Cozy isn’t a genre, it’s a state of mind

Dungeons of Hinterberg, Developer: Microbird Games

What do you think of when someone says cozy game?

If you’re anything like me, you might fall into the usual expected answers like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, generally, games that, at least on a surface level, have a slower pace, a methodical loop of tasks, and lack any hardcore action.

But lately, I have been thinking about it more. Is “cozy game” a genre? Or is it something we all interpret differently?

One of the first games I had the opportunity to review for Gamepressure years ago was Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town in 2021. This falls squarely into what might be commonly referred to as a cozy game.

As the story begins, you learn that someone in your family has left you a farm in the country, so you travel there only to find a beaten-down shack that needs some repairs. As you get to know the townsfolk, you end up helping them out with various tasks, and eventually you start building a virtual life there.

Your day consists of tending to your crops, chopping down trees, crafting furniture, and forming relationships with people in town. You can even fall in love and get married.

I completely understand why some people can fall right into a rhythm with a game like this.

But I realized almost immediately that this was not the genre for me. Does that mean I don’t like cozy games? Do I have something against being cozy?

Pioneers of Olive Town had finally confirmed something that I suspected about these life-simulator games: they actually add more stress and anxiety to my life. Not exactly the cozy feeling I was led to believe.

Then, in the last few weeks, a close friend of mine started playing Stardew Valley. As someone who’s worked in video games for a few years, I didn’t have to play Stardew Valley to know it was the kind of game that takes over people’s lives. It was released in 2016, and to this day, it is still one of the most popular games in the world.

Despite my warnings, my friend quickly became obsessed. I would be up late, finally trying out Donkey Kong Bananza on the Switch, and I would see one friend online, and before I even checked, I knew what was happening.

This resulted in the creation of this image:

Which, for me, is the perfect explanation of why I cannot be cozy in these “cozy games.” For me, video games bring my mind peace. They help me relax and decompress.

Back in 2021, when I wrote my review, I said: “Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town has you managing the farm that supports a growing town nearby. If that sounds like an actual job, that’s because sometimes it’s not that far off.”

That’s how most of these games make me feel. It’s like buying a ticket at the movie theater and working at the concessions stand for two hours.

But I get that’s not how everyone feels.

So, I wanted some perspective from my friend, who played the hell out of Animal Crossing when that came out, and has now put in many hours into Stardew Valley.

They sent this back:

Ultimately, I guess it shows that I still have a lot to learn about what people see in these games. Maybe coziness isn’t even the goal for some people?

I don’t know.

I have been thinking about what MY cozy games are. What do I consistently come back to?

There are a few that immediately come to mind.

It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that it’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and more recently, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. There are no games I find myself more easily lost in for hours. When I’m in Hyrule, I can let my mind wander, my instincts guide me, and forget everything for a while.

Some other games that came to mind were the Pokémon franchise generally, which I will always come back to, even as I harshly and loudly criticize the latest games for various things. After so many years, these games have so much familiarity to me that it’s hard not to feel at home even in a brand new game.

A few other games I thought of included Flock, one of my favorite games from 2024. The entire vibe of this game is so laid back. It’s all about exploring this unique world and learning about these odd little creatures. Something that I’ve always loved to do in real life, too. Plus, gliding around on the back of a giant bird is an enjoyable way to travel.

Another of my top games from 2024 was Dungeons of Hinterberg. There is some action in this one, but the whole game is centered around a mountain town that has become a vacation destination for people who want to venture into dungeons and fight monsters. So, while there are monsters in this game, it hasn’t felt like the most important part of the game. In Dungeons of Hinterberg, you are encouraged to take a moment to sit on a bench and enjoy the view, go into town and socialize with other people, and the game will reward you with better combat stats, no matter what you choose.

I think it is too early to tell, but as I’ve been considering this topic, I have found myself noticeably more relaxed and happy after playing Donkey Kong Bananza for an hour. So maybe I’ll check in a few months from now to see if that still makes the cut.

When “cozy” is used to define a genre of games, it tends to fall on those laid-back life simulator titles like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. This might be a great way to define those games for many people, but I doubt I’m the only one who finds coziness elsewhere.

To be clear, this is not to say those aren’t great games. I recognize that they are, but they just are not for me. This whole rambling post is mostly just me exploring one aspect of what video games mean to me. Some people see them as pure entertainment or distractions, but thinking about this topic has made me realize that video games are genuinely a form of decompression for me.

Maybe my sharing these thoughts helps someone else understand their own relationship with video games a little better. Or maybe you’ll try something you might not have thought about otherwise.

Or maybe just take a break from tending to that virtual farm. Just for a day.