I love farming sims. Some might say I’m obsessed. It’s my only game genre that doesn’t have a backlog because I play them immediately after purchase. I’m considering buying a Steam Deck just for farming sims on Steam.
But I understand that not everyone feels the same way. Farming can get a bit monotonous. You might want something more experimental, dynamic, or adventurous.
Here are my picks for cozy games that aren’t farming sims on Steam and consoles.
1. Coffee Talk – Visual novel
Coffee Talk is a cozy, narrative-driven indie game that immerses players in the role of a barista running a late-night coffee shop in an alternative, fantasy-inspired Seattle. Set in a world where humans, elves, and orcs coexist, the game beautifully weaves together heartfelt storytelling and the art of brewing coffee.
As players serve up a variety of hot beverages to a diverse cast of characters, they engage in meaningful conversations, listen to their customers’ tales, and explore themes of love, friendship, and identity. With its warm, pixel-art aesthetics, jazz-infused soundtrack, and compelling dialogue choices, Coffee Talk offers a relaxing and emotionally resonant experience that leaves a lasting impression.
2. Sticky Business – Business sim
Sticky Business immerses you in the charming world of running your very own sticker shop. Within this delightful game, you’ll craft stickers, fulfill orders, and build connections with your customers. The game exudes a cozy charm, from its soothing color palette and adorable content to the boundless creative freedom it offers. As you delve into this meditative simulation genre, you’ll discover the addictive joy it brings, especially when designing your stickers.
Think of it as stepping into the shoes of an Etsy store owner, but in the form of an engaging game. Blend a plethora of elements together to curate a unique collection of stickers, tailor-made to resonate with kindred spirits in the marketplace. Each sticker holds its own unique appeal, catering to various customers and allowing you to craft your creations with a personalized touch. You can even infuse a dash of sparkle or holographic magic to make each piece truly exceptional, ensuring that Sticky Business is an enchanting adventure in sticker artistry.
3. The Spirit & the Mouse – Puzzle platformer
The Spirit and a Mouse is a whimsical and imaginative indie video game that blends puzzle-solving with a heartwarming narrative. Players embark on an enchanting journey as they take control of a small, adventurous mouse seeking to reunite with its lost spirit companion in a mystical, otherworldly realm.
With charming hand-drawn visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, the game captivates players with its emotional storytelling and clever puzzles, emphasizing the power of friendship and determination in the face of adversity. “The Spirit and a Mouse” is a captivating and emotionally resonant experience that appeals to gamers of all ages, leaving them with a sense of wonder and connection.
4. Pine Hearts – Narrative-heavy questing
Pine Hearts is a short, story-heavy cozy game about coping with grief and growing up, told through a series of flashback vignettes that are slowly unlocked as you explore the world and complete quests. Championing a steady and satisfying to-do list, the game eagerly rewards players for curiosity, thoroughness, and eagle-eye attention to detail—a refreshing change of pace from the casino-like rush of modern serotonin-hacking games.
Pine Hearts’ cute, colorful art style and dialogue-free storytelling crafts a unique narrative experience that pings skillfully between silly and whimsical and genuinely heartfelt and heartbreaking. Learn new abilities, earn new tools, and unlock new areas across a lively park map featuring areas like a campsite, a castle, a caravan park (and festival), a gold course, a beach, and a cove. And yes, you can pet the dog.
Read my full Pine Hearts review.
5. Potion Permit – Adventure RPG
Potion Permit is an enchanting tabletop board game that transports players into a mystical world where they assume the roles of aspiring potion-makers. In this game, participants embark on an exciting quest to gather rare ingredients, brew potent concoctions, and ultimately obtain the coveted Potion Permit.
Potion Permit combines elements of strategy, resource management, and a dash of luck as players navigate a beautifully illustrated game board, encounter whimsical characters, and strategize their way to victory. With its captivating blend of storytelling and competitive gameplay, Potion Permit offers an immersive and delightful experience for players of all ages, making it a magical addition to any game night.
6. Gris – Narrative-centric platformer
Is it more of a narrative-led exploration or a platformer? Both! Gris defies easy categorization and that’s one of the things I love about it. Gris is a visually stunning indie platformer game developed by Nomada Studio and published by Devolver Digital. Set in a world devoid of color, players guide the protagonist, Gris, on a transformative journey through sorrow and hope.
The game captivates with its hand-drawn, watercolor-inspired art style and emotionally resonant storytelling, allowing players to explore a surreal landscape while solving puzzles and unlocking new abilities tied to the theme of healing. With its minimalist gameplay and breathtaking aesthetics, “Gris” is an evocative experience that uses its visuals and music to convey a powerful narrative about grief, recovery, and the human spirit.
7. Carto – puzzle game
Carto is a charming and innovative puzzle-adventure game that revolves around the power of map manipulation. Players guide the titular character, Carto, on a whimsical journey to reunite with her family. The unique gameplay mechanic allows you to rearrange and connect pieces of a magical map, reshaping the world and altering the narrative as you go.
This game offers a delightful blend of exploration, storytelling, and puzzle-solving set in a beautifully hand-drawn world, making it a must-play for those seeking a captivating and original gaming experience.
8. Child of Light – turn-based RPG
Some people don’t find turn-based RPGs cozy but Child of Light is unique. It’s told on rhyming verse with soft visuals that imitate a children’s storybook. It’s is a captivating role-playing game that combines the enchanting aesthetics of a storybook with engaging gameplay. Set in the dreamy world of Lemuria, players follow the journey of Aurora, a young princess who must rescue her homeland from eternal darkness.
The game’s striking hand-painted visuals, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, immerse players in a fairy tale-like atmosphere. The turn-based combat system adds depth, as players strategically utilize Aurora’s unique abilities and recruit companions they meet along the way. Child of Light’s poetic narrative and artistic presentation make it a unique and emotionally resonant gaming experience.
9. Eastshade – Open-word exploration
Eastshade is a captivating open-world exploration and adventure game that immerses players in a beautifully rendered, painterly world where they assume the role of a traveling artist. Set in a lush and diverse landscape filled with picturesque scenery, fantastical creatures, and intriguing characters, players embark on a personal journey to create art, complete quests, and uncover the rich lore of the world.
With a focus on non-violent gameplay and a deep emphasis on creativity, Eastshade encourages players to capture the beauty of their surroundings through painting, engage in meaningful interactions, and discover the profound stories hidden within this enchanting realm, making it a unique and contemplative gaming experience.
10. A Little to the Left – Casual puzzle
A Little to the Left is a charming, casual puzzle game that presents players with a scene that is just a little out of sorts, and then lets you organize, stack, and rearrange everything to make it just right. It is super mindless, completely relaxing, and totally satisfying.
A Little to the Left offers over 75 puzzles that you can engage with. It also features a mischievous cat ready to cause a little chaos. This game is perfect for people who like games like Unpacking, where you are encouraged to make things neat and tidy in your own virtual room.
11. Pico Park – Co-op puzzle
Pico Park is a cooperative multiplayer puzzle game that thrives on teamwork and communication. In this charming and minimalist world, players must work together to solve a variety of increasingly complex puzzles, often requiring precise coordination and clever problem-solving.
With its endearing pixel art style and accessible gameplay, Pico Park encourages laughter, frustration, and triumph as friends or strangers come together to overcome challenges, making it a delightful social experience that fosters collaboration and camaraderie.
12. Pokemon Cafe Remix – Matching game
The mainline Pokemon games have a small element of farming (planting and watering berry bushes) but their puzzle games have none of that nonsense! Pokémon Café ReMix is a charming mobile game that combines elements of puzzle-solving and restaurant management within the beloved Pokémon universe.
In this game, players are tasked with running their own Pokémon-themed café, where they can serve delightful dishes and drinks to various Pokémon customers. The gameplay revolves around completing match-3 puzzles to gather ingredients and prepare orders, all while interacting with cute and iconic Pokémon characters. As you progress, you can expand and decorate your café, recruit new Pokémon staff, and discover recipes.
Conclusions
Listen, I’m never going to understand anyone not wanting a farming sim. (Send help, I’m obsessed.) But I’m so happy to put together a list of cozy games that aren’t farming sims for you to pick from. I hope you found a new favorite. And keep an eye on this list! I feel like it will grow a lot as new games come out.
Stay cozy, gamers!