Best Cozy Games to Play in 2025

If you’re a gamer craving a break from high-stakes action and looking for something to soothe your soul in 2025, this list is for you. Cozy games are all about relaxation, charm, and low-pressure fun, and this year’s lineup delivers. From whimsical life sims to narrative-driven gems, here are eight standout titles to add to your library, packed with details to help you pick your next obsession.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time – A Life Sim Packed with Freedom

Summary: Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is a vibrant sequel to the beloved 3DS classic, inviting you to explore a mysterious island lost in time. You’ll craft, farm, fight, or socialize as you uncover an ancient secret, all while switching between various “Lives” (jobs) to suit your mood. Developed by Level-5, it’s a cozy RPG with endless customization.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: RPG / Life Sim
• Art Style: Colorful, anime-inspired 3D visuals
• Story: Follow a time-traveling protagonist unraveling the island’s mysteries, with a stronger narrative focus than its predecessor.
• Gameplay: Choose from diverse Lives like Miner, Tailor, or Paladin, each with unique skills. Build your city, farm, craft, or engage in light combat. Supports up to four-player multiplayer.
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC
• Release Year: 2025 (April)

Why It’s Similar to Stardew Valley / Why It Deserves a Spot: Like Stardew Valley, Fantasy Life i offers a sandbox where you can farm, socialize, or adventure at your own pace, but it adds a layer of RPG depth with its job-switching mechanic. Its sheer variety—want to be a chef one day and a wizard the next?—makes it a must-play for cozy gamers who love freedom. The multiplayer aspect is a bonus for those who want to chill with friends.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Sanrio’s Cozy Paradise Hits More Platforms

Summary: Originally an Apple Arcade exclusive, Hello Kitty Island Adventure expands to consoles and PC in 2025, letting you restore a deserted island alongside Sanrio’s iconic characters. Think Animal Crossing with a Hello Kitty twist, filled with crafting, decorating, and heartwarming quests.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: Life Sim / Adventure
• Art Style: Bright, cartoony 3D with Sanrio’s signature cuteness
• Story: Crash-land on an island and team up with Hello Kitty, My Melody, and others to rebuild Big Adventures Park.
• Gameplay: Explore eight regions, fish, craft, decorate your island, and complete mini-games like photography or platforming. Social sim elements include gifting and befriending characters.
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Windows
• Release Year: 2025 (January)

Why It’s Similar to Animal Crossing / Why It Deserves a Spot: If you adore Animal Crossing’s laid-back vibe, this game’s island decorating and villager interactions will feel like home. Its Sanrio charm and constant updates (new quests and characters) keep it fresh. It’s a no-brainer for fans of cute aesthetics or anyone who wants a low-stress escape.

Wanderstop – A Tea Shop Tale with Emotional Depth

Summary: From the creator of The Stanley Parable, Wanderstop is a narrative-driven cozy game where you play as Alta, a former warrior running a magical tea shop. As you brew teas and chat with quirky customers, Alta’s story of burnout and self-discovery unfolds, blending relaxation with poignant themes.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: Narrative / Simulation
• Art Style: Soft, hand-drawn 2D with a whimsical forest setting
• Story: Explore Alta’s emotional journey through 12–15 hours of storytelling across five chapters.
• Gameplay: Grow ingredients, brew unique teas, and interact with travelers like Gerald and Nana. Light gardening and shop management keep things chill.
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
• Release Year: 2025 (March)

Why It’s Similar to Coffee Talk / Why It Deserves a Spot: Like Coffee Talk, Wanderstop uses a shop setting to tell intimate stories, but its focus on mental health and recovery adds depth rare in cozy games. It’s perfect for players who want a relaxing experience with a meaningful narrative punch. Its unique pedigree makes it a standout.

Sugardew Island – A Farm Sim Built for Accessibility

Summary: Sugardew Island is a farming sim designed for players of all skill levels, where you run a farm shop on a magical island populated by humanoid fantasy creatures. It’s all about slow-paced farming, socializing, and building relationships, with no time pressure or combat.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: Farming Sim / Social Sim
• Art Style: Vibrant, cartoonish 2D with pastel tones
• Story: Light narrative focused on befriending islanders and growing your shop.
• Gameplay: Grow crops, raise animals, and manage a farm shop. Socialize or romance quirky NPCs. Accessibility features include simplified mechanics and customizable controls.
• Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
• Release Year: 2025 (March)

Why It’s Similar to Stardew Valley / Why It Deserves a Spot: Sugardew Island takes Stardew Valley’s farming formula but strips away the stress, making it ideal for casual players or those new to the genre. Its focus on accessibility and inclusivity ensures everyone can enjoy its cozy charm. It’s a great pick for unwinding after a long day.

Doloc Town – The Hidden Gem of Post-Apocalyptic Coziness

Summary: Doloc Town is an under-the-radar pixel-art farming sim set in a surprisingly cozy post-apocalyptic wasteland. You’ll build a farm, explore vibrant ruins, and bond with quirky townsfolk, all while dodging bullet-hell combat with your drone buddy. It’s a fresh take on the genre that’s flying under most radars.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: Farming Sim / Adventure
• Art Style: Retro pixel-art with colorful biomes
• Story: Uncover hidden stories in a post-apocalyptic world while rebuilding your farm.
• Gameplay: Plant crops, craft tools, and explore valleys and wetlands. Optional bullet-hell combat adds a twist, but you can focus on farming and socializing.
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Release Year: 2025 (May, out of Early Access)

Why It’s Similar to Terraria / Why It Deserves a Spot: Blending Terraria’s exploration with Stardew Valley’s farming, Doloc Town offers a unique mix of cozy and adventurous. Its pixel-art charm and offbeat setting make it a hidden gem for players seeking something different. Keep an eye on this indie darling.

Tiny Garden – A Pocket-Sized Gardening Retreat

Summary: Tiny Garden invites you to nurture a miniature garden inside a magical toy, blending farming, puzzles, and creativity. With no timers or scores, it’s a meditative experience where you grow plants, collect furniture, and uncover a quiet story through heartfelt letters.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: Simulation / Puzzle
• Art Style: Charming, tactile 2D with a handcrafted aesthetic
• Story: Discover past memories woven into the garden’s world.
• Gameplay: Cultivate unique plants, trade harvests for furniture, and strategically plan your garden. Each plant has special mechanics to master.
• Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
• Release Year: 2025 (April)

Why It’s Similar to A Little to the Left / Why It Deserves a Spot: Like A Little to the Left, Tiny Garden taps into the joy of organizing and creating, but its gardening focus adds a nurturing vibe. Its stress-free gameplay and adorable aesthetic make it a perfect cozy pick for short, relaxing sessions.

Loftia – A Sky-High MMO for Cozy Collaborators

Summary: Loftia is a cozy MMO where you build a sustainable community in the sky. Decorate your island, farm, and upcycle materials alongside friends, creating a vibrant neighborhood in a cloud-filled world. It’s a social sim with a green twist.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: MMO / Farming Sim
• Art Style: Bright, anime-inspired 3D with a dreamy vibe
• Story: Light narrative focused on building a sustainable sky community.
• Gameplay: Farm, craft, and decorate your island. Collaborate with others to connect islands and build neighborhoods. Upcycle materials for eco-friendly creations.
• Platforms: PC (Steam)
• Release Year: 2025 (December)

Why It’s Similar to Animal Crossing / Why It Deserves a Spot: Loftia captures Animal Crossing’s community-building charm but adds MMO-scale collaboration, perfect for social gamers. Its eco-conscious themes and gorgeous visuals make it a forward-thinking cozy game worth waiting for.

Kabuto Park – A Bug-Catching Adventure for Summer Vibes

Summary: Kabuto Park is a bite-sized cozy game where you play as Hana, a girl on summer vacation, catching over 40 bug species in a hand-drawn world. Train your bugs for card-based sumo battles or just enjoy the chill vibe of collecting and exploring.

Key Gameplay Features:

• Genre: Adventure / Creature Collection
• Art Style: Hand-drawn 2D with a nostalgic, summery feel
• Story: Light narrative about Hana’s summer adventure.
• Gameplay: Catch beetles and butterflies, train them with candies, and compete in sumo-style battles. Exploration and collecting are the core focus.
• Platforms: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch (planned)
• Release Year: 2025 (May)

Why It’s Similar to Pokémon / Why It Deserves a Spot: If you loved Pokémon’s creature-collecting joy, Kabuto Park offers a cozy, combat-light alternative with a summery twist. Its short playtime and charming art make it ideal for quick, relaxing sessions. It’s a delightful niche pick.

2025 is a stellar year for cozy games, offering everything from sprawling RPGs like Fantasy Life i to intimate narratives like Wanderstop. Whether you’re tending a farm in Sugardew Island, catching bugs in Kabuto Park, or building a sky community in Loftia, there’s something here for every chill gamer. Don’t sleep on Doloc Town—it’s the hidden gem you’ll wish you’d played sooner. Which game are you adding to your wishlist? Drop your thoughts or favorite cozy titles in the comments below, and let’s keep the cozy vibes going!