How the cosy games revolution is redefining the global gaming landscape
Players are more open to trying a calming, stress-free game even if they don’t fit into the 'traditional' demographic.
KALPANA MAHENDRAN20 Feb 2025 09:00am
Cosy games as a whole encourage a sense of comfort and positivity among players. Photo: Canva
Being able to play stressful, high-intensity games on their hardest settings was the skill level that 'real' gamers aspired to.
However, something shifted post-pandemic. Now, there exists an entire genre dedicated to games that give you a sense of serenity.
The goal is not to get a high score or kill enemies, but rather to complete easy, repetitive tasks in a forgiving, character- or narrative-driven environment.
COSY GAMES GET A PANDEMIC BUFF
In 2020, Verizon reported a 75 per cent increase in online gaming. Interestingly, despite having more time to play, people gravitated not towards blockbuster, triple-A titles, but towards cosy, laidback ones.
Animal Crossing New Horizons sold more copies in 2020 than every previous title in the franchise combined. Stardew Valley, which launched in 2016, also sold 30 million copies post-pandemic. These games have something in common; they’re cute, calming, and relatively stress-free.
This makes immediate sense. The pandemic was a time of loneliness, fear, and anxiety. A game like Dark Souls (famed for being punishing and grim) would likely not be fun for someone in quarantine.
Many wanted a mental health boost instead; repetitive, low-stakes games with pretty visuals and compelling characters provided a brief escape from the stress of reality.
Now, life has more or less gone back to normal, but cosy games are even more popular than ever. They’ve also gone beyond farming sims — the genre now includes space exploration (like Astroneer and Outer Wilds), rhythm games (like Melatonin) and even navigating the afterlife (like Spiritfarer).
On the one hand, these games remain popular because players still need an outlet for stress. A game you can leave and come back to after a while is also especially valuable for players with other commitments such as work, school or a family.
COMFORTED BY COSY GAMES
However, more than that, cosy games as a whole signify a change in landscape. The entire point of the genre is to engender comfort and positivity. This means accessibility and inclusivity are slowly becoming the norm.
New players are more open to trying a calming, stress-free game even if they don’t fit into the 'traditional' demographic, as they know they will not be punished for being new.
Skill levels are rarely a factor in cosy gaming either. Quick reflexes and dexterity aren’t usually required, meaning inexperienced, young, or even disabled players face few obstructions to play.
Similarly, those who have always enjoyed 'less serious' games now have a community that’s becoming mainstream. Women, especially, are more willing to say that they play games.
"I'm seeing a lot of women in their 20s and 30s ... that [have] always liked gaming, but never felt included," says Felicia W., a moderator for the Reddit community r/cozygamers.
Although the gaming community has traditionally been hostile towards women and people of colour, the customisability and lack of judgement characterised in cosy games have made gender a non-issue.
Bolstering this is an explosion of games made all over the world. The West no longer has a monopoly, as developers have entered the English-speaking market from places like Korea (Dave the Diver), Indonesia (Coral Island) and China (Genshin Impact).
Even in the West itself, developers of different ethnicities and backgrounds are beginning to become involved in the industry. Cultural differences are a point of interest rather than something to be avoided; many games developers have embraced their identities as selling points instead of trying to copy previous Western-based bestsellers.
Altogether, cosy games as a genre are a sign of a shift in attitude as a whole. Modern gaming places less emphasis on 'seriousness' and more on creating a communal experience.
Some gaming communities remain hostile and punishing, but cosy games signify a growing interest in treating video games as a stress-free hobby.
New players are welcome. Old players who did not previously fit in are welcome too — the only rule is to be kind and have fun.
Curious to discover what makes you relax? Take our quiz to learn more about your personality and habits, and which comfort activity you should try. Click here to find out!
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