The best cozy and life simulation games in 2025

If you’re looking to relax in the world of video games, you’ll quickly find yourself drawn to cozy games. With their gentle atmosphere, life simulation, and satisfying experience, there’s no shortage of genres to meet this need. Whether on a farm, a desert island, or even in the middle of a forest, let’s take a look at our selection of titles for a pleasant time.

Let’s start our list with a popular franchise, the latest installment of which was widely appreciated for keeping people busy during the 2020 lockdown. We are, of course, talking about Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Known for its unique universe, lightheartedness, and incredible longevity, this game invites players to develop a village on a remote island and build their own house there. One of the missions entrusted to the player is to fill the museum by collecting a whole bunch of creatures. Nintendo has just announced an update for the title, as well as a Switch 2 version.

For an experience closer to nature, with crops and harvests, there’s no shortage of options. Stardew Valley is a must-play in its genre. You inherit a farm where you can start your new life. Fields, livestock, and even mining are all part of the game. In the same genre, but with a little more storyline, Disney Dreamlight Valley immerses you in its fantasy world. Here, you must free the castle of dreams from insidious corruption and unlock unique kingdoms. For a much more agriculture-focused approach, Farm Together 2 is the best candidate. Available in co-op mode, this title allows you to become the owner of land on which to cultivate and optimize yields.

Some prefer games that are closer to life simulation, and we have selected three of them. First, let’s talk about the latest installment of a must-have franchise, The Sims 4. For those who want a similar experience, but with much more advanced graphics and possibilities, inZoi is the perfect candidate. Still in early access, the title aims to become the benchmark in its field.
Finally, My Time At Sandrock offers an experience halfway between life simulation and the cute aspect of Animal Crossing. Here, the goal is to help rebuild a town, explore the environment, and even maintain friendly and romantic relationships with the inhabitants.

Now let’s move on to the category of satisfying games involving tidying and cleaning. Camper Van: Make it Home unleashes our imagination, allowing us to design increasingly cozy vans. In Unpacking, players are asked to unpack boxes after moving house and achieve perfect tidiness. While the idea may seem very mundane at first glance, the execution is actually very well done. This description also fits the title Powerwash Simulator, in which the goal is to clean buildings and exteriors with a pressure washer until they shine.

Let’s end this list with two very poetic productions. In fact, their sumptuous artistic direction almost allows us to fly there. Dordogne immerses us in a unique narrative experience that awakens our senses and reconnects us with our emotions. In the title Gris, we play a young girl of the same name, haunted by a painful experience. We follow her on her journey through the twists and turns of grief.

A very interesting project to follow, and still in development, is called Animula Nook. It seems to draw inspiration from the best of the licenses mentioned earlier. It takes place in a « Lilliputian » universe. You play as a little explorer in a world where everyday objects, such as a desk, a coffee cup, or a pencil jar, become landscapes in their own right. Once again, you will have the opportunity to create, build, explore, and even forge bonds with other inhabitants.

This selection of cosy games offers a wonderful perspective on the different forms that relaxation can take in a video game. Whether it’s gardening, decorating a house or simply strolling through a peaceful world, it reminds us that you don’t always have to take on epic challenges to have memorable experiences.