Comfort food games allow players to put down their worries and enjoy an experience they’ve grown to be familiar with. Much like rereading a favorite book over and over or watching reruns of a familiar show, these games feel like coming home to a lot of players.
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While cozy, slice-of-life games fit the bill for many, they are not everyone’s cup of tea. Because everyone’s comfort pick differs, this list includes games from a range of genres.
Minecraft
An Endless Sandbox That Feels Like Home
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Minecraft is the ultimate sandbox experience, offering players massive, procedurally generated worlds to explore, build, and craft in, with complete freedom in every aspect. Some prefer to take on the challenges of survival mode, crafting and building using only the resources they can gather with their own hands. Others prefer creative mode, which does away with all survival mechanics, giving players the freedom to build anything their imagination can conjure up.
There is a sense of ownership that comes with Minecraft worlds that’s unlike anything else out there. A player’s personal world is their canvas, and what they build in it is a reflection of who they are. It’s what makes Minecraft unique, and what has allowed the game to thrive for so long. Best of all, these worlds can be shared with other players via servers, allowing communities to form around a particular world. For many, Minecraft is home, and nothing else comes close.
Stardew Valley
Cozy Farming Sim With A Small Town Feel
Stardew Valley
- Released
- February 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Simulation
No discussion about comfort food games would be complete without mentioning Stardew Valley, the cozy farming sim that proves that studios don’t need a big budget and AAA-level quality to make a masterpiece. Made by a solo developer, Stardew Valley lets players step into the shoes of an amateur farmer growing crops to earn a living, forming lasting relationships with the locals and carving out a space for themselves with honest, hard work.
There is a kind of inherent pull about the idea of giving up city life to settle on a farm near a sleepy town where everyone knows each other. Stardew Valley distills that fantasy into the form of a game and does it with such seamlessness that it feels like magic.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Wholesome Island Life Without Pressure
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Released
- March 20, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a life simulation game that allows players to create, customize, and decorate their very own slice of heaven. Every player is given an island of their own, filled with villagers that they can get to know over time, a near-infinite number of things to collect and multiple ways to earn progression.
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What makes Animal Crossing: New Horizons such a great comfort food game, however, is that it doesn’t actually demand anything from the player in terms of time spent playing while still providing enough content to sink hundreds of hours into it without getting bored. Jumping in for a quick fifteen minutes can be just as meditative and rewarding as sitting down for an eight-hour gaming session, and that’s what makes it special.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
A Familiar Adventure in the Frozen North
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Skyrim is not a title that immediately jumps to mind when thinking about comfort games, but for the subset of players who enjoy the gameplay loop, nothing else comes close. It’s a testament to how much of a labor of love Skyrim is that even though the game was released all the way back in 2011, it is still going strong. This is an unheard-of feat for a single-player game with no online elements.
For some, booting up a new playthrough of Skyrim is as comforting as curling up next to a fire with a good book in hand. Even after hundreds of hours of playing the same sequence over and over, the familiarity somehow never chafes, and the music never grates. To others, Skyrim’s modding community is the reason why they keep coming back for more. From visual upgrades and gameplay overhauls to massive DLC-sized land mods, the sheer breadth and scope of how much content the community is churning out sometimes beggars belief.
Valheim
Viking Serenity in the Norse Wilderness
Valheim
- Released
- February 2, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sandbox, Survival
Valheim is a Viking-inspired survival crafting game with a retro art style and a surprising amount of depth. Every world is formed using “seeds” similar to Minecraft, and players are put in a random location within these worlds and given the freedom to do as they wish. While there is certainly a hectic and frenetic side to Valheim, it is purely optional, and players can tackle the game at any pace according to their liking.
Freedom is at the heart of Valheim. Freedom to explore, to build, and to take on challenges. Since each seed is unique, the world is different for every player, and exploring to find a scenic spot to build a home feels just as fulfilling as taking down a boss. Building cozy longhouses and homesteads feels cathartic, and the stunning natural beauty the developers have somehow managed to capture using their unique art style is something special.
Clash Royale
Comfort Gaming for Busy Players
Clash Royale
- Released
- March 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Clash Royale is a deck-building arena battling game where players use a deck of eight cards to fight against opponents in bite-sized matches lasting 2-3 minutes. Cards can be troops, buildings, or spells, and the goal is to use them to take down the enemy’s King Tower, while the opponent will try to do the same. Card placement in the arena requires careful planning and an understanding of interactions between different units.
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Mastering Clash Royale requires repetition and regularity. Players who enjoy skill-based matchmaking but don’t have time or the hardware to play games like League or CS2 find this game comforting. It’s a mobile game, which means it’s always ready to go, and since matches take so little time, it’s easy to get a quick session in during breaks from the normal routine of day-to-day life. For those short on time, Clash Royale is a reliable option to turn to.
Dave the Diver
A Relaxing Rhythm of Fishing and Restaurant Management
Dave the Diver
- Released
- June 28, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Adventure
Dave the Diver is a cozy restaurant management and underwater exploration game. In it, players dive into the ocean to find and catch various species of fish by day. These fish are then served at a player-owned restaurant at night, combining two distinct genres into one.
There is a rewarding sense of progression in Dave the Diver, as players gradually get the ability to dive deeper and deeper into the ocean to encounter rarer fish that turn into more expensive delicacies. The comforting rhythm of the day-and-night cycle is an easy one to get into. For players who enjoy the art style and the gameplay loop, Dave the Diver is one they can easily sink hundreds of hours into without getting bored, and it only gets better with time.
Overwatch 2
Quick Escapism With Style and Substance
Overwatch 2
- Released
- August 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Shooter
Overwatch 2 is a 5v5 hero shooter with a colorful cast of unique heroes. Although the game had a rough start at launch, the switch to the free-to-play model and the introduction of the Stadium Mode to OW2 have allowed the game to regain ground with the community.
For players who enjoy the hero shooter playstyle, Overwatch 2 is a reliable source of quick, engaging matches that can be as competitive or casual as they want them to be. With Stadium mode, there is an RPG-style build crafting added to the mix, increasing replayability. And thanks to the many seasonal events and unique game modes introduced to the game from time to time, there is always something new to do in OW2.
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