The idea of “cozy” games became popular around 2020. While what makes a game “cozy” can vary, these games are generally played to unwind and relax. They’re typically low-pressure and don’t require much effort, unlike more challenging games. However, even though the term is new, games with these relaxing qualities have existed since the very beginning of video games.
The idea of a “game” is simply something people enjoy, and everyone finds pleasure in different things. While gaming often brings to mind action-packed experiences, it’s always included more relaxed options. In fact, there’s a growing trend of games specifically designed to be calming and cozy, but even looking back to the beginning of gaming, you can find plenty of titles that offer a similar, laid-back experience.
We’re beginning with the second generation of gaming consoles, as the first generation was largely defined by simple games like Pong. While Pong can be enjoyable, it’s also quite limited in what it offers.
8. Miniature Golf
The Second Generation
| Developer | Atari |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Atari 2600 |
| Release Date | March 1979 |
Growing up with the Atari 2600 and Intellivision was something else! Gaming was still pretty new back then, so things weren’t really categorized into genres like we have today – forget about things like ‘cozy games’! But even then, you could still find games to chill out with if you knew where to look. I remember spending hours playing Miniature Golf on the 2600 – it was surprisingly relaxing!
The Atari 2600 came with two different golf games: Miniature Golf and just… Golf. Of the two, Miniature Golf is the more relaxing and charming one. It uses simple shapes for everything – your club, the ball, and the hole – but it’s just as satisfying to carefully guide the ball towards the hole, just like playing real golf. The best part? You don’t have to worry about slow players behind you!
Unlike many fast-paced games on the Atari 2600, Miniature Golf offered a more relaxed experience. There were no time limits or pressure – you could take your time hitting the ball, using the walls and obstacles to guide it into the hole at your own pace.
7. Kirby’s Adventure
The Third Generation
By the time gaming reached its third generation, home consoles had become powerful enough to deliver experiences similar to those found in arcades. Games like Super Mario Bros. and Castlevania were popular, fast-paced, and challenging – great fun, but not exactly relaxing. However, among these exciting titles, Kirby’s Adventure stood out as a surprisingly cozy game that still managed to be engaging.
Kirby’s Adventure was the first time the adorable, yet surprisingly spooky, Kirby made his way to home consoles. It’s an action-packed platformer, but it’s surprisingly relaxed because it gives you a lot of power. Unlike characters like Mario or Simon Belmont, Kirby is incredibly strong – he can fly, quickly defeat most enemies, and gain new abilities by copying them!
Kirby’s Adventure is a great example of how to make a challenging game feel relaxing. It achieves this by consistently putting the player in control and letting them feel powerful. There’s no pressure from a timer, you have lots of health and extra lives, and the adorable characters and world create a calming atmosphere.
6. Harvest Moon
The Fourth Generation
By the time gaming reached its fourth generation, technology had improved enough to allow for games that weren’t always fast-paced and action-packed. While exciting platformers were still popular, consoles like the SNES and Genesis began to explore slower, more thoughtful experiences. This era saw the emergence of what many consider the first ‘cozy game’: the original Harvest Moon, also known as Story of Seasons.
Harvest Moon was one of the first games to let players experience farm life on consoles. You start with a run-down farm and slowly rebuild it over time. The gameplay is relaxed – there aren’t any big action moments or urgent threats, just the simple task of caring for your animals. Once your daily chores are finished, you can socialize with the townspeople at the local bar and then repeat the process the next day.
Harvest Moon was created as a relaxing alternative to the fast-paced, competitive games popular at the time, like fighting games. While it didn’t become an instant hit, it slowly gained a following and eventually grew into a successful series.
5. Pokémon Snap
The Fifth Generation
Shortly after the release of the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation, Pokémon quickly became a major success for Nintendo, eventually becoming the most profitable video game franchise ever. While the original Pokémon games were role-playing adventures, they weren’t particularly relaxing. The first truly cozy Pokémon experience came with Pokémon Snap, one of the series’ earliest attempts at a home console game and the first time many Pokémon were displayed in 3D.
Pokémon Snap is different from most RPGs – instead of battling, you simply take pictures of Pokémon for research. You travel along a fixed path, similar to a rail shooter, and try to capture the best possible photos of each Pokémon you encounter. There’s no combat, and if you don’t get the perfect shot, you can always try the course again. It’s a fun, relaxed challenge, and it was especially impressive seeing the Pokémon animated this way for the first time.
Beyond just being a cozy game where you photograph Pokémon in the wild, Pokémon Snap holds a special place for many of us who grew up in the 90s – including me! I fondly remember taking my game cartridge to Blockbuster to get stickers made from the pictures I took. Those were the days.
4. Animal Crossing
The Sixth Generation
Sixth-generation game consoles were becoming not only more powerful, but also more versatile. Consoles started offering features beyond gaming – the PlayStation 2 could play DVDs, and the Dreamcast could play music, for example. While the GameCube didn’t have those extras, it did include an internal clock, which would later become a key feature of the cozy and popular game, Animal Crossing.
Animal Crossing was a relaxing life simulation game, kind of like Harvest Moon, but with less focus on farming. It was mostly about everyday life – getting to know your quirky neighbors, exploring nature, and earning money to pay off your loans to the somewhat greedy Tom Nook.
Animal Crossing was unique for its time because it synced with your GameCube’s internal clock, preventing long, uninterrupted gaming sessions. The game encouraged a relaxed pace – when your in-game day was over, it was a natural time to stop playing for real. It was a comforting routine, something you could enjoy a little bit at a time after work or school. Just be warned: if you try to change your system’s clock, a character named Resetti will scold you!
3. Minecraft
The Seventh Generation
I often refer to the seventh generation of gaming consoles as “the brown years” because so many popular games were realistic war shooters with a dark, gritty look. While it wasn’t a relaxing time for gaming, this era also saw the emergence of something truly special. From this landscape of drab, realistic games, Minecraft appeared, and it completely changed the gaming world.
Minecraft quickly became a cultural phenomenon, captivating players with its simple yet limitless possibilities. From the very beginning, people were building anything they could imagine – a small house, a massive robot, or even complex automated systems. The game offered complete freedom; you could play at your own pace and create whatever you desired, making it a uniquely cozy – or challenging – experience.
Minecraft started as a simple game but has grown into a huge phenomenon. After its initial release, many other game companies tried to copy its unique style of letting players customize everything. Looking back, this likely paved the way for the popular, relaxing, and customizable games we enjoy today – a happy accident, really.
2. Stardew Valley
The Eighth Generation
During the eighth generation of gaming, many genres began to focus on classic gameplay, largely thanks to the growing success of independent game developers. People who grew up playing games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing started making their own games, and Stardew Valley became one of the most popular and successful examples of this trend.
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Stardew Valley reimagined the farming simulation genre, building on the foundation of games like Harvest Moon. While you still inherit a farm and work to improve it, Stardew Valley added role-playing elements – you can level up skills like fishing, gathering wild plants, and fighting. The game also placed a strong focus on building relationships with the townspeople, letting you make friends, get married, and start a family.
I absolutely fell in love with Stardew Valley because it let me play at my own speed and really create the kind of farm I wanted. But honestly, what really made it special was when they added multiplayer. Being able to play with friends and connect with so many other players made the whole experience even more cozy and welcoming – it built this amazing community around the game that I wasn’t expecting!
1. PowerWash Simulator
The Ninth Generation
The newest generation of video game consoles launched in 2020, a year that was, to put it mildly, challenging. During this difficult time and the years since, relaxing ‘cozy’ games became incredibly popular, helping many people cope. Among these, PowerWash Simulator emerged as a surprisingly impactful and simple game that really stood out.
PowerWash Simulator is pretty much what you’d expect – you use a power washer to clean dirty things. It’s a surprisingly simple idea, but incredibly satisfying. There’s something strangely captivating about blasting away dirt and grime, making it a perfect, relaxing game to play on a weekend while listening to a podcast.
When many people were feeling helpless, PowerWash Simulator offered a comforting sense of control through its straightforward, satisfying tasks. Plus, playing with friends online became a fun way to connect and chat while simply getting things clean.
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2026-01-12 22:43