Key takeaways
- Wikipedia describes a cozy game as one that emphasises non-violence and relaxation, often through gathering, growing plants and nurturing characters.
- Some developers trace the style to life simulation games; the term spread after Stardew Valley in 2016 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020.
- Campbell describes cozy games as defined more by how they make players feel than by a mechanic, and Wikipedia notes the vague definition has led to disagreement among fans.
- Common traits include open-ended goals, self-expression, cute characters and satisfying but not overly challenging play.
- Cozy can describe many genres, from farming sims to city builders.
"Cozy" is a label that is hard to pin down. Critics apply it to farming games, life sims, city builders and more, and one critic Wikipedia cites defines it less by what you do than by how the game makes you feel. This guide explains what the term means, where it came from and why it is contested, drawing on Wikipedia's article on cozy games and the critics it cites.
A definition built on feeling
Wikipedia defines a cozy game (cosy, in Commonwealth English) as a video game that emphasises non-violence and relaxation. Cozy games commonly include activities such as gathering, growing plants and nurturing other characters, and they often have open-ended goals that encourage self-expression.
The critics Wikipedia cites stress mood over mechanics:
| Source | How they describe cozy games |
|---|---|
| Colin Campbell, GamesIndustry.biz | Farming, gathering, growing and nurturing; self-expression at the core; defined by their impact on the player's feelings rather than a mechanic |
| Carli Velocci, CNN | "A broad genre that encompasses a lot of types of games, from farming sims to city builders" |
| Louryn Strampe, Wired | "Meant to evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and peace" |
| Jess Rutland, Game Developer | Satisfying but not overly challenging play, complementary colours and mindful music |
That is what makes cozy unusual. Most genre names, such as first-person shooter or turn-based strategy, describe how a game plays. Campbell's point is that cozy describes how it feels.
Where the label came from
Some developers, Wikipedia notes, trace the style to life simulation games such as Little Computer People (1985), Harvest Moon (1996) and The Sims (2000). The term itself became much more common after Stardew Valley in 2016 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020, whose release during the COVID-19 lockdowns boosted the style's popularity. Campbell found that only a handful of the dozens of games described as cozy on Steam had been released before 2020. As early as 2018, Vice suggested coziness could be one of the most significant design trends of recent years.
The common ingredients
Pulling the sources together, five traits stand out:
- Non-violence, which Wikipedia puts first in its definition.
- Gathering, growing and nurturing, from crops to characters.
- Open-ended goals, so you choose what to do next.
- Self-expression, through building, decorating or designing.
- Gentle presentation: cute characters such as anthropomorphic animals, which Campbell notes are common, and calming colours and music.
A worked example. Score a game against those five traits. A farming life sim with optional quests ticks all five. A city builder with no failure state, residents to look after and a sandbox for design ticks most of them. A survival game ticks almost none in its standard mode, though a peaceful setting can change that; creative versus survival mode shows how much a mode switch alters a game's feel.
Why the term is contested
The vague definition has a cost. Wikipedia notes that it has led to disagreement and confusion among fans about what qualifies, and a 2024 PC Gamer article it cites is headlined to the effect that even the genre's biggest fans cannot decide on a definition but are not worried, with the quoted line "there's a whole lot of grey area, and that's what makes it interesting". Campbell suggested in 2022 that cozy games were trying to move beyond "gather and grow" themes, citing A Short Hike (2019).
There is also a commercial side. Wikipedia notes that dozens of games use the word in their marketing, so "cozy" on a store page is a description of intent, not a guarantee. Rutland called cozy games the most accessible genre for people who do not think of themselves as gamers, and easier for small independent studios to make.
Beyond the screen
The aesthetic has spread beyond games. Wikipedia records that merchandise from cozy games such as Animal Crossing expanded into partnerships with brands including LEGO, Puma and Build-A-Bear, that the first official line of The Sims merchandise in 2023 sold out almost entirely in under a day, and that annual use of the #CozyDeskSetup hashtag doubled in March 2024, with desk setups echoing the games' calming lighting and pastel colours. One developer quoted by Campbell summed up the appeal: "People get depressed, and they need to relax."
Cozy games on our shelf
Life Simulator: City Builder describes itself as a relaxed, cosy town builder: homes and roads, residents with daily activities and personal goals, farming and orders, quests at your own pace and a sandbox for design. It matches the city-builder strand of the genre; its guide explains it. Dragon Pet Evolve Hatch Eggs leans on the nurturing strand, with daily pet care, though it adds turn-based battles; virtual pet games explained covers that tradition. Both are among our anime and creative apps.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What is a cozy game?
When did cozy games become popular?
Are city builders cozy games?
Why do people disagree about which games are cozy?
Sources
- Cozy game (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
- City-building game (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed
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