As we all know cozy games offer a peaceful escape from reality. Typically filled with soothing environments, gentle gameplay elements and comforting narratives, this style of video games are perfect for those who need a break from our stressful lives! While mainstream titles like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley often dominate the cozy genre, there are many lesser-known gems that deserve our attention!
If you’re looking for a break from the bustling AAA titles, or just want to discover a new cozy game that you probably haven’t heard of, then these underrated titles will provide that much needed comfort and joy that you’re probably craving. Whether it’s running an in game business or befriending quirky characters, these games offer all the coziness without the distracting fanfare. In this list, you’ll find some hidden treasures that might have flown under your radar but are perfect for those seeking a relaxing gaming experience. Prepare to add some new favourites to your cozy game collection, and let these underrated gems become your next go-to comfort games.
Underrated Cozy Games to Check Out Today
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
With such a positive message about conservation, I’m surprised that this game isn’t recommended as often. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a beautiful exploration game where you play as a young girl named Alba on a mission to save an island from environmental degradation.
Set on a sun-soaked Mediterranean island, you’ll explore nature, photograph animals, and help restore the natural balance of the island. The game is wonderfully relaxing, with a vibrant world and a heartfelt message about conservation, it’s an underrated cozy game that offers a simple yet powerful experience of enjoying nature and how taking small actions can really make a difference.
Little Dragon Café
In Little Dragon Café, you manage a small café while raising a dragon. The game blends café management with exploration and farming as you gather ingredients, cook dishes, and take care of your dragon.
With its charming art style, quirky characters, and laid-back pacing, Little Dragon Café stands out as an underrated cozy game. It emphasises a stress-free gameplay loop where you focus on creativity and care. The dragon-raising aspect adds a unique layer of warmth, making the game feel like a comforting escape from the pressures of daily life.
Teacup
It’s not as underrated as the previous entries on this list; however, I rarely see this cozy game mentioned in many recommendations. Teacup is a short, narrative driven adventure game where you play as a shy frog who must venture out to gather ingredients for her tea party.
The game is all about simple, cozy exploration, meeting quirky characters, and solving light puzzles in a beautifully illustrated world. What makes Teacup special is its gentle atmosphere and emphasis on small, everyday pleasures like brewing tea and chatting with neighbours. It's a cozy, underrated game because it offers a sweet, low-stakes experience that celebrates introversion and quiet moments, making it perfect for unwinding after a long day.
When the Past was Around
When the Past was Around is a point-and-click adventure about love, loss, and moving on. The game tells its story through beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations and puzzles, taking players through a young woman’s journey of dealing with grief.
Despite its emotional depth, the game maintains a cozy feel with its soft visuals, serene soundtrack, and gentle pacing. It’s an underrated gem because of how it combines a poignant narrative with a peaceful gameplay experience. The soothing art and music balance the melancholy, making it a comforting yet profound experience that lingers with you long after it ends. I highly recommend this cozy game if you’re looking to explore something with a gripping premise and stunning visuals.
Sticky Business
Although it’s probably the more ‘popular’ game on this list, I still think that this is yet an underrated gem. Sticky Business is an adorable cozy game in which you design and sell your own stickers. You manage your small online sticker shop, customising products, taking orders, and packaging them with care. The game offers a relaxing simulation experience with low pressure and lots of creativity.
It’s cozy because it centres around crafting, personalization, and running a business at your own pace, making it ideal for unwinding. This game is underrated because of how simple yet enjoyable it is; it taps into the soothing joy of creating art, and its small-business simulator elements add a unique charm.
Rolling Hills
Although this game was only released a few months ago, I do think that this has slipped under the radar. Rolling Hills is a charming life simulation game set in a vibrant, peaceful town where you run and maintain a sushi restaurant. The gameplay combines cooking, restaurant management, and community-building as you interact with townsfolk and develop your business.
Its laid-back pace, cute graphics, and focus on food make it an undeniably cozy game. Rolling Hills is underrated because it offers a stress-free environment where you can take your time, experiment with sushi recipes, and get to know your neighbours. It's a hidden gem that blends the warmth of small-town life with the satisfaction of cooking, creating a perfect cozy gaming experience.
Aka
An underrated cozy game that I don’t think I hear many people talk about, Aka is a beautifully crafted indie game that invites players into a peaceful, open world experience. You take on the role of Aka, a red panda, as he embarks on a journey to find peace and healing after the end of a great conflict.
One of the most appealing aspects of this cozy game is its no pressure gameplay. You’re free to move at your own pace, explore environments, and take on various small tasks, like tending to your garden, building cozy homes, or helping many of the quirky inhabitants of the islands you explore. Its balance of serene activities and deeper, more meaningful storytelling makes Aka an underrated gem in the cozy game space.
Coffee Caravan
Coffee Caravan is an incredibly unique and underrated cozy game that merges exploration with the peaceful art of making coffee.Set in a colourful desert landscape, you take on the role of a travelling barista, brewing coffee and experimenting with different recipes to please your customers.
Visually, the game’s art style is warm and inviting, with the vibrant desert inspired landscapes that make each new location feel like a cozy stop on your journey. The soundtrack is equally relaxing, featuring soft tones that match the laid back pace of the ga\me. Coffee Caravan offers a sense of quiet adventure that is often missing on cozy games, making it an underrated title that blends discovery, connection, and the simple pleasure of brewing coffee. For those looking for a cozy game with a little more exploration and storytelling, Coffee Caravan is a must-play.
Here Comes Niko!
Here Comes Niko! is a delightfully whimsical and underrated cozy game that offers a unique, relaxing blend of platforming and adventure. Described as a “frog-themed cozy 3D platformer,” this game invites you to embark on a charming, low-stakes journey through colourful, island-like environments while making friends and completing light-hearted tasks along the way.
The story follows Niko, who has just been hired as a “professional friend” by a mysterious frog boss. Your job is to travel to various vibrant islands, help out quirky characters, and complete a variety of simple yet fun tasks. These activities range from fishing and bug-catching to helping villagers with errands or exploring hidden corners of the map. There’s no time pressure or looming threats—just pure exploration, light puzzle-solving, and heartwarming interactions.
Whether you’re exploring the islands or just hanging out with your new friends, the game offers a wonderfully cozy adventure.
*Images are sourced from the official gaming companies and used under fair use. All words are my own.
Comments