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If you love aesthetic games, these experiences are for you
Nintendo Switch offers some of the most comforting aesthetic games across a selection that includes minimal combat, narrative stories, life simulations, and unique art styles. To level up your cozy gaming (or get you started on the road to comfy games), here are ten heartwarming games perfect for winding down in the evening or cuddling up to your Switch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Artistic Games:
1/10 Gris
Not only is Gris literally a watercolor painting in a game form, the soundtrack is touching as well. It tells the story of a hopeful young girl, lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. As she moves through the different stages of grief, her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress—which grants new abilities to better maneuver her faded reality. Puzzles facilitate progress in the game, making this one more of a visual and emotional experience rather than game play. If you love soft art styles, this one’s for you.
2/10 Spiritfarer
In Spiritfarer you play as Stella, a ferrymaster to the deceased. Living on a boat with Daffodil the cat, Stella sets out to explore the world, traveling to different islands to help spirits. In this two-player cooperative game, there are a lot of things to do to progress the story—whether it’s cooking, farming, harvesting, or crafting your way across mystical seas. The art style is so heartwarming and looks like it’s from a children’s story book.
3/10 When the Past was Around
A masterclass in emotional storytelling, When the Past was Around is an adventure point-and-click puzzle game about love, moving on, letting go, and all the joys and pain in between. The game only takes a couple of hours, during which time you’ll unravel the story of Eda and the owl. This one also has a unique art style, with great puzzle design, gorgeous visuals, and simple yet beautiful music.
4/10 Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove is a life-simulation game you play as a spirit scout camping on a haunted island. While wandering the island’s forest, you’ll unravel hidden secrets and help soothe the local ghosts. The game features hand-drawn landscapes that come alive during play. Gameplay provides 30 to 60 minutes of new quest content each day, to limit the marathons. If you want to avoid binge playing, this game is a go-to.
5/10 The Gardens Between
A single-player adventure-puzzle game, The Gardens Between revolves around themes of time, memory, and friendship. Working with best friends Arina and Frendt, you’ll follow their beautiful story and fall into a series of dreamlike island gardens with objects from their childhood. As time is a big theme in this game, you’ll have to manipulate time in order to solve puzzles. Embark on a bittersweet narrative as you unpack memories they’ve built together, what must be let go, and what should never be left behind.
Comfy Games:
6/10 Rime
Rime is an adventure puzzle game you play as a young boy who has awakened on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. You’ll solve puzzles as you explore this new world. Along the way, you’ll be guided by a helpful fox, interact with wildlife, and be inspired by captivating music and color.
7/10 Unpacking
Unpacking is a zen game that’s strangely satisfying. As the title suggests, you’ll unpack as you move through the character’s different homes and arrange their belongings into a new home. Over the course of eight house moves, you’ll experience a sense of intimacy with your character. If arranging things relaxes you, this game was made for you.
8/10 The First Tree
Another relaxing game, The First Tree is a third-person exploration game centered around two parallel stories: a fox trying to find her missing family, and a son reconnecting with his estranged father in Alaska. You’ll take control of the fox on a beautiful journey which escalates around life and the understanding of death. The game features an orchestral soundtrack by acclaimed artists and is visually stunning at the same time. Although it’s a short story-driven game that takes only about two hours, it will definitely be worth it.
9/10 Coffee Talk
Coffee Talk emphasizes a text-based story over gameplay itself. Set in Seattle, you work in a coffee shop and listen to all your customer’s problems, chat with them, and help them by serving up a warm drink. Customers are more than just humans, you’ll meet elves, orcs, mermaids, and many other characters. The game is accompanied by a selection of relaxing jazzy and lo-fi music.
10/10 A Short Hike
A Short Hike is a game where you play as a bird on a mountain. As you make your way up to the top of the mountain, you’ll get to meet other unique characters and collect hidden treasures to reach new heights. Although the game is relatively short, it’s absolutely a game to get cozy on the couch with and spend an afternoon playing it. With an extraordinary art style, hike at your own pace and take in the world around you.
