Hii cuties! I am currently going through quite the amount of evil disgusting and bad dysphoria, so I would really like to distract myself from myself right now… Even though I am not a fan of consumerism, this is the one time I feel it is appropriate to consume some media. I do have a homebrewed switch and a computer running Debian (with wine, so it can run windows games). I am a fan of rhythm games and cozy games like stardew valley (not a shooter kind of person).
EDIT: I am also a huge fan of games like outer wilds, cuz like wow that game is good. Also I like the magical parts of Terraria aaaaand floating islands are cool… Also I do have a VR headset. There, my infodump is completed now.
I am going to recommend GRIS.
It is a jump’n’run riddle game about a person in a magic dress dealing with loss.
Palia is basically 3d multiplayer stardew. Free to play on both PC and switch. It IS very early access tho so you will occasionally run into some very game breaking bugs which might kill the cozy and make it frustrating.
Super wholesome community too.
I was gonna suggest this but I couldn’t remember the name! Kept getting Palworld in my search results -.-
Although tbf that might not be a terrible suggestion either.
Also I should add the only monetization in the FTP game is clothing. There’s nothing that’s going to push you into spending money.
Iono she says she doesn’t want shooters? Even though I wouldn’t call it that much of a shooter? Is that like doom… Even though you do use guns. But yeah it can be pretty cozy running your base I will say that
Well I managed to respond to the wrong comment like a total fucking Boomer
Came to second Palia. =D
I recently discovered this adorable little indie point and click adventure game called Read Only Memories. The basic plot is that you’re a struggling freelance journalist living in a crappy apartment in Neo-San Francisco in the year 2064. Human genetic and cybernetic modification is widely available, and some jackasses have decided to spend their time protesting outside the clinics that provide it. They claim it strips away the very things that make us human, whatever that may mean (editorialism mine – the game, strangely, goes to great lengths to allow the player to choose either, or neither, side in this conflict through dialogue options, although the vast majority of characters you meet will have the same opinion I did). Also, ROMs (personal voice-activated robots – think ChatGPT with legs) are fairly commonplace and can be seen everywhere from individual households to the police force. They’re highly conversational though not particularly human.
Anyway, one day, you wake up, and one of these robots is standing at the foot of your bed. You’re somewhat surprised by this, since you’re way too broke to afford one. The robot introduces themself as Turing, a top-secret project to create a truly sapient ROM, who has just witnessed their creator being kidnapped and broke into your apartment during the night to ask for your help to solve the case.
I’ve only gotten to the second chapter so far, but I’m loving it. It is very cute and very queer and does not shy away from the gritty realities of its subject matter. I don’t want to spoil too much, but there’s one conversation where you find out why the genetically modified person who’s been a bit of a dick to you got genetic modifications and the major struggles they went through to get it, and I do not think the allegory could have been more obvious if the entire screen turned into a giant trans flag.
Also Turing is adorable. And you can hug them. Also the music is incredible.
It’s an incredible game and you should totally play it ^^
I’m gonna have to check that out, definitely sounds fun
I haven’t played it in years, but I remember getting really cozy vibes from “VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action”. You basically just talk to customers and hear their stories while serving drinks. I didn’t end up playing all the way to the end, but I remember it being really chill and laid back.
Come to think of it, since I didn’t know I was trans back when I played it, I’m now wondering if some of the cozy vibes came from diffuse, unrecognized gender euphoria via the female protagonist. Been meaning to play it again to see how it strikes me now.
Actually, this is getting me kind of hype to play it; I think I’ll fire it up.
Update: I was right, it’s cozy as fuck.
Also, most of the game is just clicking through dialogue while enjoying synthwave music, which is great for letting your mind escape, but is not for everyone. I’m definitely enjoying it.
Cozy:
- Slime Rancher is super cute.
- Forager is pretty nice, but the controls suck on anything other than keyboard/mouse.
- Outpath is kinda like a 3d Forager with a dev who doesn’t have staff he can’t pay.
Rythm:
- Geometry Dash is great.
- ADOFAI is awesome.
I assume you already played it but since it hasn’t explicitly been mentioned I definitely have to call out Celeste, basically one of the most iconic transfem games out there!
Terraria can be pretty comfy if you’re in the mood for it, and Clone Hero is the perfect rhythm game if you have Guitar Hero nostalgia!
Hey! Sorry you’re feeling shitty. I just finished Cassette Beasts while I was down with COVID. It’s a fun, different take on the Pokemon formula with a cool aesthetic. Perhaps not the absolute coziest, but still cozy in my book.
Townscaper is a good one for just sinking yourself into mindless building. No resource limits, just making a city in an ocean. It’s also a fairly cheap game - About Five bucks if I recall?
Summerhouse has the same vibe.
Play Citizen Sleeper - it’s an uber-cozy sci fi narrative game. If you want cozy rhythm games, try Melatonin. ~ fellow transfem
If you’re a fan of rhythm games, have you ever played Rhythm Heaven? :) RH Fever for the Wii, and RH Megamix for the 3ds are some of my faves in the genre. They’re standouts and somewhat unconventional rhythm games based around animations. Very cute and fun and towards the end of the games challenging. I believe emulators are available for both on Debian. Dolphin for Wii emulation, Citra for 3ds. Citra has officially been discontinued by the original dev team, but forks are around for it.
On switch there’s Animal Crossing, Yoshi’s crafted world, Super Mario 3D world and Odyssey are both fantastic and cozy. Let’s go Eevee and Pikachu are incredible and have a very warm idyllic vibe imo.
Haven Park and A Short Hike are both pretty cute and cozy
Oh my god yes.
Seconding A Short Hike, and it’s 3D cousin Lil’ Gator Game, those games are the epitome of cute n’ cozy games.
(And just now seeing Haven Park, it looks like I’m buying another game soon haha, thanks.
Also, if you have 10 minutes, play Six Cats Under, a free little itch.io browser game, that is relaxing, point n’ click, and cute as all hell.
Not sure if anyone mentioned it already, but The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is really cozy and nice. You play as a witch that got exiled and is mentally not in a good place but then you get to do all kinds of badass witch stuff. It is inclusive of trans women and I had to cry a lot when I found out midgame.
I know it’s a bit of a clique at this point, but if you enjoy platformers, and especially if you want an emotionally compelling story, I’d reccomend Celeste, there’s also a lot of trans allegories within the game, if you’re up for that. It’s on Steam and Switch, among other things, and is a pretty good indie game made by a trans woman
I display Celeste about 5 years ago and it was real real good. Also did that one very long last level thingy where ya visit Grandma and stuff
Farewell is so fun haha, incredibly hard, but great. I remember listening to a bunch of ContraPoints videos while playing through all that lol back in like, 2021/2022
Moonstone Island is similar to Stardew Valley, with some Pokemon and Slay the Spire sprinkled in.
Graveyard Keeper also fits in that genre, though it’s more management than farming.
Or if you’re looking for a cozy puzzle game: Cocoon, Unpacking, or A Little to the Left are some good ones.
If you’re looking for something trans coded, there’s some shorter games that are pretty good: Secret Little Haven, A Normal Lost Phone.
I’d describe Ikenfell as a cozy RPG. You save the game by finding a cat to pet.
And Iris and the Giant I think is the only relaxing deck builder I’ve seen. Very calming.
I really enjoyed Coral Island. Buuut I haven’t finished it so minor disclaimer ☺️ It’s like a mix of the Sims and a simple farming sim.