Brianna Fox-Priest
July 18, 2023 In June, the cozy games curator Wholesome Games hosted their fourth Wholesome Direct, an online games showcase specifically games that fall under the cozy umbrella. This year, 78 indie games claimed a spot in the showcase.
From whimsical simulators, RPG adventure games, and emotional story games this year has a promising line-up of fresh games for cozy enthusiasts. Check out this list of the latest releases and some games with big potential:
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
This wouldn’t be a cozy game list without the Story of Seasons franchise. Perfect for the series’ 25th anniversary, A Wonderful Life returns! This time around XSEED and Marvelous! give the original 2003 Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life a refresh. Returning players and newcomers alike will love the classic farming sim, updated visuals and new events, leisure activities such as taking family photos and helping the townsfolk.
Luckily no one has to miss out on the fun, as this remake can be enjoyed by all console and PC players alike.
Mineko’s Night Market
Mineko’s Night Market is a delightful adventure simulator developed by Meowza Games coming fall 2023. The game is inspired by Japanese culture, and is set in a quiet island village at the base of a mountain. You will play as the traveling merchant wonder, Mineko, who’s on a mission to discover her new home by exploring and making a few extra coins at the weekly communal night market.
Along with bartering for the best deals on local goods, there are plenty of puzzles, night market mini games like cat racing and the ability to craft unique items with your foraged goods from your adventures.
Smushi Come Home
How can we resist a game named Smushi Come Home?! If you ever wondered what was on the forest floor, you can now explore to your heart’s content as the tiny mushroom, Smushi.
Help this little fungi return home by means of running, swimming, and gliding from tree trunk to tree trunk. Though Smushi is smol, it has determination to adventure around the woods, meeting new friendly pals and finding its way home with the help of tools found along the way. Unlike other adventure simulators, you will be able to move at your own pace in this open-world style game.
New Games On The Horizon
We had a difficult time narrowing down just a few titles to share, but here are a couple more cozy games you need to add to your wishlist. Do you love pizza and dinosaurs? Manita’s Kitchen, the pizza-flipping parlor run by a team of dinos, is the game for you. Live the slow life of a monk as you venture the tranquil land in Kibu. In need of a soul-finding story? Look no further than the beautifully pixelated Fishbowl. And for our silly-loving, god-like game fans, do yourself a favor and check out Wood Weather.
Which cozy games are you patiently waiting to get your hands on?
