Cozy game

Initially derived from the life simulation genre, cozy games commonly include activities such as gathering and growing plants and nurturing other characters.

[5] Campbell suggested in 2022 that cozy games were aiming to move beyond "gather and grow" themed gameplays, citing A Short Hike (2019) as an example.

[1] Rutland stated that cozy games were the most accessible genre to people who did not consider themselves to be gamers and are easier for smaller independent developers to create.

[1][5][6] Vice suggested in 2018 that "coziness could ... be one of the most significant game design trends of recent years", noting its hybrid of escapism and the ability to appeal to players not seeking action-oriented gameplay.

[8] Merchandise from cozy games such as Animal Crossing expanded beyond selling from dedicated websites, to being connected with brands such as LEGO, Puma and Build-A-Bear.