The Steam Awards are a celebration of the best games that captured our hearts, minds, and imagination this year. Among the nominees and winners were several cozy games that offered players a chance to unwind, create, and explore at their own pace. These titles reminded us that gaming can be about more than action-packed adventures—it can also be about finding comfort in small, heartfelt moments.
The nominees and winners of this year’s Steam Awards are no different—they’re the digital equivalent of a warm cup of tea on a chilly day.
What are the Steam Awards?
The Steam Awards are an annual event on Steam, where players vote for their favorite games in different categories. It’s like a big “best of the year” for games on Steam. Categories include things like Game of the Year, Best Story, and Most Innovative Gameplay. Players nominate and vote, and the winners get bragging rights!
Cozy Games @ the Steam Awards 2024
I won’t focus on all the non-cozy categories and titles, but congrats to all the nominees.
The 5 Nominees of Steam’s ‘Sit Back and Relax’ Award
Here’s the category that we really care about as cozy gamers! Every game in this category is super cozy in it’s own right. And I love the diversity of options. It will certainly be hard to pick just one—but you can vote here.
1. House Flipper 2
House Flipper 2 is a simulation game developed by Frozen District and Empyrean, released for Windows on December 14, 2023, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions planned for April 10, 2024.
As the sequel to the original House Flipper, it allows players to renovate and design homes in the fictional American seaside town of Pinnacove. The game introduces new features, including a sandbox mode for designing houses from scratch, enhanced graphics, and reworked mechanics for tasks like cleaning, painting, and demolition.
2. Tiny Glade
Tiny Glade is a relaxing, free-form building game developed and published by Pounce Light, released on September 23, 2024, for Windows. In this cozy sandbox, players can create whimsical castles, cozy cottages, and romantic ruins without the constraints of grid-based systems, management tasks, or combat.
The game emphasizes creativity and relaxation, allowing users to design medieval-themed structures adorned with procedural details like ivy-covered walls and wandering sheep. Its intuitive interface and charming aesthetics have garnered positive reviews, with players appreciating the serene and imaginative experience it offers.
3. Farming Simulator 25
Farming Simulator 25, released on November 12, 2024, is the latest installment in the popular agricultural simulation series developed by GIANTS Software.
The game introduces several new features, including three diverse maps set in North America, East Asia, and Central Europe, each offering unique landscapes and farming opportunities. Players can cultivate new crops such as rice, spinach, peas, and green beans, and manage additional livestock like goats and water buffalo, along with baby animals.
4. TCG Card Shop Simulator
TCG Card Shop Simulator is a trading card shop simulation game developed by OPNeon Games, released on September 15, 2024, for Microsoft Windows.
In this game, players manage their own local game store, stocking shelves with the latest booster packs, setting prices, hiring staff, hosting events, and expanding their card shop. The game features a fictional trading card game called Tetramon Duel Master, inspired by Pokémon, with detailed card designs, including holographic versions that hold higher resale values.
5. WEBFISHING
WEBFISHING is a multiplayer online casual fishing game developed by lamedeveloper, released on October 11, 2024. In this game, players control animal avatars in a 3D world, engaging in relaxing fishing activities while socializing with others in a cozy campsite environment.
The game emphasizes a social experience, allowing players to meet new people, explore hidden spots, and participate in activities like playing instruments and drawing with chalk. WEBFISHING has received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its charming aesthetics and relaxing gameplay.
Other Award Categories Get Cozy
Cozy games also made an appearance across a few of the other awards. Let’s take a look:
Neva – Nominated for Outstanding Visual Style Award
Neva is a visually stunning action-adventure game developed by Nomada Studio, the creators of the acclaimed game Gris. (And YES, you can buy them both in a bundle, too.) Released on October 15, 2024, Neva is available on multiple platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
The game follows the journey of Alba, a young woman who forms a deep bond with a wolf cub named Neva after a traumatic encounter with dark forces. Together, they navigate a world in decay, facing environmental puzzles and combat challenges as Neva matures from a cub into a powerful adult wolf.
Neva has been praised for its extraordinary visuals, elegant animation, and emotionally resonant storytelling. The game has been nominated for several awards, including Best Art Direction and Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2024.
They are now in competition for Steam’s Outstanding Visual Style Award vs. Hades 2, Nine Sols, Silent Hill 2 remake, and Metaphor ReFantazio. Tough competition!
Balatro – Best Game on Steam Deck + Most Innovative Gameplay Awards
Balatro is so frantic and sharp that I sometimes hesitate to call it a cozy game. But it’s so easy to play in small batches, the stakes are low, and it’s available on mobile. The cozy vibes are there.
Balatro is a single-player roguelike deck-building game that combines traditional poker mechanics with strategic gameplay elements. Developed by LocalThunk and published by Playstack, it was released on February 20, 2024, for platforms including Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with subsequent releases for macOS, Android, and iOS.
In Balatro, players engage in “runs” divided into eight “antes,” each containing three “blinds” of increasing difficulty. During each round, players draw cards to form poker hands, aiming to meet or exceed target scores within a limited number of hands and discards. The game introduces unique elements such as joker cards, tarot cards, and planet cards, which modify gameplay by providing special effects, bonuses, and multipliers. Between rounds, players can purchase additional cards and items to enhance their decks and strategize for upcoming challenges.
The game achieved significant commercial success, selling over 3.5 million copies by December 2024. It received critical acclaim, winning the Best Independent Game award at The Game Awards 2024.
Conclusion
Who did you vote for in each category? Be sure to let me know in the comment section!
Plus, here are some other award shows I covered this year from a cozy gaming perspective:
Stay cozy, gamers!