There are lots of ways to play games when you’re dealing with burnout or stress. Some people like a good shooter to just blast their troubles away with enough gunpowder to smother the O-Zone layer. Some like a blood-chilling horror game that causes their soul to exit their body at least once every 27 minutes. And some just want to vibe to some nice music, some simple in-game mechanics, and a bunch of friendly NPCs that just want you to be happy. That’s just a fraction of the multitude of routes you can go depending on what you’re feeling or what you’re looking for in your next game session.

For me personally, I’ve found that the best way to cope with feeling burnt out is to play a cozy game; low risk, soothing music, and vibes for just enough mental stimulation to give you the warm and fuzzies, and an objective that scratches the itch on your brain in just the right way. Here are 5 games, in no particular order, that have hit that perfect cozy spot for me so far this year, and can do the same for you!

Sun Haven

This one is a lovely treasure. If you’re a fan of Stardew Valley but also like a good healthy dose of fantasy in your farm-sim, then Sun Haven might just be the game for you. With the perfect blend of farming activities, questing, exploring various biomes, cooking, mining, and building, Sun Haven provides the perfect balance of keeping you at ease while also engaging you with a cast of colorful, eccentric, and loveable characters. The game has a simple but engaging story, as the land of Sun Haven welcomes you as a new resident under the watchful eye of its guardian, the benevolent dragon Elios.

As the newest resident of the mythical land of Sun Haven, you get to choose your race, your background, and even what perks you start with based on that background. Feel like you’re going to spend the majority of the game tending crops? Then you’re a farmer! More interested in exploring the landscape and seeking treasure and fortune? Then the explorer profession is your best bet! But the beauty of this game is that whatever profession you choose, it’s never too late to change your mind. If you started as a farmer but eventually decide to venture off into distant lands for some adventure, go forth, young grasshopper! The leveling system is simple and the more you do the thing, the more you’ll level up. So even if you didn’t start as a miner and don’t have any proficiencies, you’re not at a disadvantage if you decide that making swords and armor is your life’s calling.

Sun Haven is definitely worth a playthrough if you’re looking for some variety in your farming sim style of game. Or if you want to have a pet unicorn follow you around. 

Unpacking

The beauty of the game Unpacking is in its simplicity. The game takes no more than 2-3 hours to complete (perhaps more if you’re SUPER particular about your organizational skills), has some lovely music that matches the scene of each setting you’re organizing, and tells a beautiful story entirely through the items you unpack, organize, and place in the various homes you move to over the course of several decades. Every time I place an item there is a satisfying little noise that confirms my placement, and each time I finish unpacking a box, the joy of watching the box get folded up and disappear is the biggest rush of dopamine I could hope to experience at my age.

The game can be a little persnickety about where items can be placed and that occasional frustration would disrupt my cozy vibe, but the overall experience of the game is calming, soothing, and the perfect level of comfort you need when your spoons are in need of replenishing.

Spiritfarer

Brace yourself: this might be the coziest game you ever play, while also leaving you in tears. 

Thunder Lotus’ Spiritfarer released in late summer of 2020 and remains a standout title in the category of cozy games. The game tells the story of Stella, a young girl who awakens in an otherworldly realm and learns that she is the new Spiritfarer, a person tasked with assisting lost souls and guiding them to the afterlife. As Stella, you captain a large ship that you can design however you see fit, replete with the homes, workshops, gardens, and factories needed to keep your floating metropolis running seamlessly. 

What makes the game stand out is the beautiful, soft music as you traverse the open seas, and the happy hums and laughs of the souls that live and work on your ship. You can plant crops, produce dairy and wool, cook fabulous recipes, tend to the needs of your crew, and ultimately guide them to their eternal peace. Each character is unique and teaches Stella a valuable life lesson as they cross over, and saying goodbye is both painful and cathartic. Playing Spiritfarer is more than just a cozy experience; it is a cleansing – and a necessary one. Moments that feel like they should be thematically intense are somehow still quiet in their presentation, rumbling and earnest, but not overwhelming or overstimulating. 

Spiritfarer takes the subject of death, one that most of us would find scary or quick to avoid, and makes it tangible, real, and yes, even cozy. 

A Short Hike

A Short Hike is another relatively short game, easy to complete within 1-2 hours. However, the joy in this little gem of a game comes from the whimsical characters you meet across the island that slowly set you on your path to reach the top of the mountain. You play as Claire, a young bird staying with her aunt on a beautiful little island where she works as one of the rangers. The objective is relatively simple; Claire must get to the top of the highest peak because that is the only place where she can get a signal to make a phone call to her mother. 

The story is not dense or revelatory by any means, but the exchanges that Claire has between the various cast of characters and the small window the player gets into their lives, their desires, their current struggles, and joys, is a wholesome reminder of the vivid lived experience of everyone you come across in the real world. If you’re looking for something quick to wind down to while you play, this is certainly a great place to start. 

Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom

I know, I know; the games are huge and the main quests are anything but cozy, but hear me out. The beauty of these latest iterations of Zelda titles is in their versatility. You can of course march through the main quest and slay all the baddies in your path, but you could also: 

• Search caves for bubbulfrogs
• Fill out your compendium with all the creatures around Hyrule
• Go Korok hunting
• Race your horse
• Complete shrine quests
• Seek out towers to open up the map
• Hunt for treasure
• A thousand other things I can’t think of right now

There is truly an endless list of activities to do in these games that doesn’t require setting foot near a main quest. If you’re looking to take in a beautiful landscape and make a few friends, or go treasure hunting, you really can’t beat Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom. 

This is just a small offering of the many cozy games that are out there. I’m always seeking out new games that fit this bill since it’s just the right kind of soothing I need after a long work day, and I hope this can be the same for you!