The Art of Pretending Like Your Life is a Cozy Game
We can learn a lot from our favorite cozy games.
Cozy games have been with me since childhood.
I’ll always remember Christmas 2002, the year my sister and I were gifted our first gaming console - the Nintendo GameCube. With it, my Mom gifted us two games: Super Mario Sunshine and Animal Crossing. Little did I know at the time that this gift would leave a lasting, profound impact on me over 20 years later.
As soon as I popped the cake donut-sized disc into the console and stepped off the train into Hipony, my first Animal Crossing town, I became hooked. There are talking animals! The music is catchy as hell! I get to shake trees that contain furniture and money! I had played my fair share of games on my sister and I’s shared Gameboy Color, but none of them made me feel the way Gamecube’s iconic cozy games made me feel. Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, Zelda: Windwaker, Super Mario Sunshine, and The Sims had a special way of calming my hyperactivity and transporting me into worlds full of adventure, comfort, and puzzles. Fast forward to today: games like Stardew Valley, Spiritfarer, Gris, Chicory, Cozy Grove, and Night in the Woods have that same effect - calming my nervous system and giving me a brief reprieve from the weird reality that envelops us today.
Turning on your Switch and climbing into bed is the easiest way to transport yourself into a world of comfort, but what if I told you there are ways to replicate those feelings of comfort and awe in real life? I need less corporate grind and doomscrolling in my life, and I’m sure you do, too. I had a lot of fun thinking about all the different elements that make up a “cozy” game, and I look forward to pretending like I’m in my own waking cozy game.
The art of pretending like your life is a cozy game
Check out your local library’s activity board
Cozy Game Inspo: Stardew Valley
Every great cozy game has a town messenger board - a dedicated space that assigns you extremely specific tasks like, “Deliver 20 yams to Jack!” or “Martha needs your help catching 50 butterflies!”. Believe it or not, there is a real-life version of this board, and it can be found at your local library, coffee shop, or rec center.
Next time you find yourself reaching for your phone for the 50th time out of boredom, consider “accepting” a task from one of these messenger boards and attending a local book club, trivia night, or art market.
Invite a friend over to do nothing with
Cozy Game Inspo: Animal Crossing: A New Horizon
Community and friendship are central themes to cozy games. There is no Stardew Valley without its villagers, no Spiritfarer without spirit friends, and no Animal Crossing: A New Horizon without Coco the rabbit giving you lead paint stare at your front door.
There is a lot of beauty and peace in doing absolutely nothing with a friend. We did more of it when we were kids, and I personally would like to do more it as an adult. Call a friend or two over, break out the snacks, and stare at the ceiling together. Enjoy your cozy, quality time together.
Craft something new with found materials
Cozy Game Inspo: Minecraft
I am dead serious when I say there is no sound more beautiful than the Minecraft “Breaking a Wood” sound effect. Maybe that’s why there are over 200 million active monthly Minecraft players - they’re all addicted to the wood-breaking sound.
Hop into the server we call life and craft something new with found materials. Build a fairy garden house with old cans, cool rocks, and woodchips for the pathway. Pick up sticks and make a little ceiling mobile. Collect grass and rain water and craft outdoor soup. Get creative—life is basically one huge resource management sim.
Go to a coffee shop & doodle
Cozy Game Inspo: Chicory: A Colorful Tale
There’s nothing quite like romanticizing your trip to the local coffee shop. Grab your favorite drawing pad or notebook, order your favorite bevvy, and doodle everything and anything that pops into your head. If you aren’t big on drawing, get a cheap coloring book and crayons and go crazy as you color in (or outside) the lines.
Cook a tasty meal
Cozy Game Inspo: Zelda: Breath of the Wild
That recipe you saved five years ago on Pinterest? It’s finally time to see what it tastes like, as all great cozy games have some form of cooking element. There’s an official Stardew Valley cookbook and an unofficial Zelda cookbook you can check out if you need a lil inspiration. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous like our friend Link, grab random ingredients you already have in your fridge and use this recipe generator to make something with what you have.
Gamify a long walk
Cozy Game Inspo: A Short Hike
What’s a cozy game without constant running, jumping, and walking around? Those resources aren’t going to accumulate themselves! Next time you go for a walk, turn it into a little game and give yourself “points” when you discover something new.
Spot a cat? That’s five points.
See a cool bug? That’s two points.
Stumble upon a cool new park or landmark? That’s ten points.
When you hit a certain number of points, reward yourself by getting a tasty treat. That’s a level-up right there!
And whatever you do, don’t forget to set your soundtrack
The soundtrack of a cozy game is THE most critical piece to setting the general vibe and mood. A cozy game is nothing without its unique soundtrack, which is why you’ll need one too if you want to do this right.
My friends at Curaga Records, a LoFi label made up of gamers, sent me their new Cozy Games LoFi record, and it’s been on heavy rotation for me. It’s a beautiful 12-track album of reimagined selections by the producer Emunator, featuring cozy songs from Minecraft, Stardew Valley, GRIS, and Chicory: A Colorful Tale. It’s the perfect background music for cleaning the house, hosting company, cooking dinner, or just unwinding and doing nothing to. I’ll drop the link below in case you’re interested in supporting and getting your own vinyl, cassette, or CD.
this is so beautiful and creative and i love your approach to going offline! thank you for writing this x
Such a great post!