14 Of The Best Cosy Video Games To Tuck In With This Winter

As the long, dark, cold winter nights draw in there’s nothing better than snuggling up with some blankets and a good cosy video game. Explore new and exciting lands, solve puzzles and that help you relax and unwind.

There has been a lot of debate about video games, and whether they’re good or bad. This article sums it up pretty well. However, cosy games are becoming more and more popular, especially amongst adults. These games offer some quiet, relaxing escapism.

Most cosy video games are simulation or RPG games, and they’re known for their slower-paced game play as well as having features like puzzle solving and farming. Cosy video games have been shown to help people relax. Studies have also shown games with puzzles can help to keep your brain healthy, too.

Enjoy some cosy winter escapism and warm indoor gaming with this list of reviewed and recommended timeless cosy games that you’ll enjoy tucking into warm blankets with this winter. You’ll become a professional cosy gamer in no time.

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

(2020) Nintendo Switch

Animal Crossing is one of the most popular cosy video games for a good reason. It’s an absolutely ageless, timeless classic that can be enjoyed by all ages. New Horizons was released in 2020, with a new big update being announced for early 2026 that includes all new gaming features.

In this game, you become the new resident of a tropical island. You work with the resident tanuki, Tom Nook, and his business assistant, a loveable dog named Isabelle, to redecorate and invite new villagers to come and live on your island.

The more you play, the more you discover too. Fishing, gardening, farming and crafting are all key features of this game. Animal Crossing also works with a real time component, and the in game seasons and events match with the time of year. During winter and autumn, the snow covered islands and quests to build snowmen can really give you some cosy winter play sessions.

Animal Crossing is available on Nintendo Switch, and the early 2026 update will give it better functionality with the Nintendo Switch 2.

2. Little Kitty, Big City

(2024) Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Playstation 4, Playstation 5 and Windows

Little Kitty, Big City has some of the cutest graphics and most believable cat sounds. This is a great winter downtime game for any cat lovers out there. The game was praised for being reminiscent of Ultimate Goose Game with its artistic style, although it has a less stressful, slower pace.

You play as a little black kitty who’s lost in a Japanese city. Climb, jump and solve some of the interactive puzzles as you try and find your way back to your home. This game is a wonderful cross between a cosy video game and an action adventure game.

The little black cat that you play as is incredibly cute. You can unlock different hats and emotes for your character. There are some moments and interactions that are absolutely adorable, and others that show some real kitty-chaos.

This game is one you’ll want to play whilst snuggling under blankets for that evening escapism. Cat owners, be prepared for your real life kitty to enjoy this cosy video game as much as you do.

Little Kitty, Big City was released in 2024 and is available on most gaming platforms, including Xbox One and Series consoles, Playstation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC gaming.

3. Herdling

(2025) Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series/Cloud Gaming, Windows, Playstation 5

Herdling released in 2025. Set in a fantasy world, the aim of the game is pretty simple. You are a shepherd, who helps and herds the mythical calicorns. Your goal is to herd your creatures into the mountains. With absolutely beautiful scenery, Herdling will transport you away to other worlds in the perfect winter escapist game.

As you play, you gain more of these strange yet cute calicorn creatures and herd them together. There’s unlimited petting, and the ability to name your individual herdlings too. More challenges and puzzles appear during the game in the form of navigating your herd and encouraging other creatures to join.

There is a small warning with this game, as it is possible for your herdlings to get hurt. It’s possible to turn immortality on in the settings meaning no harm will come to your herd.

Herdling was released in 2025, and is available on most new-gen gaming platforms including Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series and Playstation 5. You can also play Herdling if you have Xbox Game Pass with cloud gaming on an older Xbox One console.

4. Disney Dreamlight Valley

(2023) Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles, Playstation 4 and 5, Windows, MacOS, tvOS

Dreamlight Valley is absolutely perfect for Disney fans who are looking for some winter downtime gaming. Set in the magical Dreamlight Valley, you can unlock and befriend some of your favourite Disney characters whilst completing exciting quests and missions.

This game is one that has several different downloadable content options, and currently there are three different DLC packs available. A Rift In Time unlocks Eternity Isle, and characters like Jafar, Rapunzel and Gaston. Storybook Vale unlocks the Vale, and characters like Hades, Merida and Flynn Rider. The newest update, Wishblossom Ranch, unlocks Snow White, Tinkerbell and Cruella de Ville whilst adding a new interesting update, horses.

Dreamlight Valley is one that can be enjoyed by all ages. Tthe different character quest lines see it follow a similar play style to Animal Crossing but with a slightly faster pace and more quests.

As part of this game, you will find yourself fishing, mining, gardening, crafting and most importantly, decorating. It’s a perfect blend of a cosy video game and winter gaming, as there are snowy, winter wonderlands you unlock as the game progresses.

Dreamlight Valley is available on all major platforms, including tvOS and the Xbox Game Pass services. The DLC content must be purchased separately.

5. Unpacking

(2021) Nintendo Switch, Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux, Xbox One and Series consoles, Playstation 4 and Playstation 5

This cosy game uses the idea of unpacking someone’s life and belongings as part of a puzzle. A you unpack each box, you also unpack part of the person’s life. It’s a game that proves itself to be incredibly emotional as you realise each step that the person goes through.

That’s probably one of the highlights of this game and what makes it one of the best games to relax with in winter. There’s something nostalgic and easy to identify with about Unpacking. It follows the life of an unnamed protagonist, and as a player you unpack the unlabelled boxes that show different stages of her life.

It brings back the same feelings and memories that come with moving out for the first time, and the growth between childhood to adulthood. It gives you emotional grounding, and a quiet comfort that comes with the feeling of nostalgia.

Unpacking is a puzzle game that combines some elements of decorating with making sure you put everything away in the correct place. The overall game design creates something so relaxing and personable it’s hard not to enjoy.

Unpacking is available on all major platforms, including Linux and iOS.

6. Town to City

(2025) Windows

If you’re a fan of games like SimCity, Town to City is a perfect warm ambience game for some cosy winter escapism. This game is a new release for 2025, and is perfect for those who enjoy the ability to build, design and decorate.

In Town to City, you get to design your own 19th century town. The game is designed around the happiness of your citizens and ensuring you meet their needs and requirements to keep them happy. You also need to upgrade the town and make sure that it’s well decorated.

This game has a cute, pixel art style and creates hours of fun for anyone who’s a fan of city planning games. It’s perfect to curl up under blankets with, and enjoy a few hours of winter gaming fun. It’s the ultimate new game to explore for any cosy gamer.

Town to City is currently available for Windows, through the Steam platform. Releases to other consoles hopefully will be planned soon.

7. Cult of the Lamb

(2022) Nintendo Switch, macOS, Windows, Playstation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series

Cult of the Lamb differs a little from some of the others on the list, but this quirky roguelike game combines designing your own cult with some dungeon crawling missions too. It’s a perfect mix of an adventure game, and a cosy video game with an alternative twist.

You play as the lamb, a reluctant cult leader appointed through circumstances. During the game, you unlock different buildings for your cult. The game involves farming, crafting and mining to keep your cult happy. As you grow your cult, you unlock different buildings and missions. You can also unlock fishing, and the in-game mini-game known as knucklebones.

The dungeon-crawler like elements of this game give it another, more exciting element. As you clear levels, you bring back resources for your cult. It also can contribute to unlocking characters and side quests too. The more you play, the more quirky characters you’ll uncover. There is a really interesting, in depth plot and the post-game makes it an endlessly fun little bit of winter gaming escapism.

Cult of the Lamb continues to receive updates through DLC. Currently, it has the Sinful, Cultist, Heretic and Pilgrim DLC packs. Another DLC, Woolhaven, is scheduled for release in early 2026. These DLC packs expand on the story and the world of the Lamb and the Cult.

This game is also perfect for fireplace gaming nights and cuddle-up winter gaming, as it also has a two player option. All you need is a second controller.

Cult of the Lamb is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series consoles, Playstation 4 and 5, macOS and Windows platforms.

8. Coral Island

(2023) Windows, Playstation 5, Xbox Series and Cloud gaming

Coral Island gives one of the best cosy atmospheric worlds that makes it an incredible choice for winter. Set on a warm tropical island, this game gives you that warm ambient gaming experience. Coral Island has a plot related to environmentalism and sustainability, and the main features largely focus around farming.

For fans of Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and Disney Dreamlight Valley, Coral Island has some expansive farming mechanics. Fishing, crafting and animal husbandry are all important parts of this cosy video game, along with exploring the island, diving and participating in ocean cleanups.

Another feature of the game is how it uses seasons. These seasons mean that different crops and other features are available depending on the season. The game has many different heartwarming moments, as well as an interesting and dynamic storyline in a setting that will make you feel warm despite the cold outside.

Coral Island is available on most next-gen consoles, and is available through the Xbox cloud gaming network too.

9. Spiritfarer

(2020) Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series, Playstation 4, Windows, iOS, Linux, macOS, Android, Stadia

Spiritfarer is possibly one of the most sad and yet comforting games. This game has been praised for its emotional depth and slow-paced gameplay. You take over the role of Charon, the figure who ferried the dead to the underworld in Greek mythology.

You play as the character Stella, who collects spirits and helps them achieve their last wishes whilst expanding and upgrading your boat. You then guide them through the Everdoor, into the afterlife. The plot of the game is a wonderful, slow, intimate and sad emotional journey that also explores themes such as grief and loss.

Whilst some may say that this game isn’t cosy, it has a relaxing and heartwarming feeling especially for those who have experienced loss. From personal experience, it provides a level of comfort and understanding that helped me with overcoming my own grief. This is more than just a cosy video game, or a gaming escapism experience, but a brilliant way to explain and to understand grief.

You can access Spiritfarer on most platforms, including Stadia, Linux and Android gaming.

10. The Two Point series

(2018, 2021, 2025) Check each game for console availability

Two Point Gaming announced it was recreating 1997’s cult favourite PC game Theme Hospital, and 2018’s Two Point Hospital was the result. Since then, Two Point Campus and Two Point Museum have been added to the series.

The Two Point series follows a similar formula. You create, design and build your own hospital, university and museum. As you progress in the game, you unlock different features. Like Town to City, the aim of this game is to keep everyone happy who visits your hospital, university or museum.

These games are great if you enjoy the decorating and building side, with a little bit of economics and business management built in too. One of the key features of the Two Point games are the quirky characters and throwbacks to the original games that inspired them.

If you played the original Theme Hospital, or games like Rollercoaster Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon, you’ll definitely appreciate these games and their subsequent DLC packages. These games give some real escapism as you venture into another world entirely.  Once you’ve mastered decorating your tycoon empire, you’ll really feel like the ultimate cosy gamer.

The Two Point series are available on nearly all consoles and gaming platforms, however make sure you check each individual game for their exact requirements.

11. Tavern Keeper

(2025) Early Access – Windows via Steam

Tavern Keeper is a much anticipated title for 2025, and early access was released through steam on November 3rd, 2025. This game has been 10 years in the making, and the wait has very much been worth it. It’s a new and perfect cosy winter game favourite, giving you that warm, cosy atmosphere to enjoy.

This game sees you as the owner of a tavern, with your patrons being different mythical creatures. Tavern Keeper combines the fantasy world with similar ideas and goals to the Two Point games. Cook, clean, decorate and complete quests to improve your tavern.

It’s ideal fireside gaming, with the warm fires and fantasy soundtrack creating a cosy atmosphere. You can laugh at the antics and chaos that emerges as you try to manage your tavern. The game is currently in early access, so there may be further changes and features added to game play before final release.

Tavern Keeper is currently available for Windows through Steam.

12. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

(2024) macOS, Windows, Xbox Series and Cloud Gaming, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch

There is nothing cosier than the wonderful world of the Moomins. This game sees you play as Snufkin, on a mission to restore Moominvalley and find Moomintroll. Based on the books by Tove Jansen, the animation style stays true to the Moomin books.

For anyone who grew up with the Moomin, this is the perfect winter cosy game to get under a blanket and enjoy. The art work will bring back some of the nostalgia, as well as the interactions with the characters that shaped so many childhoods.

As you play as Snufkin and restore Moominvalley, enjoy this game that feels like a storybook brought to life. The storyline is about restoring nature, and helping others as you restore the valley which adds to the heartwarming feeling that this game brings. There’s no better way to jump into winter gaming than by helping those loveable Moomins, too.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvaley is available on Nintendo Switch, macOS, Windows, Xbox Series and Playstation 5. A second game is planned for release in 2026.

13. Winter Burrow

(2025) Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series

This game is possibly one of the best new winter cosy video games. Another recent release, Winter Burrow is a heartwarming and emotion story about a mouse who returns home alone to restore their childhood home.

This wonderful indie game has beautiful illustrative drawings, and will capture your heart. It’s a game that will find you hooked into cosy winter escapism and enjoying the absolutely stunning in-game winter atmosphere. This is gaming escapism and winter gaming wrapped up in a beautiful, comforting and heartwarming package.

Craft, build, explore and decorate your burrow. As you play, you’ll experience what its like to be a tiny creature in a much bigger world. There is some combat in this game, however as you upgrade and craft in your burrow it has a homeliness and warmth that’s just perfect for enjoying under blankets.

Winter Burrow is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series consoles and on Windows.

14. Stardew Valley

(2016) Nintendo Switch, Windows, Xbox One and Series, Playstation 4

Stardew Valley is probably one of the most popular and iconic cosy video games, so of course it had to make this list. It’s one of the best for cold winter nights. With a cute pixel style of graphics, Stardew Valley is more than just farming.

With interesting characters and plotlines, this game sees you inherit a farm and rebuild it. Adopt and name your animals, meet the interesting residents of the local town and forge relationships that you’ll end up remembering for years to come.

This cosy game is a great way to destress, and take yourself off to a place of winter escapism whilst you develop your farm. No list would be complete without this classic.

Stardew Valley is available on most platforms.

Do you have any suggestions? Please leave them in the comments!

If you want other indoor ideas for this winter, check out these board games you can play with friends and family or this guide with 5 solo and 5 single player games to enjoy as well. You can also look into learning a new hobby or craft too. This article gives different ideas for upcycling clothes.