Many people hear the term “video game” and think of shooter games like Fortnite or Call of Duty. You may also think of Nintendo’s vast francises like Pokemon and all the Mario games. But for those who just want something easy and heartwarming to play, there is a game genre for you.
Cozy games often have easy controls while still being fun. They create calming, stress-free environments for players to explore and are usually brightly colored with gentle music. Here are my top five picks when you want something simple and easy to play when you are bored.
At number five, we have Minecraft. Minecraft is well known for its blocky world and ever-growing popularity on YouTube, but it also makes for a fun, cozy pastime. It is an open-world survival game whose primary goal is to do whatever the player wants. While the game can sometimes be challenging with its controls and lack of direction, Minecraft was made for the player to take it at their own pace and have fun. I’ve ranked Minecraft fifth because of its ability to be stressful at times due to the survival aspect of it, but there are ways to make the game stress-free by changing the game settings to the players liking.
Fourth, I have placed The Sims 4. In The Sims 4, you can customize your characters and create your own houses while pursuing dream jobs. You can make endless customizations to your character and world to make it perfect. With endless expansion packs and ways to play, the Sims 4 is a must-play game. Its ranking fourth comes from its difficult usability at times. The controls can be tedious and have glitches, making the game harder to play or understand. For those who don’t mind the bit of struggle that the game controls can be, this game is a perfect way to express your creativity and have fun doing so.
In third, I’ve placed Stardew Valley. In Sardew Valley, you play as a farmer starting their new life in a small farming town. Through the game, you interact with the villagers of this valley and learn how to farm, fish, and mine. Its simplistic 2D-pixel art style can seem very retro for some and possibly dull, but once you start playing, you can see how much content there holds beneath its 2D surface. While the game is mainly about farming, it gets more complicated and sometimes frustrating, landing it in third place.
I’ve given second place to Slime Rancher. In this game, you play as Beatrix Lebeau, who has moved to the Far Far Range, a planet with small slime creatures. The player can explore the planet and enjoy farming with slimes jumping around your character. This game is adorable and heartwarming. Similar to Minecraft, it is taken at the player’s own pace, giving you plenty of time to awe at the stunning graphics and cute creatures. While fun, adorable, and easy to play, it has the downside of being problematic for devices to handle because of its graphics. It is a must-play if you have a device that can handle this cozy game.
Finally, in the first place, I’ve put Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In Animal Crossing, you play as a traveler to a deserted island where you are met with cute animal villagers and an island you can make your own. This game is free from stress and has straightforward controls. It deserves first because of how easy it is for anyone to play and its endless enjoyment. This game’s customization, beautiful music, bright colors, and cozy vibe make it the best option out of the cozy game genre. So, if you’re in the mood for something simple and cute to pass the time or to cheer you up, these are the best games for you.
