Best Cozy Games You Can Play with Game Pass
Cozy games don’t just consist of farming simulations, and Game Pass has several other titles, such as exploration, management, cooking, and even life simulation. These games allow players less stressful gameplay and environments, while also rewarding them for progression. There are several cozy games on Game Pass, but these 5 are the best ones for you to try. Here’s a rundown on each of the five, with a brief detail about their gameplay and what makes them stand out compared to other cozy titles.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a farming simulation where you are tasked with taking over an old farm and returning it to its former glory. You can grow crops, raise animals, explore dangerous areas, and build relationships with NPCs. There is sufficient freedom in how you manage your schedule, with there being different tasks based on how you want to run your farm. You can also play in multiplayer and work with other players to rebuild the farm.
Stardew Valley stands out from other games, as it doesn’t restrict you to a single playing style. You can spend your day farming or travel to different areas to fight enemies and gather resources. The progression system is also not linear, and almost all activities contribute toward improving something. This is the best cosy game you can play with Game Pass if you want to relax but don’t want to feel like the game is repetitive.
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition is a cozy management game where you are tasked with helping spirits reach the afterlife. You play as Stella, a ferrymaster, who uses her boat to help spirits. You can improve your boat, explore other locations, meet and take care of spirits, and help them cross. There are also other mechanics such as farming, fishing, mining, cooking, crafting, and exploring. However, upgrading your boat may be the more crucial one, as it allows you to fit in more spirits and also explore new areas.
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition is interesting as it’s basically a ferry management game, but has a narrative that involves death, grief, and the final farewell. Farming, cooking, and other mechanics offer a respite from the heavy activity of helping spirits. The combination of the two makes the game balanced, rather than completely dark.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a life simulator similar to Stardew Valley, but this game has you restoring a magical valley. The valley is filled with Disney and Pixar characters instead of farm animals. There are several areas you can explore, quests you can complete, and other variables that are similar to Stardew Valley. Progression revolves around restoring the valley and unlocking new areas and characters.
Disney Dreamlight Valley stands out from other games due to the roster filled with Disney characters, and this also gives a sense of nostalgia to players. You can befriend these famous characters and eventually fill your valley with them. The game also provides sufficient freedom to decorate and customize your surroundings. It provides fun, cozy gameplay but with recognizable characters.
Little Kitty, Big City
Little Kitty, Big City tasks you with controlling a lost cat who wants to return to its home after falling from an apartment. The game doesn’t use a linear progression, and you can explore, complete quests, meet other animals, and do other activities while trying to find the cat’s home at your own pace. The game also has a collectible element, where you can find trinkets by interacting with NPCs.
Little Kitty, Big City’s biggest selling point is that you don’t just play as a cat in the world. The world is literally built for the pawed animal. Whether you travel through the alleys, pass through small spaces, or climb over objects, the game makes it feel natural. The exploration part is a large mechanic of the game, and the game is one of the best for players who want to travel rather than focus on a single area.
Beastro
Beastro has you playing as a chef, Panko, and the game merges farming, cooking, and deckbuilding. Your chores include growing and gathering ingredients, raising animals, and preparing meals. The meals you cook are unique, as your ingredients unlock cards in the adventurers’ decks, who can then use the cards when they go outside the village to fight monsters. Panko isn’t just a chef, but instead helps the adventurers by customizing their card decks.
Beastro is an interesting game as it has cozy mechanics but also incorporates a deck-building system. Farming and cooking are treated like missions, rather than normal activities. The meals are particularly crucial, as they influence the deck. This gives the game a strategic element, as you can cook meals that improve combat.
