10+ Best Cozy Life Sims to Escape Into
One of the things that makes a cozy life simulation game truly special is its engaging characters, the ones you can befriend, form meaningful relationships with, and even romance. Equally important is the freedom to personalize your experience, from customizing your character and home to shaping the world around you. These features let you immerse yourself fully, making the game feel uniquely your own, and that’s one of the things I love most about cozy gaming.
Ready to unwind and dive into a new cozy life simulation? Here are some of the best cozy life sims to get lost in today!
*Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the pod! 🫶
The Sims 4
Developer Image: Maxis
Available on: PC, Xbox, Playstation
Cost: The Sims 4 base game is available for free here! Expansion packs at additional costs
Of course, the most obvious option for a life sim is The Sims 4, or any version of The Sims, the original life simulation. Dominating the life sim market since 2000, there’s a reason this game is so popular. The level of customisation is uncomparable to any other game I can think of. You can build anything, be anything, do anything! And with a wealth of expansion packs, you can theme your world around anything you desire. An absolute must have for any cozy gamer looking for a life sim.
Animal Crossing - New Horizons
Developer Image: Nintendo
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Cost: €49.99
The 2020 Animal Crossing New Horizons was a smash hit, delighting the globe with an opportunity to create your own personalised island, from what items you buy to decorate, to terraforming the land to your ideal layout, to selecting the residents you want to live on your island. The game is full of charm and character, and you’ll easily spend dozens of hours getting lost in creating your island, getting to know your villagers, and paying off your debts to pesky Tom Nook.
Make it stand out
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox, Xbox Game Pass
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Stardew Valley is now considered the peak of cozy farming simulations. And for a good reason, Stardew Valley was created by 1 developer in a solo project, and with many updates over the years it has grown to be an outstanding game in this genre. Grow and sell crops, fight monsters in the mines, fish, craft items, cook recipes, raise animals and gather their produce, and meet a cast of amazing characters to befriend, romance, and maybe marry! If you haven’t already played it… just do.
Developer Image: Thunder Lotus Games
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Cost: €24.99 or included on Xbox Gamepass
In this beautifully hand drawn management life sim about death, build, manage and improve your ferry to help carry spirits to the afterlife. You can farm, mine, fish and craft all while caring for and building bonds with your spirit passengers, as you get to know their heartwarming and thoughtful stories.
Related: Want to know more about why you should play Spiritfarer?
Check out my full review here!
Cozy Grove
Developer Image: Spry Fox LLC
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Cost: €14.99
Play as a spirit scout on a haunted island as you explore the land, finding spirits to get to know, befriend, and help with their side quests. The game is linked to real time and gives 30-60 minutes of new game time every day, but after that you can still fish, collect and craft to make items to decorate the island to bring colour and life back into the world.
inZoi
Developer Image: inZOI Studios
inZOI is one of the most exciting new life sims for PC, offering a beautifully detailed world where you can create and control lives in a way that feels both immersive and relaxed. With a strong focus on creativity, customisation, and freedom, it gives players the tools to shape their own stories, whether you want to design dreamy homes, build vibrant communities, or simply watch your characters go about their day. It’s a peaceful, highly detailed sandbox perfect for fans of The Sims who want something fresh and modern.
Developer Image: Wētā Workshop
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch
Physical Copies*: Amazon
Tales of the Shire is like stepping right into the peaceful life of a hobbit in Middle-earth. Create your own little hobbit and spend your days gardening, cooking, fishing, and decorating your cozy home. The village of Bywater is full of charming neighbors to meet, quests to help with, and meals to share.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Developer Image: Gameloft
Available on: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS4, PS5
Cost: €39.99 DLC €29.99 or FREE on Xbox Gamepass (extra cost for DLC)
Disney have taken on their own space in the life and farming simulation market with Disney Dreamlight Valley, with an unrivalled selling point - you’re villagers are Disney characters! Unlock the mysteries of the “Forgetting” and help characters come out of their realms to live alongside you as you complete tasks, farm, cook, fish and help restore Dreamlight Valley to it’s former greatness. There’s a good mix of Disney themed items and outfits to unlock themed by your favourite Disney films and characters. What’s more, the game is still in development with more realms and characters to be added, so keep an eye out for your favourite!
Littlewood
Developer Image: Sean Young
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Cost: €14.99
Littlewood takes place after a great battle has taken place, and it is up to you and the townfolk to rebuild the town. Meet townsfolk and encourage them to stay in the town, while hunting for rare items and materials across the world and bringing them home to craft and sell. Unlock new town buildings with each new person you meet, and complete their requests to build your relationships with them.
Echoes of The Plum Grove
Developer Image: Unwound Games
Available on: Steam
Cost: €19.99
Farm, craft, cook, forage and socialise in this farming simulator with a twist. You can build a thriving farm and budding generations to continue your legacy, where you contribute to the community, make friends, or enemies! Explore the island, unravel mysteries, grow your crops and stock for the perilous winter, or, just insult your neighbours and plot revenge in this excitingly devious twist on the farming sim genre.
Ooblets
Developer Image: Glumberland
Available on: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox
Cost: €28.99
In this relaxing town life, farming and creature creation game you explore the strange lands and collect Ooblets seeds that you can grow and train on your farm to collect all their variations and challenge in dance battles! Each ooblet has its own unlockable movesets to help in your battles to manage the villager’s disagreements. There’s also plenty of townsfolk to befriend and complete tasks for, as well as run your own shop, selling items you’ve grown and crafted.
Castaway Paradise
Developer Image: Stolen Couch Games
Available on: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Cost: €12.99
Castaway Paradise is a sandbox simulation where you can farm, fish, catch bugs and chat to the villagers to make your own ideal tropical island, designed exactly how you like it. Travel through 4 different seasons and experience special events and holidays like Christmas and Halloween, while helping your villagers with quests. With 7 different editional theme packs you can customise and decorate your island with themed items and create your own paradise.
Wylde Flowers
Developer Image: Studio Drydock Pty Ltd
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch
Cost: €20.99
Craft your cottagecore life as you farm by day and cast spells by night while bonding with your coven with a fully voiced cast of characters. Care for animals, crops and brew potions to help bring the town together again.
Hokko Life
Developer Image: Wonderscope
Available on: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Cost: €19.99
Take over the old workshop and use crafted materials to create, design and decorate everything in your new town. With a great amount of creative freedom, you can combine any materials you find to create unique furniture designs and use flowers and mixed paints to make designs your villagers will love. Chop, dig and mine your resources and you can even take part in seasonal activities and weekly creator challenges.
Looking for More Life Sims?
Affiliate Reminder: I may earn a small commission if you purchase through any of the links in this post. Thank you for your support! 🫶
