I spend a lot of time on Reddit. Too much time, admittedly. But that’s because it’s one of the greatest places to engage with people online about niche topics. Pretty much every video game you can think of has its own subreddit—probably multiple subreddits. That means that you can find a community for any cozy game that might be on your radar. You can ask questions, make friends, play some co-op, or just share opinions.
That being said, not all of Reddit is….great. There is a lot of toxicity. So here are my favorite cozy game Reddit communities that I think everyone should follow.
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Note: This is a live, ever-changing list! Communities emerge and evolve over time. I spend a lot of time in a subreddit before I feel okay recommending it. That means I will always be testing new spaces to add to this list as I find them. Plus, if any subreddit starts getting…er, uncool…I’ll remove them. So bookmark this page for live updates. 🙂
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The Basics
Follow these if you want but they don’t need my endorsement. They are probably the first things people search for! Ha!
1. r/stardewvalleyexpanded
Stardew Valley Expanded is a PC mod that adds content, like new characters and romance paths, to the base Stardew Valley game. The special thing about Stardew Valley mods is that the developer 100% approves of them, so download away! In fact, the Stardew Valley 1.6 update will strengthen mod support. SVE is one of the biggest and most well-known mods but the community of this subreddit are open to talking about other mods, too, if you are looking for suggestions or tips.
Why I like it: If you are on Reddit a lot (cough cough), you know that it can be hard to enjoy a subreddit once it grows too big and starts to get “over moderated.” This is one of the reasons I love topic-adjacent subreddits. The more niche they get, the more open and fun the vibe tends to be.
2. r/pokemongofriends
There are probably hundreds of Pokemon Go subreddits at this point, with r/pokemongo being the main one. The Pokemon Go Friends subreddit has the most utility, in my opinion, as it is specifically designed for exchanging friend codes; building up friendships for that sweet, sweet XP; and organizing remote raids (even though they have been totally nerfed post-Covid lockdown).
Why I like it: This subreddit remains active, unlike some of the other hyper niche groups like r/pokemongo(your city or town name)—which seemed to burn bright and die out at the peak of the game’s popularity. There are plenty of in-game quests that require you to obtain new friends, and this community is an easy way to accomplish that.
3. r/thesimsbuilding
There are so many The Sims subs that it will make your head spin. You can probably guess the major ones: r/thesims, r/sims4, r/thesimscc, r/thesims4mods, and so on. (All of which I recommend, too. The Reddit Sims community is awesome.) But if you want inspiration for the best house and buildings designs, the. r/thesimsbuilding is the place for you.
Why I like it: In games where I have to build/decorate/design (Animal Crossing, The Sims), I am just not that creative without some inspiration juice. So I use subs like r/thesimsbuilding to get ideas. If you fancy yourself a building expert, you can also post your designs for others to look at! They can also critique your builds and answer questions about building as you arrive for the perfect Sims home inside and out.
I could actually do a whole article of my favorite Sims subreddits but for now I’ll move on!!
4. r/animalcrossingtrading and r/animalcrossingtrades
Animal Crossing allows and encourages users to trade items, recipes, and even villagers online. I find the AC community to be super helpful and supportive if you are looking for wishlist items and dreamies, but you have to know where to look/ask! I try to keep a couple tradings subs on my watchlist so that I can cast a wider net if I’m desperate for a particular trade! (Ex: Once I accidentally axed all my pear trees. Sigh.)
Why I like it: Trading in Animal Crossing games is essential. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you couldn’t even get every fruit tree variety without swapping with a friend. I gave two options here because if you are looking for something specific it can be best to spread your message far and wise. Trading is larger than the Trades community, but I often find smaller subreddits are more welcoming and easier to post on.
Bonus: If you are into the “stalk market,” r/animalcrossingturnips is essential. Easiest way to quickly earn Bells by far.
5. r/Palia and r/skychildrenoflight
Palia and Sky: Children of Light are both FREE, cozy online multiplayer games—making them super accessible for anyone to get into. Palia is a co-op farming sim heavy on exploration and crafting. Sky: Children of Light is a multi-award winning puzzle and storytelling game with a haunting, eloquent atmosphere. And, I cannot stress this enough: both of them are FREE to play indefinitely!
Why I like them: Free multiplayer games are some of the coolest ways to make friends online. You already know you are both into gaming, on Reddit, and love cozy aesthetics. I suggest these communities for anyone looking for a pal to play online with without the hassle of buying a new game for the purpose of digital socialization.
BONUS: r/AITASims
There is truly no need to follow this one except for a laugh. Community members will be graced by riveting and very real topics on their TL, such as:
- AITA for missing my child’s birth to look at a gnome?
- AITA for divorcing my husband for a horse?
- AITA for kidnapping the newspaper girl to get my grandson back from Chinese social services?
- AITA for leaving someone in the walls?
Conclusion
Please leave a comment if you have a cozy game subreddit you think I should check out! Subreddits are very…“you don’t know them until you know them,” so I’m sure I’m missing a lot of great ones. Can’t wait to meet you all on Reddit and beyond!
Stay cozy, gamers!