Autumn and winter are approaching, the temperatures are dropping - and with them the time for coziness begins. Board games are a must. If you like things to be particularly relaxing, you can play "cozy games". These are also available as board games.
The phenomenon of so-called cozy video games can also be transferred to the board game sector. There are also a large number of titles in which you can act in a non-violent and relaxed manner. Because that is one of the things that makes "cozy games" so special. You avoid confrontation, do your own thing, take a break and enjoy your free time while nurturing and caring.
Cozy board games about nature, cats or food
Admittedly, even the definition of a "cozy" video game is not entirely uniform. Some top lists include titles that fans consider to be anything but cozy. The use of the term is therefore confusing, and some influencers use the term more or less as a purely stimulating word to generate attention. However, many posts about cozy games consistently feature games that focus on nurturing, caring, collecting or looking after. Most of the time, it is about hospitality, landscapes or animals.
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Strawman Games Federation* | 60,44 EUR |
Another key feature of cozy games is the lack of a clear goal. Instead of following a story or a defined linear sequence, relaxing gaming titles are more about the game itself. Gaming as an end in itself, so to speak. Emotions are often the focus, sometimes more, sometimes less clearly. The exclusion of confrontational content is characteristic of cozy games. The genre as a whole can be understood as one that lets players tackle a title without clearly defined rules. In other words: the important thing is that you can let yourself go.
Examples of successful cozy video games are Stardew Valley, Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Astroneer, Disney Dreamlight Valley and Dorfromantik. These examples show that the focus of cozy games can be very different, and there is not always a complete omission of a story. On the contrary: in some cases it is mainly the stories that contribute to the coziness - as in Coffee Talk.
And: The example of Dorfromantik shows that the jump from a cozy video game to a cozy board game is not that far. It also works the other way round: After the success of the board game Calico (a prime example of a cozy board game) a video game adaptation has been released for PC Steam - and there too, the theme is pretty "cozy" with cats and fluffy blankets. In order to relax while playing, i.e. to play "cozy gaming", you no longer necessarily have to reach for a controller. Board games also shine with calm, unexciting settings and shallow gameplay that let you just let the time pass by.
Anyone who wants to spend the cold season at the gaming table with a cup of tea or coffee and a “cozy board game” has plenty of choice. As with the digital pioneers, analogue game ideas are often about collecting or caring, and in the board game industry this is often the focus of laying games. Accordingly, there are many cozy board games there. Thematically, the focus is on food, animals or nature. A good portion of “hygge” as a board game can be found, for example, at Fika by Peter Van Gompel, who has playfully packaged the Swedish coffee break, with illustrations by Beth Sobel. The title has also been published in German by Board Game Circus. This introductory example also shows that cozy board games don't necessarily have to be solo games. Two, three or four people can also have a relaxing time. It's not always cooperative.
In contrast to many "cozy video games", leisurely gameplay in board games is not necessarily completely free of "opponents". Overall, winning is still more of an accessory. In board games, "cozy" should primarily mean that you can approach the game itself and your moves without stress and with positive feelings. This is often associated with a certain degree of puzzle solving.
Other good examples of “cozy board games” are Sattgrün by Molly Johnson, Robert Melvin, Aaron Mesburne, Kevin Russ, Shawn Stankewich – in other words, by Flatout Games. Here too, it was Beth Sobel who supported the theme of coziness with her illustrations. It is about houseplants that need to be looked after. Quite a few “cozy” board games are Waffle Time from Alderac Entertainment Group or The Perfect Moment (original title: Picture Perfect). The latter game was translated into German by Corax Games and is symbolic of the original idea of cozy games, which many people associate with life simulations. Anthony Nouveau's board game is based on this, at least vaguely. It's about arranging the perfect photo, taking into account the wishes of many people.
Also Cascadia, Keystone North America or Okanagan can be understood as cozy board games. However, the theme of cozy becomes much clearer in board games such as patchwork fabric or Cottage gardenCozy is therefore not synonymous with simple. Colors obviously play a key role, especially in board games. Many of the titles considered “cozy board games” are dominated by muted colors, pastel shades, often green or a soft beige.
30 good cozy board games to try:
- Calico
- Fika
- Waffle Times
- Sattgrün
- The Perfect Moment
- Cascadia
- Keystone North America
- Okanagan
- patchwork fabric
- Cottage garden
- island of cats
- everdell
- Mixed forest
- Meadow
- Parks
- Arboretum
- Café Barista
- Wanderlust
- Santa Monica
- Village romance
- Stardew Valley
- The Tea Dragon Society
- Canvas
- Kanagawa
- Moorland
- cat lady
- Dog Park
- Donut shop
- Flamecraft
- The cartographer
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Pegasus Spiele 51240G Village Romance *Game of the Year 2023*...* |
27,99 EUR |
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Pegasus Spiele 17222G - Munchkin 1+2* |
18,69 EUR |
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