We’ve gathered together a list of some of the best cozy games available on Xbox, all of which can be played via Xbox Game Pass! Cozy games have become something of a titan in the world of video games, with countless options as far as the eye can see. Whether you prefer farming, life sims, decorating, fishing, cooking; whatever floats your cozy boat, there are dozens of options out there with the ideal combination for you. To help streamline things a bit, here are our best picks.”Cozy” can be something of a subjective term (we touched on this a bit in our interview on the rise of wholesome games). Lots of people find cosmic horror fishing game Dredge cozy (shame it’s not on Game Pass), while others find Stardew Valley too stressful. There’s no right or wrong answer there, so this list is based partly on TrueAchievements ratings, partly on review scores, and partly on personal opinions. It’ll always be growing and changing, so check it out below and let us know if you think we’ve missed any hidden gems.14 best cozy games on Game PassThe Xbox Game Pass library is a beast, with an ever-growing catalogue of hundreds of games. We’re constantly charging in to try and break it down into more manageable chunks (keeping an eye on what the current best Game Pass games are, for instance) so if you’re looking for something specifically with those cozy elements, then you’ll hopefully find some winners here. Some cozy games tend to be on the shorter side, so having them on Game Pass is an added bonus, since you can still enjoy them without worrying about spending more. Without further ado, here are the best cozy games on Game Pass!14. FlockRelease date: 16 July, 2024Developer: Hollow Ponds & Richard HoggGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassFlock was a lovely surprise and a breath of fresh air when it launched into Game Pass. It’s a shorter, more simple game, but no less wonderfully cozy for it. Just as the name suggests, Flock revolves around growing a collection of colorful flying creatures which soar across the land with you. As you progress you find rarer creatures which are a little harder to collect, and soon enough you’ve got a wonderfully weird herd behind you. Flock is all about simplicity: the simple goal of collecting these bizarre new friends, and the simple joy of flying around a wide, beautiful world to find them. You’ve also got sheep-like creatures to keep an eye on, which provide you with wool to deck out your bird and rider, as well as a bit of identification work on each new creature you find to correctly label it for later research, but aside from that it’s just the enjoyment of going wherever you want and watching your flock grow. Since it’s a simpler, shorter game, it’s extra welcome to see it on Game Pass, where you can play it via your membership instead of deciding whether or not to take the gamble.13. WildfrostRelease date: 10 December, 2024Developer: Deadpan Games & GaziterGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassWildfrost is a much newer addition for Xbox and Game Pass, but it’s been out for PC and Nintendo Switch for some time already and has already picked up a lot of fans.It’s a tactical roguelike deckbuilding game where you’re setting out to stop an eternal winter. Now, you might have read that last sentence and wondered how any of that rates as cozy, but Wildfrost is a great pick for those looking for coziness with some higher stakes into the bargain.Wildfrost is fairly unforgiving, but its colorful art style, cute card companions, and the hub village you can build up and expand, all add to its coziness. If you’re one of those players who find coziness in repetition but don’t want that repetition to be watering crops, then you might find something soothing in venturing out into the wilds for combat encounters and retreating back again to the safety of your hub village (even if those battles are pretty tough).12. Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make FriendsRelease date: 4 June, 2024Developer: Catch & ReleaseGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassLet’s continue this list with an excellent cozy Game Pass game: Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends. It’s all there in the title: our character, a Sushi Bot, moves to the village of Rolling Hills to open a sushi restaurant and make friends along the way. Restaurant management and relationship building elements often make for some great cozy gaming, and Rolling Hills is no exception. There’s no dangers or alarm in Rolling Hills, just an adorable robot and their sushi dream. I would say there’s no stress, too, but sometimes when you’re serving customers and you’re trying to get one off their phone while another’s startling your robot with flash photography and someone else is almost at the end of their tether waiting for their meal, things can get a little hectic. Luckily, upgrades play a big part in the game, and it makes for an irresistible gameplay loop as you rake in the money and then spend it on expanding and customizing your restaurant. Along the way, you also improve the meals you make and work on your relationships for some great bonuses. And great friends too, obviously. 11. Disney Dreamlight ValleyRelease date: 6 September, 2022Developer: GameloftGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game PassThe coziness of this one is clear: if you’re not there for the life sim aspects, then you can indulge in a hefty dose of Disney and Pixar nostalgia. There is a story to follow, about restoring Dreamlight Valley after the Forgetting, in which you head to various Realms to bring back the Valley residents, place their homes, and pursue their friendship quests. However, you’ll likely spend most of your time gardening, fishing, cooking, and decorating, accompanied by whichever character you fancy hanging out with. Certain aspects of the game can get a bit grindy at times, but there’s something about Disney Dreamlight Valley that, once you’re playing, makes it hard to stop. New content updates are frequently added with something to tempt you back, and if you’re looking for a spot of cozy gaming, you can’t go too wrong with Disney Dreamlight Valley.10. UnpackingRelease date: 2 November, 2021Developer: Witch Beam, Screwtape StudiosGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, Xbox Game Pass Core, PC Game PassThis one’s a cozy staple. In essence, you’re unpacking things and sorting them, but there are hidden layers to this activity, as the more you unpack, the more you start to get an idea of the person these things belong to. The success of this, House Flipper, PowerWashing Simulator and the like prove that players find something very satisfying in cleaning, tidying, and sorting messes. Power washing and restoration don’t play a part in Unpacking, but while moving house in real life is usually a hectic, stressful experience, if you whack the unpacking part into a video game, you get a charming experience that’s just as “zen” as the game promises, with the added cozy bonus of creating a comfortable, lived-in home.9. A Little to the LeftRelease date: 15 February, 2024Developer: Max InfernoGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game PassThis one is pure relaxation. It often gets compared to Unpacking, although they aren’t too similar in gameplay; if there is a likeness, it’s probably in a similarly peaceful experience. A Little to the Left is part puzzle, part tidying, part organization: if you like the satisfying experience of tidying things up in video games, there’s plenty of that to do, but a lot of the scenarios have several possible solutions, so there’s replayability there for puzzle fans too. The color palette is soft and calming, and there’s a lovely soundtrack to zone out too as you tidy away books, drawers, and other household things. If you get stuck, you can park that particular mess for later, and the only thing to look out for is the cat which pops up every now and again to swipe things around and make a mess again. There’s no objectives to worry about or complicated mechanics to re-learn; just start it up and make things neat and tidy.8. Dungeons of HinterbergRelease date: 18 July, 2024Developer: Microbird GamesGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassNow, hear me out: I know zooming around fighting monsters and becoming an expert slayer might not sound cozy-adjacent, but like we talked about earlier, one cozy definition does not fit all, and there’s a lot here which makes it a comfortingly absorbing game to wind down with in the evening. First there’s the context around the setting. Our character, Luisa, has come to the Alpine village of Hinterberg, which has become a tourist sensation after the discovery of monsters, dungeons, and all kinds of magic. Yes, most people are there to go all-out on a slayer adventure, but the game often reminds us that Luisa is on holiday, and that she has the option to slow down and let herself rest and recuperate. Luisa’s in something of a rut in her life, and amidst all the hectic combat bits are times when she takes a step back to think about life and how she could learn to enjoy the present a bit more. There are actually spots in the game just for this purpose: sure, they might help improve some stats too, but it’s a reminder that you don’t need to fight every day. Then, even when you do choose to explore an area and clear a dungeon, there’s something remarkably laid-back about it. Some of this is down the freedom of movement you get, for instance when Luisa is magically snowboarding across the mountains, and some of it’s in the calm, slowed-down atmosphere you find in other areas of Hinterberg, with the vast, beautiful backdrops of meadows, mountains, and sky. Every day is split into sections, too, so it’s easy to put the game down and come back to it instead of stressing about saving while in the middle of some chaotic segment. Overall, I reckon this makes for a good cozy outlier to try if you’re looking for something a little different.7. Little Kitty, Big CityRelease date: 9 May, 2024Developer: Double Dagger StudioGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassIt’s fair to say this one was a bit of a surprise hit — we hoped it would be as good as it looked, but it managed to rack up over one million Game Pass players less than two weeks after launching. This one is a bit more active than A Little to the Left, although its cat is just as mischievous. Ostensibly, your goal in Little Kitty, Big City is to find your way home, but the little kitty in question is soon beset by a number of distractions in the form of other animals, quests, and wearable hats. You can do all the catlike things you’d expect, such as knocking things off high places to smash on the floor and galloping along at high speed for no reason, and the brightly colored world, mischievous cat, and variety of activities make this a light-hearted, cozy adventure.6. Botany ManorRelease date: 9 April, 2024Developer: Balloon StudiosGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassHere’s one that takes things at a slower pace than Little Kitty, Big City, and is an excellent cozy game in its own right. Botany Manor is a wonderful experience, in which you play as Arabella Greene, a retired botanist working to finish her book while researching fascinating plants in her home, Botany Manor itself. Like with many cozy games, a soft and calming art style doesn’t mean Botany Manor can only deal with soft and calming subjects. It’s set in the 19th century and as you play through the game, you learn more about the challenges Arabella faced as a woman in science in the 1800s — the disappointments, the frustrations, and the fact that her work was hardly ever taken seriously by other experts. However, these more somber themes don’t detract from how enjoyable Botany Manor is to play: as Arabella, you fill out your research book, progressing through chapters with increasingly more complex puzzles to work out how to get each plant to grow and thrive. Clues involve Arabella’s research on everything from pH levels to folklore tales, and since 19th century contraptions come into play (such as a camera and telegraph), you might find yourself concocting flash powder or something similar. You flesh out your botanical research book by successfully growing plants, and all the time, you’re surrounded by the peaceful, sunny backdrop of Botany Manor and its grounds, with birdsong, flowers, and greenery everywhere in sight.5. Lil Gator GameRelease date: 10 October, 2023Developer: MegaWobbleGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game PassIf you’re looking for something that’s pure joy to play (or something that makes you feel like a kid again) there’s Lil Gator Game. A Short Hike isn’t on Game Pass anymore, but if you played and loved that, you’ll probably love Lil Gator Game too. Both games embody the enjoyment of exploration and encourage you to slow down and take in the scene. Personally, I enjoyed Lil Gator Game even more; along with its hefty dose of childhood nostalgia, it just felt like there was more to do. Lil Gator Game is a wonderfully imaginative childhood adventure, where every “baddie” is made out of cardboard so that you can go crazy pretending to be a hero without worrying about combat. Exploration is excellent: you swim like a gator, but you can also glide, surf down hills on your shield, climb mountains, skate, and more. The characters and quests in this are brilliant, and all match the theme of childhood fun and friendship. It’s a sweet story, too, as the Lil Gator in question has an older sister who seems too busy to join in the way she used to. 4. Coral islandRelease date: 14 November, 2023Developer: Stairway GamesGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game PassFarming sims do tend to be heavy-hitters in the cozy gaming world, especially recently, and particularly thanks to one farming giant (which we’ll get to in a bit). Coral Island did have its drawbacks: issues on Xbox and the time it took to flesh out the game with important content after it had already left Early Access, but if you love the coziness of the farming/life sim ritual, you’ll love this. Farming, fishing, mining, cooking, exploring, building relationships, competing in festivals; all of it’s here, set against the backdrop of a gorgeous tropical island. It’s easy to turn this on and zone out for a while as you tend to your farm (or ignore it to focus on some of the more magical storylines), especially with a relaxing soundtrack which seems ideally situated to immerse you more fully in the farming life.3. My Time at SandrockRelease date: 2 November, 2023Developer: Pathea GamesGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game PassOne recent great entry into the realm of cozy games is My Time at Sandrock. Following on from the success of My Time at Portia, My Time at Sandrock sees you heading out to Sandrock as one of two new Builders. Everything opens up from there, and it really is everything: gathering resources to build, fulfil orders, and expand your workshop is of course a major part, but wound up in that is all the other stuff you’ll be doing in Sandrock: exploring, fighting monsters, delving into ruins, restoring the town, playing mini-games, and getting to know a wide cast of zany characters (and, yes, farming). My Time at Sandrock seemingly improves on all the shortcomings of the first game, and there’s an insane amount of content to dig into while working to become the most successful Builder out there. The comforting world of My Time at Sandrock, coupled with its engaging characters and story and the familiarity of life sim elements, make this an excellent cozy gaming must.2. SpiritfarerRelease date: 18 August, 2020Developer: Thunder Lotus GamesGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, Xbox Game Pass Core, PC Game PassIt might seem odd to have Spiritfarer on this list, or to have it this high up, since it has a big focus on themes of death and loss. However, the game describes itself as a “cozy management game about dying,” and it’s true that it can be a heartwarming, cozy experience just as much as it can be a devastating emotional blow. We play as Stella, whose job it is to ferry spirits to the afterlife. Like all great stories, though, it’s not just about the destination, but the journey too. We get to know the passengers aboard our boat and care for them before saying goodbye. We’re also kept busy upgrading and expanding the boat, farming, fishing, cooking, crafting, and exploring, and it’s here where a lot of the cozy elements come in. Spiritfarer’s colorful backdrops — with gorgeous sunsets and sunrises — coupled with a lovely, bittersweet soundtrack add to the atmosphere, and the routine of building a home aboard the boat and caring for your beloved passengers is a beautiful experience.1. Stardew ValleyRelease date: 14 December, 2016Developer: ConcernedApeGame Pass tier: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Game Pass Standard, Xbox Game Pass Core, PC Game PassYou know it, I know it; it’s a mark of Stardew Valley’s excellence that it’s just as enjoyable to return to years after launching as it was when we were first gifted our rundown, overgrown farm and rusty tools. Something about working nonstop to farm, fish, mine, explore, and befriend the (occasionally judgemental) townspeople is irresistible. Add to that the changing seasons, festivals, and the iconic soundtrack, and it’s very easy to get drawn into Stardew Valley’s pixelated world for a cozy gaming session for hours at a time. There are many excellent games that have come out since, and it might be that one of those will take the top spot in future, but for now, with Stardew Valley’s enduring and well-earned popularity as one of the cozy games to go back to, it definitely deserves this spot.All of these games are available on one tier of Game Pass or another, but if you’re looking more broadly across the Xbox library, we’ve also rounded up some of the best Xbox farming games (which might help bide the time until Stardew Valley’s big 1.6 update comes to Xbox) and the best Autumn games to play on Xbox, to fit the season.
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