10 Cozy Games to Play on Nintendo Switch

Life is tough, but thankfully, the games you play don’t have to make things any tougher. Playing cozy games on Nintendo Switch can make the stresses of day-to-day life feel like they’re a million miles away.

What is a cozy game? A cozy game is any title that leaves you feeling warm and relaxed. It’s a game that makes you feel like you’re drinking a mug of cocoa or are snuggled up with your favorite blanket. I find the Switch to be an especially great source of these kinds of chill titles, especially when you’re playing in handheld mode.

There are a lot of obviously cozy titles on the Switch, like Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons (which was our pick for the 2020 Game of the Year). I’d recommend all of those titles, but you’ll find none of them on the list below. Instead, I tried to highlight some comforting games that you might not have in your Switch collection.

Little Dragon’s Café

This charming little game (which was made by Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons franchise) asks you to gather ingredients, cook foods, manage a café, and raise an adorable baby dragon to adulthood. It doesn’t get much cozier than that. While Little Dragon’s Café probably won’t blow you away, it’s a sweet-natured game that’s perfect to binge or play in short bursts. It’s also pretty simple, making it suitable for kids or novice gamers.

Little Dragon’s Café is also available on PC and PlayStation 4.

Cattails

I’ve seen Cattails described as “Stardew Valley with cats,” which is a pretty accurate pitch. This animal simulation puts you in the paws of a cat that was recently abandoned. Thankfully, there are plenty of friendly cats that can help you to hunt, find shelter, and discover true cat love. There are three cat colonies for you to join, and once you find your footing, you can even create a colony of your own.

Cattails is also available for Mac and PC.

Good Pizza, Great Pizza

A lot of restaurant simulation games can be stressful, but in Good Pizza, Great Pizza, preparing pizza for your customers feels like a treat. When you’re not fulfilling customer orders, you can decorate your cafe, take on challenges, and tune into PNN (Pizza News Network) for the latest pizza updates. This game can get a bit repetitive at times, but for me, that’s part of the cozy charm.

Good Pizza, Great Pizza is also available for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC.

The Atelier Series

For me, no series has ever encompassed the term “cozy” as well as Atelier. While the Atelier games are turn-based RPGs, they’re usually not about saving the world. Instead, these games tell small, personal stories about alchemists and the people around them. Playing an Atelier game feels a little like playing a slice-of-life anime.

There are nearly a dozen Atelier titles available on the Switch, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. My personal recommendation would be to start with the Atelier Dusk trilogy, which begins with Atelier Ayesha. The colors are lovely, the time limits are minimal, and the world has a melancholy atmosphere that I find to be incredibly cozy.

Coffee Talk

Coffee Talk feels a little like the barista version of VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. The game asks you to do exactly what the title says: make coffee and talk. As you play, you’ll brew up all kinds of fancy drinks, create beautiful latte art, and have heart-to-hearts with your customers. The soundtrack features plenty of jazzy low-fi tunes that are perfect to relax and pour coffee to.

Coffee Talk is also available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

One of my favorite ways to relax in a video game is to wander around and explore. Yonder is designed around exploration. In fact, it’s completely devoid of any sort of combat. This is an incredibly chill open-world adventure game with eight different biomes to explore.

While seasons change in Yonder, you’re free to explore the world at your own pace. The game also features farming, crafting, and animal raising. It’s a great game to play while you catch up on podcasts or listen to some of your favorite music.

Yonder is also available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town Remake

There are plenty of amazing titles in the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons franchise, but Friends of Mineral Town has always had a special place in my heart. If you’ve never played the original, or if it’s been a long time since you last visited Mineral Town, this title is worth picking it up.

Not only does it feature all the farming, festivals, and townsfolk from the original, but it also adds brand-new characters and content. It’s the perfect way to tide yourself over while you wait for Pioneers of Olive Town to release.

Friends of Mineral Town Remake is also available for PC.

Merchant of the Skies

The coziest games are able to cultivate an atmosphere that momentarily helps you forget about everything terrible going on in reality. That’s something Merchant of the Skies excels at. In this trading and base-building game, you’ll travel the skies, explore a fantasy world, and gather plenty of resources to sell.

Although this game does have some tycoon elements, you’re never under any sort of time pressure. You’re free to explore the world at your own pace, and you can even pet some of the animals you’ll meet along the way.

Merchant of the Skies is also available on PC, Mac, and Xbox One.

Night in the Woods

If you’re looking for a cozy game with an involving story, Night in the Woods might be the perfect title for you. In this adventure game, you play as Mae, a college dropout returning to the town she grew up in.

I wouldn’t describe Night in the Woods as a happy game; it can be crude and even depressing at times. However, if you don’t mind playing a games that make you cry, Night in the Woods will introduce you to a motley crew of characters that feel like they could be your real friends.

Night in the Woods is also available for PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Rune Factory 4 Special

If you like farming games, but always find yourself wishing that they had a little more action, you should give the Rune Factory series a closer look. Created as a fantasy version of Harvest Moon, the Rune Factory games have plenty of dungeons to beat, monsters to tame, and crops to grow.

The latest game in the series, Rune Factory 5, is set to release in 2021. While you wait, however, you can enjoy Rune Factory 4 Special on the Switch. It’s a little rough around the edges — this is a 3DS remake, and it shows — but it’s a charming and relaxing game that’s absolutely packed with content.