cozy game

Some developers view these games as offshoots of the life-sim genre, which goes back to at least 1985's Little Computer People, before an explosion via The Sims (2000). But cozy games are generally regarded as featuring cute characters, often anthropomorphic animals or child-like humans, who engage in player activities such as farming, gathering, growing and nurturing, with a vague goal of creative personalization and in-game socialization. But coziness is broader than farming and village-planning. The essential nature of cozy gaming is that of helping other people through non-violent means, often by nurture and generosity. Self-expression is core to the games' progression goals, which tend to be open-ended. "People get depressed, and they need to relax. This has always existed in gaming, but it was a less marketable idea in the past" Socialization with NPCs or with other humans is important, and it's almost always of an agreeable nature. In cozy games, it's best to be nice. NPCs who are disagreeable in some way are usually played for comic effect. Aesthetics are usually (though not always) colorful or pastel-hued. Jolly, nursery-ish music tends to roll in the background. Peril is almost non-existent. Such games have been with us since at least Natsume's Harvest Moon (1996) followed by the first of Nintendo's Animal Crossing games (2001). Indie hit Stardew Valley arrived on PC in 2016, and has since been ported to all major platforms, while being expanded enormously. The recently intense popularity of cozy games is generally dated to the release of Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which swept through the world at exactly the same time as global pandemic lockdowns, becoming one of the most popular games of all time. Nintendo Switch remains a favored platform for those consumers inclined towards cozy, wholesome games. On PC, Steam now lists dozens of games under its "cozy" rubric, only a handful of which were released prior to 2020. Dozens more are listed as "coming soon." Speaking to three developers who have recently released cozy games, it's clear that there is a general desire to both map and replicate the essential features of coziness, while innovating enough to stand out in an increasingly crowded field. All the developers we spoke to agreed that cozy games are best defined by how they make you feel, rather than via mechanics or looks. It's certainly true that few other genres are named for a feeling – "first-person shooter" and "turn-based strategy" are not feelings. Cozy certainly is, and cozy is always a good feeling, evoking cuddles on the couch with pets, children and significant others. Luka Lescuyer is a co-founder at Montreal-based Alblune, which recently released The Spirit and the Mouse. It's an exploration game in which a mouse does favors for people. He says he's comfortable with the label "cozy", so long as it doesn't limit the genre's potential. "People need a label right now so they can understand that the game is different," he says. "It's non-violent. But the label may disappear in a few years because it will become normal for everyone to play those types of games." Joint co-founder Alexandre Stroukoff adds: "People get depressed, and they need to relax. This has always existed in gaming, but it was a less marketable idea in the past. Now, we recognize that it's an important part of playing games." Allie Ast is founder and creative director of Sundew Studios, which recently released Witchy Life Story, a game about crafting potions and spells. "I spend a lot of time on Instagram with communities that love and celebrate cozy games," she says. "Sometimes it's surprising to find the kind of games that they celebrate. "The latest Zelda game [Breath of the Wild] has combat in it, but people love the sense of exploration and just being in that world. Sometimes I see players talk about those same elements in Skyrim. In both cases you spend a lot of time roaming around and enjoying the scen