It’s Simfest 2024 time!
Simfest is an annual celebration of simulation games, taking place from July 22nd to 29th on the Steam platform. It showcases a wide variety of simulation games, including new releases, upcoming titles, and classic favorites. The festival is organized by Stray Fawn Studio, Fireshine Games, and Future Friends Games.
Simfest is an absolute blast and a must-attend for anyone who loves sim games. Picture this: a whole week dedicated to exploring new and classic sims, with awesome discounts, demos, and community events to keep you hooked. It’s like a paradise for sim enthusiasts, bringing together a community of like-minded gamers to celebrate all things “simulation.”
Types of Simulation Games Featured:
- City & Base Building
- Life & Job
- Strategy & Management
- Nature & Farming
- Space & Vehicle
- Sandbox & Survival
Cozy Games from Simfest 2024: My Faves & Highlights
Ready to dive into some of the best cozy games from Simfest 2024? Here’s a quick rundown of the must-plays that you absolutely need to check out:
1. The Wandering Village
The Wandering Village is a unique city-building simulation game where players build and manage a settlement on the back of a giant wandering creature, navigating a symbiotic relationship with the beast while surviving in a post-apocalyptic world.
The Wandering Village is ideal for gamers who enjoy city-building and simulation games with a unique twist. It’s perfect for those who appreciate strategic resource management, immersive storytelling, and creative problem-solving. Players who are drawn to post-apocalyptic settings and enjoy the challenge of building and maintaining a thriving community in a dynamic, ever-changing environment will find this game particularly engaging.
2. Timberborn
Timberborn is a city-building game where you manage a colony of industrious beavers, creating intricate settlements and surviving various environmental challenges using advanced timber-based technology.
Timberborn is best suited for gamers who love city-building and management simulation games with a unique twist. It appeals to players who enjoy the creativity and strategy involved in constructing and maintaining intricate settlements. Those who appreciate a blend of resource management, environmental challenges, and the novelty of guiding a colony of industrious beavers will find this game particularly engaging.
3. Brewmaster
Brewmaster: Beer Brewing Simulator lets players craft their own beers with realistic brewing mechanics and detailed customization, simulating the entire brewing process from recipe creation to bottle conditioning.
Brewmaster: Beer Brewing Simulator is for gamers who enjoy detailed crafting and simulation experiences, particularly those with an interest in brewing or homebrewing. It’s well-suited for players who appreciate realism in their simulations and are keen on experimenting with recipes and brewing techniques. Fans of games that focus on creativity and precision, as well as those who enjoy managing and perfecting intricate processes, would likely find it engaging and satisfying.
4. Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator allows players to create and experiment with a wide range of potions in a medieval fantasy setting, blending ingredients and discovering recipes in a detailed alchemy simulation.
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator is best suited for gamers who enjoy creative and intricate crafting mechanics, particularly those interested in alchemy and potion-making. It appeals to players who like experimenting with various ingredients and discovering new recipes while managing their own alchemical shop. Fans of fantasy settings and those who appreciate a blend of strategy and creativity in their gameplay would find it especially engaging.
5. Summerhouse
SUMMERHOUSE is a small-scale, short cozy game with building mechanics that lets players craft charming, lived-in homes in various settings without any rules or goals.
SUMMERHOUSE would be ideal for gamers who enjoy sandbox and creative building games, particularly those who appreciate a relaxing, stress-free environment without the pressure of goals or objectives. It’s perfect for players who value atmospheric experiences, creativity, and the joy of designing cozy, aesthetic spaces at their own pace. Fans of building/decorating in The Sims and Animal Crossing will surely find their next fix here.
6. Mars Horizon
Mars Horizon is a space exploration simulation game where players manage a space agency, planning and executing missions to explore and colonize Mars while handling the complexities of space travel and research.
Mars Horizon is perfect for gamers who enjoy strategic planning and management within a space exploration context. It appeals to players who are fascinated by space travel and the challenges of running a space agency, offering a blend of tactical decision-making and long-term strategy. Fans of simulation games and those interested in the intricacies of space missions and research will find it especially engaging and rewarding.
7. Moonstone Island
Moonstone Island is a cozy RPG where players cultivate their land, build relationships, and explore a magical island filled with collectable creatures.
Moonstone Island is ideal for gamers who enjoy collectathons and life simulation games with a touch of Pokemon-meets-Ghibli environmental exploration. It caters to players who like near-limitless exploration, building relationships with diverse characters, and creature collection/battling games. Combat is turn-based deck building, so fans of strategy RPGs will enjoy it, too.
Check out my full Moonstone Island review.
8. Coral Island
Coral Island is a vibrant, cozy farming simulation game where players restore a tropical island, cultivate crops, raise animals, and build relationships with the island’s diverse inhabitants.
Coral Island is best suited for gamers who enjoy immersive farming and life simulation experiences set in a colorful, tropical environment. It appeals to players who like managing their own farm, interacting with a rich cast of characters, and engaging in activities that contribute to restoring and beautifying their virtual world. Fans of relaxing, creative gameplay with a focus on community and nature will find this game particularly enjoyable.
Fans of Stardew Valley will like this one.
9. Tavern Talk
Tavern Talk is a narrative-driven game where players manage a tavern and engage in conversations with a diverse cast of characters, uncovering stories and making choices that impact the unfolding drama.
Tavern Talk is ideal for gamers who enjoy narrative-rich experiences and character-driven storytelling. It caters to those who appreciate engaging in dialogues, making impactful choices, and exploring the dynamics of a bustling tavern setting. Fans of games that focus on interaction and story development, rather than action or strategy, will find it particularly compelling.
10. City Bus Manager
City Bus Manager is a simulation game where players oversee and optimize the operations of a city bus network, managing routes, schedules, and resources to efficiently transport passengers.
City Bus Manager is best suited for gamers who enjoy detailed management and simulation experiences, particularly those with an interest in public transportation systems. It appeals to players who like strategizing and optimizing logistics, managing resources, and making decisions to improve efficiency. Fans of simulation games that focus on real-world systems and operational challenges will find this game particularly engaging.
11. Station to Station
Station to Station is a strategic simulation game where players build and manage a train network, connecting cities and optimizing routes to create a thriving transportation system.
Station to Station is ideal for gamers who enjoy strategic and management simulations with a focus on transportation networks. It caters to players who like planning and optimizing routes, managing resources, and building complex systems. Fans of games that involve strategic decision-making and infrastructure development will find this game particularly engaging and satisfying.
12. Little Kitty, Big City
Little Kitty, Big City is a charming adventure game where players explore a vibrant city as a curious kitten, solving puzzles, meeting quirky characters, and uncovering hidden secrets.
Currently rated Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam, Little Kitty, Big City is perfect for gamers who enjoy whimsical, exploration-based adventures with a focus on charm and character interactions. It appeals to players who like lighthearted puzzles, discovering hidden secrets, and immersing themselves in a colorful, engaging world. Fans of games with a cute aesthetic and a focus on exploration and storytelling will find this game particularly delightful.
13. Wobbledogs
Wobbledogs is a unique simulation game where players breed and raise quirky, wobbly dogs with ever-evolving traits and genetics in a dynamic and interactive environment.
Wobbledogs is best suited for gamers who enjoy creative and quirky simulations with a focus on genetics and pet care. It appeals to players who like experimenting with breeding and raising unique virtual creatures, as well as those who appreciate playful, unconventional gameplay. Fans of games that offer open-ended, imaginative interactions with virtual pets will find this game especially engaging and entertaining.
Conclusion
I try to keep track of online and in-person events that have cozy games featured prominently. Let me know if there is anything you know of that you would like me to cover next! (Including if you do PR/marketing for said events.)
You Might Also Like: Here’s Every Cozy Game from Summer Game Fest 2024
Stay Cozy, gamers.