The Rise of an Uplifting Genre of Games

Life is stressful, and it’s important to have healthy ways to destress. One of my favorite ways is playing a game called “Sun Haven”. It’s a farming and adventure game similar to “Stardew Valley”, a popular cozy game.

While I was playing, I started thinking: what defines a cozy game and what makes the genre so popular?

Realistically, it’s difficult to define cozy games as a genre because everyone has different opinions on what’s cozy. These games don’t have to be non-violent, but they often are. Typically, recognized genre titles have a focus on community. Players are able to grow the community around them without the real-life stresses.

These games give players the ability to do what they want at their pace. They are inhabiting a world on their terms. Even “Sun Haven”, which has a main storyline, lets you complete that at your own pace.

For the first time, the majority of the online community is made up of women. Historically, video games are not made or marketed towards women, and in fact can have hostile communities. How many of us have watched the TikToks of women playing games like “Call of Duty”? Those lobbies are full of sexual harassment, no matter the player’s skill level.

That isn’t to say that men can’t enjoy cozy games; in fact, the player demographic for “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is about even. However, cozy games are creating a safe place for women to game.

Not all cozy games are non-violent. “Stardew Valley” certainly isn’t. But even games that often have combat can be cozy. Allie Ast, founder of Sundew Studios, says, “The latest Zelda game (“Breath of the Wild”) has combat in it, but people love the sense of exploration and just being in that world…you spend a lot of time roaming around and enjoying the scenery, meeting people, crafting, and that’s the feeling that cozy games give us, despite the combat.”

While there might be a general vibe from games under the cozy tag on Steam, that isn’t the limit.

Cozy games offer a way to relax for a while. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” came out around the beginning of the pandemic, when everyone needed a bit of comfort. The genre stuck around, a way to cope with the stress of life.

As previously mentioned, cozy games and the community is a safe place for women of all ages to enjoy gaming.

In an interview with Rolling Stones, Felicia W., a moderator for Reddit’s r/cozygamers, says “I’m seeing a lot of women in their twenties and thirties, some in their forties even, this different generation that’s always liked gaming, but never felt included. So now they see this community where they can talk about gaming and share pictures without being shamed or pushed out for their age or gender.”

Cozy games are often more accessible. They are often available on multiple platforms, allowing more people to play them, and allowing them to be played on the go. Many of these games also have a low learning curve, meaning you don’t have to invest a ton of time into learning new controls and mechanics.

The cozy feeling doesn’t stop at the games. Setups are now more than “Darth Vader glowing red lights”. You can fit your space to you, whether that’s pastels, flowers, or jewel tones.

Cozy gaming is an ever-expanding genre and a great option for people who want to play video games but don’t want intense combat or stakes.

Kai Spahr is a Buhler sophomore studying journalism and the Opinion Page Editor. You can contact them on X: @KaiSpahr

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