There are plenty of reasons you might want to play short cozy games on Steam. Sometimes you only have an hour to spare between day-to-day tasks and activities or maybe you just need something to play over a day or two while you wait for a big game release.
Personally, I am a huge fan of short or mid-sized games. A solid 20 hour game with no fluff, filler, or time-wasting is vastly preferable to an open world game packed with repetitive content to make it feel longer. I can also think of about a dozen instances where a 2-5 hour game might be just the ticket. You may be a parent who doesn’t have a ton of time to themselves, or taking a car/train/plane ride and need to kill some time, or maybe you are having a poor attention span day and just need a few hours of easy entertainment.
Whatever your reason, it can be challenging to find an assortment of short cozy games without having to do a ton of research and digging. So, I’ve compiled a list of games that can be played in 6 hours or less.
Hypothetically, you could play them all in one day! Please let me know if you try this. That would be super impressive.
Not what you are looking for? Try: Best Cozy Free Games on Steam
15 Best Short Cozy Games on Steam: My Top Picks
1. Sheepy: A Short Adventure
Time to beat: >1 hour
Sheepy: A Short Adventure is a free 2D puzzle platformer about a lost plushy trying to find its way home in a broken and confusing world. Produced by music promoter Mr. Suicide Sheep, the game boasts an original score not to be missed. Cute, strange, and ambient, Sheepy may be the cozy sleeper hit of 2024.
2. Pine Hearts
Time to beat: 4-5 hours
Pine Hearts is a short, narrative-driven cozy game about coping with grief and building community, told through the lens of a young explorer named Tyke attempting to climb to the peak of a mountain. Explore a winding park map, learn new skills, unlock memories, and help people in a mindful and meditative quest that champions the resolve of the human spirit.
Read my full Pine Hearts review.
3. LoveChoice
Time to beat: ~1 hour
LoveChoice is an interactive visual novel where players navigate a branching narrative filled with choices that impact the outcome of the story. Set in a high school setting, the game explores themes of friendship, romance, and self-discovery. With multiple endings and character routes, players can explore different paths and relationships, making each playthrough unique.
4. Florence
Time to beat: 1-2 hours
A short and sweet cozy game on mobile, consoles, and PC that follows a romantic relationship from meet cute to break-up and beyond. A meditative journey about the highs and lows of being in love, with smart imagery and symbolism to help carry heavier themes.
5. A Memoir Blue
Time to beat: ~1-2 hours
A Memoir Blue is a story-driven cozy game that follows the journey of a woman named Miriam as she revisits her past through the metaphor of swimming. Players explore dreamlike underwater environments and solve puzzles to uncover Miriam’s memories and unravel the emotional story of her relationship with her mother.
6. A Short Hike
Time to beat: ~2 hours
Rated Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, A Short Hike is an exploration adventure game about, well, hiking! Meander through Hawk Peak Provincial Park at your leisure, meeting fellow travellers along the way and help them out with their requests if you are so inclined!
7. Zipp’s Cafe
Time to beat: ~2-3 hours
First of all, the devs call this game a “noir and chill” game and I absolutely love that vibe. Zipp’s Cafe is a cozy cafe management sim packed with memorable anthropomorphic animal characters and an astute meditation on life, love, and whether or not your past is ever really left behind you.
8. Unpacking
Time to beat: ~2-4 hours
Unpacking is an organization game about moving in and out of various abodes during various stages of a young woman’s life. Follow the MC from her family home, to university, to her first live-in relationship, and beyond. A smart, emotional tale about love, belonging, memories, and growing up.
If you love Unpacking, try: The Best Games that are Like Unpacking
9. Hindsight
Time to beat: ~3 hours
Hindsight is a story-driven puzzle game where players control a character named Dr. Shizume, who possesses the ability to revisit past events. Through a series of choices and interactions, players must alter the course of history to prevent a catastrophic event.
10. Storyteller
Time to beat: ~3-4 hours
Storyteller is an interactive narrative-driven game where players take on the role of a writer creating their own story. Through a series of choices, players craft their narrative, shaping the lives of the characters and determining the outcome of the story.
11. A Little to the Left
Time to beat: ~4-6 hours
A Little to the Left is a whimsical puzzle game where players take on the role of a furniture mover tasked with rearranging items in quirky environments. With physics-based mechanics, players must carefully manipulate objects to fit them into designated spaces while navigating obstacles and challenges.
12. Kaichu – The Kaiju Dating Sim
Time to beat: ~2-3 hours
Kaichu: The Kaiju Dating Sim is a humorous dating simulator set in a world where giant monsters, or kaiju, roam. Players take on the role of a character navigating relationships with various kaiju, each with their own personalities and quirks.
13. GRIS
Time to beat: ~3-4 hours
GRIS is a visually stunning platformer where players guide a young girl through a beautifully crafted world. With hand-drawn art and atmospheric music, the game tells a poignant story of grief and healing without any text or dialogue.
14. Journey
Time to beat: ~2 hours
Journey is an awe-inspiring adventure game where players embark on a mystical voyage through vast, breathtaking landscapes. As a robed traveler, players explore ruins and deserts, encountering other players along the way without communication.
15. Every Letter
Time to beat: >1 hour
Every Letter is a minimalist puzzle game where players must arrange letters to form words that match specific criteria. With over 250 levels, the game offers a progressively challenging experience that tests vocabulary and strategic thinking. It’s simple yet engaging mechanics make it suitable for players of all ages and skill levels.
Conclusion
Those are my favorite short cozy games on Steam, with most landing between 2 and 4 hours to finish—perfect for an afternoon or evening romp. Let me know if I missed your favorite short game by commenting below! Maybe I’ll try it out and update this list in the future.
Stay cozy, gamers!
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