The holiday season is often billed as a time for relaxation and reflection, but let’s be honest, it’s also about finally getting the chance to dive into some great video games. Cozy games are the perfect fit for this moment—they’re all about relaxation and creativity, mixing in a bit of charm without the adrenaline rush of high-stakes action games.
So, whether you’re trawling through your backlog of games or perusing new finds on the Xbox store, we’ve curated a fantastic selection of cozy games to match your mood. Grab a hot drink in your favorite oversized mug, snuggle up in a big blanket, and enjoy the ride.
### Welcome to the Farm Life
Farming sims are where cozy gaming finds its roots. In these tranquil realms, you can grow crops, socialize, and explore at your own pace. Whether you’re after a combat-free world or something with a gentle challenge, there’s something here for you.
#### Stardew Valley
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Start your new life on your grandfather’s old farm in Stardew Valley, where you’ll turn a tangled patch of land into a thriving homestead. Level up skills to enhance your farming, fishing, and more, all while making friends—and perhaps, finding love. With the recent 1.6 update, there’s plenty of fresh content for both new players and seasoned veterans. Plus, you can team up with up to eight friends in co-op mode!
#### Lightyear Frontier
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
For those who dream bigger, Lightyear Frontier lets you farm on a planetary scale. This open-world game allows you to create an interstellar farmstead with the help of a customizable mech buddy. Discover the planet’s secrets and foster its ecosystem, all while having up to three friends join in thanks to multiplayer support.
#### Coral Island
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
If a tropical paradise is more your speed, escape the city life on Coral Island. Here you can farm, care for animals, and engage with more than 70 characters. Enjoy activities like insect hunting, fishing, and diving for treasures along the local reef. It’s a delightful, laid-back experience with all the charm you’d expect from a top-tier farming sim.
### Puzzles with a Cozy Twist
If farming doesn’t quite appeal to you, maybe these relaxing puzzle games will do the trick. Forget brain-busters; these are more about serene exploration and satisfying puzzles wrapped in beautiful art styles.
#### Botany Manor
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Step into the world of Botany Manor as Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Solve puzzles to nurture forgotten plants using clues found throughout your stately home. Use your love of gardening to expand the manor’s grounds and reveal the story behind Arabella’s life and research.
#### A Little To The Left
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Dive into tidying bliss with this puzzle gem. Organize household items, everything from screws to pantry goods, across more than 100 unique scenarios. If neat spaces bring you joy, A Little to the Left will be your cozy companion.
#### Strange Horticulture
Available on Cloud and Console
This occult-themed puzzler casts you as a plant store owner uncovering mysterious plant species. Skillfully balance between eerie and serene as you influence the story of Strange Horticulture, set in the spooky town of Undermere.
### Adventures to Unwind With
For those wanting something interactive but minus the combat stress, these light-hearted adventures are for you. Explore, quest, and relax with these games that take fun to new realms without any fuss.
#### Lil Gator Game
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Have the time of your life in this endearing platformer. As a lil gator, explore a lovingly crafted island filled with quests, new friends, and hidden secrets. This low-pressure environment lets you adventure through forests and mountains at your leisure.
#### Dungeons of Hinterberg
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Dungeons of Hinterberg lets you dive into dungeons that moonlight as tourist attractions. As Luisa, delve into these adventurous locations or simply relax in town without any pressure. It’s the perfect blend of adventure and downtime.
#### Little Kitty, Big City
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Navigate the urban landscape as a feline explorer in Little Kitty, Big City. Discover new areas, make animal friends, and complete quests, all while adding a bit of kitty mischief. And yes, there are tiny hats involved!
#### Spiritfarer
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
In this thoughtful management game, you play as Stella, guiding spirits before they move on. The world is yours to explore as you grow crops, mine resources, and more, often with the help of Daffodil, your cat co-op partner.
#### Jusant
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Climb your way through a beautiful world in Jusant, a meditative adventure that focuses on the journey of ascending a tower. Uncover paths and admire the beauty at your pace, with the freedom to enjoy the zen environment and atmospheric music.
#### A Short Hike
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Enjoy a peaceful hike through Hawk Peak Provincial Park as a small bird. Discover secrets, meet charming characters, and relish in the vibrant world as you head for the summit.
#### Disney Dreamlight Valley
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Explore Dreamlight Valley, teaming up with Disney and Pixar characters on various quests and adventures in this delightful life simulator. Customize your surroundings and revel in the valley’s magic.
### Delight in Narrative Adventures
If you’re craving a captivating story without the high energy, these narrative-rich games might just be your cup of tea.
#### Chicory
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Unleash your creativity in Chicory. Playing as an artist searching for a missing superstar, solve puzzles and uncover the heartwarming story unraveling in this vibrant world.
#### Toem
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
In Toem, your camera is your window into a magical world. Snap photos, complete quests, and engage with quirky characters in a beautifully crafted landscape.
#### Harold Halibut
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Experience a unique underwater world in Harold Halibut, a claymation marvel. As Harold, navigate through interactions and mysteries on an aquatic spaceship filled with retro charm.
### Satisfying the Clean Freak
If tidying up on your screen appeals more than in real life, these games offer a delightful escape into a world of neatness.
#### PowerWash Simulator
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Get ready for a clean and satisfying spray in PowerWash Simulator. Tackle dirt on a variety of objects and surfaces as you unlock new challenges and gear. The game even features a lighthearted storyline about the town you’re cleaning up.
#### House Flipper
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Become the ultimate one-person renovation team in House Flipper. Buy, restore, and redesign homes with an array of tools. Customize down to the fine details for a creative escapade.
#### Unpacking
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Uncover the life story of an unseen protagonist through the calming act of unpacking. Arrange belongings in various new homes, letting you piece together memories and the protagonist’s journey within beautifully simple environments.
### Nostalgia with a Cozy Twist
Nothing invokes a sense of warmth like revisiting classic games, and these reboots of beloved 90s games are perfect for a trip down memory lane.
#### Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Save the Dragon Realms once again in this remastered Spyro trilogy. Fly, collect treasures, and free your fellow dragons in a stunningly recreated world, all available with Xbox Game Pass.
#### Crash Bandicoot: N’Sane Trilogy
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Dive back into the action of Crash Bandicoot with this remastered trio, where you’ll jump, spin, and relive classic platforming across beautifully updated environments.
#### Return to Monkey Island
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Join Guybrush Threepwood once more in this new chapter of the timeless Monkey Island series. With a fresh take on point-and-click adventuring, enjoy bantering and solving puzzles as you sail the seas and uncover new tales.
These cozy games are perfect for unwinding during the holiday season, each offering a unique escape to match your mood. Whether you’re exploring an enchanting world, solving gentle puzzles, or diving back into nostalgia, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.
