Whether you’re sick of farming sims or just want to try something new, this list of cozy games with absolutely no farming is guaranteed to give you that warm, fuzzy feeling you crave…without all the hard work that comes with being a farmer!
Listen: I have no qualms with farming games (or real-life farmers, for that matter) – there are some incredible farming sims out there. But, hey, it never hurts to shake things up.
Maybe you’ve played Stardew Valley for hours upon hours and want to try something new. Or, perhaps you just don’t care for farming sims in general.
Whatever your reason, it’s valid! You don’t need to play a farming game to get the cozy experience, y’know?
Whether you prefer puzzles, dialogue, or simply cozy vibes, one of these games will surely suit your fancy.
Maybe you do want to play a farming game? That’s okay, just click here!
10 Cozy Games With No Farming:
1. 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). No need to harvest ingredients or…shuck coffee beans…? (I don’t know how coffee works, clearly.) Just brew, decorate, and serve.
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)!
2. Lil Gator Game
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, Nintendo Switch
In Lil Gator Game, you play as an apty-described adorable alligator who gets to explore an island brimming with treasures and new friends. The game is focused on discovery over skill, so you can take it at your own pace as you learn all there is about the island and its inhabitants.
For the collectors at heart, you even get to find little arts and crafts that you can turn into useful items! It’s like all the benefits of farming (new items) without having to put in all the work (no dirt under your pixellated nails today, mister).
3. The Last Campfire
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, tvOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
The Last Campfire has a simple premise: light, well, the last camfire. But, truly, it is more than that: it’s a story of a lost ember trapped in a strange world, searching for meaning and a way home.
If you want to feel all the feelings, while being a fan of puzzles and beautiful graphics, then this game is definitely for you. I’ll be honest, the trailer alone made me shed a few tears. No one said that all the non-farming games couldn’t make you emotional, okay?
4. 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. You can explore the forest she lives in, help its residents, and experience the daily life of the witch (and her talking hat, Virgil). And while there’s plenty of green space, you never need to water a single crop!
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.
5. Donut County
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Donut County is a story-based physics puzzle game where you play as an increasingly larger hole in the ground. How do you get larger, you may be asking in your brain right now? By eating everything you come into contact with, silly! It’s science.
Basically, if you like the concept of the Katamari series, but you have some weird grudge against ever-growing balls, then this game’s for you. Or maybe not. There’s still circles involved. You’ve been warned.
6. New Pokémon Snap
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
I love the Pokémon series as much as the next person, but sometimes all the battling gets me stressed out…so why not take some cute pictures, instead?
In New Pokémon Snap, you can take photographs of wild Pokémon in their native environments as you you encounter and research them. They can be doing anything, really—sleeping, playing, or even taking a dip in a refreshing lake next to a waterfall. How picturesque!
7. Unpacking
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nintendo Switch
If you’ve ever wanted to experience the joys of moving into a new home without all the stress of packing, getting movers, and spending tons of money, then Unpacking is for you. Oh, this also assumes you like a nice, light puzzle too!
In Unpacking, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking. What were your character’s favorite childhood toys? What were your hobbies? Who were you living with? Spoiler alert: you were definitely not a farmer.
8. Grow: Song of the Evertree
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch
In Grow: Song of the Evertree, you can quite literally grow your own worlds. Not in a farming way, but in a cool magical way, I swear!
Through crafting World Seeds, you can gain access to unique places, blooming with fantastic fauna and flora as you are encouraged to explore this beautiful world at your own pace. Once a new world is generated, you can spend your time exploring caves, solving puzzles, collecting minerals and flowers, fishing, catching bugs…truly, it’s up to you.
9. Calico
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
In Calico, you’re given the straightforward (and adorable) objective of rebuilding your village’s cat cafe. Of course, you don’t have to fill it with just cats…there’s dogs, red pandas, and even raccoons available for your new, bustling business!
No cafe’s complete without a little ambiance: you can fill it with cute furniture, fun decorations, and delicious pastries (putting the “cafe” in cat cafe, here). You even get to cook the yummy treats yourself! Woo!
10. A Little to the Left
ESRB: E
Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
In A Little to the Left, you sort, stack, and organize household items into very aesthetically-pleasing arrangements. Simple, right? Well, you’ll need to watch out: there’s a mischievous cat with an inclination for chaos on the prowl.
With multiple solutions for every puzzle you come across, as well as a new puzzle every day thanks to the Daily Tidy Delivery, this simple and sweet game will keep you on your toes for days, weeks, even months on end…and perhaps inspire you to clean your room after (I know it did for me).
Ever wondered what makes a cozy game…well, cozy? Click here!
Well, those are just some of the cozy games I could find that had absolutely no farming elements. Honestly, there’s probably hundreds, if not thousands out there! But, this list has enough variety that I’m sure any cozy gamer (or gamer in general) will be able to find something they like.
But hey, if you do like farming sims…I’m sure I could find a few non-Stardew Valley games that would be right up your alley…
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