The concept of a 'cozy game' is fairly nebulous. Any game that helps you relax and delivers that much-needed warm and fuzzy feeling can be described as such. While some people might not expect much of a story when they're in a cozy mood, others find that cuddling on the couch is the perfect time for an epic tale.

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Some of the games on this list have more lighthearted, humorous stories. Others use their cozy environment to explore heavy subjects in a way that's still comforting. Whatever your needs are, we've got something for you.

10 Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

Few games plumb the depths of crime and depravity the same way this one does. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is an adorable adventure game that follows your quest to expose the town's corrupt Mayor Onion. The game's sense of humor is all at once adorable and refreshingly silly.

That being said, there is far more lore to this game than you'd ever expect. Every time you think the plot is done taking another sudden turn, more twists are added until you're left with a bumpy, vegetable-filled narrative rollercoaster. This is the perfect game if you want something lighthearted but still full of substance.

9 Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

Released June 27, 2023 Developer(s) Marvelous Platform(s) PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Story of Seasons has always had characters with a surprising amount of depth, but A Wonderful Life departs from tradition in many ways. It's much shorter than other games in the series, but it makes up for that fact by packing quite the narrative punch.

Unlike other Story of Seasons games, where marriage and children are optional, child-rearing forms an integral part of A Wonderful Life. The entire game revolves around you building up your farm as you raise your child, cultivating their talents and interests. Along the way, you meet some of the most memorable characters in the series, all of whom have their own stories and personal traumas.

8 A Mortician's Tale

You wouldn't expect a game about embalming dead bodies to be considered 'cozy', but somehow, A Mortician's Tale is just that. It's a strangely soothing, introspective game that provides a glimpse into a rarely-examined profession. The game treats death as part of the cycle of life, emphasizing respect for the deceased and comforting those left behind.

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The main conflict in A Mortician's Tale comes from the harsh, corporate realities of the funeral industry. As you progress through the game, you're shown time and time again how treating something as deeply personal as death as a business venture helps no one. Overall, A Mortician's Tale is a great cozy game for the goth gamers out there.

7 Cozy Grove

Cozy Grove certainly lives up to its name. You spend your days exploring, fishing, and comforting the restless spirits that call the land home. Every single lost soul you encounter has a story to tell, and it's your job to help them overcome their personal demons before they can move on to the afterlife.

Uncovering the secrets of the titular grove forms the bulk of the story's plot. While the game has a gameplay loop similar to Animal Crossing, it improves upon the latter when it comes to narrative. While the villagers in New Horizons can feel flat, every spirit you encounter in Cozy Grove feels fleshed out and narratively weighty.

6 Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley

Released February 26, 2016 Developer(s) ConcernedApe Platform(s) PC, Xbox One, Android, iOS, PS4, Switch Powered by Expand Collapse

Stardew Valley is one of the most popular cozy games out there, and it's full of secrets. While most gamers play it because of its soothing, farming-based gameplay loop, the story is also surprisingly layered. Sure, saving the town from Joja Corp. (or joining Joja) forms the meat of the first few in-game years. But there's so much more.

Discovering the hidden baggage behind each villager is its own reward. Even the most problematic of townsfolk struggles with their own personal demons, and it's amazing how down-to-earth their life's trials and tribulations are. If that's not enough, the game's supernatural secrets are vast. and new content is always being added.

5 Unpacking

Unpacking is certainly one of the more quirky concepts for a game that we've seen. Every level is a new house or apartment that the protagonist has moved into, and you're tasked with unpacking and putting away all her possessions. The premise sounds simple, but Unpacking uses it as some of the best environmental storytelling you'll ever see in gaming.

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Every item tells a story. Beloved childhood toys are broken and patched up. The protagonist takes up new hobbies every few years. In many levels, you need to combine your possessions with new partners or roommates. As you unpack, you discover more and more about the main character's life with each new room.

4 Coffee Talk

The world of Coffee Talk is similar to urban fantasy works such as Netflix's Bright. Aside from the addition of fantasy species such as dwarves, elves, and orcs, the world is similar to ours, with the same modern cities and tech. It's just different enough to draw your interest in, while still being relatable.

You play as the barista of a coffee shop in this world's version of Seattle, delivering orders to customers and listening to them vent. The game's story comes from giving your patrons personal advice and lending a shoulder to cry on as they spill out their life's story to you, all while you serve up steaming cups of fantasy coffee.

3 Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer

Released August 18, 2020 Developer(s) Thunder Lotus Games, Kowloon Nights, Canada Media Fund Platform(s) Xbox One, Stadia, PC, PS4, Switch Powered by Expand Collapse

Spiritfarer is another game that provides some much-needed comfort and catharsis. You play as a psychopomp named Stella, guiding the newly dead to their new homes in the afterlife. Along the way, you're also tasked with expanding and maintaining your ship.

It's always hard letting go of your passengers, even when you know they're headed to a better place. As you help guide the newly dead, you find out more about Stella and her past. Spiritfarer is a deeply introspective game that's all at once both poignant and comforting.

2 Stray

Stray

Released July 19, 2022 Developer(s) BlueTwelve Studio Platform(s) PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S Powered by Expand Collapse

Games about cute pets are a mixed bag: either they provide you with much-needed serotonin, or they mercilessly tug at your heartstrings. Stray manages to do both. While Stray has more action than most cozy games, it still feels like a warm blanket whenever you play.

You spend the game as a hapless stray cat, exploring the world around you in all its colorful, futuristic, decaying glory. The game remains hopeful in tone despite the many perils you face as a cat. Definitely pick this up if you're in the mood for a good, cathartic cry and a warm cup of your favorite hot beverage.

1 Night In The Woods

Night In The Woods

Released February 21, 2017 Developer Infinite Fall Platform(s) Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

Night in the Woods may very well be the cozy game that has everything. With a charming art style and plenty of cozy ambience, Possum Springs feels more alive than most video game settings we've seen. It all comes together to form one of the most engaging stories to exist in a cozy game.

The game's cast of characters is filled to the brim with personality. As you further uncover the secrets of the titular woods, the story proves itself to be an emotional rollercoaster. Comedy and drama blend together into a bubbling narrative cauldron, producing one of the most memorable stories in gaming.

Next: Best Story-Driven Games On The Xbox Series X|S