I'm usually all happy chappy in the summer but not this year unfortunately. I missed a road trip with my friend that was planned half a year ago due to some health related issues, and now I'm mostly stuck working at home half-time and playing games for the rest of the day. I mean, I've seen worse days but this time it really made me feel down because of how much I was looking forward to this trip.
The good thing about this is… I played A TON of games. And I literally mean a ton, I played like 10 games in the last 2 weeks alone because I have a sweet tooth for cozy games (maybe the lack of warmth in my soul makes me crave warmth in video games hahaha), and they are usually made in such a way that you can't really play them for more than a few hours at a time. Due to the lack of any other activity I can do, I wanted to create a thread here and find new games to play to take my mind off of the mess I'm in, and possibly share my experience with girls who are in a similar situation. So just throw anything you can think of, I'm gonna try most of the games anyway
Palia – This game is absolutely beautiful. I always felt like PvP is an indispensable part of an MMO, but this game changed my mind completely.
Final Factory – Factorio kind of automation + retro style battleship fights.
Furnish Master – If you're into any kind of furnishing or decorating, or have just played SIMS and loved decorating houses, this game is perfect. It has puzzles too lol
Little Kitty, Big City – Reminded me of Stray a lot, but ultimately became one of my favorite games. It's really fun, and the gameplay's adorable.
I love [A Short Hike](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055540/A_Short_Hike/) – it only takes a few hours to complete but it’s such a cozy, comfy game and has great exploration 🙂
Ok hear me out on this: Hatoful Boyfriend
It’s a dating game but all the bachelors are pigeons and eventually you unlock their real appearances but it’s just plain ridiculous getting to that point.
It doesn’t take itself very seriously and has a good amount of replay-ability so you unlock everyone and get all their stories.
Trust me you need to play this game, it’ll give you a good laugh but it’s also very sweet.
Stardew Valley – Kinda the classic cozy game IMO.
Sadly I don’t play a ton of cozy games but honorable mentions are Cities: Skylines and Tropico
Skyrim, Animal Crossing, Breath of the Wild, and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life are my comfort games.
Aside from BotW, they’ve been that way for me since I was in high school, going on 15+ years for some of them.
House Flipper – I just bought the sequel in the steam sale and I’m as obsessed as I was with the first ha.
Sorry you’re feeling a bit down at the minute. Since you mentioned Furnish Master I thought you might like this 🙂
I just started playing Bear and Breakfast on a 5 hour plan ride today and I’m really liking it so far! I get suuuuper anxious on planes so I need something to distract my brain and also my hands lol Bear and Breakfast is really cute and hella relaxing, it’s got some nice crafting/collecting and decorating mechanics, plus the writing is funny. Definitely check it out as it’s also on sale right now!
[Book of Hours](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1028310/BOOK_OF_HOURS/) is a complex but super cozy game where you restore an old occult library and help visiting academics find what they need while also trying to discover and achieve your own esoteric goal. Get stuck? Get a friend from the village to help! Tired? Have some apple crumble in the window nook at the inn. Sick? Curl up in bed with a hot cup of something soothing and heal. I love it immensely.
My time at Sandrock and Graveyard Keeper, both Games, where you can spend a lot of time in the world
I’ll be totally honest – while I love Stardew Valley, nothing makes me feel warm quite like picking up a Pokemon game or Zelda Minish Cap on my GBA. Same goes for Zelda and Pokemon on the GameCube.
My game recommendations might not be what you are looking for as when I try to get my head off things I prefer games that are considered a bit darker and can wrap me in the story.
Doom – I mean it is definitely warm, but it is hard to describe how nice it is sometimes to mindlessly shoot monsters.
Skyrim – with mods you can turn it into a beautiful and peaceful game and concentrate on other things apart from fighting
Galacticare/two point hospital/campus – funny management games that will keep your mind busy.
Slime rancher – sometimes can be relaxing
Mario games – these games give me a sense of nostalgia and bring back childhood memories.
Unpacking and Gris
Sky: Children of the Light. Made by thatgamecompany who did Journey (see also: Flow, Flower, Abzu).
It’s a free to play mmo but a lot can be done solo, or with two players, in game purchasing is also not necessary.
Simple cute and colourful graphics, dark and light areas, repetitive calming tasks, regular “events”, friendly community, lovely in-game soundtracks, and collectables (even has musical instruments to collect/play as an option 🎶).
– Coral island
– Baldurs gate 3 (Always)
– Pokemon shield
– Dead by daylight (hey, what? when you’re in a low mood, killing 4 survivors and throwing them on hooks can be very therapeutic)
Is Little Kitty Big City worth it for the price? I’ve overspent recently and I love the look of the game but I can’t help but the feel it’s a little too expensive to make it worth the purchase 😩
Omg little kitty big city looks so cute thanks
Disney Dreamlight Valley – surprisingly good cosy game, and a great nostalgia hit for Disney fans 😊
Similar to animal crossing (you can have visitors/visit other valleys if you want). Has farming, collectables, and a different areas to decorate, with rolling new events and characters that include tasks (fishing, growing, cooking, etc) to unlock currencies and access more content.
Specifically, a game that feels like summer vacation did as a kid: “Alba: A Wildlife Adventure”.
If you’re feeling up to being a creepy witch, collecting things: “Wytchwood”.
Just for that cozy feeling where you try make friends with ghosts: “Cozy Grove”.
And bringing color back to a world that lost it: “Chicory: A Colorful Tale”.
Check out Toem! It’s so cute and cozy. The game has you go around taking pictures.
Untitled Goose Game always makes me laugh.
Donut County is short and sweet.
Dave the diver is all around lighthearted fun