The cozy gaming genre is bigger than ever in 2025. It’s definitely a popular buzzword in the gaming community, and although everyone has a different definition of what makes a game “cozy”, there are popular themes we see time and time again. Whether you’re looking for the perfect farming sim, a relaxing idle game, or a peaceful life sim to unwind after long days, this year has delivered something special for every cozy gamer.
Here is a curated list of of the top rated, most popular (and some of my personal favorite) cozy games of 2025 so far, based on Steam data and overall reception.
1. Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time
Release date: May 21, 2025
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam), and Xbox
About the game
This life simulation RPG combines the classic “Life” system with open-world exploration and time travel. Choose from various jobs (or “Lives”) including cook, paladin, miner, and more. The game features multiplayer co-op, character customization, and a fantasy world to explore and restore.
What did I think?
Although this game captured many hearts when it first released on 3DS many years ago, I had never played the original so I had no real idea what to expect from the game. Reception was very positive, praising the job/life system and amount of content in the game, but Fantasy Life just didn’t hit the mark for me.
2. Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Release date: January 30, 2025 for Steam and Nintendo Switch, previously only Apple Arcade
Platform: Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), and PlayStation 5
About the game
An open-world adventure game with relaxed vibes where you explore and restore a mysterious island alongside Hello Kitty and beloved Sanrio friends. Solve puzzles, cook and craft, customize your character and cabins, and befriend iconic characters.
What did I think?
If you enjoy daily check-in games with a strong focus on collecting and decorating, this might be a great fit for you. The excitement of unlocking new areas and meeting new Sanrio characters kept me engaged early on. However, if you’re looking for a more immersive long-term game, you may find yourself losing interest quickly.
3. Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Release date: August 27, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
❤️ One of our favorites ❤️
About the game
This remake of the beloved DS classic brings enhanced graphics, quality-of-life improvements, and the signature Grand Bazaar mechanic where you set up shop to sell your crops and goods. Farm, romance, build relationships, and participate in the weekly bazaar to grow your business and community standing.
What did I think?
You can play Grand Bazaar as both a cozy farming and life simulator and as a more strategic game, depending on how you choose to play. Whether you’re working toward marriage, upgrading all of your tools, or perfecting your bazaar stall, Grand Bazaar offers content to keep you engaged for the long haul.
4. Whisper of the House
Release date: August 27, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam)
About the game
This cozy decorating game gives you organization and decoration tasks from townspeople that might uncover some hidden stories and possibly make a change in their lives. Perfect for fans of Unpacking.
5. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Release date: June 4, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
❤️ One of our favorites ❤️
About the game
The latest entry in the beloved Rune Factory series brings farming and village restoration to a new region. Combine crafting, real-time combat, and town management with romantic relationship building in this unique blend of life sim and action RPG.
What did I think?
I’m currently playing through Guardians of Azuma and I’m absolutely loving it. It may take the place of my favorite Rune Factory game and I’m so pleasantly surprised with the village planning and management gameplay mechanic.
6. Tiny Bookshop
Release date: August 7, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
❤️ One of our favorites ❤️
About the game
A cozy narrative management game where you run a small secondhand bookshop in a little seaside town. Stock your shelves with books across various genres, get to know the locals, and fulfill their reading requests as you cart your bookshop on wheels to different locations.
What did I think?
Tiny Bookshop delivers exactly what it promises: a cozy, book-centered game that feels made with love for readers. While some of the downtime in-game won’t suit everyone, it’s perfect for those seeking a relaxing escape into the world of bookselling. If you’re a booklover, this game is a must-play.
7. Ritual of Raven
Release date: August 7, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch
About the game
A story-based farming sim, but you don’t do the farming yourself. Instead, you collect and enchant Arcana Constructs (adorable magical creatures) to grow your magical herb garden for you. Befriend a quirky community of magical outcasts, decorate your witchy cottage and garden, and discover the stories behind the portal catastrophe. The game blends automation mechanics with cozy life sim elements and a compelling narrative.
8. Catto’s Post Office
Release date: August 4, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam)
About the game
Deliver mail as Catto, the town’s dedicated Post-cat, while meeting unique friends in a vibrant cozy town filled with kitty residents. This short, sweet experience focuses delivering packages and letters to adorable cat characters, and learning about their lives. The game features charming art, a relaxing pace, and heartwarming stories about community connection.
9. Wanderstop
Release date: March 11, 2025
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), Xbox, and PlayStation 5
About the game
You play as Alta, a once-undefeated fighter who has left her violent past behind to run a tea shop. Brew different teas with unique properties, serve travelers who each have their own stories, tend to your garden to grow tea ingredients, and process your own journey of change and healing.
10. The Ranch of Rivershine
Release date: May 23, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam)
❤️ One of our favorites ❤️
About the game
Build and customize your own horse ranch, raise and breed horses, participate in competitions, and become part of a rural community. Unlock access to different trails, trade horses, and catch and tame wild horses.
What did I think?
Since the early ’00s, the horse girls have suffered through a drought. A drought of good horse games. The Ranch of Rivershine is the cozy game horse lovers have been begging for. I won’t tire of this adorable, relaxing game anytime soon (and Bec already put in over 120 hours).
Honorable Mention: Ropuka’s Idle Island
Release date: January 29, 2025
Platform: PC (Steam)
About the game
A relaxing idle game where you develop and automate your own island paradise. Watch your island grow and thrive even when you’re away, collect resources, and create the ultimate automated cozy getaway. The game combines idle mechanics with light management and decoration elements.
What did I think?
Ropuka’s Idle Island was a game that kind of revolutionized idle gaming, or games that you can play in the background, a different screen, or while multitasking. This simple but addictive game introduced me to plenty of other idle games, and I think it’s definitely worth checking out if you need a desktop companion.
The diversity in this list shows how the cozy genre has evolved beyond just “farming sim with cute graphics.” We’re seeing deeper narratives, innovative mechanics, and games that aren’t afraid to tackle complex emotional themes while maintaining that warm, comforting aesthetic we all love.
