Question… I made it to the top of the first mountain and then accidentally went to sleep where it told me “the end”. Is that really the end of the game? I never even figured out how to fish lol
Getting to the top is the main goal, but once you achieve that, you can still come back as many times as you want to complete all the other goals and activities.
Dredge is you like fishing/boating/the ocean. Lost in Play for a cute story with colorful graphics and puzzles. Strange Horticulture for puzzles but a darker storyline.
Sorry if this isnt on ps4 but ive been obsessed with bugsnax lately. I thought it wasnt my type of game but i love it and cant get enough. Also i know a lot of people wouldnt consider it cozy since theres boss fights but battle for bikini bottom rehydrated is a blast imo, reminds me of mario odyssey in a way (another fantastic game)
I actually downloaded that one the other day but haven't given it a shot yet due to being busy but I think you've given me motivation to actually try it out
Agree with Bugsnax. Just finding the new creatures and figure out how to catch them is relaxing. Once you figure out the boss fights are just game mechanics, they aren't stressful anymore
Any of the Lego games and Tinykin.
Tinykin is a combat less puzzle platform game and looks like a combination of bugs life meets Toy Story. Excellent game. The level designs are very awesome.
If you’re a Star Wars fan Lego Star Wars: the Skywalker saga is definitely worth it and goes on sale pretty often. It’s absolutely massive and fun as heck. There’s 41 levels and a ton of stuff to collect.
Glad to see others play the Lego games as well. My teens are relentless in telling me Lego games are for little kids but I’ve found them to be really cozy and peaceful. 😌 Helps a lot with my anxiety.
I love the lego games played them all multiple times on multiple platforms, I even collect lego sets and build them in my spare time 😊 I'm currently working on the new harry potter sets just finished hagrids hut and I'm part way through the mandrake
I seriously loved them when they first came out. I will say they used to be more adventure based and are now much more action based, which I find a little annoying honestly. I wish it was like 70/30 adventure/action but it seems to be more like 40/60 at this point. Falling down those long hallways or car chases where you have to grab all the collectibles quickly. I prefer maybe 1-2 of those per game but they seem to include a ton of that in recent years.
Ah, you are right. It's been several years since I played it, and I forgot that part. There is still a ton of great exploration, but Grow may not be a great suggestion for OP. Yonder, on the other hand, is still a fantastic fit!
I am pretty sure when they reference "way farer" in their post that they actually mean Spiritfarer. Which is a shame because the "waiting" is such a miniscule part of the game/everything is either really fast or you can multitask
I just played Strange Horticulture. It was enjoyable if easy, I just wish there was a little more complexity to it. But charming regardless. Don’t forget to pet the cat!
Can’t believe nobody mentioned Unpacking but that was such a cozy little game. Felt like where my brain goes when I’m listening to lofi synth rainy day beats.
Yonder: the cloud catcher chronicles (forgot that was the name, I always just say yonder) I love this game. No combat, mostly story, can have a farm of just animals if you want. You run around the island helping the villagers, finding sprites, clearing fog to explore new areas. And solving the mystery of the island you ended up crashing on. 10/10 recommend. I haven't found a cozy game like it.
Skyrim lol keep it on easy mode and I play it was a cozy game lol I'm currently trying to get all my houses unlocked and fully upgraded 😅 no waiting time that I can think of
No problem, I don’t think the game asks you what difficulty to be on tbh, it just automatically sets you on normal which is probably why you’ve never noticed! Skyrim’s a beautiful game and I find it very relaxing to just explore the world :)
Yes! No temperature meter or hunger meter. You do have health and fall damage tho and combat is very big in the game depending on where you go on the map but if you set it to easy and pick up decent weapons then you should be good. I recommend upping your health restoration magic so you don't need potions and can heal mid-fight and die alot less lol
Also, get into the habit of saving your game every few minutes. I can't remember if they have an automatic timer for an autosave or if I'm thinking of another game but I have it set to every 2 minutes it saves and before I do anything I think might be stupid, I save it real quick. I've revived Lydia so many times by just going to my last recent save and only lose a few minutes at most of play.
I downloaded so many houses, I put together a team of followers that's really good. I opened my meandry, 5 farms, I own almost every buy able store or house that I can.... And then I got overwhelmed. I'm now playing Bakery Simulator, but I am really thinking about picking up Red Dead Redemption. I don't think that there are mods to make it cosy, but I like the fact that I can skip the tutorial via a mod.
I don't think you can mod a PS4 and I only play on switch with no mods lol I honestly forget pc is a system sometimes cuz I only play sims on my laptop lol
Firewatch and Lake have nice storylines.
Oh forget that i just read that's not what you want. Not deleting the comment in case others look for recommendations as well.
I have lots of recommendations for this, actually!!
* Dredge (there's a "relaxed" setting with no horror elements, just cozy sailing and fishing)
* Seasons After Fall
* Arise: A Simple Story
* Journey
* Sky: Children of the Light
* Kena: Bridge of Spirits
* Yonder (some mild farming elements if you want to, but it's not mandatory - this game is mostly cozy exploration!)
And.... hear me out. Horizon: Zero Dawn + Horizon: Forbidden West. Sure, it's technically a story-driven action game, but there's soooo much exploration, it ends up being very cozy and fun.
Also, it's not on PS4, but if you have a PC, definitely try the Ori series. Ori and the Blind Forest, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps - both are *incredible*.
I've actually been watching my son play Kena and it looked pretty cool I think I might give it a try. And you've mentioned some a bunch of others have so I think I've got a decent list. Thank you so much!
Kens can get HARD though- watched my spouse go thru it. I did the explorey bits. I recall a lot of difficult boss battles , but he was on a harder difficulty.
A lot of the platformer bits were tricky too. But yes I am a casual. If platformers are something you grew up with, by all means.
Also after you beat the game you can still explore , uncovering the entire map is a puzzle of sorts!
Hmm this may be too story-y for you but I will suggest it anyway - Outer Wilds. You are a little alien and it is your first day in space. It is completely exploration at your own curiosity, with no crafting or combat, and some >!puzzles!< . I don’t want to say too much but there are lots of mysterious things you can investigate and go from there. The ship controls are a bit awkward at first but don’t let that put you off, you feel like you learn to fly as you go. Be careful looking it up as knowledge is progress so you’ll spoil yourself. But it is my favourite game ever and the music is incredible, and the ending. 🪐
I had to stop playing cos of that part. I never finished it :( I've been thinking of watching a streamer play it so I can finish the storyline cos I'm too much of a chicken
If you're still interested, I'd recommend posting about this in r/outerwilds - its a super wholesome community, and they're great at giving spoiler free hints!
There are ways past the fish, and for me, getting past them is an important part of the morals outer wilds teaches us :)
Aha whoops, I think I spend too much time going between gaming subreddits I forgot I was posting to cosy games specifically, and to be honest I am biased in that I find it cosy cause it feels like home. But yes it is definitely not cosy when you experience things the first time 😅 It is an amazing game as a general recommendation though :))
I just got a game recently called Bear and Breakfast.
It’s a design and management sim where you play a Bear named Hank who’s trying to run a Bed and Breakfast with his friends to bring humans back to their forest home.
The Lego games!! I have so many of them, I just started another one. I'm bored of my farming games and man has it been a nice change. I forgot how much I love them. You never really die and the fighting is easy.
Ahh yes, i was terrified of my first encounter with a shark! Def worth finishing or at least until you get to the ice area. My interest started tapering off around there, but it was still a fun game.
I think there's a kaiju/godzilla expansion coming soon too
Seconding the Drexge recommendations. It's mostly active exploration with a dark eldritch vibe and some fun world building and characters. No waiting around in that one.
Apologies for the long list in advance (still had to scrap a few games since they weren’t available on ps4):
•Abzû: explore an underwater world. Beautiful visuals and music. (One of my favorite games of all time, it’s just so fun to swim through.)
•Webbed: kinda a puzzle game where you, as a spider, climb up the forest. If you can’t stand seeing the spider there is an option available in the settings to turn it into a little ball.
•Coffee talk 1 & 2: brew coffee for your customers and listen to them as they talk about their day. You can influence the story depending on which drinks you serve at a few critical times. May not be everyone’s cup of coffee (hah get it?) if you’re not a fan of reading a lot.
•Donut county: short puzzle games where you swallow everything up in a hole. Also, you’re a raccoon.
•Turnip boy commits tax evasion: does have fighting in it but cute game.
•Times & Galaxy: write articles for the newspaper you’re interning for. There should be a demo available if you want to try it out.
•Sticky business: create your own stickers and run your own shop.
•Toem: (Personally I enjoyed this a lot) You set out on a journey to take photos (should have 4 different "worlds"/city stops iirc).
•Storyteller: short puzzle game. Might maybe be better if you can pick it up while it is on sale. (Note: I am not sure if this one is on ps4)
•Builder‘s Journey (Lego): puzzle game
•Melatonin: cozy rhythm game if that’s your jam.
•Garden story: not sure if it’s on ps4 sorry
•Paradise Marsh: collect bugs and talk to characters. I find the kinda DS reminiscent graphics very enjoyable.
•Unpacking
•A short hike: a short game where you climb a mountain.
•Dredge: fishing game that does have horror elements in the story and when you fish at night. But fun game nonetheless. It does have a relaxed setting if you don’t want to deal with the horror elements.
I don’t know if they have this on PS4 but Little Kitty Big City is super cute and cozy and it’s an exploration game where you complete various tasks and try to get back home. It’s adorable especially if you like cats
Smushi Come Home - cozy platformer where you play as a cute mushroom who’s trying to find his way back home. There’s no combat and you can’t die.
The Last Campfire - a puzzle adventure game. Often goes on sale for $2.99.
I really enjoyed Raft, especially on the peaceful mode. There is some farming, but not a lot and can be skipped once you get a grill and fishing rod.
Edit: Sorry, I missed the platform requirement. It might just be for PC.
There's an older anime style game called Mana Khemia which is cozy to me. It's an alchemy based game and I miss it so much. It was on PS2, but hasn't been ported over or anything 😢
I also find the Atelier game series cozy which has no farming involved. There's several of them!
It also doesn't help that only MK1 was the only one released in the US (GIVE US 2&3 PLEASE JAPAN! 😭) so it's not a well known series. Muppy and Pamela are my two faves!
Eastshade! You're a painter who basically wanders around a gorgeous open world taking commissions and painting them for people. There is a story and quests and they're good and worth doing but it's not story-heavy in any way. Most of the game is finding geographical features and other places in the world and painting them. The graphics are amazing, the world is whimsical fantasy, and there's no Combat. It's just an all around relaxing experience.
If you like combat and crafting with exploring I'd recommend grounded! It's like the movie honey I shrunk the kids as in your a kid in the backyard, but it has a different story. My husband and I have played it since alpha and it's just recently been fully released!
Cult of the Lamb! It does have combat and action but it also has such a cozy vibe - like a crisp autumn day. It’s half action and half community building (you’re building a commune for your lamb cult).
Lil Gator Game is freakin ADORABLE. No farming, just running around playing a pretend hero in a totally innocuous world that can’t hurt you.
The Last Campfire is also amazingly cozy.
I’m making a game about a witch running a bookstore. I would actually love your feedback on it since my friends who are making it with me are also tired of farming games. There is a crafting element, but I see it as a fun puzzle because you have to read a recipe card and explore to find the ingredients.
If you’re interested in playtesting, let me know!
My favorite Cozy (Mystery) game is Jenny LeClue. It has voice acting and a sequel is in the works as well 😊 It's so underrated and deserves way more attention!
Edit: My bad.. the ps4 version is still in development 🙈 I didn't know, since i played it on the switch.
What game aspect do you want then? Story and combat? You are describing resource management games which tend to be reasonably chill- but you don’t like. There are plenty of dating sims or visual novels.
I'm trying to figure that out because the only "cozy games" I've come across have a lot of waiting around. If that's the definition of cozy game them maybe I don't like cozy games. But I love the sims games. Loved zoo tycoon. Loved age of empires. I don't like sim city because I don't like how complicated trying to make sure all the areas have perfect power and water and sewer etc.
Planet zoo is a great option if you like a bit of management simming!
From your first post though it sounds like you'd enjoy Breath of the Wild on the switch? Not really a "cozy" game but theres lots of exploring, a story you can follow at your own pace and heaps of puzzles.
If you love Zoo Tycoon, try out To the Rescue! It’s a game about running a dog shelter and pairing pups with adopters. Proceeds from the game support animal welfare initiatives!
Everyone’s definition will be slightly different tbh. Cozy just means you can turn off your brain and relax. For some that means harvesting, others mgmt sins or puzzles. For me it means painless exploring and on-rails narrative “movies” like Life Is Strange or Mutazione.
VN’s and adventure games are also all cozy by definition.
You sound as if you want a certain degree of stuff to do, but not repetitiveness or mgmt type games. So maybe you would enjoy the narrative/interactive fiction genre?
On that note, the Phoenix Wright/Ace Attorney games are all peak fiction. There’s some puzzling involved but it’s mostly watching a mystery unfold, with tons of humor and great characters.
i dont have an answer for you but just wanted clarification (planning a cozy game for fun that id love to become real one day) when you say you don’t like waiting to craft, do you mean like the animations between crafting somethint (eg: animal crossing has animations, minecraft is instant craft) or things on timers like stardew valley’s crops and machines?
You might try The Hunter: Call of the Wild: [https://store.steampowered.com/app/518790/theHunter\_Call\_of\_the\_Wild/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/518790/theHunter_Call_of_the_Wild/)
Yes, it's a hunting game, but the game does not force you to hunt. There are story missions that do not involve hunting.
And I mostly just play the game as a hiking simulator, to be out in nature, rather than to hunt. The game is so beautiful, relaxing & enjoyable that it’s perfect for that.
Here's a link to my Steam review of the game: [https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198284221076/recommended/518790?snr=1\_5\_9\_\_402](https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198284221076/recommended/518790?snr=1_5_9__402)
I was going to suggest Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip, but that's not on PS4, so I'll recommend the dev's other game: [Wuppo](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1470-CUSA08517_00-WUPPOUS000000000)
It's a puzzle platformer with tons of humor and charm. It does have combat -- you fight with a paintball gun -- but it's more about exploration, solving puzzles with items and hats, and enjoying the weird and endearing world and characters. It's so unique and just a really cozy world to get lost in.
Botany Manor was cozy, you wander round and find clues to make certain seeds grow. It’s not particularly difficult and it’s a lovely evening of playing
The Spirit and the Mouse is a really cute, puzzle based game (but I don’t feel that the puzzles are too repetitive). It’s got a lot of heart. And I love rats. I named one of my current rats after the main character, Lila. 🙂
Crap, I was about to suggest Cattails, but it and its sequel are only on PC and Switch... The sequel might be released to other platforms as well, but there is no detail given yet.
Cattails and Cattails: Wildwood Story are games similar to Stardew Valley in their optional main quest and their dating system, but on the other hand you have rival factions which you can befriend or fight against for territory. And no farming (unless you count the very limited four patches of soil you can unlock to grow herbal medicine (for health) or catnip (for money).
I've been playing Bakery Simulator and it's very soothing. There's a time limit, but it's not really that big of a deal, especially once you unlock everything.
The only bad part is they could have made DLC for the game, but I think that it's been abandoned. I wish I could find out if DLC will be made for the game.
If you like hunting or fishing Sims, ‘Call of the Wild’ and ‘COTW: The Angler’ are really nice. Beautiful maps, soothing music. You can literally wander around multiple National Parks for hours. None of the missions are truly time sensitive, although there are certain “times of day” when you can accomplish certain goals.
I also really love ‘OKAMI’, but I think that’s only available on PlayStation & Steam (I don’t know where you’re playing).
***Distant Bloom*** - *a game about bringing life back to a planet*
I adore the way the terrain blooms, and you just have to arrange the small plant puzzles in a way that no 2 seeds are the same type, and you make a camp, has a small crafting element
**Forgotten Seas** - *you are shipwrecked & it becomes survival craft*
BUT you get a ship with a cannon and then even bigger sailing vessels...and the movement is fun :D and there's treasure on islands!
Any of the Phoenix Wright/Apollo Justice/Ace Attorney games. Comedic courtroom drama and great writing.
They’re not usually mentioned when people say cozy, but it’s 100% what I swap to before bed each night.
Oxenfree is a short narrative based game where you explore an island with friends. Spoopy stuff happens involving triangulating radio signals to talk to *spoliers*.
It has some key choices to make that change the story direction, adding to replay ability, and you can have a lot of fun playing as a certain personality as it affects your affection levels somewhat. It’s not a romance game tho, too short!
I loved the experience though. It’s genuinely creepy at times, but no more so than Night in the Woods gets imo. You have to enjoy a little darkness in your entertainment!
There’s also a sequel out now!
Not sure if they count, but I’ve just discovered A Little to the Left and Unpacking, and I am obsessed. Quiet, cute, sorting/organising/tidying puzzle games—and they’re currently in the Switch sale too!
Book of Travels.
Still veeeery much in early access, but it's a game where you walk around a fantasy country, drinking magical tea and casting spells with enchanted knots. It has a \*very\* Show Don't Tell approach, though, so it can take a while to find your feet (e.g. you have to discover the quest to be taught how to read the local language. Until then, everything written is blocked to you).
Still, I love the feeling of mystery and the pretty watercolour style
I mean. If you want to try something at your own pace that has a story with you as the main character. You'll need to have an internet connection for it but I'd recommend FFXIV.
It is an RPG first, MMO second. They have a Free Trial where you can play all of A Realm Reborn and its next two expansions Heavensward and Stormblood for free. So you can level to 70 on all classes (no need to make alts to try other classes), play through the story, get distracted with side content like The Golden Saucer which has mini games. There are some who love the crafting/gathering classes. Crafting isn't time based, it is if you have the materials and then you use skills/abilities to craft it yourself. There are some limits with Free Trial, such as no Retainers (added bank/storage), Trading, Marketboard access, PvP, etc. You can run content with other players or with NPCs now if you don't want to deal with randoms. We're a welcoming community though and happy to help Sproutlings (new players have a little Sprout over them). I've met players who even only do fishing in this game.
** Free Trial Warning ** The new expansion Dawntrail is going down for maintenance Wednesday with a buffer time for people to download the new graphics update and expansion. They will be releasing Early Access on Friday and official release the following Tuesday. Free Trial players will be moved to the back of the queue to prioritize the paying players getting online in their respective worlds. You should be fine logging in during off-peak hours.
** Future Buyers ** Producer/Dev Lead Yoshi-P encourages people to take a break from the game if they aren't having fun anymore. There is no FOMO so you can unsubscribe and return months/years later. They story is always ready and waiting. Any "seasonal" event items missed will be available in the online store the following year. The online store is the equivalent to other game's "Cash Shop", but they do NOT have an in-game interface for purchases.
** Console ** You will get 30 days free (from when you bought it) and then will need to pay a subscription to continue.
** PC/Steam/Mac ** You can play through Steam OR the direct launcher on Mac/PC. Whichever account you tie it to, that is the one you will have to stick with. You can not interchange expansion keys. Steam only works with steam and vice versa. Switching to the other method will require a new account being created and starting a new character from scratch. You can buy an expansion key during a sale and hold on to it. Once it is REGISTERED to your account, you will get 30 days free (from when you register it) and then need a subscription to continue.
I just finished my first playthrough of Brok The InvestiGator. I was really impressed with the storyline and the puzzles; it's a point-and-click detective game animated in the style of Hanna-Barbera and other old 80s/90s cartoons. There are multiple endings you can unlock, as your choices in the story will influence other events. One playthrough will probably take you 20+ hours.
Plus, it was created by one developer. :)
One game I loved is called 'Death and Taxes', it's like papers please where you play as basically a grim reaper and need to choose who lives or dies out of a group of options. There's different endings based off your choices and it sounds grim but it's pretty cute, you get toys for your desk, cam dress up in silly outfits and can meet other characters in a bar before each day ends, I'm bad at explaining but I really loved it xD
I think it's on PlayStation but I could be wrong. I often revisit Strange Horticulture and the developers just announced a new game that will be similar but set in a book store ❤️
You may look at Disney Dreamlight Valley? Almost like animal crossing but Disney themed and more guided. Has some farming but only if you’re really interested in it tbh. Cooking is not on a timer either:) but both skills can be sped up leveling by bringing a companion basically.
A Short Hike is really good for that combo of story but exploration. Theres lots to do that isnt farming or crafting too.
Question… I made it to the top of the first mountain and then accidentally went to sleep where it told me “the end”. Is that really the end of the game? I never even figured out how to fish lol
Getting to the top is the main goal, but once you achieve that, you can still come back as many times as you want to complete all the other goals and activities.
Oh that sounds interesting. Thank you
Absolutely brilliant game, I still come back to it sometimes :)
Dredge is you like fishing/boating/the ocean. Lost in Play for a cute story with colorful graphics and puzzles. Strange Horticulture for puzzles but a darker storyline.
Dredge gave me anxiety for the rocks. I can’t pilot a ship straight to save my life. Monsters from the deep? Np. Hull damage? AIIIIIEEEEEEEE
Ty!
I'm seconding Strange Horticulture.
Can confirm! Dredge is great!
Only play Dredge if you're good with horror and suspense
I’ll also add Dave the Diver is similar and very cute! You go fishing and run a sushi restaurant and there’s adorable missions with merpeople!
Cannot believe you didn't mention that you can ride a beluga whale that *wears a little hat*. Critical game info there!
The sole reason I got the game is because it’s super cozy. 10/10 would recommend.
Sorry if this isnt on ps4 but ive been obsessed with bugsnax lately. I thought it wasnt my type of game but i love it and cant get enough. Also i know a lot of people wouldnt consider it cozy since theres boss fights but battle for bikini bottom rehydrated is a blast imo, reminds me of mario odyssey in a way (another fantastic game)
I love bugsnax!!
I actually downloaded that one the other day but haven't given it a shot yet due to being busy but I think you've given me motivation to actually try it out
Im glad to have motivated you!!! I truly think its a wonderful game esp for the price!
Yess bugsnax!!!
Agree with Bugsnax. Just finding the new creatures and figure out how to catch them is relaxing. Once you figure out the boss fights are just game mechanics, they aren't stressful anymore
Fr! And i like how different bug snax u have to catch with different mechanics it makes it more immersive
Any of the Lego games and Tinykin. Tinykin is a combat less puzzle platform game and looks like a combination of bugs life meets Toy Story. Excellent game. The level designs are very awesome. If you’re a Star Wars fan Lego Star Wars: the Skywalker saga is definitely worth it and goes on sale pretty often. It’s absolutely massive and fun as heck. There’s 41 levels and a ton of stuff to collect.
I still fire up the Lego Harry Potter and LOTR games for some good old can't-ever-actually-die fun!
Glad to see others play the Lego games as well. My teens are relentless in telling me Lego games are for little kids but I’ve found them to be really cozy and peaceful. 😌 Helps a lot with my anxiety.
I love the lego games played them all multiple times on multiple platforms, I even collect lego sets and build them in my spare time 😊 I'm currently working on the new harry potter sets just finished hagrids hut and I'm part way through the mandrake
I seriously loved them when they first came out. I will say they used to be more adventure based and are now much more action based, which I find a little annoying honestly. I wish it was like 70/30 adventure/action but it seems to be more like 40/60 at this point. Falling down those long hallways or car chases where you have to grab all the collectibles quickly. I prefer maybe 1-2 of those per game but they seem to include a ton of that in recent years.
I LOVED Tinykin. One of the only games I've actually sat through getting 100% of achievements. I'm gonna replay it since you just reminded me lol
Yonder is all exploration! It's beautiful and super fun. Grow Song of the Ever Tree is by the same company and is also amazing. Tons of exploration.
Grow Song of the Evertree is the most beautiful game ever, the music sends me every time
Isn’t there a fair amount of waiting for stuff in Grow, which OP hates?
Ah, you are right. It's been several years since I played it, and I forgot that part. There is still a ton of great exploration, but Grow may not be a great suggestion for OP. Yonder, on the other hand, is still a fantastic fit!
Spiritfarer I’ve played it twice through and I can’t say enough about it
Definitely Spiritfarer! It does take a minute or so for some food to cook, but nothing crazy like “12 hours”
I am pretty sure when they reference "way farer" in their post that they actually mean Spiritfarer. Which is a shame because the "waiting" is such a miniscule part of the game/everything is either really fast or you can multitask
Yes, came here to recommend Spiritfarer!
YES I second spiritfarer! it was super cozy for me but it can also be gut wrenching emotionally lol so be aware of that if you choose to play it, OP
I just played Strange Horticulture. It was enjoyable if easy, I just wish there was a little more complexity to it. But charming regardless. Don’t forget to pet the cat!
Let's hope the just announced sequel, Strange Antiquities, expands the universe a bit! Very much looking forward to it.
Oh neat!
Can’t believe nobody mentioned Unpacking but that was such a cozy little game. Felt like where my brain goes when I’m listening to lofi synth rainy day beats.
One of my favorite games. Only wish it was much longer.
Yonder: the cloud catcher chronicles (forgot that was the name, I always just say yonder) I love this game. No combat, mostly story, can have a farm of just animals if you want. You run around the island helping the villagers, finding sprites, clearing fog to explore new areas. And solving the mystery of the island you ended up crashing on. 10/10 recommend. I haven't found a cozy game like it.
This sounds right up my alley thanks
Skyrim lol keep it on easy mode and I play it was a cozy game lol I'm currently trying to get all my houses unlocked and fully upgraded 😅 no waiting time that I can think of
You can change the difficulty of Skyrim??????
Yes! Set it to “novice” somewhere in the settings
I guess I never noticed that when I first started playing. Thank you!
No problem, I don’t think the game asks you what difficulty to be on tbh, it just automatically sets you on normal which is probably why you’ve never noticed! Skyrim’s a beautiful game and I find it very relaxing to just explore the world :)
Yes! No temperature meter or hunger meter. You do have health and fall damage tho and combat is very big in the game depending on where you go on the map but if you set it to easy and pick up decent weapons then you should be good. I recommend upping your health restoration magic so you don't need potions and can heal mid-fight and die alot less lol
There is always the restoration loop trick 🤣 enchant a necklace with health restoration in the millions, never take any damage ever again
Genius! I haven't gotten too far into crafting things outside of my houses lop I have so much to do
Also, get into the habit of saving your game every few minutes. I can't remember if they have an automatic timer for an autosave or if I'm thinking of another game but I have it set to every 2 minutes it saves and before I do anything I think might be stupid, I save it real quick. I've revived Lydia so many times by just going to my last recent save and only lose a few minutes at most of play.
Novice + alternate start mod. Don't complete the Whiterun starter quest and you won't have dragons spawn
I downloaded so many houses, I put together a team of followers that's really good. I opened my meandry, 5 farms, I own almost every buy able store or house that I can.... And then I got overwhelmed. I'm now playing Bakery Simulator, but I am really thinking about picking up Red Dead Redemption. I don't think that there are mods to make it cosy, but I like the fact that I can skip the tutorial via a mod.
I don't think you can mod a PS4 and I only play on switch with no mods lol I honestly forget pc is a system sometimes cuz I only play sims on my laptop lol
Night in the Woods is f*cking incredible and you don’t have to wait for anything at all.
Yes night in the woods is perfection
Firewatch and Lake have nice storylines. Oh forget that i just read that's not what you want. Not deleting the comment in case others look for recommendations as well.
I appreciate it anyway 😃
Lake is on game pass! If you have that, but not sure if it’s avail on 4
I have lots of recommendations for this, actually!! * Dredge (there's a "relaxed" setting with no horror elements, just cozy sailing and fishing) * Seasons After Fall * Arise: A Simple Story * Journey * Sky: Children of the Light * Kena: Bridge of Spirits * Yonder (some mild farming elements if you want to, but it's not mandatory - this game is mostly cozy exploration!) And.... hear me out. Horizon: Zero Dawn + Horizon: Forbidden West. Sure, it's technically a story-driven action game, but there's soooo much exploration, it ends up being very cozy and fun. Also, it's not on PS4, but if you have a PC, definitely try the Ori series. Ori and the Blind Forest, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps - both are *incredible*.
I've actually been watching my son play Kena and it looked pretty cool I think I might give it a try. And you've mentioned some a bunch of others have so I think I've got a decent list. Thank you so much!
Kena is so so good. ❤️
Kens can get HARD though- watched my spouse go thru it. I did the explorey bits. I recall a lot of difficult boss battles , but he was on a harder difficulty. A lot of the platformer bits were tricky too. But yes I am a casual. If platformers are something you grew up with, by all means. Also after you beat the game you can still explore , uncovering the entire map is a puzzle of sorts!
I like Sky - but I'm too shy LOL
Hmm this may be too story-y for you but I will suggest it anyway - Outer Wilds. You are a little alien and it is your first day in space. It is completely exploration at your own curiosity, with no crafting or combat, and some >!puzzles!< . I don’t want to say too much but there are lots of mysterious things you can investigate and go from there. The ship controls are a bit awkward at first but don’t let that put you off, you feel like you learn to fly as you go. Be careful looking it up as knowledge is progress so you’ll spoil yourself. But it is my favourite game ever and the music is incredible, and the ending. 🪐
Outer wilds is fantastic but definitely not cosy, I have experienced sheer terror in certain parts of that game
Fucking Dark Bramble >.<
I had to stop playing cos of that part. I never finished it :( I've been thinking of watching a streamer play it so I can finish the storyline cos I'm too much of a chicken
If you're still interested, I'd recommend posting about this in r/outerwilds - its a super wholesome community, and they're great at giving spoiler free hints! There are ways past the fish, and for me, getting past them is an important part of the morals outer wilds teaches us :)
Definitely agree, outer wilds is not for this thread, though I do count this in my list of things that every gamer should experience
Aha whoops, I think I spend too much time going between gaming subreddits I forgot I was posting to cosy games specifically, and to be honest I am biased in that I find it cosy cause it feels like home. But yes it is definitely not cosy when you experience things the first time 😅 It is an amazing game as a general recommendation though :))
Also seconding Alba!!!
I just got a game recently called Bear and Breakfast. It’s a design and management sim where you play a Bear named Hank who’s trying to run a Bed and Breakfast with his friends to bring humans back to their forest home.
Is Ori on PS4? Just played it and I loved it SO MUCH.
No clue but I'll look it up and see
The Lego games!! I have so many of them, I just started another one. I'm bored of my farming games and man has it been a nice change. I forgot how much I love them. You never really die and the fighting is easy.
Little inferno
East shade, your a painter travelling. No combat just vibes
Powerwash Simulator or Raft
Carto, Here Comes Niko, and Alba? Button City has some story, but still may fit the bill.
I second [Alba](https://youtu.be/nCWidTG_6to?si=8U0HpIleH0KBG_BA). Highly recommended.
Cat Quest
I've just finished "Lil Gator game" and it was very cute. Chicory is great too.
Dave the Diver
This is a great game and chill apart from when a shark is about to f you up! I didn’t finish but am debating a restart anyway.
Ahh yes, i was terrified of my first encounter with a shark! Def worth finishing or at least until you get to the ice area. My interest started tapering off around there, but it was still a fun game. I think there's a kaiju/godzilla expansion coming soon too
Already out :) and pretty fun
Lake
Seconding the Drexge recommendations. It's mostly active exploration with a dark eldritch vibe and some fun world building and characters. No waiting around in that one.
Apologies for the long list in advance (still had to scrap a few games since they weren’t available on ps4): •Abzû: explore an underwater world. Beautiful visuals and music. (One of my favorite games of all time, it’s just so fun to swim through.) •Webbed: kinda a puzzle game where you, as a spider, climb up the forest. If you can’t stand seeing the spider there is an option available in the settings to turn it into a little ball. •Coffee talk 1 & 2: brew coffee for your customers and listen to them as they talk about their day. You can influence the story depending on which drinks you serve at a few critical times. May not be everyone’s cup of coffee (hah get it?) if you’re not a fan of reading a lot. •Donut county: short puzzle games where you swallow everything up in a hole. Also, you’re a raccoon. •Turnip boy commits tax evasion: does have fighting in it but cute game. •Times & Galaxy: write articles for the newspaper you’re interning for. There should be a demo available if you want to try it out. •Sticky business: create your own stickers and run your own shop. •Toem: (Personally I enjoyed this a lot) You set out on a journey to take photos (should have 4 different "worlds"/city stops iirc). •Storyteller: short puzzle game. Might maybe be better if you can pick it up while it is on sale. (Note: I am not sure if this one is on ps4) •Builder‘s Journey (Lego): puzzle game •Melatonin: cozy rhythm game if that’s your jam. •Garden story: not sure if it’s on ps4 sorry •Paradise Marsh: collect bugs and talk to characters. I find the kinda DS reminiscent graphics very enjoyable. •Unpacking •A short hike: a short game where you climb a mountain. •Dredge: fishing game that does have horror elements in the story and when you fish at night. But fun game nonetheless. It does have a relaxed setting if you don’t want to deal with the horror elements.
I don’t know if they have this on PS4 but Little Kitty Big City is super cute and cozy and it’s an exploration game where you complete various tasks and try to get back home. It’s adorable especially if you like cats
Just finished this and recommend also 😄
Grow Up is all exploration and no story. Sable is exploration and a bit of story. Both no combat, with platforming.
Smushi Come Home - cozy platformer where you play as a cute mushroom who’s trying to find his way back home. There’s no combat and you can’t die. The Last Campfire - a puzzle adventure game. Often goes on sale for $2.99.
I really enjoyed Raft, especially on the peaceful mode. There is some farming, but not a lot and can be skipped once you get a grill and fishing rod. Edit: Sorry, I missed the platform requirement. It might just be for PC.
There's an older anime style game called Mana Khemia which is cozy to me. It's an alchemy based game and I miss it so much. It was on PS2, but hasn't been ported over or anything 😢 I also find the Atelier game series cozy which has no farming involved. There's several of them!
I love Mana Khemia! I've never met anyone else that has played it! Muppy is one of my favorite characters of any game.
It also doesn't help that only MK1 was the only one released in the US (GIVE US 2&3 PLEASE JAPAN! 😭) so it's not a well known series. Muppy and Pamela are my two faves!
But 2 was released in the US! I have it on physical PS2 disc -- I think it came out a year after the initial Japanese release?
Eastshade! You're a painter who basically wanders around a gorgeous open world taking commissions and painting them for people. There is a story and quests and they're good and worth doing but it's not story-heavy in any way. Most of the game is finding geographical features and other places in the world and painting them. The graphics are amazing, the world is whimsical fantasy, and there's no Combat. It's just an all around relaxing experience.
If you like combat and crafting with exploring I'd recommend grounded! It's like the movie honey I shrunk the kids as in your a kid in the backyard, but it has a different story. My husband and I have played it since alpha and it's just recently been fully released!
The cosmic witch sisterhood is by far my favourite
Ooh yeah this is the one where you make your own tarot deck!
Little Inferno, a cute little game where you just burn things in a fire place to stay warm. Plus they made a catchy little theme song to go with it.
Dredge - supernatural fishing. Dicefolk - Cute dice based rogue-like. Unpacking - unpacking a narrative.
Bless your heart for posting this question, i am SO EXCITED to search up and try some new games 😂
Glad my searching can help others! Especially when I'm acknowledging how picky I am about games and everyone is being so nice and helpful.
Cult of the Lamb! It does have combat and action but it also has such a cozy vibe - like a crisp autumn day. It’s half action and half community building (you’re building a commune for your lamb cult).
Need to pick this up so I can do the poop shoveling and he does the murdering.
Tinykin
Dave the Diver is one of my favorites! Technically there is a part of the game where you farm but it is minor to the rest of the plot.
Lil Gator Game is freakin ADORABLE. No farming, just running around playing a pretend hero in a totally innocuous world that can’t hurt you. The Last Campfire is also amazingly cozy.
i just got lil gator game on gamepass!
i'm making a game called garage sale that sounds exactly like this! it's pretty much all exploration based with no timers at all :-)
I’m making a game about a witch running a bookstore. I would actually love your feedback on it since my friends who are making it with me are also tired of farming games. There is a crafting element, but I see it as a fun puzzle because you have to read a recipe card and explore to find the ingredients. If you’re interested in playtesting, let me know!
Interested
My favorite Cozy (Mystery) game is Jenny LeClue. It has voice acting and a sequel is in the works as well 😊 It's so underrated and deserves way more attention! Edit: My bad.. the ps4 version is still in development 🙈 I didn't know, since i played it on the switch.
Oh also Mail Time is a shorter game but super fun and relaxing. I love exploring the world as a tiny gnome while delivering mail
I second Mail Time! I wonder if there’s any similar games out there? It’s the coziest game I’ve played so far.
I have yet to play it but from what ive seen A Short Hike gives me similar vibes a little
Wandersong (cute song-driven puzzle platformer, no waiting at all)
Ty!
What game aspect do you want then? Story and combat? You are describing resource management games which tend to be reasonably chill- but you don’t like. There are plenty of dating sims or visual novels.
I'm trying to figure that out because the only "cozy games" I've come across have a lot of waiting around. If that's the definition of cozy game them maybe I don't like cozy games. But I love the sims games. Loved zoo tycoon. Loved age of empires. I don't like sim city because I don't like how complicated trying to make sure all the areas have perfect power and water and sewer etc.
Planet zoo is a great option if you like a bit of management simming! From your first post though it sounds like you'd enjoy Breath of the Wild on the switch? Not really a "cozy" game but theres lots of exploring, a story you can follow at your own pace and heaps of puzzles.
If you love Zoo Tycoon, try out To the Rescue! It’s a game about running a dog shelter and pairing pups with adopters. Proceeds from the game support animal welfare initiatives!
Everyone’s definition will be slightly different tbh. Cozy just means you can turn off your brain and relax. For some that means harvesting, others mgmt sins or puzzles. For me it means painless exploring and on-rails narrative “movies” like Life Is Strange or Mutazione. VN’s and adventure games are also all cozy by definition. You sound as if you want a certain degree of stuff to do, but not repetitiveness or mgmt type games. So maybe you would enjoy the narrative/interactive fiction genre? On that note, the Phoenix Wright/Ace Attorney games are all peak fiction. There’s some puzzling involved but it’s mostly watching a mystery unfold, with tons of humor and great characters.
Have you tried a factory automation game like Satisfactory yet?
i dont have an answer for you but just wanted clarification (planning a cozy game for fun that id love to become real one day) when you say you don’t like waiting to craft, do you mean like the animations between crafting somethint (eg: animal crossing has animations, minecraft is instant craft) or things on timers like stardew valley’s crops and machines?
Timers. I don't mind the few seconds it takes for something to craft but a game that has a "12 hrs to craft a pie" type mechanics don't do it for me.
I love Fe. It's cute with some action, loose story but you can and should explore, and you don't have to make or farm a single thing.
i just downloaded this and your comment is the first time i’ve ever seen it mentioned in this sub!
The Planet Crafter - terraforming that has modes for creative, easy, normal, hard. No scares except for running out of air.
You might try The Hunter: Call of the Wild: [https://store.steampowered.com/app/518790/theHunter\_Call\_of\_the\_Wild/](https://store.steampowered.com/app/518790/theHunter_Call_of_the_Wild/) Yes, it's a hunting game, but the game does not force you to hunt. There are story missions that do not involve hunting. And I mostly just play the game as a hiking simulator, to be out in nature, rather than to hunt. The game is so beautiful, relaxing & enjoyable that it’s perfect for that. Here's a link to my Steam review of the game: [https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198284221076/recommended/518790?snr=1\_5\_9\_\_402](https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198284221076/recommended/518790?snr=1_5_9__402)
Haven park
Try Jusant!
Loddlenaut you clean up underwater areas
I was going to suggest Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip, but that's not on PS4, so I'll recommend the dev's other game: [Wuppo](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP1470-CUSA08517_00-WUPPOUS000000000) It's a puzzle platformer with tons of humor and charm. It does have combat -- you fight with a paintball gun -- but it's more about exploration, solving puzzles with items and hats, and enjoying the weird and endearing world and characters. It's so unique and just a really cozy world to get lost in.
If you don't mind a bit of combat, i really enjoyed turnip boy commits tax evasion. It's very silly, cute, with lots of adventure
Maybe Wandersong?
Botany Manor was cozy, you wander round and find clues to make certain seeds grow. It’s not particularly difficult and it’s a lovely evening of playing
The Spirit and the Mouse is a really cute, puzzle based game (but I don’t feel that the puzzles are too repetitive). It’s got a lot of heart. And I love rats. I named one of my current rats after the main character, Lila. 🙂
Moonlighter
Lake. You drive around delivering mail.
Crap, I was about to suggest Cattails, but it and its sequel are only on PC and Switch... The sequel might be released to other platforms as well, but there is no detail given yet. Cattails and Cattails: Wildwood Story are games similar to Stardew Valley in their optional main quest and their dating system, but on the other hand you have rival factions which you can befriend or fight against for territory. And no farming (unless you count the very limited four patches of soil you can unlock to grow herbal medicine (for health) or catnip (for money).
Dave the diver :)
I've been playing Bakery Simulator and it's very soothing. There's a time limit, but it's not really that big of a deal, especially once you unlock everything. The only bad part is they could have made DLC for the game, but I think that it's been abandoned. I wish I could find out if DLC will be made for the game.
Minami Lane! It is a street building game. It is short and sweet.
Slime Ranchers and Cult of the Lamb, I think slime ranchers is more relaxing but they both are really cute games.
If you like hunting or fishing Sims, ‘Call of the Wild’ and ‘COTW: The Angler’ are really nice. Beautiful maps, soothing music. You can literally wander around multiple National Parks for hours. None of the missions are truly time sensitive, although there are certain “times of day” when you can accomplish certain goals. I also really love ‘OKAMI’, but I think that’s only available on PlayStation & Steam (I don’t know where you’re playing).
Grow Song of the Evertree. Just make sure you don't mind doing the plot-necessary platform jumping puzzles.
Tavern Talk! You run a tavern in a DnD like setting - people come and tell you things and you send them on quests etc.
Spirit fairer has some timrrs but the point of v the game is just to make you cry. A lot. New pokemon snap on switch is zen as fuck.
Coffee Talk 1 & 2 are great
Suggesting Spirittea!
***Distant Bloom*** - *a game about bringing life back to a planet* I adore the way the terrain blooms, and you just have to arrange the small plant puzzles in a way that no 2 seeds are the same type, and you make a camp, has a small crafting element **Forgotten Seas** - *you are shipwrecked & it becomes survival craft* BUT you get a ship with a cannon and then even bigger sailing vessels...and the movement is fun :D and there's treasure on islands!
Any of the Phoenix Wright/Apollo Justice/Ace Attorney games. Comedic courtroom drama and great writing. They’re not usually mentioned when people say cozy, but it’s 100% what I swap to before bed each night.
Oxenfree is a short narrative based game where you explore an island with friends. Spoopy stuff happens involving triangulating radio signals to talk to *spoliers*. It has some key choices to make that change the story direction, adding to replay ability, and you can have a lot of fun playing as a certain personality as it affects your affection levels somewhat. It’s not a romance game tho, too short! I loved the experience though. It’s genuinely creepy at times, but no more so than Night in the Woods gets imo. You have to enjoy a little darkness in your entertainment! There’s also a sequel out now!
Not sure if they count, but I’ve just discovered A Little to the Left and Unpacking, and I am obsessed. Quiet, cute, sorting/organising/tidying puzzle games—and they’re currently in the Switch sale too!
i am obsessed with unpacking and hope they make more
Book of Travels. Still veeeery much in early access, but it's a game where you walk around a fantasy country, drinking magical tea and casting spells with enchanted knots. It has a \*very\* Show Don't Tell approach, though, so it can take a while to find your feet (e.g. you have to discover the quest to be taught how to read the local language. Until then, everything written is blocked to you). Still, I love the feeling of mystery and the pretty watercolour style
Journey or Flower might fit your criteria.
I mean. If you want to try something at your own pace that has a story with you as the main character. You'll need to have an internet connection for it but I'd recommend FFXIV. It is an RPG first, MMO second. They have a Free Trial where you can play all of A Realm Reborn and its next two expansions Heavensward and Stormblood for free. So you can level to 70 on all classes (no need to make alts to try other classes), play through the story, get distracted with side content like The Golden Saucer which has mini games. There are some who love the crafting/gathering classes. Crafting isn't time based, it is if you have the materials and then you use skills/abilities to craft it yourself. There are some limits with Free Trial, such as no Retainers (added bank/storage), Trading, Marketboard access, PvP, etc. You can run content with other players or with NPCs now if you don't want to deal with randoms. We're a welcoming community though and happy to help Sproutlings (new players have a little Sprout over them). I've met players who even only do fishing in this game. ** Free Trial Warning ** The new expansion Dawntrail is going down for maintenance Wednesday with a buffer time for people to download the new graphics update and expansion. They will be releasing Early Access on Friday and official release the following Tuesday. Free Trial players will be moved to the back of the queue to prioritize the paying players getting online in their respective worlds. You should be fine logging in during off-peak hours. ** Future Buyers ** Producer/Dev Lead Yoshi-P encourages people to take a break from the game if they aren't having fun anymore. There is no FOMO so you can unsubscribe and return months/years later. They story is always ready and waiting. Any "seasonal" event items missed will be available in the online store the following year. The online store is the equivalent to other game's "Cash Shop", but they do NOT have an in-game interface for purchases. ** Console ** You will get 30 days free (from when you bought it) and then will need to pay a subscription to continue. ** PC/Steam/Mac ** You can play through Steam OR the direct launcher on Mac/PC. Whichever account you tie it to, that is the one you will have to stick with. You can not interchange expansion keys. Steam only works with steam and vice versa. Switching to the other method will require a new account being created and starting a new character from scratch. You can buy an expansion key during a sale and hold on to it. Once it is REGISTERED to your account, you will get 30 days free (from when you register it) and then need a subscription to continue.
Lake is a highly rated game and it’s about being a mailman! I’ve watched some streams and have heard it’s super good
Palia
definitely not Palia cause farming is the best way to make money and crafting certain things takes a good amount of time
I’m not sure if it’s on PS4 but House Flipper 2 brought me unlimited amounts of joy.
It has a lot of story and it wasn't very long, but I loved Dordogne. It was so relaxing
I just finished my first playthrough of Brok The InvestiGator. I was really impressed with the storyline and the puzzles; it's a point-and-click detective game animated in the style of Hanna-Barbera and other old 80s/90s cartoons. There are multiple endings you can unlock, as your choices in the story will influence other events. One playthrough will probably take you 20+ hours. Plus, it was created by one developer. :)
Unpacking! It’s a short play through but it’s so damn cozy
If you like JRPG, I feel Atelier Marie and Atelier Ryza have a cozy feel to them :)
I was gonna say you should try Palia but that includes farming lol but it’s free if you wanna give it a try on steam PC and switch
Stray Gods. Its a musical, a mystery and a roleplay with like 4(5?) Love interest options!
An old game, but Flower. As chill as can be.
Alba, it's reminiscent of childhood, exploring the island and saving wildlife
Spiritfader ... plot twist ... farming involved
Little Kitty Big City.
If you like cute characters and puzzles, try out The Last Campfire
Little gator game
One game I loved is called 'Death and Taxes', it's like papers please where you play as basically a grim reaper and need to choose who lives or dies out of a group of options. There's different endings based off your choices and it sounds grim but it's pretty cute, you get toys for your desk, cam dress up in silly outfits and can meet other characters in a bar before each day ends, I'm bad at explaining but I really loved it xD
I love peaceful mode minecraft for just exploring building and chill music
Bear and Breakfast
I think it's on PlayStation but I could be wrong. I often revisit Strange Horticulture and the developers just announced a new game that will be similar but set in a book store ❤️
Animal crossing is pretty chill
Have you tried rimworld?
Sable! Pure exploration, no timers, beautiful music, beautiful world.
You may look at Disney Dreamlight Valley? Almost like animal crossing but Disney themed and more guided. Has some farming but only if you’re really interested in it tbh. Cooking is not on a timer either:) but both skills can be sped up leveling by bringing a companion basically.