8 Short and Sweet Cozy Games on Xbox Game Pass

A narrative-driven experience, Dordogne is as much a visual experience as it is a video game.

While technically for all-ages, Dordogne is made for adults. You’ll be playing as a kid-version of Mimi, a woman exploring her childhood memories to better connect with her family.

Heartwarming and nostalgic, it’s the poster child for short and sweet cozy games that you can get on Xbox Game Pass.

Even better, you’ll only need to set aside three and a half hours to experience Dordogne’s unique story.

I bought this game on a whim for the Switch and I’m glad to see it on Xbox Game Pass for more people to enjoy!

Pikuniku is a mix of puzzle solving and platforming. While some parts can be tricky, overall the game is just the right amount of challenging to be rewarding without feeling like a grind.

You should be able to finish it in around three hours, although it could be double that if you play it to 100% completion like I did.

This is the shortest and one of the most unique games on this list. In Venba you play as an Indian mom who recently immigrated to Canada but damaged her recipe book along the way.

The game is set in the 80s… Which means no internet to look them up!

It’s not a cooking game. Instead you’ll be talking to your family to help figure out which missing ingredient went into each dish. This, in turn, helps restore that severed connection to home.

Despite only being about one and a half hours long Venba was one of the most charming games released in 2023.

You’re a frog… You’re a detective… What more information do you need here? Silly and witty, Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery takes you through three hilarious detective style stories.

Depending on your gameplay style and player ages (it’s family-friendly) you can wrap this one up in three to four hours.

TOEM’s hand drawn art style and entirely black and white aesthetic make it unique, especially compared to the brilliant colours we usually see in the cozy genre.

In this wholesome adventure game you play as a photographer who’s trying to snap a picture of rare the phenomenon known as “TOEM”. Along the way you meet all kinds of quirky characters and do missions around town.

Unlike most adventure games you’ll be able to finish TOEM’s story in three to six hours (depending on how many quests you complete).

It’s an oldie that you might have missed! Stacking originally came out on the Xbox 360 but got a second life when it appeared on Game Pass. 

The premise is super cute: you play as the tiniest stacking doll who can take control of other “people” by jumping inside them. This creates a fun gameplay mechanic where you have to be exactly one size smaller to take control.

You’ll be stacking and unstacking to solve puzzles!

These puzzles are clever but not too hard making Stacking about five hours long (if you don’t collect everything).

I played Firewatch when it came out and I’m happy to say it still holds up. The gripping story is told from a first-person perspective as you explore the Wyoming woods with only a radio.

Firewatch is a little less cute than some of the other games on this list but trust me, it’s worth checking out if you enjoy a good mystery. 

You should be able to wrap up Firewatch in less than five hours which makes it an ideal option if you want a deep experience but are strapped for time.

Note: Firewatch is a game for adults, not kids.

There’s only one word that can adequately describe GRIS: stunning. The art is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s not all style; you’ll actually enjoy the experience too.

What I love about GRIS is that it’s truly a perfect cozy game: the platforming is a fun challenge but has no death or game overs, the story is emotional (it’s about coping with grief), and the entire vibe feels serene.

One thing that makes GRIS unique is the entire three hour story is told without text or narration and instead unfolds naturally throughout your journey.