It’s mid-January and I finally have time to sit down and reflect on last year. I hit some cool milestones, both professionally and personally, and have never been busier, more overwhelmed, or happier. No matter what emotion I’m riding out (good or bad), there is always a perfect cozy game accompaniment. When I’m stressed, I play gentle puzzle games that take my mind off things; when I’m bursting with energy and joy, I love a good dating sim; when I’m depressed, all I want to do is tend a virtual farm and Zen out; and when I’m in the mood to celebrate, I want games that feel celebratory.
The cozy game theme of 2025 is: Celebration. Overcoming hardships and obstacles—from grappling with issues of self-worth to fighting for what you believe in against all odds—is the motif these days. And every little win deserves a cheer and a treat.
So, let’s celebrate some cozy games and take a look at which ones moved our hearts and minds the most.
Runner Up #1: Wanderstop
Wanderstop earns its place as my #1 Runner Up for Cozy Game of the Year by understanding something many cozy games only gesture at: rest is not a reward, it is the point.
Through Alta’s forced pause and the quiet rituals of tea-making, gardening, and simply existing, the game invites players to sit with discomfort, burnout, and the uneasy silence that comes when productivity falls away. It is gentle without being shallow, funny without undercutting its emotional weight, and deeply aware of how often we tie our self-worth to output. Few games this year asked me to slow down so completely, then trusted me to listen.
What truly sets Wanderstop apart is its willingness to let go, both mechanically and narratively. Seasonal resets wipe away hoarded progress, characters drift in and out of your life without neat resolutions, and the world refuses to wait for you to optimize it. This design choice transforms Wanderstop from a cozy management game into a meditation on impermanence, presence, and self-forgiveness. It may not be endlessly replayable, but its message lingers long after the last cup of tea is poured, warm and bittersweet in equal measure.
Runner Up #2: Fantasy Life i: Girl Who Steals Time
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time lands as my #2 Runner Up for Cozy Game of the Year 2025 by sheer force of joyful abundance.
It is a game that refuses to let you be just one thing, instead encouraging you to dabble, switch gears, and follow curiosity wherever it leads. Between combat, crafting, gathering, decorating, and questing, Fantasy Life i captures the cozy fantasy of being competent at many small, satisfying things. It feels less like a checklist and more like a playground, sprawling and eager to be explored.
What makes Fantasy Life i special is how flexible its definition of progress truly is. If one path feels blocked, another opens naturally, whether through mastering a new Life, crafting better gear, or recruiting allies to ease the load. This freedom transforms even grinding into something meditative and rewarding, a rhythm of effort and payoff that rarely turns sour. It may be busier and louder than some cozy games, but for players who find comfort in motion, mastery, and momentum, Fantasy Life i is an endlessly welcoming world to sink into.
Additional 2025 cozy game special mentions:
My Cozy Game of the Year 2025 Winner: Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is our official Cozy Game of the Year 2025 because it dares to be gentle while staring directly at the subject of death.
Wrapped in vibrant papercraft visuals and sharp, affectionate humor, it tells a story about grief, memory, and moving on without ever losing its warmth. This is a cozy game powered not by accumulation or routine, but by empathy, listening, and care.
Every interaction feels intentional, as if the game itself is leaning in, asking you to slow down and truly hear what others are carrying.
What elevates Kulebra above an already strong year is how elegantly its mechanics reinforce its themes. The daily time loop, the selective persistence of memories, and the conversational “boss battles” all ask the player to consider how much effort they are willing to give, and when it is healthy to let go. Progress never feels rushed or punitive, yet it always feels meaningful, built from small acts of understanding rather than grand heroics. It is a game that trusts players to be thoughtful, curious, and emotionally present.
Most of all, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo lingers. Long after the puzzles are solved and the credits roll, its characters, questions, and quiet kindness stay with you, like a story told softly but honestly.
In a genre often focused on comfort through familiarity, Kulebra offers comfort through connection. It is cozy not because it avoids heavy topics, but because it treats them with grace, humor, and a deeply human touch.
Stay cozy, gamers!