The 15 Best Cozy Games | 2024 Picks

Self-care can look like knitting, getting a manicure—even fly-fishing. But if your current method of unwinding after a long day just hasn’t been cutting it lately, allow me to suggest a new addition to your tool kit: video games. They’ve come a long way since the titles you loved to play on your Game Boy or Nintendo DS (not that we’re knocking Pokémon and Super Mario). When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I curl up with “cozy games,” where the stakes are low and the pressure is off.

These titles are designed to have a calming effect, with soothing visuals, music, and gameplay that can help you relax, Jan Plass, PhD, professor and Paulette Goddard Chair in digital media and learning sciences at New York University, tells SELF. While the idea isn’t new, according to Dr. Plass, the cozy gaming community has found a home on social media—especially TikTok (where creators have made 132,000 #cozygames videos and counting)—in recent years.

And the hype is real: “Games aren’t necessarily therapy,” adds Rachel Kowert, PhD, a research psychologist. “But they’re certainly therapeutic.” Whether you’re a certified Nintendo Switch fanatic or you haven’t picked up a controller in decades, adding a laid-back game to your routine can be a fun alternative to binge-watching TV or mindlessly scrolling your social media feed. Below, browse the best cozy games, plus a few upcoming releases I can’t wait to dive into.

Our top picks

• Best Overall: Stardew Valley
• Best Online Multiplayer: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Best for Two Players: Kirby and the Forgotten Land
• Most Low-Pressure: Unpacking
• Best for iPad: Good Pizza Great Pizza
• Best Puzzle Game: Untitled Goose Game
• Best Adventure Game: Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

Shop the best cozy games

Kick back, relax, and start scrolling through my favorite games to get lost in.

Best Overall: Stardew Valley

Pros

• For 1 to 8 players
• Play at your own pace
• Cute graphics and soundtrack
• Easy to get sucked in

Cons

• Open-ended gameplay can feel overwhelming for some

One of the OG cozy games, Stardew Valley is an open-world farming simulator that’s been around for almost 10 years. You play as a corporate employee who ditches the rat race and moves to a small town to become a farmer (the dream!). As the game progresses, you’ll plant crops, raise animals, befriend your neighbors, and unlock the town’s many secrets. You can play alone or with up to eight friends on almost any platform (seriously: You can pick it up on a laptop, smartphone, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, to name a few).

I found Stardew Valley during the pandemic in 2020, and I always come back to it because it has so many layers. Plus, I love that I can play it completely at my own pace—and hundreds of hours in, I still find something new every time I pick it back up. Just don’t be surprised when you get sucked in—I’ve found that it’s all too easy to play “one more day,” only to lose a few hours to the game’s ultra-relaxing soundtrack and detailed graphics.

Best Online Multiplayer: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Pros

• Almost endless customization options
• Visit friends’ islands online
• In-game seasons match real life

Cons

• Only available on Nintendo Switch
• There are some in-game consequences to not playing every day

Looking for a game you can get into with your long-distance besties or SO? Animal Crossing: New Horizons (commonly known as ACNH) is our top pick. The game went viral in 2020 for a reason: It’s fun to play alone, but it’s even better with friends.

The object of the game is simple: You’re dropped on a desert island with the goal of decorating it to create a paradise. You’ll collect thousands of in-game items and unlock customization options along the way. Other side quests (like filling the island’s empty museum with dozens of dinosaur skeletons, famous works of art, insect specimens, and fish) will keep you busy as you go. And as an added bonus, the seasons in the game reflect the seasons wherever you’re playing—an extra festive touch that I personally love.

ACNH is a game that’s in it for the long haul: It forces you to be patient, since you can’t find everything you need in one season. But the feeling of showing your hard work off to your friends is unmatched.

Best for Two Players: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Pros

• Levels have fun, detailed themes
• You set the game’s difficulty
• Both players can participate equally
• New and old Kirby fans will appreciate the game’s mechanics

Cons

• Only available on Nintendo Switch

I grew up playing Kirby games on my Nintendo DSi—this new iteration takes the round, pink hero lots of gamers already know and love to new, cozier levels. At the very beginning, you can choose how difficult you’d like the game to be (I recommend going easier if you’re looking to relax). As you take on various bosses, you’ll notice that each world has a big, bright theme—think: carnival rides and river rafting.

In lots of other games I’ve played, the second player doesn’t get to do much. But in this one, your sidekick is more than just backup—they function as their own player and have almost all of the same powers Kirby has (and some that are unique to them!). Gameplay is equally rewarding for both players, and a great way to kick back together. Note: You’ll both need access to a Nintendo Switch, as the game isn’t available on any other platforms.

Most Low-Pressure: Unpacking

Pros

• A simple puzzle game
• No timers or scoring
• Detailed storyline
• Ideal for anyone who loves to organize

Cons

• Single-player only

Puzzle fans, listen up: If you haven’t already tried Unpacking, now’s the time. As you follow the unseen main character through their college years and beyond, you’ll help them unpack their boxes each time they move. While it sounds simple, Unpacking uses subtle details and a gentle soundtrack to tell a delightful story. I thoroughly enjoy playing detective, deciphering changes in the main character’s life based on their belongings.

This game is ultra-low pressure; there aren’t any timers, scores, or other numbers to stress out about. It’s just you, empty rooms, and a bunch of boxes filled with stuff that needs sorting.

Best for iPad: Good Pizza, Great Pizza

Pros

• Slower paced restaurant management game
• Cute graphics
• Over 100 unique customers to meet
• Customize your shop’s interior, exterior, and pizza boxes

Cons

• Single-player only
• Later levels can get slightly more stressful

If (like me) you love gaming on your iPad, I highly recommend downloading Good Pizza, Great Pizza. When my nightly routine involves cheffing up pies for the charming local clientele, I find I spend less time stressing over the little things that happened at work that day (or that might happen tomorrow). Sometimes, you’ll have to crack the code on what customers are asking for—but who doesn’t love a good riddle?

With relaxing visuals, a slow pace (at least in the beginning), and fun shop decorations and box styles to unlock, Good Pizza, Great Pizza is a real treat. FYI: Made by the same developers, the upcoming Good Coffee, Great Coffee has a similar vibe, but is set in (you guessed it) a coffee shop instead of a pizzeria. Order up!

Best Puzzle Game: Untitled Goose Game

Pros

• Storybook-like visuals and soundtrack
• Simple objectives
• New two-player mode available

Cons

• Game is pretty short

In this sandbox game, you play as a pesky goose on the loose. Bother your neighbors, steal their belongings, and generally get up to no good as you cause low-level chaos around the village. (Speaking from experience, this one is best played after a stressful day.)

With simple, storybook-like graphics and a relaxing soundtrack, the game presents challenging puzzle levels in a cozy, chill way. My favorite update? A new multiplayer mode, in which you and a friend can get into twice the trouble as not one, but two horrible geese. Genius.

Best Adventure Game: Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

Pros

• Beautiful graphics and soundtrack
• Detailed storyline
• You set the game’s difficulty
• You can keep playing after you finish the main story

Cons

• Single-player only

Highly underrated, in my opinion, Slime Rancher is another open-world cozy game with beautiful graphics and a gorgeous soundtrack (I’ve been known to listen to it while working or studying—it’s that good). Jump in as Beatrix LeBeau, an adventurer and newly minted slime wrangler. Like in Stardew Valley, she’s left her old life behind to start over on a (very bare) farm.

Journey through stunning environments while discovering and collecting new slimes to expand your operation. You’ll also learn more about Beatrix’s friends (old and new) through letters. I’ve played the entire game through three times, and I’m still blown away by its complex storyline. The fact that you can set the difficulty is just another, extra cozy bonus. And when you’re finished, don’t despair—hop on Slime Rancher 2: Into the Labyrinth for more.

More great options

Even though I haven’t played these cozy games (yet), I still think they’re worth considering. Many are fan favorites, while others seem just too easy to get lost in.

PowerWash Simulator

Pros

• Oddly satisfying
• Play at your own pace
• Easy to zone out while you play

Cons

• Some players say it can get tedious after a while

Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it: Dr. Plass says this simulation game is “extremely satisfying, but completely mindless.” Grab your pressure washer and get to work, blasting dirt off of cars, houses, driveways, and more. Free Play enables you to go completely at your own pace, while Co-op mode allows you to hone your skills with family or friends. The game has “no responsibilities, no pressure—just positive experiences,” Dr. Plass says (a.k.a. everything a cozy game should be).

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Pros

• Players say it feels similar to Animal Crossing
• A mix of farming and adventure gameplay
• Play at your own pace

Cons

• Main game is single-player only
• Players say in-game purchases can add up

Don’t want to choose between a life simulator and an adventure game? Lucky for you, Disney Dreamlight Valley is a little bit of both. You’ll meet dozens of Disney and Pixar characters as you complete quests and challenges to unlock new corners of Dreamlight Valley to explore. A huge hit on TikTok, this cozy game will keep you occupied for quite a while, according to fans.

“The gameplay never seems to run out,” one player wrote in an Amazon review. “There's a ton of ways to interact with the characters, fun settings, building your home and decorating, and so much more. I have more than 125 hours played so far, and I still feel I’m just scratching the surface of everything that’s possible in this game.”

A Little to the Left

Pros

• Over 100 puzzles to solve
• New levels drop every day
• Includes hints to help you if you get stuck

Cons

• Single-player only

Virgos (and other highly organized people), this one’s for you. In A Little to the Left, your task is to sort and tidy up common household items before a cat arrives to undo your progress. You’ll put away board games with dozens of mixed-up pieces, adjust crooked picture frames, and de-clutter cabinets. The game’s simple graphics and music won’t distract you—which is great, because you’ll need a decent amount of brainpower to solve over 100 puzzles.

Cooking Mama: Cookstar

Pros

• Looks and plays similar to old Cooking Mama games
• Play by yourself or with a friend
• Vegetarian mode provides meatless recipes

Cons

• A shorter game
• Learning curve (players say the controls can be tricky to get used to)

It’s true—the Cooking Mama game you grew up playing (on the Wii, in my case) is back and better than ever. Brush up on your virtual slicing, dicing, frying, and stirring chops while you whip up over 90 different recipes. Play alone or rope in a friend to help you craft culinary masterpieces. This new iteration even has a vegetarian mode, so you can cook all plant-based meals, if you’d like.

Fans love the nostalgic feel (it’s pretty similar to older versions) and say it’s a great way to relax: “Some days get stressful,” one Amazon shopper wrote. “This game lets me escape and get my bearings back together!”

Spiritfarer

Pros

• Hand-drawn graphics
• Deep storyline
• Very low-pressure gameplay

Cons

• Players say it’s best played alone, although there is a co-op mode

A story about death, Spiritfarer is not your typical cozy game. Get swept away in hand-drawn illustrations and a rotating cast of characters as you ferry souls to the afterlife. It might sound like the opposite of relaxing, but players confirm it’s a must-try: “Trust me on this, everything about it is amazing,” one player wrote in an Amazon review. “Great storyline, cozy, drama-free, yet very thrilling.”

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Pros

• Great remake of the original game
• Soothing soundtrack
• Lots to do, including puzzles and mini games

Cons

• Single-player only

A Legend of Zelda re-release, Link’s Awakening has delightfully bright, simple graphics that stand out from other games in the franchise. This new installment was made to be a cozy game—you play as Link, trying to find his way back home. Solve puzzles, beat minigames, and explore Koholint Island to unlock what has happened to Link (and try to undo it).

“I'm not a hardcore Zelda gamer, but I've played a few of [the games]. I have fallen in love with this one,” one player wrote in an Amazon review. Another confirmed that Nintendo stayed true to the original game: “It's like watching a favorite show on a wide screen in color when you had only seen it on a small black-and-white screen previously,” they wrote.

Cozy Grove

Pros

• Beautiful, watercolor-like visuals
• Heartwarming storyline
• Players say it’s like Animal Crossing, but better

Cons

• Single-player only

Cozy Grove takes you deep into a haunted forest. As a Spirit Scout, your goal is to make sure the friendly ghosts who live there have everything they need, while unlocking hidden secrets along the way. The game is stunning visually, with graphics that resemble an artist’s watercolor notebook.

And, according to fans, the storyline is great too: “Cozy Grove has so much heart, stories that are interesting for all the spirits you awaken and the pets you care for. It’s about pleasing the community and caring for each other,” one player wrote in an Amazon review. “One of the best indie games I have ever played!”

Bear and Breakfast

Pros

• Cute storyline and graphics
• A little management, decorating, and adventure all in one game

Cons

• Single-player only

Bear and Breakfast’s plot is already in its name: You play as Hank the bear, who’s building his own bed and breakfast from scratch. Decorate the guest rooms, make breakfast, and unlock a secondary storyline as you go.

With tons to do, keeping yourself busy is easy. (But “busy” in a good way, according to players: “Such a cute cozy game. Highly recommended to help with relaxation after a stressful day,” one wrote in an Amazon review.)

Related:

• 15 Soft, Snuggly Throw Blankets That'll Keep You Warm and Toasty
• We Found the Best Puzzles to Pull Out on Kinda-Blah Days
• 45 Cozy Gifts for Your Friend Who Loves to Snuggle Up, Unwind, and Cancel Plans

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