5 Worst Cozy Games I’ve Ever Played (Just My Experience)

You’ll have seen me hype up Disney Dreamlight Valley in quite a few past posts. So yeah, seeing it pop up here probably feels a bit confusing. This one isn’t really about the gameplay at all. It’s about how things unfolded behind the scenes.

I bought Disney Dreamlight Valley the day it launched in early access back in 2022. Actually… I bought it twice. I was more than happy to put my money down so I could jump in early, test things out, and share what it was like while the rest of you waited.

I made videos on the customization, shared my first moments with Wall-e, speculated over what character was coming next. It was exciting. It felt like the start of something special.

At the time, the plan was clear: early access now, free-to-play later. That was always the promise.

Then, in October 2023, Gameloft announced that the base game would not be going free-to-play after all.

I remember just staring at the screen like… wait, what?

That decision left a bit of a sour taste for me. I’d been telling readers and viewers to hold off, to wait until the free release, thinking I was helping them make the best call. Turns out, they could’ve been enjoying the game from day one if they’d wanted to. That didn’t feel great.

Things really unravelled for me once paid DLC started rolling out and it wasn’t just cosmetic extras anymore. Stories, the content that actually deepens the world, were suddenly locked behind additional paywalls. That’s when my enthusiasm finally extinguished.

I haven’t gone back to Disney Dreamlight Valley since.

I did enjoy my time with it in those early days. The game itself isn’t bad, and I can absolutely see why so many people still love it. I just couldn’t personally get past such a big shift in direction after everything that had been promised upfront.

I have more games like Disney Dreamlight Valley if you’re looking for recommendations.

PuffPals: Island Skies was pitched as the next big wholesome life-sim, riding high on the wave left by Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The response was huge. Over 40,000 players backed the Kickstarter, raising an eye-watering $2,564,821.

I was one of those people.

Back in 2022, I was genuinely excited about PuffPals. It was described as a wholesome life-sim where you’d collect cute creatures, farm, customize your space, and explore magical floating islands. I shared that excitement all over my socials, encouraging others to check it out and support Fluffnest, because at the time, it really did feel like something special.

I pledged $65, which covered a copy of the game for myself and another to give away. When the first test build became available, I jumped in early, eager to finally see it in action. Unfortunately… it didn’t land for me.

I found myself wandering around unfinished, empty spaces with very little direction, and I came away feeling more deflated than excited. It felt bare. Soulless, almost. I remember sitting there thinking, what did I actually just pay for? Still, I tried not to panic. Other play-testers seemed happy, so I told myself this was just an early snapshot, and that things would feel different closer to launch.

But the game never released.

You can read their most recent statement on their Kickstarter as to why. I’ve backed plenty of projects over the years, so I do understand the risks. Not every Kickstarter makes it across the finish line.

What hurt most with PuffPals wasn’t just the money, though, it was the expectation. This wasn’t a scrappy idea held together with hope and string. The campaign was polished, thoughtfully planned, and clearly made with care and love. It felt safe.

Sadly, it now seems unlikely we’ll ever know what PuffPals: Island Skies could have become. I’ll never really know whether it would’ve grown into a good game or not. Losing $65 in the process stung more than I expected. It knocked my trust, too. Since then, I haven’t backed another game on Kickstarter, and I’ve been far more hesitant to recommend one to you.

Tales of Seikyu was inspired by games like Fields of Mistria and Rune Factory. It’s a cozy, magical adventure game set on an island haven hidden far from the human world. You can Farm, decorate and find love. But all I found were bugs and emotionless characters.

I’m probably alone in feeling this way since this game has a mostly positive score on Steam right now, but when I played this last year I couldn’t enjoy it.

I was asked by the publishers to provide an honest review of the game before its release. I can’t share that review because it was for internal use only, but I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t share with you why I can’t play this game.

Tales of Seikyu in its current state has many bugs.

Over 9 in-game days, I was completing errands for NPCs but without a clear understanding of my main objective. I kept returning to the mine, only to be blocked from progressing towards a yellow pin, which I assumed marked my next mission. I drowned twice and lost all my gameplay. And combat felt pointless.

It was pretty much unplayable on Steam Deck. How it is verified I do not know.

I’d like to hope some of the bugs I ran into when testing the game have since been ironed out but from the looks of the reviews on Steam that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Park Beyond is a theme park simulation game that gives you the freedom to create and manage a park that’s almost out of this world!

In Park Beyond, you are the creative force behind a series of amusement parks, a Visioneer! You’re a combination of a creator, a manager, and a designer, wrapped up in one powerful package. Every aspect of developing and maintaining successful theme parks will be under your control.

I first played this at Insomnia back in 2023 and I loved the bold colors and customization. You can read my review of my trip to Insomnia in Birmingham if you like.

After the quick playthrough at the event I actually couldn’t wait for the full release.

When it was released I was quick to grab a copy. But then I got stuck in the tutorial and never left! There was so much information to take in with the controls that I lost interest. I’d like to give it another go one day though. I’m not writing it off entirely.

If you are a fan of management games check out these cozy management games on Switch instead.

I regretfully have to add Fae Farm to this list. Fae Farm is an adventure game for up to 4 players where you’ll cozy up in your own snug little home in the magical world of Azoria. Personalize your character, become a whiz at crafting and potion-making, and romance the characters.

I loved this game to begin with, but after 4-5 hours I found constantly going to the mines boring and there was so much fishing that I checked out. I never finished the story and I’m sure it’s wonderful, but it wasn’t for me in the end.

I need more conversations and influence over the games story for it to be rewarding. The NPCs felt flat. I honestly can’t even recall any of their names. And that’s the thing… if a game isn’t enjoyable it’s just a time suck.

If you do still play the game or thinking about purchasing it, I recall writing a post on how to make money in Fae Farm back in the day. I hope it still helps you.