Cozy games recommended by the community to relieve stress

We no longer need to present them so much: cozy games, “cozy” games in French, are a very mainstream trend that emphasizes relaxation and well-being. These productions, most of them independent, aim to offer soothing and comforting experiences within colorful and often candid worlds. The term is popularized by social networks, notably TikTok and YouTube, where content creators build around a real aesthetic and a concept of slow life that is currently in vogue. The craze has been all the more noticed in recent days with the release of Tiny Glade, a cute game by Pounce Light which was until then the 13th most wishlisted title on the Valve platform ahead of behemoths like DRAGON BALL: Sparking ! ZERO and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The principle: build the building of your dreams using only a handful of minimalist tools that will do the heavy lifting for you. “IThere is something enchanting in these procedural walls that rearrange themselves », Confided the co-creator, Tomasz Stachowiak. In an increasingly fast-paced and stressful society, cozy games would offer a welcome escape that allows you to reconnect with yourself. But in concrete terms, are they really allies for stress?

Cozy games, a good way to combat stress?

Although the effects of video games on children and adults have been the subject of numerous studies, the results are still diverse and varied. So much so that last year, a 2023 meta-analysis comparing the results found by 50 analyzes on the benefits of video games concluded with these words: “ Given the wealth and disparity of findings, additional studies are needed to clarify elements such as on-screen content and adolescents’ interaction with different types of screens.n ». However, recent work, notably that of the Royal Society Open Sciencesuggest that video games could bring “ a slight positive relationship between play and emotional well-being »while emphasizing the importance of choosing suitable titles.

In the case of this study, and in a completely unusual way, the developers of the games Animal Crossing and Plants vs Zombies shared anonymous data on the playing time of each participant. Data which was then combined with a survey in which players answered questions about their well-being. 3,274 players aged over 18 thus made it possible to collect a first interesting observation: “ If you play Animal Crossing for four hours a day, every day, chances are you’ll feel much happier than someone who doesn’t play it said Professor Andrew Przybylski, who led the study. Interesting point: the “ experiences of competence and social connection with others » offered by these games could have contributed to these results. But be careful, This does not mean that Animal Crossing makes you happy in itself “. And added that those who had felt obliged to play, to try to avoid stress in other aspects of their life for example, had declared themselves less satisfied. “ We need to study more games, more players, over a longer period of time “, he concluded.

Games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, which can be considered cozy games, are often cited for their calming virtues. On the other hand, while video games can offer a welcome escape, it is important not to view them as a panacea. These same studies have warned of the short-term effects of violent games on adrenaline levels. Another example: a published in-depth study in Games for Health magazine (which is subject to peer review) also analyzed the effects of casual games on stress and anxiety, which included Plants vs Zombies, Bejeweled 2 and Sushi Cat 2. The results seem encouraging: twelve of Thirteen studies reviewed showed significant improvements in gamers. “ All studies examining mood and stress noted significant improvements compared to a passive break, surfing the Internet, or a relaxation activity », concludes the article. Megan Connell, psychologist specializing in video games, highlights the many benefits of this activity for adults, particularly in terms of relaxation and socialization.

“For many adults I work with, I recommend games such as Stardew Valley as a good self-care game. I find this game useful because there are objectives, but there is no stress or pressure to complete all the objectives. There are also many different ways to play and no one is better than the other. »

These games that the community recommends

As you will have understood, it is still necessary to carry out numerous studies on cozy play to demonstrate the possible benefits on mental health and in particular stress. However, on social networks, there are many players who affirm – based on their personal experiences – that certain productions have been true allies during complicated periods of their lives. A quick trip to Reddit can be helpful to find some video game recommendations that might help you relax or at least have a good time. On the CozyGamers and CozyGames subreddits in particular, Internet users are used to sharing their best discoveries to “relieve stress”. Among the most cited productions, we find the recent Wylde Flowers, a farming sim with relatively classic content but which has attracted a plethora of players for its relaxing rural atmosphere.

Another suggestion made, which is also very close to our editorial hearts: A Short Hike, a real little pixel-art gem which offers a hiking experience that is as short as it is peaceful. For two hours, no more, we explore, we fish, and we collect feathers to fly ever higher and reach the top of a montage so that our hero, a little bird, can capture a little network on his phone. Other responses also include Unpacking: “ It’s a sort of puzzle game, but barely, it’s mostly about unpacking moving boxes at your own pace, and there’s a cute story too! », Describes a user about him very well. House Flipper, Disney Dreamlight Valley and A Little to the Left are also commonly cited. Some Internet users also have their own techniques for making their favorite games even more relaxing than usual, and this is the case of cynthia_101: “I’m getting back into Slime Rancher at the moment. There’s a mode where no “bad” slimes spawn, so you can just build your plort empire and feed your squishmallows alive. I like The Sims 3 and turning off the setting that allows the neighborhood to progress around you, and turning off aging and some supernatural elements lol. »

Of course, not everyone is necessarily a customer of this type of production. Mike Drucker for example, journalist for TheGamer, tellsin an article his frustration with so-called “cozy” games. Often associated with peaceful and relaxing activities, these titles end up stressing him out by reminding him of his own imperfections and his difficulties in relaxing. His own expectations and perfectionism ultimately prevent him from fully enjoying these experiences. It is therefore completely up to each person to find the type of games capable of helping you relax in stressful moments. However, if it’s cozy games that interest you the most, here we offer you 8 cozy games that are perfect for Nintendo Switch to spend the summer, but which will also be just as pleasant for this fall season.