The cozy genre in video games has been blowing up, with dozens of memorable and excellent cozy games releasing across all platforms, including the likes ofStardew Valley,Cozy Grove, andAnimal Crossing. Naturally, those who are more cozy-inclined and prefer to snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate and a relaxing game will gravitate towards this genre. So, it’s important to document the best games in the genre for all platforms, so that absolutely no one misses out.
While there are plenty ofamazing cozy games on Switch, those who don’t have one or can’t pack their Switch with them everywhere they go, they’ll need a handful of reliable cozy games on their phone. Luckily,from farming sims to cute puzzle games, there are plenty of great cozy games on mobile devices. While some are locked to iOS for now, the majority of them can be found on both Android and Apple devices.
10Mini Metro (Dinosaur Polo Club)
Available On IOS & Android
Mini Metrois all about managing various subway lines across real-life citiessuch as Berlin, Hong Kong, Barcelona, and so many more. Players will start off with just a few stations that they’ll need to draw lines between to keep the trains running efficiently. However, more will open up, ensuring players will need to rethink their strategy and redraw their lines to keep everything as smooth as possible.
What Cozy Games Are (& What Cozy Gaming Really Means)
As the genre of cozy games grows, so does the confusion over what exactly makes a game cozy, or even if it’s related to the game or the setup.
While it may not sound particularly cozy,Mini Metrois actually surprisingly relaxing, with the easy-to-understand puzzle gameplay never getting too stressful or overwhelming. The simplistic colorful visuals coupled with the limited UI are also very inviting, making it an easy game to pick up and play whenever. Not only isMini Metroone of the best cozy games on mobile, but it is also just one of thebest mobile games of all time, offering plenty of gameplay for an incredibly low price that simply never gets old.
9Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (Nintendo)
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camppromises to bring theAnimal Crossingexperience to players' mobile phones, and it largely succeeds at that.Players have their own campsite, which they can unlock and craft new furniture forand welcome familiar faces to come and visit them. They can also craft various pieces of clothing, fish, catch bugs, hang out with friends, and so much more.
For the most part,Animal Crossing: Pocket Campreplicates the console experience on mobile, albeit to a slightly pared-back degree. Of course, Nintendo decided to pull the original version ofAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp, buthas created an even better versionthat fans can transfer their save data to. It removes a lot of the frustrating elements from the original version.
8Cats Mansion: Cat Games (Easetouch)
Cats Mansion: Cat Gamesis a cutesy merge game that features a handful of simple yet enjoyable customization and farming elements. Players can gather resources through their little farm, dress up the various cats - which come in a variety of breeds - and unlock more recipes and facilities to further improve their little cat village.There’s enough going on inCat Mansion: Cat Gamesto entertain the avid cat lover, and it’s more than cozy enough to feel soothingat all times.
There are quite a lot of microtransactions inCats Mansion: Cat Games, from unlocking new cosmetics to paying for more stamina to continue playing the game. As with most mobile titles, there are ways to circumnavigate these, including by watching ads, but it’s worth keeping in mind.
By far, the coziest aspect ofCats Mansionis the delightful visuals, which have a muted pastel color palette and adorable chibi-esque designs for each of the cats and the player character. It’s an adorable atmosphere to immersive oneself within, and the relaxing music helps to make things feel even more wholesome.Cats Mansionis definitely a more traditional mobile game, butit has plenty of cozy elements to satisfy even the most avid of cozy enthusiasts.
7Two Dots (PlayDots)
Two Dots, likeMini Metro, is a more traditional puzzle game that many may not immediately recognize as being a cozy experience. However,it is incredibly laidback, from its minimalist art style to its fun gameplay. It is very easy to settle down withTwo Dots, engaging with its endlessly engrossing loop of dot-based puzzles and hidden object minigames.
Two Dotsis easily one of thebest puzzle games on mobile,offering simple yet engrossing puzzles to solve that ramp up in difficulty at a great pace, with the hidden object minigame proving a fun distraction whenever the dot-based puzzles get too hard. For those who want their cozy games to be a little more involved, thenTwo Dotsis the perfect choice. It requires just the right amount of brainpower, while still remaining a relaxing experience.
6Townscaper (Raw Fury)
Townscaperis a game about building little villages, and that’s about it. There’s not too much to it outside its visuals, but that’s what makes it so special, asit is a completely creative-driven experience with no gamified elements. Players build their villages however they want, without needing to pay for extra gems or any of that traditional mobile nonsense. It’s a completely relaxed, simple, gorgeous experience that’s easy to get lost in.
Players build their villages however they want, without needing to pay for extra gems or any of that traditional mobile nonsense.
Of course,Townscaper’smain selling point is its gorgeous art style and extremely low price point, making it an accessible and affordable title. Watching as the villages transform is always a joy, and the soothing atmosphere makes it a pleasing experience to get engrossed in. WhileTownscaperis a simple game, fans will quickly find they’re spending dozens of hours building the perfect village.
5Japanese Rural Life Adventure (GAME START LLC)
Available On IOS
Japanese Rural Life Adventureis one of thebest Apple Arcade games available now, offering a unique spin on the farm sim genre coupled with gorgeous pixel art visuals and a stunning setting.It’s a very slow-paced version ofStardew Valley, with players fishing, running a small farm, and exploring a gorgeous Japanese villagein the countryside. There are seasonal events to enjoy, such as a summer festival and visiting the shrine in the New Year, all of which have a Japanese spin on them.
For those who’ve longed to visit the Japanese countryside, this is the perfect game, as it does a wonderful job of completely immersing the player in its delightful world. Its gorgeous visuals also do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to the cozy vibes of the game, as its pleasing vivid color palette - which changes with the seasons - feels extremely welcoming.Japanese Rural Life Adventureis also quite a streamlined game, not necessarily lacking in content, but also offering a less overwhelming experience than its competitors.
4Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit (Netflix)
Cozy Grove: Camp Spiritis as close to a fully-fledgedAnimal Crossinggame on mobile as fans are likely to get - outside ofPocket Camp, naturally. The player arrives at an island inhabited by spirits, and they must help them while also building up their own little camp.Players can fish, craft new items, hang out with their favorite spirits and so much more, just like inAnimal Crossing.
Cozy Grove: Camp Spiritalso respects the player’s time, with play sessions only really lasting between 10 and 20 minutes at a time.
Cozy Grove: Camp Spiritperfectly balances the best parts ofthe two best cozy gamesto create what often feels like the ultimate cozy experience. It is a game that doesn’t demand too much from the player but gives them enough to do to feel entertained at all times.
3A Little To The Left (Secret Mode)
A Little to the Leftis another cozy puzzle game on mobile devices that’s perfect for those looking for a fairly stress-free experienceto unwind with. InA Little to the Left, players must solve puzzles typically around organizing spaces or objects, with there being over 100 in the full game. There’s even the Daily Tidy Delivery mode, which has a unique puzzle to solve each and every day.
What makesA Little to the Leftso cozy - outside the adorable cat, of course - is its Let It Be feature, which allows players to skip puzzlesif they find them too difficult.A Little to the Leftdoesn’t want to waste its players' time, so it makes every puzzle as approachable as possible. For those looking for a lightweight puzzle game with a cozy vibe,A Little to the Leftis the perfect choice.
2Unpacking (Humble Games)
Unsurprisingly,Unpackingis a game all about unpacking, although without all the horrible anxiety and stress that comes with it. It’s also a beautifully told narrative experience that doesn’t use dialogue to tell its story, but rather its environments.Players go through the various stages of a person’s life inUnpacking, watching as their tastes change, their wardrobe switches style, their toys are thrown away, and so much more. It’s a game about growing up as much as it is about finding the right space for everything.
Unpackingis a game about growing up as much as it is about finding the right space for everything.
Unpackingreviewed extremely wellwhen it launched, largely thanks to its compelling yet simple gameplay and heartwarming storyabout life. Luckily, all of its best qualities have transitioned to the mobile version, only now it’s even more portable than before. For those who want a heartfelt experience with some compelling gameplay and a cozy atmosphere,Unpackingis the perfect choice.
1Stardew Valley (ConcernedApe)
Of course, no list of cozy games would be complete without the crème de la crème of the genre,Stardew Valley. It has been available on mobile devices for some time, with it receiving all the same updates as the console and PC versions, albeit sometimes a little late. Luckily,it’s just as compelling an experience on mobile as it is on any other platform.
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Stardew Valleyis packed with content, featuring a range of life and farm sim elements as well as combat and a ton of collectibles. Luckily, there are plenty of things players can do toavoid feeling overwhelmed inStardew Valley, thus completely removing any non-cozy aspect from the game and making it the ideal experience to play while snuggled up.Stardew Valleyis the definitive cozy game on mobile and a must-play for anyone looking for a cozy experience.
