From Comfort to Complexity: The Rise of Cozy Gaming and the Allure of “Not-So-Cozy” Cozy Games
Gaming is a popular hobby, with more people getting into it every day. Despite the negative stereotypes surrounding the gaming community—which often involve video games serving as a scapegoat for violence, shortened attention spans, and more—the reality is that video games can provide a multitude of benefits. Beyond mere entertainment, gaming can provide opportunities for socialization and exercise, and may even enhance cognitive skills.
As a casual gamer myself, I’ve experienced firsthand how the rise of cozy gaming has helped create a welcoming niche within the gaming community. With their gentle learning curves and inviting atmospheres, cozy games have also made gaming a more accessible hobby for new players.
But even as cozy games grow in popularity, with online mentions having increased by 57% in 2023 alone, a lot of recent games marketed as “cozy” can lack depth and leave some players feeling a bit bored. So, after you’ve fully immersed yourself in the world of cozy gaming and you’re craving more engagement, what’s the next step?
First, let’s determine what makes a game cozy.
What is Cozy Gaming and Why Do People Play Cozy Games?
While there is a lot of back and forth among the cozy gaming community about what constitutes a cozy game, there is a consensus that these games are typically cozy in gameplay and content.
Games that are cozy in gameplay usually involve simple mechanics, meaning they’re not difficult to play and might not take much mental energy for you to progress through each mission. These simplified mechanics are popular because players can actually sit back and relax as they play, and maybe even multitask with a TV show or an audio book playing in the background. Point and click games, story-based games, visual novels, puzzle games, and some adventure games can all fall into this category of an easy-to-play cozy game.
Alternatively, when a game is cozy via its content, that typically looks like games with cute, anthropomorphic animals, charming art style, an emotional or heartfelt storyline, loveable characters, heavy aspects of personalization, in-game socialization, and so on.
Many popular cozy games fall into both categories—they evoke a sense of coziness in content and gameplay. Some prime examples include games like Animal Crossing, A Little to the Left, Coral Island, and Mineko’s Night Market—all of which are fantastic games that I would recommend to anyone interested in cozy gaming.
Cozy Gaming’s Rise in Popularity
While cozy gaming has gained popularity in recent years, it’s nothing new. Games like Harvest Moon and The Sims are classic cozy games that have been popular for decades. Video game giant, Nintendo, has been leading the charge on cozy games for a long time now, with popular games like Super Mario, Mario Party, and Animal Crossing dating back to the 90’s and early 2000’s.
When the Nintendo DS systems came out, cozy games like Nintendogs took the world by storm. In truth, if we open my Nintendo DS Lite case, we’ll find a plethora of cozy games that I poured hours of my time into—games like Animal Crossing: Wild World, Tamagotchi Corner Shop, Super Princess Peach, Kirby SuperStar Ultra, Hamsterz Life, and Cooking Mama were some of my favorite cozy games.
Now, even as the Nintendo Switch remains a favored platform for the cozy gaming community, the recent popularity of cozy gaming has led to greater accessibility across platforms, including consoles like PlayStation and Xbox, mobile gaming, and PC. In fact, a search on Steam for “cozy games” brings up nearly 1,000 titles ready to download and play.
It really is a great day to be a cozy gamer.
What To Do When Cozy Games Get Boring
By nature, a lot of cozy games are slow-paced. This is because timers on in-game goals and tasks can go against the intuitively relaxing nature of a cozy game. Similarly, many cozy games lean towards simplicity, which can sometimes result in a lack of immediate satisfaction despite completing tasks and missions. And worst of all, as the number of cozy game releases grows, some new titles can start to feel like they were copy pasted from the classics, lacking any real originality and innovation. As an OG FarmVille player, I love a good farming simulator, but how many farming simulators do we really need?
All of these factors add up to the central issue: casual and cozy gamers are at risk of getting bored and abandoning on video games that fail to provide sufficient challenge or depth, leading to a reduction in long-term enjoyment and retention in the cozy gaming community. While wholesome, non-violent fun is great when done well, developers need to get creative to keep the attention of cozy gamers.
So–beyond those totally unique releases, where is a cozy gamer to turn when their games start to feel too passive? Cue what I like to call, “not-so-cozy, cozy games.”
Not-So-Cozy Cozy Games: Spooky Games and More
Not-so-cozy cozy games are games that still hold onto key aspects that traditionally make up a cozy game, but simultaneously turn up the intensity in other areas. Consider it the next step up from the traditional cozy game, guiding players into a broader category of games that still aren’t as intimidating as a lot of popular titles out there.
As someone who loves all things dark and spooky, scary cozy games are my go-to. If you’re like me, you might find a sense of coziness in a misty day, Halloween traditions, or in sharing scary stories over a campfire. As such, a lot of my favorite not-so-cozy, cozy games tread the line of horror with their eerie atmospheres, dark storylines, and gothic art styles. Fran Bow, Little Nightmares, and Don’t Starve Together are among some of my favorite spooky games that maintain certain elements of coziness.
For gamers that don’t personally enjoy exploring fantasy worlds filled with death and monsters, games like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy, Palworld, Overcooked, and Rimworld are also great examples games with cozy elements but more challenging gameplay.
The Future of Cozy Gaming
The world of gaming is diverse and ever-expanding, offering a multitude of experiences to suit each player’s preferences. The rise of cozy gaming has led to the development of some pretty fantastic games that many of us will still be playing years down the road.
As we grow and evolve as a community, it’s important that we get comfortable branching out of our comfort zones. While traditional cozy games provide relaxation, not-so-cozy cozy games take a familiar atmosphere and infuse it with an exciting twist—introducing elements of challenge, darkness, or intensity, and providing players with a refreshing and dynamic experience that bridges the gap between comfort and excitement.
And even as we attempt to define this genre of games, we should all keep in mind that coziness is subjective. What is relaxing to me may not be relaxing for you, and vice versa. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just discovering the joys of gaming, let’s explore together. Share your favorite not-so-cozy cozy game with me and fellow gamers, and let’s celebrate the richness of this vibrant community.
