Steam Next Fest February 2025 is officially live, bringing with it thousands of exciting upcoming titles from around the world to try out. As always, there are far too many intriguing games to explore, especially when it comes to the cozy genre that is a joy to play.
Cozy games generally have a relaxing but addictive gameplay loop paired with a visual style that’s easy on the eyes, and expressive in all the right ways. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to dive into these ambitious projects and highlight a few that deserve more attention. Here’s our selection of the best cozy games from Steam Next Fest February 2025 that will make you smile, relax, and hit that wishlist button.
Is This Seat Taken?
- Steam Demo
- Developer: Poti Poti Studio
Are you particular about where you sit in a gathering? Even if you aren’t, the characters in Is This Seat Taken? rely on you to find them the perfect spot to accommodate their often silly yet totally justified pet peeves.
This charming puzzle game strikes the right balance of challenge, wit, and humor, making it a delight as you carefully seat these dramatic characters in restaurants, cinemas, weddings, and various modes of transport.
Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game
- Steam Demo
- Developer: Posh Cat Studios
Want a less stressful version of the Golden Idol? Little Problems: A Cozy Detective Game might just be the game for you. It ditches the overly complex schemes of video game villains in favor of solving minor inconveniences and everyday annoyances in a true detective fashion.
It has a cute art style, a lighthearted tone, and tons of neat puzzles that revolve around simple deduction. It’s the perfect cozy game that strikes a nice balance difficulty-wise.
Squirreled Away
- Steam Demo
- Developer: Far Seas
You know, there simply aren’t enough squirrel games, or at least that’s probably what the developers at Far Seas were thinking. They’re right because squirrels possess all the maneuverability needed to impress as main game characters.
In Squirreled Away, you play as a squirrel and do… squirrel things, I guess. Need more convincing? Okay, what about crafting your very own dream tree house? Finding resources around a park? Meeting all sorts of cute animals on the way and helping them achieve their goals? Did I mention it’s also very relaxing? This is what video games are all about.
Urban Jungle
- Steam Demo
- Developer: Kylyk Games
Does the idea of gardening stress you out? Do you want to decorate your home with plants but don’t have the space or necessary knowledge? Well, Urban Jungle lets you live out that fantasy while teaching you all about plants, their needs and requirements, and ideal placements in an urban environment (like your home).
It’s charming, full of excellent art, and offers a stress-free experience that encourages players to take their time, play at their own pace, and decorate rooms with not just personalization in mind but maximizing the potential of the plants.
Wanderstop
- Steam Demo
- Developer: Ivy Road
Okay, we all know that there’s a lot more going on underneath the cozy hood of Wanderstop, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the cozy aspect as well. It’s a wonderful game with strong writing, character work, delightful gameplay systems, and an incredible art style that instantly pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
I’m shocked by the high quality of this demo alone and can’t wait to see what the full release will have to offer. For now, this twist on the cozy game genre is shaping up to be one of the best games of 2025. Also, I can’t get enough of the soundtrack, if you need one reason to play this, play it for the tunes alone.
Got a cozy game we missed? Make sure to mention it in the comments below.
Published: Feb 25, 2025 05:18 am