Hunt for ghosts, solve mysteries, and brew potions (or coffee, if you’re so inclined) with my pick of over 10 of the best cozy games to play this Fall.
“Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this their only chance to soar.” – Delia Owens, When the Crawdads Sing
Autumn is, by far, my favorite season. I may be a little biased; after all, my birthday’s in November. But, I swear, I have legitimate reasons to love it!
Here in Seattle, the leaves turn this beautiful orange, and when the skies are clear, it’s the perfect temperature to go hiking by Mt. Rainier or Snoqualmie Pass. Dusk finally returns to a more ‘normal’ time, too (before the winter brings 4:30PM sunset – really), and it isn’t too cold yet to enjoy a bit of stargazing on one of those aforementioned hikes before returning to the city.
Of course, the misty rain Washington is known for returns, too. Don’t get me wrong, I love the rain as much as the next girl, but it’s not that great to hike in! Rather, it’s a good excuse to bundle up with hot cocoa, a blanket, and our favorite pastimes…mine just happen to be video games.
Cozy video games, if we’d like to be specific.
The ones that, no matter what the ‘main’ genre is (simulation, adventure, or even horror), manage to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling of joy when you play them. That feeling is why Fall is the best time to give them a go.
Maybe you’re down for some of those cozy-fuzzy vibes too, and if so, welcome to the club! But, if you’re unsure of what games to play during the season of Pumpkin Spice, don’t worry. I’ve collected several games that I’ve played over the years (or have been heavily recommended to me by friends) that will surely give you the escape you desire. 10, if you want to be specific. That’s a solid number, right?
Well, without further ado, here are 10 cozy games to play this Fall (with maybe an extra thrown in at the end)!
10+ Cozy Games to Play This Fall
1. Strange Horticulture
ESRB: N/A
Platform(s): Windows, Nintendo Switch, macOS, and Xbox One
Strange Horticulture is a puzzle game where you play as someone who inherited a plant store…while having absolutely zero knowledge about plants. So, when the shop is open and people come with their requests (maybe they need help falling asleep, or want something that’ll win over the local coven), we have to identify which plant could help our customers.
The visuals of this game are moody yet peaceful, with it often being gloomy and rainy outside your store. Also, the background music (soft, somber piano) is incredibly relaxing. Oh, and the best part – you have a little cat companion that hangs out with you in your shop! Overall, this is a solid, steady game for evenings when you need to relax.
2. Beacon Pines
ESRB: T
Platform(s): Windows, Nintendo Switch, macOS, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox One
Beacon Pines is a story-driven video game that initially appears to be choice-driven but ultimately offers a well-written narrative with compelling characters. Set in a farming town, players follow the story of Luka as they explore the town, interact with residents, and make pivotal word choices that branch the story, leading to surprising and sometimes tragic outcomes.
What makes Beacon Pines unique is that it all appears to happen within a storybook (and what’s more cozy than that?); in that vein, the ability to revisit choices and switch narrative paths allows for the exploration of various story branches, making it engaging and enjoyable.
3. Book of Hours
ESRB: N/A
Platform(s): Windows, Linux, and macOS
In Book of Hours, you restore a crumbling occult library by building a vast collection of grimoires and arcana. Essentially, you’re a magical librarian, and what’s more cozy than being surrounded by books?
The game’s art style is very elegant, and there’s absolutely no combat if that isn’t your jam. Oh, and you get to craft stuff! I don’t know about you guys, but I love building stuff in games. It’s so satisfying.
4. Tangle Tower
ESRB: T
Platform(s): Windows, Apple Arcade, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Tangle Tower is a captivating detective puzzle game set in a peculiar mansion atop a twisted, ancient tower. Players step into the shoes of Detective Grimoire and his partner Sally as they unravel a complex murder mystery, interrogating quirky suspects and solving intricate puzzles to uncover the truth behind a baffling crime.
While a murder mystery may sound less cozy and more…bloody…the wacky hijinks, quirky art style, and admittedly hilarious dialogue show that the game doesn’t take itself too seriously. So, I wouldn’t anticipate getting too stressed out during this one!
5. Before the Night
ESRB: T
Platform(s): Windows and Nintendo Switch
Before The Night is a cutesy horror action-adventure game where you play as Lisa, a pet human (literally). After the death of her owner, the rabbit Alice, Lisa is determined to resurrect her no matter what. Of course, in a world where the roles of humans and (adorable) animals have been reversed, this is no easy (or safe) task!
This game is definitely the creepiest one on this list (after all, some of your animal friends get a little…terrifying…when the sun goes down), but hey, with Halloween around the corner, there’s nothing wrong with a little macabre.
6. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
ESRB: M
Platform(s): Windows and Nintendo Switch
In The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, you play as Fortuna, a witch who, having been exiled on an asteroid (yup, you read that correctly), forms a pact with a forbidden creature in the hopes of regaining her freedom. Now, you have the chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and use Tarot cards to pierce through their pasts and futures…all while uncovering a political plot that will define the fate of the Cosmic Witch society.
It sounds intense, I know. But, I think Fortuna’s journey of self-discovery is one that a lot of people can relate to (even if they aren’t magical Witches themselves). Plus, it’s just a warm, incredible game, point-blank!
Looking for more witch-themed games to play? Click here!
7. Graveyard Keeper
ESRB: T
Platform(s): Windows, Linux, macOS, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iOS, and Android
Have you ever wanted to manage a medieval graveyard? Well, now you can in Graveyard Keeper! It’s not exactly…accurate…to how graveyards were maintained back then (or heck, how we manage them nowadays) but there’s something weirdly satisfying about it. It’s like if Harvest Moon met…a graveyard, I guess?
Don’t let the simplicity of the premise fool you, though. If you were to solely focus on the main objectives, Graveyard Keeper is about 45½ Hours in length. For 100% completion, you’re looking at over 60 hours. So, there’s plenty to do here if you want to spend the spookiest month playing a spooky game (without giving yourself a heart attack from a legit horror game)!
8. Little Witch in the Woods
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Little Witch in the Woods tells the story of Ellie, an apprentice witch. Explore the forest she lives in, help its residents, and experience the daily life of the witch (and her talking hat, Virgil).
While the game is still in Alpha, there’s plenty to do so far, and, gosh dang it, the pixel graphics are just so cute! It almost reminds me of old-school Pokemon. I’m curious to see what the game will be like when it’s fully completed, but for now, I’m happy with what we’ve got.
9. Sea of Stars
ESRB: E10+
Platform(s): Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Nintendo Switch
Sea of Stars takes inspiration from classic turn-based RPGs and narrates the tale of two Children of the Solstice, Valere and Zale. They harness the powers of the sun and moon to wield Eclipse Magic, the sole force capable of defending against the monstrous creations of the malevolent alchemist, The Fleshmancer.
This game came out just last month, and it’s already proving to be quite a hit! I’ve recently started playing it, and it reminds me of Final Fantasy, just…more peaceful. Though don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of action here too!
10. Coffee Talk
ESRB: M
Platform(s): Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
Coffee Talk is a game where you play as a barista who listens to fantasy-inspired modern peoples’ problems and helps them by serving up a warm drink or two (or ten). If that is not the coziest concept for a game, then I don’t know what is.
Something I’ve loved about this game is how the drinks you make impact the way the story goes. So, if you want the best ending…all I’ll say is that you’d better pay attention to what your customers ask for (or seem like they need)!
Bonus: Luigi’s Mansion
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a charming and spooky adventure game where players step into Luigi’s shoes as he courageously explores a haunted hotel to rescue his friends from mischievous ghosts. Armed with his trusty Poltergust vacuum, Luigi must solve puzzles, capture ghosts, and unravel the mysteries of each floor to save the day.
I couldn’t get through Autumn without talking about the peak haunted house game from my childhood. Don’t worry, Luigi’s Mansion is not scary in the slightest (think of, like, Ghostbusters for kids), and the newest installation is just as fun as the older versions you might be more familiar with!
Ever wondered what makes a cozy game…well, cozy? Click here!
I don’t know about you, but I think this is a pretty solid list of cozy games to play this Fall. There’s some spooky, there’s some adventure, and there’s a whole lot of that warm milk-and-cookies-by-the-fireplace-with-your-favorite-person energy. What else can you ask for?
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