These cozy games let me down (and I was rooting for them!)
I adore cozy games. You know that. I’ve built my whole blog around them. But lately? I’ve felt a bit… underwhelmed. And I think we need to talk about why.
I’ve played thousands of indie games in the last 4 years, some of which have been truly pioneering. Unpacking has to be at the top of that list.
Released in late 2021 it was a game that trusted players to piece together a life story not through dialogue or quests, but through toothbrushes, worn plushies, and cluttered kitchen drawers. It made the mundane feel meaningful, and that’s rare.
Unpacking told an entire story through nothing but objects and space. It was a masterclass in environmental storytelling.
Oh and I can’t forget Spiritfarer. Released back in 2020, you ferried spirits to the afterlife while building, exploring, and catering to their souls. Inspired by Spirited Away, the gameplay borrows from Harvest Moon/Stardew Valley, but framed around care and comforting rituals instead of profit or progression.
Then there’s Coffee Talk, Hindsight, and Gris to name just a handful of games that continue to take up rent in my head.
But somewhere along the way, things got… a bit stale. A bit copy-paste.
If you asked me to name any cozy game I played last year, or even this year tbh, that has made me go WOW, I honestly would struggle. And I just need to get this off my chest because… cozy games have a problem and nobody is talking about it.
In 2025, cozy games are…
Slow… but not in a good way
Some games mistake “relaxing” for “dragging”. There’s a fine line between calm and boring.
Samey gameplay loops
Farming? Check. Decorating? Check. Fishing mini-game? Yep. But where’s the heart? The innovation?
Shallow characters
Everyone’s nice but no one feels real. We need cozy games that still have depth, stakes, and character arcs.
Aesthetic over substance
A cute art style isn’t enough. Cozy isn’t just pastels and lo-fi beats—it’s also meaningful mechanics and emotional connection.
Early access fatigue
Lots of games launch with so much promise but then updates stall or fizzle out. Us players who invested early are left feeling deflated and unheard.
… and this last one has to be the most annoying because it’s affected me personally:
Every cozy game is on Kickstarter now and I’m kinda tired
I’ll put my hands up here because I’m guilty of promoting Kickstarter campaigns. I used to get so excited when I saw a new solo dev project or a little-known publisher that needed just that extra bit of help to get their game off the starting blocks.
I’ve backed so many games at this point I’ve forgotten about most of them. And the worst thing? I’ve played a total of zero Kickstarter games… yes, ZERO!
I’m out of pocket nearly £200 since mid-2020 and not played any of the games I’ve backed.
There are games I’ve backed that were due to release back in 2022 that still haven’t been released (Ages of Cataria). Games that garnered a bad rep and put me off playing them (Chill Town). And then there are publishers of games who are dealing with multiple lawsuits (Puff Pals: Island Skies).
The most money I’ve ever spent on a Kickstarter game was $65 (about £50) and that was for Puff Pals.
And I deeply regret it.
Even if they were to release the game tomorrow, the fact that they laid off most of their staff and didn’t even pay some of them has left a bitterness I can’t ignore. Not very cozy is it?
Backing Kickstarter games is a gamble and not one I’m willing to continue to do. My negative experiences far outway the good.
Ofcourse, there’s always exceptions. Sometimes Kickstarter can really work, like in the case of Campervan: Make it Home which recently launched. I opted for a Switch key so still need to wait a while longer to play the full game but it’s already had rave reviews and I adored the demo.
But I’m not here to trash cozy games. I’m sharing this today because I believe they can be better. We deserve better. And I truly believe the next wave of cozy games could be just as thoughtful and groundbreaking as any AAA title.
How can Devs make cozy games better in 2026?
I’m not a game developer but as a gaming content creator I’ve had the chance to chat with (and even befriend) some truly exceptional ones. It’s opened my eyes to how tough it is to build a game from scratch. So believe me, I get it – it’s not easy.
That said, there are things we can do to make cozy games feel more meaningful in the future. Here’s what I’d love to see more of:
Mix up the mechanics
Please, not just farming and fishing again. Give us a surprise side quest that tugs at our heartstrings, or a hidden item that exposes depth to a storyline.
A game that does this well is Season: A Letter to the Future. It lets you uncover a place’s past through photos, sounds, and notes to weave your own experience. Tiny, thoughtful mechanics beat a dozen fetch quests any day.
Breathe life into your characters
Especially the NPCs. A good side character can add so much heart to a cozy game. Let them bicker over dinner, share secrets by the campfire, or quietly reveal a fear in a rainy cut-scene.
Take Stanley from Spiritfarer who was just a little mushroomy soul, but one who left a big impact. His joy and innocence stuck with players long after the credits rolled. Deep connections don’t always come from drama. Depth doesn’t have to be dramatic, sometimes it’s a whispered confession in a quiet moment.
Champion slow‑and‑steady dev
Let’s cool it with the endless Kickstarter launches and early-access purgatory. Stardew Valley remains the gold standard of taking time to get it right. We’ve seen how well it can work and just want more of it!
Just look at Ana and Tom, the duo behind Tiny Glade, who posted thoughtful and consistent TikTok updates without over-promising.
Set realistic roadmaps. Be transparent. And don’t be afraid to delay if it means we get something truly polished. Trust earns loyalty—and cozy gamers are nothing if not loyal.
Have you spotted an indie gem that nails depth and that warm‑and‑fuzzy feeling? Hit reply and let’s build our dream cozy games wishlist together!
- 20 Cozy Games like Stardew Valley (in 2025) - July 6, 2025
- 17 Cozy Playables on YouTube You Can Enjoy in 5 Minutes or Less - June 29, 2025
- These cozy games let me down (and I was rooting for them!) - June 22, 2025
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This is such a great post. I feel the same. There are tons of games with farming, sandbox city building, or too much reading. I miss great adventure games with beautiful scenery and heartfelt stories. I’m holding out hope that developers will listen to us, the customers, and make games for enjoyment again and not for monetary gain. 🙏🏽
Absolutely right. Especially on the cute style and pastel color front. I feel cozy and wholesome games have become a color pallet iso a genre. There is a game called Please, Touch the Artwork 2 (the first one is less good) that has this warm&fuzzy feeling you’re talking about but doesn’t have the pastel color pallet or farming or decorating. It’s not super deep because its only a one hour experience but it has some (non text driven) arc. Its free on Steam and now also on Switch (sadly not free).
Yes, I agree that cozy games is going through an awkward growing period where so many developers are jumping on the bandwagon to make another version of the same thing.
The best games do something different. Like ‘thank goodness you’re here!’ with all it’s northern weirdness (that, as someone from Yorkshire, feels like home!)
Fields of Mistria has bucked the trend by being a farming sim in early access that is actually excellent, and has major updates regularly. I definitely feel I’ve got my money’s worth.