Racing, fighting, and shooting your way through competitive titles gives a great rush, but relaxing with a mellow video game is just as good, if not better!
Sometimes, after a long day, winding down with a few hours of cozy games is the best way to de-stress. They help slow down time and give you a break from everyday life.
This curated list matches soothing gameplay, calming soundtracks, and comforting visuals. Some titles focus exclusively on relaxation, while others offer a hint of action here and there.
1. Stardew Valley (2016)
Grow a farm, mine some ores, spend a few hours fishing or befriend memorable personalities in Stardew Valley. It’s available on every platform, including mobile, and often at a discount. You’d do yourself a disservice if you didn’t snatch it up immediately.
Players love the infinite replayability of Stardew Valley. There’s so much to do or not to do, depending on how you want to play. I love immersive simulation video games but often lose interest and forget how to play after taking a break. Stardew Valley fixes this issue by building incredibly engaging and accessible gameplay systems from the start.
Did I mention co-op? Almost all of the activities you could do alone, and then some, can now be done with a friend. Stardew Valley is a great game to play with your significant other. You can even marry each other in-game!
2. Firewatch (2016)
Set deep in the Wyoming wilderness, Firewatch follows a hair-raising mystery that continues with twists and turns. The narrative follows a hearty protagonist, Henry, who seeks an escape from everyday life. He volunteers as a fire lookout and befriends his supervisor, Delilah, over the radio.
Over the summer, Henry learns the terrain, maps out locations, and grows closer to Delilah, building a friendship or perhaps something more. It’s a great title to immerse yourself in and worth spending time on. I’m being intentionally vague because of how awesome it is.
Despite the heartwarming setting, not all is as it seems. Strange and unexplainable events continue to occur. Few video games, much less cozy games, are as narratively intriguing as Firewatch.
3. Minecraft (2011)
The sky’s the limit in Minecraft. In a nutshell, players can build anything they want, fight dangerous mobs, and fall in love with the quirky yet joyful soundtrack. Just beware of the eerie cave sounds that play from time to time.
It’s impossible to play Minecraft and not lose track of time crafting, building, or exploring. It’s sense of discovery is unrivaled and arguably the best part of the game. There are plenty of new biomes to discover, each with its own unique elements, blocks, and mobs. If you’re lucky, you might find yourself building a home next to some picturesque cherry blossom trees.
Minecraft can be played alone but is much more enjoyable with friends. It’s worth taking things slow, learning how to craft, practicing combat, and undoubtedly dying to a sneaky Creeper.
4. Celeste (2018)
In this fast-paced side scroller, players control and help Madeline summit the mighty Celeste mountain. Celeste has relatively easy-to-learn but difficult-to-master controls. Each level not only bumps up the difficulty but also introduces new mechanics.
The narrative is incredibly wholesome and relatable to many. Madeline must face her demons if she wants to reach the top. Everyone she meets throughout her hike has a distinct personality and is genuinely memorable. My favorite side character, by far, is Theo. He’s as adventurous as Madeline but much more laid back.
The base levels ease players into the controls, offering optional challenges along the way. Finishing a level isn’t a walk in the park, making it all the more rewarding when you complete one. Celeste also features post-endgame levels that are better geared toward expert players.
5. Planet Crafter (2022)
Planet Crafter, an indie survival game, has taken the world by storm with its engaging gameplay loop. As punishment for a crime, players are sentenced to an extraterrestrial barren planet. Their only goal? Replenish the world to form rivers, trees, oxygen, and eventually sustain life.
If you’ve ever played Subnautica, Planet Crafter’s gameplay is essentially the same, minus the horrors of the deep dark. Players must make do with basic supplies, mine ores, and gather resources. They then use these newly found resources to build better gear and structures.
The progress loop is somewhat addictive, and there’s always one more thing to do before logging off for the day. With a little effort, the planet soon becomes populated with lush flora and fauna. There’s no time limit. Players progress at their own pace.
6. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (2011)
Skyrim, a game about fighting dragons, fending off bandits, and battling countless other enemies, is surprisingly cozy. Skyrim’s rich and diverse world features different regions with interesting characters, thought-provoking quests, and adventure at every corner. Developer Bethesda released this extensive role-playing game in 2011 and has since re-released it multiple times.
Bethesda wanted players to take their time learning the game, so they deliberately made all gameplay systems slow. Everything from movement to combat to exploration feels sluggish in a good way. Some elements even encourage taking things slow, like spending the night at a tavern to make traveling easier.
Skyrim’s various cities, villages, and inns are places where players can truly relax. Most players prefer role-playing as their character and exploring the world rather than finishing the main quest line. Because of its dated look, some players might enjoy Skyrim more by installing a few community-made mods.
7. A Short Hike (2019)
A Short Hike lives up to the hype and gives players a short albeit memorable journey. The premise is simple: reach the top of a mountain to get cellphone reception. Doing so requires running, climbing, swimming, and even gliding through mountainous terrain.
Players control Claire, a human-like blackbird with emotion and intelligence who must take an important call but has no cellphone reception. On her summit, she meets multiple characters whom the player may or may not choose to help. Some characters reward players with valuable items that help them better scale the mountain.
The soundtrack is captivating, the art style is beautiful, and the writing is masterful. Players can find everything in this cozy game, from laugh-out-loud jokes to downright emotional life lessons in the writing.
8. Journey (2012)
Journey, a game about a lone traveler traveling through deserts and sand dunes, received overwhelmingly positive reviews. The game is worth every penny and delivers a masterful experience that stays with players long after the credits roll.
The visuals, soundtrack, and atmosphere expertly combine to create captivating gameplay. Players solve relatively simple puzzles, slide down sandy hills, climb mountains in storms, and much more.
Journey also has a unique multiplayer aspect. Throughout the game, players may receive or give help to random travelers, who are actual players on their own journey! The credits even include the username of the player that helps you.
9. Unpacking (2021)
Unpacking is a simple puzzle game in which players unpack possessions and place them in a new home. There’s no central character or really any concrete narrative. Players must go through a series of levels named in years (1997, 2004, 2007…). They add up to over eight house moves in total.
The lack of a direct storyline means players piece together the life of an unknown person via Unpacking, and the game is surprisingly emotional. It feels like taking a glimpse into someone’s life.
I’ve played a lot of cozy games over the years; Unpacking feels the least like a traditional game. That’s not a bad thing. By mixing and matching block fitting with decoration, Unpacking ensures players of all skill levels can enjoy the game.
10: Valheim (2021)
Loved by players for offering fantastic value, Valheim provides a much-needed refresh of the action-survival genre. Upon starting a new game, players are thrust inside a procedurally generated world with elements of Viking culture. Despite its “Early Access” tag, Valheim is packed with content.
Biomes not only mean new environments but individualized fauna, mobs, materials, and even soundtracks. Finishing the game (eventually) means battling and winning against six bosses. Without spoiling too much, players will especially love battling Moder for reasons you will find in-game.
While combat is a core part of the game, it’s not overly violent and, at times, much more comedic. Some players love creating homely structures and resting near a campfire. There’s nothing better than waking up to a bright, sunny morning with the grass waving and leaves blowing.
