Top 15 New COZY Games to Look Forward to in 2024
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and you know what that means – it’s time to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and dive into some cozy new games! 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year for laidback, feel-good video games that provide the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you want to unwind with a story-driven adventure, lose yourself in a charming little town, or flex your creative muscles, the upcoming cozy games of 2024 have something delightful in store.
This list highlights 15 of the most anticipated new cozy video games set to release in 2024. From magical shops and bakeries to remote tropical islands and fairy tale kingdoms, these soothing virtual worlds are bound to whisk you away to a place of tranquility and imagination. Craft to your heart’s content, nurture a garden, customize a character’s home – these activities and more await within the pixels of the carefully-crafted cozy games ahead.
While the big-budget action blockbusters tend to dominate each holiday season, don’t overlook the humble cozy game! The genre has quietly developed a dedicated fanbase over the years that eagerly awaits each new release. And with more visibility nowadays, cozy games are finally getting their time to shine. Their emphasis on playing at your own pace provides a welcome respite from today’s rapid-fire news cycles and nonstop stimulation.
As you read through our handpicked list, you’ll likely encounter charming visuals, enchanting soundtracks, and gameplay driven by choice rather than challenge. From farming sims to magical shops, these cozy escapes aim to delight and soothe. Forget about trophies and leaderboards – the only reward here is a few precious hours of serenity. So grab your favorite sweater, light some candles, and settle in – a heartwarming journey awaits within the top 15 new cozy games of 2024!
1- Bandle Tales: A League of Legends Story
Kicking off our list is Bandle Tales, set in the charming world of League of Legends. You’ll explore the magical island home of the yordles near Bandle City. Part RPG and part life simulation, your mission is to investigate why the portals connecting your island stopped working. But don’t worry too much about solving mysteries – you’ll also make friends, grow plants, craft items, cook delicious foods, and throw fun parties. With its cute characters and laidback activities, Bandle Tales looks like a very relaxing way to experience Runeterra when it launches on February 21st.
2- Mami Lane
For those seeking a cozy small-town vibe, Mami Lane lets you oversee the development of a picturesque Japanese street. Build homes, open businesses, and upgrade buildings to keep the neighborhood flourishing. Lasting around 2-4 hours, it’s perfect for a short relaxing session. Launching February 28th, Mami Lane provides a low-pressure way to satisfy your inner developer and community planner through gentle management and construction gameplay.
3- Summerhouse
With no predefined goals or ways to “win”, Summerhouse embraces creativity and exploration. Freely design charming little houses along seaside cliffs, in bustling cities, or tucked within mountain villages. Discover hidden details throughout your miniature builds. More than a game, Summerhouse acts as an interactive tribute to carefree summers of childhood. Launching March 8th, it’s sure to spark feelings of nostalgia while letting your imagination run freely through minimal yet heartwarming construction.
4- Cozy Knut
Blast off into the stars with Cozy Knut, where your mission is to establish a thriving colony on an alien world. Gather resources, craft survival gear, and make your new home truly cozy to attract other settlers. With relaxing resource management and base-building, Cozy Knut embraces the laidback aspects of colonial simulation. Even better, try the free demo now on Steam ahead of the full March 28th launch to get your planetary homestead started early!
5- Lightyear Frontier
Promising a vast farming adventure across the cosmos, Lightyear Frontier lets you explore lush alien worlds without typical survival stresses. Pilot your mech to plant crops, collect resources, and build structures alongside up to three friends. Whether playing solo or with company, Lightyear Frontier aims to provide a relaxing, carefree experience through peaceful planetary progression when it launches in March via early access.
6- Critter Crops
Magic and nature combine in Critter Crops, where you’ll discover a witch’s power to transform plants into magical critter companions. Use your green thumb for good as you restore an island paradise, meeting eccentric locals along the way. Blending farming, crafting and mystery, Critter Crops cultivates a soothing atmosphere perfect for unwinding. Look for its early 2024 launch on Nintendo Switch and PC.
7- Bin Hearts
For those seeking an emotionally warming journey, Bin Hearts follows Tyke on a nostalgic hiking trip to rediscover fond childhood memories. Explore secret trails, help kind villagers, and reflect on loved ones no longer present. Developer Brave At Night aims to evoke bittersweet feelings of recollection through thoughtful exploration and low-key gameplay. Look for Bin Hearts to release peacefully in early 2024.
8- The Garden Path
Nurture your inner botanist with The Garden Path, a relaxing gardening simulation. Mirroring real world seasons, your plot blooms anew each day, letting you tend plants at a relaxed pace. Unfurl quests alongside quirky villagers or just relax solo. Perfect for quick daily sessions of around 30 minutes, The Garden Path cultivates calm through gentle horticultural activities when it blossoms on Switch and PC this Spring.
9- Spirit City Lo-Fi Sessions
Craving an extra serene escape? Spirit City Lo-Fi Sessions crafts a distraction-free virtual refuge centered around calm soundscapes, from gentle rain to soothing beats. Customize your character and room to taste, then simply exist peacefully – whether working, unwinding or socializing with spirit companions. Due April 8th, it aims to provide a cozy oasis within life’s bustle.
10- Afterlove E
Delving into more emotional terrain, Afterlove E follows musician Rama coping with loss in Jakarta. Your choices impact whether he heals through music or loses his passion and bandmate Cinta forever. Combining visual novel storytelling with minigames, creator Anthropic thoughtfully explores grief amid Indonesia’s rich culture. Look for Afterlove E’s touching journey later this year on consoles and PC.
11- Little Kitty Big City
For those seeking furry fun, Little Kitty Big City stars a curious kitten exploring a sprawling urban playground. Wander freely without objectives, helping locals and discovering hidden areas at your leisurely pace. Developer Vanilla Workshop aims to recapture the carefree spirit of childhood adventures through your feline friend’s eyes. Look for Little Kitty Big City to purr onto Switch and PC this year paw-sitively.
12- Tales of the Shire
Even hobbits need breaks from feasting! Tales of the Shire invites you into the peaceful Shire for a slice of bucolic life. Developed by Lord of the Rings visual effects masters Weta Workshop, expect gentle farming, cooking, crafting and more in the shire’s charming countryside when it emerges later in 2024. A perfect way to cozily visit J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic location.
13- Ma and the Witch’s Mountain
For a magical adventure, Ma and the Witch’s Mountain follows apprentice witch Mik delivering parcels to unlock her broomstick’s full power. Explore a lush island meeting quirky locals, with gameplay blending low-key tasks with Mik’s delivery duties. Launching on PC later this year, developer Imoria Games aims to whisk players to a whimsical world where magic meets mundane in moving montage.
14- Tiny Glade
Some evenings call for solitary activities – answer Tiny Glade’s siren song for relaxing castle crafting. Freely design your stronghold amid pastoral landscapes, accountable to no one. Spend stress-free sessions perfecting architectural details without resource gathering or survival elements distracting your artistic flow. Tiny Glade ensures creativity remains king when it arrives on PC this Fall.
15- Camper Van: Make it Home
Finally, Camper Van: Make it Home invites transformation of humble vehicles into cozy compact homes. Customize every inch of your van’s interior with flair and function for a protagonist in search of simple joys. Developer Wawawawa hopes players find small satisfaction in organization as they outfit their movable miniature abode. Look for Camper Van: Make it Home to launch conveniently later this year.
Conclusion
In a stressful world, these 15 games provide perfect prescriptions for calm through laidback activities, heartwarming stories, and distraction-free virtual escapes. Whether you’re seeking solitary relaxation or low-key social experiences, 2024 should deliver many cozy gaming opportunities to unwind body and soul.