35+ Best Cozy Xbox Game Pass Games for Relaxed Play in 2026
Xbox Game Pass is quietly becoming one of the best places to play cozy games. With so many titles available without extra purchases, it’s easy to try something new, put it down if it’s not your vibe, and move on, which is perfect for low-pressure gaming.
This list pulls together my favourite cozy games currently available on Xbox Game Pass, chosen for their calming pace, comforting routines, or simply because they feel good to play after a long day. From gentle life sims to story-driven indies and easygoing management games, these are solid picks when you want something relaxing without overthinking it.
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Disney Dreamlight Valley
Developer Image: Gameloft
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PS4, PS5
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!
The Sims 4
Developer Image: Maxis
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.
Related: Looking for more life sim games?
Check out these 10 must play cozy life sims!
Developer Image: ConcernedApe
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Of course, the most obvious choice if you’ve not already played is Stardew Valley, 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.
Related: Not started Stardew Valley yet?
Find out why I think Stardew Valley might be the BEST cozy game
Starsand Island
Developer Image: Seed Sparkle Lab
Starsand Island is a cozy farming and life sim set on a bright, tropical island where everything feels a little more relaxed and open. Alongside growing crops and raising animals, you can build and decorate your own space, explore beaches and forests, and get to know the locals who live on the island. It leans more into creativity and atmosphere than challenge, with a focus on shaping your surroundings and settling into a gentle daily rhythm. It’s the kind of game that feels easy to dip in and out of, especially if you’re looking for something calm, colourful, and quietly immersive.
Developer Image: Doot, Blibloop
A shop management game where you build your own Japanese inspired street of shops and attractions from boba shops to Kareoke bars. Manage customer’s feedback to unlock upgrades, new shops and attract cats!
Related: Want to know more about Minami Lane?
Check out my full in depth review here!
Developer Image: uvula LLC
A wonderfully weird and heartwarming indie gem created by Keita Takahashi, known for the hilarious Katamari Damacy. it follows teen stuck in a T pose through a seaside town full of bizarre mini-games, unexpected moments, and one of the catchiest soundtracks I can’t stop singing. Funny, thoughtful and totally unique, it’s a short but unforgettable adventure you won’t want to miss.
Related: Ready to play To a T?
Have a giggle with this fun and silly game with a lot of heart
Developer Image: StudioBando
Step into a silly, colourful world where a boy, a gang of frogs, and a stolen potato collide. This charming, cosy adventure blends playful humour, quirky characters, and fun little quests across vibrant, cartoonish landscapes. With a lively Latin American-inspired soundtrack and light exploration gameplay, it’s the perfect short indie adventure for a relaxed weekend.
Related: Want to know more about SOPA, Tale of the Stolen Potato?
Check out my full review here!
Developer Image: Ben Esposito
A story based physics puzzle game where you play an ever growing hole in the ground, remote controlled by a raccoon who wants to collect the trash around the town, but in doing swallows up the residents and their homes into a deep hole. Find a way to catapult them out of the hole and back to the surface.
Related: Interested in playing Donut County?
Check out my full review here and why I loved this cute puzzle game
Pigeon Simulator
Developer Image: tinyBuild Riga
Pigeon Simulator is a funny and chaotic simulation game where you play as a pigeon causing mischief around different environments, flying around, knocking things over, and generally being a bit of a nuisance. It’s not about progression or structure so much as just having fun with the physics and seeing what happens.
Developer Image: Dogubomb
Blue Prince is a puzzle game that’s taken the gaming community by storm. Combining roguelike mechanics with intricate puzzles, it offers a refreshing experience for fans of both genres. With its eerie yet cozy atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and rewarding progression system, Blue Prince stands as one of the best puzzle games of 2025 so far and is my Game of the Month for May 2025.
Related: Want to know more about Blue Prince before playing?
Check out my full review here!
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of The White Witch
Developer Image: Level 5 Inc
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, PS4
A story rich and gorgeously designed RPG created by Studio Ghibli, where you follow Oliver, a young boy who finds himself in a mysterious world where he hopes to find a way to bring back his mother after a tragic accident. There’s huge variety of familiars that you can tame and add to your pack to help you in turn based battles by training up their skills and improving your relationships with them.
Developer Image: Local Thunk
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X
Balatro surprised me with how approachable it felt. While it has a reputation for being intense, it plays more like a satisfying card puzzle built around familiar poker mechanics. Runs are short, the rules are easy to grasp, and the game quickly settles into a calm, focused rhythm with a great synthy soundtrack. It’s ideal for cozy gamers who enjoy numbers, strategy, and that quiet “just one more run” feeling.
Related: Looking for more on Balatro?
Check out my full review here!
Developer Image: Pinecreek Games
Winter Burrow wraps you in a snowy woodland world as a small mouse returning home to a childhood burrow that’s fallen to ruin. As you explore the snow‑covered forest, collect wood, forage, and craft tools, you slowly restore the burrow — repairing walls, knitting warm clothes, baking pies, and bringing warmth back to a place long forgotten. The game blends light survival mechanics with cosy, contemplative gameplay: managing warmth, gathering resources, and building a safe, welcoming home.
Related: Interested in more before playing Winter Burrow?
Check out my full review here!
It Takes Two
Developer Image: Hazelight Studios
It Takes Two is a brilliantly inventive co-op adventure that’s equal parts heart and chaos. You play as two characters navigating a fantastical world full of puzzles, platforming, and clever mechanics that constantly change from one area to the next. The story is surprisingly touching too, exploring themes of relationships, teamwork, and forgiveness in a way that feels both fun and meaningful. Whether you’re solving puzzles together, laughing at ridiculous physics, or just wandering through beautifully designed environments, it’s a game that balances challenge and charm perfectly, and it’s even better when shared with someone else.
Plate Up
Developer Image: It’s Happening
PlateUp! is a chaotic but surprisingly cozy cooking and restaurant management game. You run your own kitchen, preparing dishes, serving customers, and upgrading your restaurant, all while juggling increasingly hectic orders. It’s fast-paced, but in a way that’s fun rather than stressful, especially if you approach it with a sense of humour. Watching the kitchen flow, or occasionally descend into chaos, feels oddly satisfying, and there’s something really rewarding about seeing your little restaurant grow and thrive. Perfect for anyone who loves creativity, organisation, and a dash of controlled madness.
Developer Image: Kenny Sun and Friends
Available on: PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation
Ball x Pit feels more like an arcade puzzle game than a typical roguelike. The mechanics are simple, the visuals are clean, and the focus is on satisfying interactions rather than difficulty spikes. Its short sessions make it easy to pick up and put down, and in between runs you get to build a little village with each building giving you new advantages in your runs. This is a great option if you enjoy tactile, physics-based gameplay without long term pressure.
Related: Not sure if Ball x Pit is for you?
Check out my full review here and why I found Ball x Pit surprisingly cozy
Hogwarts Legacy
Developer Image: Avalanche Software
Hogwarts Legacy is an expansive, story-driven adventure that lets you step into the wizarding world like never before. You create your own student, attend classes, explore iconic locations, and uncover mysteries across Hogwarts and beyond. The game balances exploration, spellcasting, and narrative choices, giving you a sense of freedom while still keeping the story engaging. It’s immersive and visually stunning, and for fans of the Wizarding World, it’s hard not to get lost wandering the castle corridors, casting spells, and discovering hidden secrets. It’s a game that can feel both exciting and cozy, depending on whether you’re exploring quietly or diving into magical challenges.
Developer Image: Double Dagger Studio
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
In this chaotic and adorable exploration and adventure game, play as a little kitty trying to find it’s way back home. It’s an open world playground for this mischevious cat with trellises to climb, slippers to steal and jars of jam to knock over. Make friends, complete quests or cause a ruckus in cute collectable hats in your adventure to find a way home.
Related: Ready for more Little Kitty, Big City?
Check out my full review here!
Celeste
Developer Image: Maddy Makes Games Inc
Amazon* Physical Copies: PS5
Play as Madeline and help her to survive her inner demons as she ascends to the top of Celeste Mountain in this puzzle platformer. Complete hundreds of challenges, uncover secrets and solve the mystery of the Mountain with a gorgeously atmospheric synthy soundtrack.
Developer Image: Thunder Lotus Games
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!
Powerwash Simulator
Developer Image: Futurlab
PowerWash Simulator is one of those games that sounds simple, but ends up being incredibly satisfying to sit with. You take on cleaning jobs, slowly washing away layers of dirt from buildings, vehicles, and all sorts of oddly specific objects. There’s no time pressure and no real complexity, just a steady, repetitive rhythm that’s easy to fall into. It’s the kind of game that works really well when your mind feels busy, because it gives you something straightforward to focus on while everything else quiets down a bit.
Developer Image: Tunic Team
If you’re looking for a game with a bit more of a challenge but still feels cozy, Tunic is a quietly enchanting adventure where you play as a fox, exploring a mysterious world filled with secrets, puzzles, and hidden paths. With no dialogue or hand-holding, the game gently encourages curiosity as you piece together your journey from fragments of a cryptic guidebook written in a charming invented language. Power up your skills and battle monsters as you explore the land and uncover it’s secrets.
Related: Looking for more on Botany Manor?
Check out my full review here!
Supermarket Simulator
Developer Image: Nokta Games
Supermarket Simulator is a surprisingly absorbing management sim that turns everyday tasks into something quietly satisfying. You stock shelves, set prices, manage inventory, and slowly grow your shop, all at your own pace. What starts off simple gradually becomes more involved, but it never feels overwhelming if you take it slowly. There’s something really nice about the routine of it, restocking, organising, keeping things running, and watching your small shop turn into something bigger over time. It’s a good one for when you want structure and progression, but without too much pressure.
Developer Image: Witch Beam
Amazon* Physical Copies: Nintendo Switch
Unpacking is a unique zen puzzle game that transforms the tedious task of unpacking boxes and moving home into a soothing, meditative journey. Unpack, organise and arrange belongings into various homes over a period of 20 years as you learn more about the owner’s story through light puzzle-solving and subtle storytelling.
Related: Wondering why Unpacking is so popular?
Read my full review to find out why!
Unravel
Developer Image: Coldwood Interactive
Unravel is a quietly beautiful puzzle-platformer that follows Yarny, a small creature made of red yarn, as it traverses forests, rivers, and snowy fields. Each level is a gentle exploration of nature and memory, with physics-based puzzles that feel more like play than pressure. The world is full of tiny, moving details, leaves rustling, water flowing, snow drifting, that encourage you to pause and take it in.
Wobbly Life
Developer Image: Rubberband Games
Wobbly Life is delightfully chaotic and endlessly silly, letting you explore a bright, open town with hilariously wobbly physics. You can drive cars, run shops, complete goofy jobs, or just mess around with friends, and the world always feels warm and inviting despite the chaos. Its charm comes from the freedom to play at your own pace, laugh at the ridiculous moments, and enjoy a lighthearted sense of accomplishment.
Little Rocket Lab
Developer Image: Teenage Astronauts
In Little Rocket Lab you return home as Morgan, a young engineer determined to finish your family’s dream: building a rocket ship, but first, you need to rebuild your entire town. You mine resources, craft machines, and build conveyor belts, furnaces and clever contraptions to restore the sleepy village of St. Ambroise. Alongside the automation and factory-building lies community, townsfolk who depend on your work and relationships to mend.
Keeper
Developer Image: Double Fine Productions
Keeper is an atmospheric puzzle-adventure where you guide a long-forgotten lighthouse as it awakens on a mysterious island, joined by a curious seabird. Together, you explore dreamlike landscapes, solve environmental puzzles, and use the lighthouse’s light to gently reshape the world around you. Quiet, surreal, and full of subtle magic, Keeper is about companionship, discovery, and the small joys of bringing life back to forgotten places.
Creatures of Ava
Developer Image: Inverge Studios
Creatures of Ava is a lovely blend of peaceful exploration, creature companionship, and soft world‑building that’s ideal for when you want calm adventure over stress. You travel through a colourful, inviting world, befriend magical creatures, nurture relationships, and uncover the gentle mysteries of the land.
Fe
Developer Image: Zoink
Fe is a dreamy forest adventure that lets you slip into nature’s rhythm without any pressure. You wander through dense woods, sing to creatures, and unlock gentle powers by listening and connecting, not by fighting or racing. The forest feels alive, soft, and magical: trees whisper, animals react, and every step feels like a quiet conversation with the wild.
Herdling
Developer Image: Okomotive
Herdling is a charming, low-pressure adventure about guiding and caring for adorable little creatures. You wander through softly coloured landscapes, helping your herd navigate obstacles and find their way home. The gameplay is gentle and forgiving, focusing on observation, patience, and small wins rather than speed or perfection.
Barbie Project Friendship
Developer Image:
Xaloc Studios, Casual Brothers Ltd.
Join Malibu and Brooklyn Roberts in a feel good makeover adventure, as they rally friends and family to rescue the Malibu Waves Community Centre. You’ll explore six colourful areas, with a pet salon, skate park, tech lab and crafting studio and complete gentle quests, playful puzzles and mini‑games like ice‑cream making or pet grooming. Along the way, you earn community points to redesign outfits and decorate spaces making them your own.
Zoo Tycoon
Developer Image:
Frontier Developments, Asobo Studio
A wholesome, heartwarming park builder where you create and manage your very own zoo filled with over 200 animated animals. Whether you're laying out lush habitats, designing guest paths, or hand-feeding a giraffe in first-person view, the game offers a gentle blend of creativity, strategy, and animal care.
Tempopo
Developer Image: Witch Beam
a gently rhythmic sky‑bound puzzle adventure where you take on the role of Hana, guiding mischievously adorable Tempopo creatures through 60 charming islands, each themed to a different season. With a conductor’s baton of planning commands to smash, lift, block, push you coax the beings into rescuing musical flowers and rebuild your own melodic garden.
Kulebra and The Souls of Limbo
Developer Image: Gala
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is a gentle, heart-led adventure where you play as Kulebra, a sweet-natured skeleton snake waking up in the afterlife with no memory, only a curious heart and a notebook. Set in a vibrant, storybook-style limbo filled with lost souls stuck in a daily time loop, you’ll explore, chat, solve simple puzzles, and help others find peace, all without combat or pressure.
House Flipper
Developer Image:
Empyrean
House Flipper is the ultimate tidy and transform game, letting you roll up your sleeves and turn rundown spaces into dream homes at your own pace. Whether you're cleaning grime, knocking down walls, painting pastel feature walls or choosing just the right rug, it’s all about small, satisfying wins and creative freedom. There's no pressure, no timers, just you, your tools, and the joy of making things lovely again.
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