Being a cozy gaming blogger takes passion, patience, and a lot of side quests. You may know what cozy games are, but who am I and why did I start this blog? Read on to find out.
Welcome to Her Cozy Gaming
Hey there, lovely gamers! Welcome home. My blog is your go-to website for all things relaxing and wholesome in the gaming industry.
My blog launched in January 2022, and wow, what a journey it’s been! Over 315,000 page views later, and with a social following of 50,000+, I’m feeling beyond grateful.
So why cozy gaming, you ask?
Well, I genuinely believe it’s a magical gateway for more women—especially those of us adulting hard—to dive into the world of video games. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between relaxation and play, you know?
Big shoutout to the Nintendo Switch fam! Did you know in 2020 there was a massive rise in women aged 24-35 becoming gamers? Yep, and it’s my mission to offer you lovelies the perfect titles to melt the stress away.
Aside from being your chilled-out blogger bestie, I’m also a content creator working with brands.
Sponsorships and paid collaborations help keep this blog going.
And let’s not forget our Facebook Group—a space that’s all about sharing the love for cozy games, being our authentic selves, and keeping things super warm and welcoming.
So stick around! It’s not just about reading here; it’s about hanging out, discovering new games, and feeling right at home.
Let’s keep the cozy vibes going, shall we?
Below you can find out about my passions outside of gaming and why being an advocate for Endometriosis is so close to my heart.
How I Went from Chronic Sick Girl struggling with Endometriosis to a Successful Gaming Blogger with 30K Monthly Visitors!
I’ve had to overcome chronic pain, deteriorating mental health and mountains of debt to get where I am today. In my 20s I suffered from a little-known disease that took away my education, career and any chance of being a mother.
Now, in my late 30’s, I’m living the life I never thought possible for myself as a professional cozy gaming blogger and content creator.
I wanted to share a little bit about the real me. I don’t show my face very much on here because I like the focus to be on the wonderful cozy games you know and love.
But I’m just like you – a sister, daughter, partner, and friend. And I felt this ‘About Page’ should be more than just numbers and accomplishments – I want you to know my story.
From Dance Class to the Doctors Office
I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up.
My darling Pappa would spend hours filming me as I tried to perfect my plie and saute for ballet class. Nothing made me happier than wearing those cute little ballerina tutus.
When I was 12, I ventured into contemporary dancing and even participated in multiple competitions as a majorette.
At the age of 14 however, dancing came to an abrupt halt as my periods began, ushering in a series of frequent visits to the doctors. While some months my periods felt normal, there were others where I found myself writhing in agony on the floor, overwhelmed by the excruciating pain.
I started to hide whenever my Pappa brought out the camera as I developed such bad acne and I really didn’t like myself very much anymore.
I became that sick girl.
The friend who often had to cancel plans, the daughter who missed calls, the sister who sometimes snapped without warning, and later, the girlfriend who pretended to be fine.
I was told I was ‘seeking attention’ by medical professionals and all my symptoms stemming from my painful periods – anxiety, panic attacks, weight gain, diet – were the real problem.
Because nobody would take me seriously, it took 15 years to get diagnosed with Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, and by then the disease had developed into Stage 4 (basically, it was really bad).
But through all the dismissals and struggles, gaming became my safe haven, a place where I could truly express myself and find some calm amidst the chaos.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK. With 1 in 10 women affected. It’s classed in the Top 20 Most Painful Conditions by the NHS.
Still very little is known about the cause and although there are treatments like excision surgery that can help, there is no cure yet. It’s described as abnormal cells, similar to those that line the womb, that grow in other areas of the body and cause inflammation.
It can cause excruciating pain before, during, and after a woman’s period, and mine only left me with 1 week a month pain-free!
In 2017, I opted to have a total hysterectomy. I was 32. It was traumatic and emotional. I cried all the way to the hospital.
But my surgeon described me as “riddled with disease” and I knew this would be my only shot at living a normal life.
Starting Over at 33
What would you do if you could start over?
I knew I wanted a career in gaming. Games got me through my hardest years and I wanted to share their joy with the world!
So I decided to become a gaming blogger.
(I actually thought blogging died back in 2012, but as it turns out it’s bigger and better than ever!)
On the weekends and evenings after work, I taught myself how to use Canva and the best ways to utilize AI for writing posts. Most importantly I learnt as much as I could about starting my own website.
Becoming a Cozy Gaming Blogger at 37
Growing up, my family owned an NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). I’d play Mario games for hours, often kicking my brothers off.
As I got older I bought myself a Nintendo DS to play Animal Crossing Wild World and a Nintendo Wii for Mario Kart and the Wii Fit (I lost 28 lbs!).
During my chronic pain years, I played Halo, Destiny 1 & 2, Final Fantasy, GTA – games with a lot of violence.
But since going through medical menopause, I found myself turning towards gentler, softer games once again.
It was late in 2021 when I discovered a tiny branch of gaming called cozy games. I wanted to know more about this wholesome trend and in my research stumbled across this report by Project Horseshoe in 2017 called – Coziness in Games: An Exploration of Safety, Softness, and Satisfied Needs.
Turns out cozy games weren’t anything new after all.
They just hadn’t been given a voice yet.
Inspired by the gentler side of gaming I knew this was the direction I wanted to take my blog.
What I love most about cozy gaming is how game developers are intentionally trying to find new ways to make video games less violent, more accessible, and inclusive. They express our deepest emotions.
Welcome Home Cozy Gamer
Her Cozy Gaming is more than a blog to me – it’s a community.
The Cozy Millennial Gamers is our Facebook Group for cozy gamers over the age of 25 (although everyone is welcome!). With 1000+ Cozy Gamers now it’s become a valuable extension of this blog.
Here are some fun facts about me:
- My happy place is near water (rivers, ocean, pool). Any negative thought just seems to evaporate whenever I can see, hear and feel the water.
- Peonies are my favorite flower because they symbolize bravery, compassion, and good fortune. That’s why I have 2 tattoos of them and WANT MORE!
- I have a HND in Fashion and I’m a trained Make-up Artist. I’ve always been creative but due to my health, I was unable to pursue a career in either field and ended up working in food retail. Which, ironically, was my savior during Lockdown because I was a Key Worker.
- I love sitting quietly with a cup of tea and reading chick lit, or something inspiring.
- But most of all, I adore playing video games. I have a Nintendo Switch Lite and the Standard, plus a Steam Deck, Xbox One and my PC. I love playing them even more when I can hang out with friends or play a co-op with my fiancé.
