The world outside can be harsh and unforgiving. Thankfully, if you need an escape from your everyday grind, there are plenty of cozy games on Steam. These games may not be able to solve any of your problems, but for a few hours, they can help you to forget about them.
If you’re reading this list, there’s a good chance that you’ve already played cozy classics like Stardew Valley, Minecraft and Slime Rancher. You won’t find any of those beloved titles on this list, but you will find plenty of other great options. If you’re interested in games you can play in the go, make sure you also check out our list of some of the best cozy games on Nintendo Switch.
Lemon Cake
Some of the most relaxing games of all time allow you to run a farm or a restaurant. In Lemon Cake, you get the best of both worlds. This casual management game allows you to restore an abandoned bakery and serve fresh farm-to-table meals to your guests. When you need a break from the restaurateur life, you can decorate your bedroom and spend time with your adopted pets.
Right now, Lemon Cake is only available on itch.io and Steam. It is being updated regularly, which means players can look forward to new content in the future.
Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove is the perfect title for anyone that doesn’t have a ton of time to game. In this charming life sim, you’ll explore, fish, craft, and collect items as you complete tasks for the ghostly residents of a mysterious island. Cozy Grove is similar to titles like Animal Crossing in that it’s designed to be played for small chunks of time each day. You can keep playing once you’ve completed your daily quests, but you won’t be able to progress the story any further. Of course, if you want to catch every fish in a single weekend, you can jump to the next day by changing your computer’s clock.
Cozy Grove is also available on iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Planet Zoo
Planet Zoo is a management and simulation game made for people who enjoy building tools more than management gameplay. Not only is the game visually stunning, but it offers an incredible amount of customization. The base game allows you to build habitats for 73 different animals, and there are plenty more creatures in the game’s expansions.
Planet Zoo is exclusively available on PC.
Botanicula
Made by the creators of Machinarium, Botanicula is a relaxing point-and-click adventure game that’s bursting with charm. While this genre is frequently frustrating, the puzzles in this title are simple to solve. You’ll be able to kick back, relax, and enjoy spending a few hours in its tiny, beautiful world. While you can complete this game in a single sitting, it’s not light on content. There are over 150 locations to explore, and there are all kinds of Easter eggs for dedicated players to discover.
Botanicula is also available on Android.
Townscaper
The word “game” doesn’t necessarily feel like the most accurate descriptor for Townscaper; it feels a little more like a tool or a toy. But what a wonderful toy it is! In Townscaper, you can easily create towns that look like they belong in a storybook. The building tools are simple and intuitive, but there is a surprising range of options available to you. This is the perfect way to chill out and give your creative muscles some exercise.
Townscaper is available on Steam right now, and it’s set to be released on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices later this year.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town
The Story of Seasons games (originally known as Harvest Moon in the west) have always prioritized relaxation. Instead of asking you to overcome incredible challenges or save the world, this series asks you to build a comfy life (with a comfy husband or wife) on a farm. Friends of Mineral Town might be my favorite game in the entire series. Not only does this title offer plenty of classic farming gameplay, but it has a cast of characters that’s hard not to fall in love with. The original game was released on Game Boy Advance, but you can enjoy the remake on Steam.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town Remake is also available on Nintendo Switch.
Cat Goes Fishing
Fishing has always been one of my favorite ways to relax in video games. In the aptly named Cat Goes Fishing, you can focus on catching fish and nothing else. As you progress through this cute, casual game, you won’t just catch plenty of fish. You’ll collect fishing rods, boats, hats, and so much more. You can even customize your rods so that they’re better suited to your play style. It’s an addictive game that can be as easy — or as challenging — as you want it to be.
Cat Goes Fishing is also available on Android.
Banished
In Banished, you take on responsibility for a band of exiled travelers. Banishment probably isn’t what comes to mind when you think about cozy games, but this colony sim feels more peaceful than other games in the genre, even at its most challenging. Your townspeople will grow older, have children, and will eventually die, leaving a new generation to take their place. If the base game is too harsh for you, you can switch over to Zen mode, which turns Banishment from a city-builder into a sandbox.
Banishment is exclusively available on PC. The game fully supports mods.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
For me, nothing encapsulates “cozy” as well as Atelier, a series of turn-based, slice-of-life JRPGs. Currently, there are only a few Atelier games available on Steam, but Atelier Ryza is a terrific place to get started. Unlike some other games in this series, you won’t have to worry about time limits. Instead, you can focus on gathering materials, crafting, and strengthening your bonds with friends. If Ryza isn’t catching your interest, Atelier Sophie is also an excellent entry point to the series.
Atelier Ryza is also available on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.
Spiritfarer
In Spiritfarer, you take on the role of a ferrymaster that helps departed souls cross over to the other side. A game about death might not sound all that cozy, but Spiritfarer asks you to genuinely care for the spirits you’re helping. When you’re not assisting the recently deceased, you can build a boat, farm, fish, and enjoy plenty of other relaxing tasks. If you’d like to play with a friend, they can take on the role of Daffodil the cat and assist you on your journey.
Spiritfarer is also available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. If you have Xbox Game Pass, you can check out this game for free.
Banished sounds really cool! I would submit Among Trees on easy non-animal aggro mode and Zen Garden.
Are any of these games free-to-play?
no