14 cosy games to snuggle up with this autumn – including one where you run a bookshop

As the weather gets cooler, autumn is the ideal season to relax with a comforting game. From managing a small bookstore to the satisfying task of organizing boxes, there’s a game to fit that cozy vibe.

If you’re looking for a way to relax and get through the winter, nothing beats the calming and simple enjoyment of cozy video games.

We recently talked to the creators of the upcoming cozy game, Moonlight Peaks, and they enthusiastically discussed how consistently positive and uplifting this type of game is.

Producer Erik Kors explained that the COVID-19 pandemic led many people to start playing Animal Crossing. He added that while it’s good for game developers when more people try a particular type of game, many people were introduced to gaming altogether through titles like Animal Crossing.

Yannis, the game’s director, also pointed out that games often offer a welcome escape from reality. With so much negativity in the world, cozy games, in particular, can be comforting and provide a pleasant, relaxing experience.

As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder, you might find yourself wanting relaxing, simple games to play at home instead of going out.

If you’re looking for that perfect cozy fall vibe but want to stay indoors, I’ve got you covered! I’ve put together a list of 14 games that really capture that autumnal feeling.

Stardew Valley

If you enjoy relaxing, cozy games, you’ve probably heard of Stardew Valley. If you haven’t played it yet, be warned – it’s incredibly addictive and you might lose track of time!

You start the game by inheriting your grandfather’s farm in Stardew Valley. While the game has simple graphics, the gameplay is surprisingly addictive and will keep you playing for a long time.

Starting with just a few simple tools and some spare change, you embark on a journey to build a new life for yourself. The challenge? To learn how to survive by working the land and transform a neglected farm into a successful home.

Eric Barone, who goes by the name Concerned Ape, single-handedly created the popular game Stardew Valley. If you’re excited about his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier, it’s a great time to check out Stardew Valley and see what makes it so beloved.

Unpacking

Unpacking is a wonderfully cozy game that really stands out and creates a truly unforgettable experience.

At first glance, this game seems straightforward – you simply empty boxes and tidy up rooms. It’s not overly long, making for a pleasant experience.

But it’s more than just relaxing – the game tells a story. As you unpack boxes throughout the levels, you’ll slowly uncover a touching narrative about love, loss, and the reasons behind each move. It’s a simple, feel-good experience – everything you could want in a cosy game!

Tiny Bookshop

Many book lovers dream of owning a bookshop, imagining cozy chats with customers and sharing their favorite reads. Tiny Bookshop lets you experience that dream! You’ll step into the charming seaside town of Bookstonbury with a book trailer and the goal of keeping its reading-loving community well-stocked with great books.

You can customize your trailer with tons of different items you collect throughout the game. Keeping it well-stocked is key, so check the daily newspaper ads for the best boxes of books – everything from different genres – to make sure you have what your customers are looking for.

Honestly, I totally lost myself in Bookstonbury! You travel through the seasons to different spots, selling books and getting to know everyone. It’s so fun chatting with the locals, and there are even little tasks where you can get into some harmless trouble. The best part? You can adopt a dog! Seriously, if you love books and a little bit of gossip, this game is perfect. I’m already hooked!

A Little to the Left

A Little to the Left is a relaxing puzzle game where you tidy up everyday objects by sorting, stacking, and arranging them neatly.

Of course, there’s a twist! You’ll have to watch out for a playful, but troublesome, cat who loves to cause a little mayhem. Even relaxing games need some kind of challenge to keep things interesting.

This relaxing puzzle game features more than 100 delightfully messy scenes to clean up. If that sounds appealing, give it a try!

Bugsnax

Bugsnax, made by the creators of Octodad: Dadliest Catch, is a playfully quirky game. It feels like what a Pokémon game might have been if it was developed by Rare in the 90s.

You play as a tough journalist investigating the disappearance of an explorer. Your search leads you to a strange island inhabited by creatures that are part insect, part food.

Okay, so in this game, you’ve got to collect 112 different creatures and, get this, *feed* them to other creatures to level up and move forward! They’re all named with these really silly, punny combinations – like there’s a Shishkabug, a Flapjackarak, and even a Cinnasnail! It’s a little weird, but honestly, pretty fun.

Kevin Zuhn’s game is funny and quirky, and the characters you meet – all delightfully strange – have wonderfully silly names. As you play, you’ll get to know people like Wambus Troubleham, a ketchup farmer from Texas, the irritating photographer Beffica Winklesnoot, and Dr. Eggabell Batternugget.

Bugsnax seems like a cheerful and quirky game, but Snaktooth Island hides a surprisingly unsettling mystery. The story takes some dark turns, but it never loses its playful and funny spirit.

Untitled Goose Game

Although swans are traditionally owned by the royal family, geese are the ones who truly act like they’re in charge. In Untitled Goose Game, you play as a mischievous goose whose idea of a good time involves causing trouble for everyone around it.

The game has a charming, cartoon-like visual style and uses short pieces of Debussy’s music, creating a relaxed atmosphere. However, don’t let that fool you – the key to success is playing as ruthlessly as you can.

In around three hours, you’ll be involved in some silly antics – like dumping a bucket on someone, moving their lunch, and even causing a man to break his dartboard, just to give you an idea!

The game has a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, but it also subtly encourages unpleasant behaviors. We found ourselves surprisingly bothered by the things we were doing, like stealing a child’s toy airplane and then his glasses. It’s strangely disturbing how much satisfaction comes from simply being a goose and causing mischief – there’s a unique kind of guilt involved in ‘goose abuse’.

Bee Simulator

If you enjoyed the quirky world of Bugsnax, you might also like this slower-paced game about insects. With bees facing real challenges from climate change and habitat loss, anything that helps people appreciate them is a good thing!

The game isn’t a realistic simulation, despite the title. It’s more like an adorable story about being a bee! It’s incredibly sweet and charming – the main character is even named ‘Beescuit’ – and the game uses every bee-related pun imaginable as you travel between flowers collecting pollen.

The controls aren’t always smooth, and the bee’s movements can feel a little stiff or uneven, like it’s just waking up.

One of the game’s highlights is its beautiful and romantic soundtrack, composed by Mikołaj Stroiński, known for his work on The Witcher 3. It creates an amazing atmosphere, ideal for a relaxing Sunday afternoon – maybe with a barbecue! Bring your own beer (and bee-themed decorations, perhaps!).

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker can be surprisingly calming, yet also a little unsettling. It’s incredibly cute, taking inspiration from Japanese hakoniwa – tiny, boxed gardens often featuring miniature figures.

This game isn’t simple, though. While a young child might fall asleep watching you manipulate the little scenes to help a cute mushroom find stars, they’d miss the intense mental effort it takes. You’ll be working hard to figure out how Nintendo designed these complex, colorful puzzles – it’s a real brain teaser!

Even when you’re really thinking, there’s no pressure in Captain Toad’s adventures. He can’t jump or rush, and the cheerful music makes it clear there’s no big danger. Captain Toad is simply a little guy who enjoys a good challenge, and that’s something we can all relate to.

Eastshade

Now’s the perfect time to treat yourself to a trip somewhere beautiful – anywhere is better than a drab parking lot! If money’s tight, though, check out Eastshade. It’s a game where you play as a painter who washes up on a gorgeous island populated by quirky animal characters.

Eastshade’s coastline is peaceful and relaxing, offering calming activities like painting, chatting with interesting characters, and creating art. The game focuses on gentle tasks, similar to the quiet moments in games like Majora’s Mask or the Elder Scrolls, where you might help a shopkeeper with love advice or paint a portrait of a chicken while exploring beautiful, butterfly-filled forests. It’s all very low-stress and charming.

Eastshade is a relaxing game, perfect for unwinding and de-stressing. Feeling overwhelmed? Sometimes, simply painting a picture – even a slightly unusual one, like a woman with deer antlers – is exactly what you need to calm down.

Chibi-Robo

With the upcoming launch of the Switch 2 and a collection of classic GameCube games available online, some forgotten gems are getting a second look, including the charming little robot simulator, Chibi-Robo.

This little robot, standing just 10 centimeters tall, is a charming hero who needs to be plugged in to recharge. The story centers around this small, metal helper who cares for a young girl, similar to a miniature version of the robot from the movie *Bicentennial Man*.

Your owner, Jenny, is a bit unusual – she only communicates by saying ‘ribbit’! While this isn’t a serious, realistic story, it does explore some interesting themes as the Sanderson family’s financial troubles become apparent. To help solve these problems, you’ll need to get creative and use whatever you can find lying around, like a toothbrush, spoon, or dog tag.

If the heat is making your own tasks unbearable, why not tackle someone else’s for a change? It can actually be really enjoyable!

Spyro 2 (Spyro Reignited)

This game has a charming, old-school feel, like a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s filled with quirky, dreamlike moments – think exploring caves with mice, meeting relaxed fauns, and clumsy monks. It’s not meant to be entirely logical, so don’t worry if things seem strange. For example, why would Spyro, who can fly, need to learn how to climb ladders?

This game isn’t about making sense – it’s a fantastical world! The first area, Summer Forest, is a peaceful haven with bouncing sheep and flowing streams. Even the rules of nature are bent here, as your dragonfly companion, Spark, can happily eat frogs without consequence. Don’t let the calm scenery fool you, though. Spyro 2 will still challenge you, like when it asks you to run headfirst into a line of spinning hula dancers.

You might assume the name ‘dragon’ relates to fire, like the prefix ‘pyro’. However, this game offers a calming experience, a safe world where things rarely go awry. Perhaps the name actually comes from the Spanish word ‘espiro,’ meaning ‘to breathe,’ reflecting that sense of peace and tranquility.

Bear and Breakfast

Bear and Breakfast is a charming game that leans heavily into a cute and cozy aesthetic. As you play, you take on the role of Hank, a bear who can’t sleep and unexpectedly becomes the owner of a bed and breakfast – all thanks to a strange encounter with a shark in the forest.

This game is a relaxed management sim, even as you expand to run several shops. It has a focused storyline, rather than being completely open-ended, and tasks you with completing various errands – like helping Charlotte, a witch who happens to be a crocodile, restock her supply of charcoal lilies for her special pickle juice.

According to a tipsy bird named Will, people are strange, but they have money to spend. If you want to succeed in the hotel business, you need to be efficient. It’s a fun job, though it’s always been a mystery why the company didn’t call themselves ‘BearBnB’.

Dave the Diver

When the cold weather hits and you’re dreaming of a beach vacation, Dave the Diver is a great alternative. It’s easily the best game out there that combines underwater exploration with running a sushi restaurant.

The game takes place in the Blue Hole, a strange and ever-changing underwater location. While diving, you’ll need to gather fish for dinner using a really satisfying harpoon, build underwater weapons, uncover the history of a lost underwater civilization known as the Sea People, and collect items for a variety of interesting characters.

Dave works as a sushi server at Bancho’s diner in the evenings. He carefully pours green tea for customers, designs the menu, and even arranges the seating to maximize profits.

This game beautifully captures the feeling of being by the ocean, with immersive soundscapes and delightful conversations. The vibrant, colorful aesthetic is reminiscent of 80s Miami style. If you’re longing for the sea, this game offers a perfect escape.

Spiritfarer

In mythology, a ‘psychopomp’ is a guide who helps souls transition to the afterlife. This role appears in many cultures, with figures like Anubis, the Valkyries, and Heibai Wuchang all serving as escorts to the next world after death.

If the idea of a cozy game doesn’t seem to fit with themes of death, you haven’t played Spiritfarer yet. This award-winning game from Thunder Lotus Games puts you in the role of a ferrymaster – someone who transports spirits to the afterlife – alongside your adorable cat. Throughout the game, you’ll meet departed spirits, learn their stories, and play unique minigames with each one.

As you explore the ocean and customize your boat, the game blends exciting platforming action with the relaxing elements of a city builder. The art style is beautiful and evokes the warmth and charm of classic animated movies. But what truly sets Spiritfarer apart is how emotionally rewarding it is – it’s a comforting experience, like a heartfelt embrace during a difficult time, that encourages you to accept loss and appreciate the love that remains.

2025-09-26 09:49