you farm during the day and cast spells at night?
Available on Nintendo Switch, Steam and Apple Arcade.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD or 3
Well, hear me out: comfort is subjective, right? So, which Luigi’s Mansion Your choice depends on your idea of comfort. Both games have a spooky, cozy atmosphere as you wander around haunted mansions and devour ghosts. If you like a bit of structure, start with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. The puzzles, music, and story are all great. If you prefer a free roam style game, Luigi’s Mansion 3 There is no mission structure (the graphics are *chef’s kiss*). I also love that you can hang out in the comfort of your home while also having fun Luigi’s Mansion with your friends online.
Available on Nintendo Switch.
neva river
You’ll want to spend hours immersed in stunning hand-drawn 2D art neva riveran evocative indie game that tells the story of a young woman named Alba and her relationship with the game’s wolf-deer hybrid. At times, the game has a decidedly melancholic feel (warning: the opening scenes will leave you a little heartbroken), as Alba and Neva must travel through four seasons while darkness threatens to take over the world. It’s truly a stunning – albeit emotional – adventure that profoundly explores life, death and the passage of time.
Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox and Steam.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
You had to know this was coming! when Animal Crossing: New Horizons The game was released in 2022 and sold more than 42 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games of the year. And for good reason: its open-ended game mode means you can choose the activities that bring you the most joy. In a relaxed, slow-paced environment, you can do things like build and decorate your home or fish for abundant sea life. If you liked the original, you’ll definitely become a fan of this version.
Available on Nintendo Switch.
a little to the left
Does getting organized calm you down? Is getting organized your go-to way to reduce anxiety? my friend you need a little to the left This way you can stack and sort them however you like. When everything in the real world feels chaotic, it’s so comforting to spend time solving puzzles in a game and finding the perfect place for every little thing. What makes the whole experience even more comfortable is that a beautiful white cat pops up every now and then to pat things down (but don’t worry – it won’t clutter your organization too much!).
Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, Mac and PC.
Europa
On one of Jupiter’s moons, a robotic child named Zee sets out across a lush terraformed paradise to find answers to questions you left unanswered at the beginning of the story. When you discover fragments of a journal scattered across a beautiful landscape, you begin to realize that Zee’s connection to the land comes from their father, Adam, who has passed away. A love letter to travel and the journeys we continue on in the midst of grief, Europa will touch you in so many ways.
Available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, Mac and PC.
So, which comfort game are you going to play first? Don’t forget to grab an oversized blanket and a cup of hot tea before you sit down.
