Cozy Switch Games Perfect for Fall and Winter 🍁
As the daylight hours get less and less and wintertime is around the corner for us Europeans, you will be able to find me inside on most late afternoons and evenings. Although I am planning on exploring some new hobbies such as crocheting and game developing, I will be naturally gravitating back towards two of my all time favourite hobbies: (1) reading, and (2) cozy switch games. This post is about the latter. And more specifically, about the cozy switch games that I love playing and am looking forward to buying on release.
You can also check out my recent post on the perfect movies and series to watch this fall here!
The Classic Cozy Switch Games
Ok, so these are the ultimate cozy switch games classics that if you have dabbled in cozy switch games before; you will know of/have already tried.
Stardew Valley
First, Stardew Valley (duh)! If you’re looking for a relaxing farming simulator, Stardew Valley is a must-play. Settle into your new farm (inherited from grandpa), grow crops, raise animals, and befriend the townsfolk (there is even some room for romance). Also, the game’s cute pixel art and feel-good soundtrack make it a perfect match for the cozy vibes. Moreover, there is always something to do or something new to discover. Stardew Valley can also be found on the PC (via Steam), where the latest update was released earlier this year. However, the latest update is now coming to the consoles as well on November 4th! There is a possibility of playing SDV in multiplayer mode (no cross-platform play, however).
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Second, in my opinion, is Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Indeed, no cozy game list would be complete without Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In this game you move to a deserted island after purchasing a getaway package. You fulfil tasks and develop and customise the island as you wish. This is a Nintendo exclusive, and there will be no more new updates coming to the game. There are still plenty of seasonal events such as Halloween, Christmas and New Year Eve related events. Here is hoping for a new Animal Crossing game along with the Switch 2 release.
Cozy Grove
Finally, the name might give a big enough hint already; Cozy Grove. Imagine a haunted, ever-changing island inhabited by ghost bears. As a Spirit Scout, you’ll help these bears by completing tasks and uncovering their stories. Furthermore, the game’s unique mechanic of time progression, much like Animal Crossing to some extent —where you can only complete a few tasks each day—makes it perfect for casual, cozy gaming sessions.
The ‘somewhat unexpected or unknown’ Cozy Switch Games
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Here is one that might strike you as odd or surprising, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You play as an amnesiac Link who sets out on an adventure to save Princess Zelda and to save the world from destruction. Although there is also a component of fighting and surviving there are a lot of cozy aspects to the game. You can cook, there are puzzles, plenty of characters to chat with and the graphics (aka scenery) are absolutely gorgeous. Just strolling around and seeing all the beautiful sights while huddling inside together with the villagers when it starts to rain gives me a complete feeling of coziness.
Spiritfarer
Not unexpected, but perhaps a bit unknown to some, Spiritfarer might be my all time favourite fall game. In this game, you play as Stella, a ferrymaster for the deceased, helping spirits pass on to the afterlife. This beautiful hand-drawn game focuses on themes of love and loss, but it does so in an incredibly heartfelt and uplifting way (some tears were shed on my part). The gameplay is relaxed, featuring farming, crafting, and exploring, making it an emotional yet cozy experience, especially as the holidays approach. And maybe even most importantly, you have a cat companion! This game can also be played with another friend, where one player controls Stella and the other player controls the cat companion, Daffodil.
New Cozy Switch Game Releases
To conclude, I have summed up a few games below that will be released in Q4 of 2024 and may be of interest to you fellow cozy gamers:
- Super Mario Party Jamboree | October 17th, 2024
- Mario & Luigi: Brothership | November 7th, 2024
- MySims – Official Cozy Bundle | November 19th, 2024
- Stray | November 19th, 2024
Of course, there are so many more! What are your favourite cozy games? And are there any releases you are looking forward to?
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