The best cozy games during a stressful Thanksgiving season

For many, video games are loud, violent, and competitive. But for some they are the opposite: quiet, soft, and low-stakes. Welcome to the world of cozy gaming. 

In our world of relentless headlines, many find solace in these comforting digital realms, where the gravest mistake you can make is forgetting to hit save. Following the election cycle, cozy gaming is “reassuring during turbulent times,” as one gamer said in a recent interview with The New Yorker

For those who need an escape postelection, or a time-out during the hectic Thanksgiving period, here is a round up of some of the coziest games that feel like a virtual hug. 

Stardew Valley

Starting with a certified classic, Stardew Valley sees your character leave the Big City to take care of the family farm. Sounds simple, but it’s so much more. A recent post on Threads pointed out, “Stardew Valley is a game that lets you live out your wildest fantasies like: – Making friends – Owning a home – Earning a living wage – Going outside.” 

Good Pizza, Great Pizza

Because who doesn’t love pizza? Craft the perfect pies to satisfy customer cravings while earning enough money to keep your pizzeria thriving. Fans of the game have even created a dedicated subreddit to showcase their shop designs, swap tips, and chat about the quirkiest orders.

Unpacking

Unpacking turns one of the most loathed tasks in real life, into an oddly satisfying online game. Described as a Zen puzzle game, the narrative-driven gameplay revolves around unpacking boxes and sorting their contents into a new home with a number of surprises along the way.

Vampire Therapist

In this game, the title pretty much says it all. As a vampiric therapist whose patients include—you guessed it—lots of vampires, you will the undead through their eternal woes with the power of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Help vampires confront centuries of emotional baggage and overcome bouts of existential self-loathing using actual CBT principles.

Kind Words

People can be unkind online, but not in this game. Kind Words is centered around writing anonymous letters to real people. There’s a small, square room with a shelf, bed, and a desk, where your avatar sits and writes while lo-fi beats play in the background. Players respond to shared worries, offer advice, and decorate their messages with customizable stationery and stickers. You can also request your own letters and receive responses in return. What could be more cozy than that?

https://www.fastcompany.com/91234769/the-best-cozy-games-during-a-stressful-thanksgiving-season?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss

Établi 4mo | 23 nov. 2024, 10:30:03


Connectez-vous pour ajouter un commentaire

Autres messages de ce groupe

These tech companies are building healthier social media habits for kids

The last year has seen a global reckoning with the effects of social media on kids. Australia banned

23 mars 2025, 12:30:02 | Fast company - tech
This wellness app is like TikTok for your feelings

Would you share the pages of your journal with a bunch of strangers, because that’s the idea behind social wellness app Exist. 

The new

23 mars 2025, 05:30:03 | Fast company - tech
Yes, Apple is delaying some AI features. But does it really matter?

Earlier this month, Apple officially announced that it would be postponing the launch of some planned Apple Intelligence features to a later, unspecified date in the future. These features mainly

22 mars 2025, 10:50:06 | Fast company - tech
Suffering from loneliness? These businesses may have a cure

Loneliness isn’t just a lingering by-product of COVID lockdowns—it’s a public health crisis. The impacts of social isolation are said to be as detrimental to human health as

22 mars 2025, 10:50:06 | Fast company - tech
Anthropic is adding web search to its Claude chatbot in a very smart way

Anthropic announced Thursday that it has added web search capability to its Claude chatbot. It’s not a new feature to the AI world—but the company’s approach stands as one of the most thoughtful t

21 mars 2025, 23:20:06 | Fast company - tech
In this horror game, the monster can see you through your webcam

If the thought of being hunted by something that can see your every move makes your skin crawl, you might want to steer clear of Eyes Never Wake.

This viral horror game takes im

21 mars 2025, 21:10:03 | Fast company - tech
Fewer than 500 people are responsible for $3.2 trillion of artificial crypto trading

Market manipulation in the cryptocurrency world is rampant—and fewer than 500 people are responsible for as much as $250 million a year in profits and over $3.2 trillion in artificial trading, acc

21 mars 2025, 18:40:04 | Fast company - tech