When the holiday season rolls around, it’s often seen as a time to relax and reflect. But let’s be real: it’s also the perfect excuse to dive into some fantastic video games. And what pairs better with a cozy day by the fire than games designed to relax and de-stress, all while being as creative as their more action-packed counterparts?
Whether you’re tackling your gaming backlog or scouring the Xbox store for a new adventure, we’re highlighting some outstanding games to enjoy in your downtime. We’ve even segmented them into categories for whatever mood strikes you. So, wrap yourself in a blanket, grab that oversized favorite mug of yours filled with a hot beverage, and let’s dive into some gaming bliss.
Fun on the Farm
Farming sims are the epitome of cozy gaming—offering serene worlds where you can grow crops, share time with friends, and explore to your heart’s delight. Whether you want a stress-free escape or a mild challenge, we’ve got you sorted.
Stardew Valley
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
In Stardew Valley, you take on your grandfather’s old farm, transforming it from a tangled mess into a beautiful oasis. Cultivate your skills in farming, fishing, and even combat while crafting and cooking your way through life. Befriend locals, find love, and immerse yourself in the charming valley, which has recently grown even richer with the arrival of a new update. Play solo or enjoy co-op with up to eight friends.
Lightyear Frontier
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Lightyear Frontier lets you set up a peaceful farm on an alien planet. Build your dream home using a customizable mech, unravel the planet’s secrets, and contribute positively to the ecosystem. This game is perfect for those who love combining farming with a splash of sci-fi, and you can invite up to three friends to join you in the adventure.
Coral Island
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Swap the city life for a tropical paradise in Coral Island. Alongside a warm community of over 70 characters, enjoy farming, raising animals, and engaging in delightful pursuits like bug hunting and exploring the vibrant coral reefs. It’s a charming simulation that’ll transport you to a sunny escape.
Comfy, Cozy Puzzles
If farming isn’t quite your vibe, perhaps some gentle puzzle-solving is what you need. These games invite you into a world of calming exploration and satisfying challenges, wrapped up in stunning visuals.
Botany Manor
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Step into the shoes of Arabella Greene in Botany Manor, where solving puzzles involves restoring beautiful gardens to their former glory. Using your botany skills, uncover the layers of Arabella’s life as you cultivate forgotten flora throughout her estate.
A Little To The Left
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Find joy in organizing in A Little To The Left, a delightful puzzle game where you fix and arrange objects in over 100 different scenarios. Perfect for those who cherish a neatly arranged space, it turns tidying up into an art form.
Strange Horticulture
Available on Cloud, Console
Strange Horticulture offers an uncanny mix of serene and eerie as you manage a plant store and solve the mysteries of a peculiar town. It’s a unique blend of plant lore and intrigue that’ll hook you with its engaging story.
Light-hearted Adventures
If you’re after something interactive but not intense, these adventures provide just the right amount of exploration and action without stress.
Lil Gator Game
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
As a little gator, wander through a whimsical island filled with quests and new friends in Lil Gator Game. It’s an adorably fun journey meant for leisurely playing at your own pace.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
In Dungeons of Hinterberg, immerse yourself in a mix of dungeon crawling and socializing in a quaint town. Whether spending the day exploring dungeons or unwinding with townsfolk, this game leaves room for relaxation and mild challenges.
Little Kitty, Big City
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
See through the eyes of a curious cat in Little Kitty, Big City. Navigate the urban jungle, accomplish quests, make animal friends, and stir up a bit of fun as you find your way home.
Cozy Narrative Delights
For those who love a good story mixed with laid-back gameplay, these narrative-driven adventures offer immersive experiences to get lost in.
Chicory
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Express your creativity in Chicory, a colorful adventure where you solve puzzles with an artistic spin. Unravel the disappearance of your hero, Chicory, using your brush and imagination.
Toem
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Capture breathtaking worlds through your camera in Toem. Travel through a beautifully hand-drawn world, meeting quirky characters and capturing the essence of each moment.
Harold Halibut
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Set in an underwater world, Harold Halibut blends retro-futuristic charm with narrative depth in a claymation-inspired setting, inviting you to meet intriguing characters and uncover hidden stories.
Satisfying Cleanups
If tidying up fills you with joy, these games let you serve some virtual cleanliness fun without getting off the couch.
PowerWash Simulator
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Experience the ultimate in cleaning satisfaction with PowerWash Simulator. From washing vans to whole towns, clean your way through a variety of settings, uncovering stories as you go.
House Flipper
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Take rundown properties and reinvent them in House Flipper. Are you ready to hammer, build, paint, and furnish homes back to life with your single-person renovation army?
Unpacking
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Reconnect with memories through the simple act of Unpacking. As you help the unseen protagonist through various moves, unveil their life story through the items they cherish.
Nostalgic Cozy Favorites
Nothing warms the heart like revisiting old gaming classics. This selection of reimagined 90’s classics is all about indulging in nostalgia whether it’s just for you or to share with family.
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Join Spyro in beautifully remastered journeys across the Dragon Realms. It’s a delightful blast from the past where freeing dragons and collecting treasures is as enchanting as ever.
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
Rediscover Crash in a stunning remake of the first three games. Embark on a nostalgic journey packed with challenges and charm as you thwart the plans of Dr. Neo Cortex.
Return to Monkey Island
Available on Cloud, Console, and PC
With Return to Monkey Island, sail back into the iconic series with Guybrush Threepwood. Embark on fresh adventures filled with classic witty banter and clever puzzles that made the original games legendary.
This holiday season, let these cozy games be a warm embrace, perfect for some much-needed relaxation and fun. Whether you’re diving into a beloved classic or exploring something new, there’s a cozy game waiting for you.
