Cozy Gaming Holiday Gift Guide 2024
Give your gamer a little slice of comfort this holiday season with some of the coziest games you can snuggle up with inside.
Posted 17 days ago
The Holidays are all about defeating the harsh cold of winter by building yourself a little nest of home comforts to hibernate in until spring. At least that's what I've always thought. And there are dozens of us out there! Dozens!
So if you're having to pick out a holiday gift for one of these gamers who buries themselves in duvets to play on their console all through the solstice, here's a holiday gift guide of cozy games to tempt them out of the pillow fort for at least long enough to unwrap their present.
Flock
One of our standout sleeper hits of the year, Flock is a relaxing drift through the clouds perched atop your very own bird steed while you wrangle fantastical creatures. Part birdspotting game, part puzzler, this cute and cozy hide-and-seek game is just the antidote to bleak midwinter days. You also get to dress your little guy up in some real comfy-looking winter gear, just a great time all round.
Cozy Grove
Camping is also cozy, as long as you prepare well and don't get caught out in the rain. So Spry Fox's life sim Cozy Grove is the perfect pick for den-builders out there. Similar to Animal Crossing (so if your giftee has already poured hundreds of hours into New Horizon you're onto a winner here), Cozy Grove sticks you on an island full of animal pals to talk to and invite to your encampment. Oh, and the island's haunted. Probably should have mentioned that earlier. Don't worry though, they're the nice sort of ghosts who just want you to do little quests for them.
Cozy Grove
Release Date: March 19, 2021
Digital Only
PowerWash Simulator
There is something fundamentally soothing about powerwashing. The methodical sweeping. The low hum of the compressor. The satisfaction of what was once dirty now being sparkling clean. Unfortunately, this time of year it's far too cold outside to go and do something silly like getting wet spraying down the car. Instead, why not clean a boat, or a UFO, or Santa's workshop, in PowerWash Simulator? That's the promise of this gift: an easy choice between going outside and getting wet, or making your brain tickle with a cup of hot cocoa.
PowerWash Simulator
Release Date: July 14, 2022
Stardew Valley
Cozy games often have an element of methodical planning to them, but Stardew Valley does its best to disguise the farming simulator at its heart with a very cute little town to roam around, too. There are so many little stories to go through as you develop a relationship with the townspeople, and the sights and sounds of Pelican Town are perfect for curling up by a fire in your own homestead. The only problem you might find with this gift is getting its recipient away from it for your own Feast of the Winter Star. That or they may have already poured hundreds of hours into it. In that case...
Stardew Valley
Release Date: February 26, 2016
Disney Dreamlight Valley
The other valley is filled with characters you'll know from all your favorite childhood cartoons, and plays a little like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. Make friends with princesses and invite them to your town. Build them a house and decorate it with furniture to suit their style, all while helping them get their memories back after The Forgetting. It's a good option for someone who has burned out on the other cutesy life sims but also loves Disney films.
Unpacking
Back to that methodical manual labor itch, most games that scratch it well seem to pick the jobs that would actually be the least fun to do. Powerwashing is dirty work, and who actually looks forward to packing all their belongings to move house? Unpacking does the impossible by not only making it fun and enjoyable (placing items on surfaces makes very satisfying noises, depending on the type of surface) but adds a story for you to piece together as you pick over all the little trinkets in someone's life, throughout several house moves. A surprisingly lovely and heartfelt time.
If you haven't found the perfect gift just yet, check out Restart's other Holiday Gift Guides, full of recommendations for different platforms and other kinds of gamers: