The Top 5 Cozy Games Coming in 2023

2022 is coming to a close, and while it’s been a great year for the cozy gaming scene, with titles such as Stray entering the mainstream, we’re looking forward to an even better 2023. So grab yourself a hot chocolate, and tuck yourself in as we take a look at the top 5 cozy games coming to our screens in 2023.

Way To The Woods

By the time it releases in Q1 2023, Way To The Woods will have been in development for five years. The game was initially slated for a 2019 release, but solo development by Anthony Tan has meant that it has taken some time to finally reach our consoles.

But we’re glad it has taken so long – the game looks stunning, a tale of a deer and a fawn who must adventure through an unknown world to return to their home. The game features light platforming, providing a gameplay base for what’s described as a “linear, short game experience”. In the indie-gaming space, that’s often code for “will break your heart into pieces”, so keep an eye out.

The game looks stunning, with its art style absolutely dripping with cozy vibes. We can’t wait to lose ourselves in Anthony Tan’s world, in what is shaping up to be an extremely exciting debut title from the developer.

Way To The Woods launches early 2023 on, Steam, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, as well as on Gamepass upon launch.

Cozy Grove 2

In June 2022, developers Spry Fox announced a sequel to their indie-hit, Cozy Grove, for a tentative end-of-2023 release date. While this isn’t set in stone, we’re too excited about this not to include it, just in case.

In Cozy Grove, developers created a space where players can restore the island of Cozy Grove from a haunted land to a colourful, joyful home that they can make their own. The game’s cozy vibes are immaculate, and it has been well-supported since its release in early 2021.

However that time must come to an end, as continuing to build upon the game’s existing systems has resulted in it becoming more difficult to implement new features bug-free. In their initial announcement, developers teased “a bunch more new ghost bears, in new environments. And Flamey. And Scoutmaster Blake.” It must’ve been quite the tech-debt to force their hand into making a new game. Regardless, we’re looking forward to losing ourselves on the Cozy Grove island all over again.

House Flipper 2

Another sequel, we know. But ‘cozy games’ and ‘House Flipper‘ go hand-in-hand, so it was impossible not to include Frozen District’s sequel to their 2018 indie hit.

Currently slated for a Q3 2023 release, House Flipper 2 will expand upon the mechanics of the first, while introducing brand new tools that’ll allow the player to build the house of their dreams. You can even use it redesign real life interiors, allowing to build and redesign one of your own rooms in the virtual space, before committing to it in real life. Practical, right?

Whether it’s renovating the game’s existing houses, or building a new one from scratch, House Flipper 2 leaves the limits only at the players imagination. Newcomers, don’t worry – the game promises to make it easy for players who missed the original to jump in and get involved.

We have to say, there’s an inherent coziness to sitting back and building a home in first person. Something like The Sims, while fun, detaches the player from the experience. Here, you’re in the nitty-gritty of it. And believe us – there’s not many things more cathartic than knocking down a virtual wall with a hammer.

Distant Bloom

Distant Bloom is sort of like an intergalactic Cozy Grove, and we love that.

Having taken on a long space expedition, the player lands on an inhabitable planet and finds its not as they saw through a telescope back home. The player must then restore the planet to it’s former glory, by learning how to care for alien flora, while uncovering the history of the planet. They must also reunite the crew, learning all of their stories along the way to building a flourishing community.

The prompt alone is enough for it to get us excited enough to put Distant Bloom on this list. Developers Ember Trail are using a cartoon art-style that’s a treat for the eyes, and the character designs are beyond charming. With it being a new franchise, there’s still plenty unknown about Distant Bloom. We’ll have to venture to outer space to find out more – and we will.

Distant Bloom releases in 2023, with a demo already available to play on Steam.

Europa

Revealed at this year’s TGA 2022, the immensely charming Europa instantly shot up to our list of top 5 cozy games coming in 2023. I mean, wow, look at it.

The game is attributed to one developer, Helder Pinto, but seeing the scale and level of detail on display here – we almost struggle to believe it. The game immediately evokes Breath of the Wild, featuring many of the same features and methods of traversal as the 2017 classic, and an art-style that’s eerily similar. The world of sprawling meadows, lakes and mountains on display here is one we can’t wait to explore on a cold, dark night, with a hot drink in hand, for maximum cozy vibes.

Pinto describes the game as “a peaceful game of adventure, exploration and meditation.” That’s us sold.

Europa is currently pegged for a vague ‘2023’ release date. Whether it makes this date remains to be seen, but seeing it in action, we really hope we get our hands on this thing next year.