Why is Winter dominated by cozy games? Trends, charts and new releases are covered in ‘cozy games’ over the winter season. Compared to the rest of the year Cozy peaks at the same time every year, so what is it that makes this genre of games come alive in winter?
First off – What is Cozy gaming?
Cozy games are usually categorised by their low stakes gameplay. You’re helping NPCs, taking care of a community, animals or working towards something low stakes but achievable in this digital world. Farming simulations, The Sims, management games, and even some RPGs all fall into the ‘Cozy’ category of games. Typical associations are Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing and the hundreds of indie games that have found their place within the Cozy genre.
Cozy games are seen as a safe place for many players and an alternative to the intense ‘hard-core, often male-centric gaming sphere’. Cozy games are stereotyped as ‘girl games’ by the mainstream gaming community. This toxic mentality has created a gender binary within games, despite the mechanics that fall into the male-centric game mechanics. Traditionally masculine gameplay entails representations of violence, conquest, and mastery as defined by Hannah Rydberg and Mirjam Bäck in The Cozy Paradox: A feminist examination of the concealed masculinity in Stardew Valley.
When did Cozy become a genre – and what does it mean?
To look at why cozy games dominate trends we need to have a look at Cozy as a genre. Coziness in games is objective and can be experienced in a variety of ways by each individual player. But Cozy Games focuses on the player and game relationship. Games that focus on building a relationship with the player tend to fall into the cozy category. These are games where there is a low stakes narrative and you’re integrated into a community, world or environment that you are welcomed and feel a part of. The text aims to connect with the player rather than the player trying to dominate the game. Cozy is objective, but so is genre. What you consider horror might not be scary to someone else; what they consider cozy might not be cozy to you. But the running themes are what make a genre and help us to categorize our play style and preferred games.
What are Low Stakes?
In winter we’re all just trying to make it through. Darker days affect mental health, bad weather isolates us within our homes. Cozy games bring warmth, comfort and community. Whether you’re farming in Stardew Valley, playing with others online in Palia or trying to survive in a more idyllic snowy setting in Winter Burrow. Also, people might find comfort in a long RPG that has turn-based or strategy based mechanics, where people can engage in battles but at their own pace. Something like Fire Emblem or Octopath Traveller where you learn about the characters, explore a world but also aren’t rushed into intense combat is more accessible for gamers looking for an adventure where they choose the pacing.
Animal Crossing and the 2020 Cozy Boom
Where did Cozy gaming begin?
Back in 2020, the unintentional but well timed release by Nintendo of Animal Crossing New Horizons at the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic, had many people across the globe at home, unable to socialise physically and looking for another place to spend time with others.
It was an isolating time, we found comfort in gaming environments. Animal Crossing New Horizons is considered to be a founding contributor to what we consider to be a ‘cosy game’. Another contributor is Stardew Valley (inspired by Harvest Moon / Story of Seasons). The developer of Stardew, ConcernedApe is a solo independent developer who created Stardew based on his love and nostalgia for older farming sims. Stardew Valley caught momentum and became THE cosy farming game and indie game experience for casual gamers. Animal Crossing became an online community that thrived in the global lockdowns garnering so many new players who had never (or not in a long time) picked up a video game. The ‘cozy’ games made by indie developers also gained popularity for their accessible gameplay mechanics and price points.
Video games as a third space
For many people video games function as a third space. A third space is the idea of having somewhere away from work or home that you regularly visit and feel comfortable in. People had local bars, cafes and pubs where they could socialise, relax and simply exist within. Third spaces are increasingly few and far between. People have less disposable income and many smaller businesses are not able to stay open long enough to establish themselves as having regulars. An example of this is Central Perk in Friends, a third space where you’re comfortable existing.
As these spaces become fewer and inaccessible, video games are replacing these spaces. Whether that’s online games or single player experiences where you connect to the story and NPCs. The social systems and mechanics replicate that feeling of a third space, often with more freedom to explore and build a life than the real world provides.
What does any of this have to do with the spike in cozy games in winter?
Well much like the pandemic, winter brings everyone indoors. It’s an expensive time of year with the holidays, higher energy bills and going out to see people isn’t always the option it is in other seasons. Video game fans (casual or otherwise) can find solace in digital worlds. Winter brings in an audience that doesn’t exist the rest of the year. Casual players or players looking for a warm and calming experience are having their entertainment needs met with these cozy, third space environments.
Many cozy games are made by small teams or independent developers – often cozy games made by AAA studios miss the mark for many people, lacking the love and passion that can be found in games made by small teams. £15 is a far more appealing price point for someone who dives into a game each winter, than £60+ for something bigger. That’s also why there are so many that on the surface may look the same, it offers slightly different experiences and connections with the players, whatever you’re looking for in the cozy game genre can be found.
