Finally, after two months into the new year, March is looking much more plentiful with cozy games. While there is definitely more upcoming, there’s still time to focus on your backlog. Especially if you are primarily a Nintendo Switch user, as there is only a few games being released to console. Steam players are enjoying the majority of cozy games so far this year and this month does not disappoint.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
Releasing on March 7th for Nintendo Switch, Snufkin is about restoring nature and harmony in the land of Moominvalley through the power of music. After a handful of distasteful parks have popped up in the valley, it’s up to you to find a way to get rid of the obstructions. You’ll be able to be a bit mischievous and distract police officers, park rangers, and bring peace back to the natural inhabitants of the land.
This story is completely hand crafted and drawn out in a beautifully story book-esque way. While the idea of the game is completely original, it obviously takes heavy influence from the books of Moomin and was even written in collaboration with the original writers. You don’t have to know much about the storyline of Moomins, but you will fall in love with the cuteness of this Swedish plot. In the original storyline, Snufkin is a quiet yet stick-it-to-the-man type of character who enjoys wandering in nature and playing his harmonica. So with this game, you’ll be able to become Snufkin and protect your favorite place passionately.
Use your harmonica to save the valley from threats.
This game is also a great addition to my recommendations for being cozy on a budget.
Distant Bloom
Distant Bloom is releasing on Steam on March 25th, but before it’s out make sure check out the free demo to see if this piques your interest. It has the basics of a standard farming game – but with aliens! Instead of being an earthling farmer, you are an adorable little alien trying to find a new home for your species. After landing on what you thought was the perfect choice, you realize something has happened to the planet and must find a way to bring the health back to what used to be the lush flora setting.
Aliens are new to me in cozy gaming, and I don’t think it’s typically what people think of when the word cozy comes up, but it is a cute little gem waiting to be discovered. It will hopefully be proof that while the term “cozy gaming” does have limitations, it’s also not entirely impossible to being new concepts to life and make them work well. Making the aliens small and cute and creating such a colorful world to explore, while keeping the farming sim alive – it makes it easier to accept it as cozy.
Replenish the flora on your new planet.
Open Roads
Open Roads is releasing on March 28 across multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. Now, this game is super interesting to me because the art style seems to be a crossover of 2D and 3D. I haven’t played many games at all where that happens, and I feel like it helps keep the interest of the player engaged. The storyline is also completely new to me, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.
In Open Roads, you play as Tess and Opal – a mother-daughter team embarking on a deeply hidden and secretive familial adventure. The relationship between the two is a bit strained as most teenage daughter and mother relationships are, but when this new journey calls for a long road trip to find some hidden ancesteral treasure, there’s hope for the bond to deepen. It reminds me a bit of the film Lady Bird had the mother and daughter actually worked on their relationship like I’m hoping these characters do.
Use clues found along the way to lead you to the hidden family treasure.
Summerhouse
Summerhouse is the perfect game to tap into your creative architecture skills. You’ll be building cozy lived in homes without any sort of restriction so you can really let that creativity flow. The favorite part about this game is that it was created and is run by a single person. The truest definition of an indie cozy game. Not only will you be able to create a small neighborhood of homes, you’ll also be able to choose from three different settings to set up. From the sea to the mountains, to the city, your dreams of a cozy neighborhood can come true. Releasing on Steam on March 8th, this is the perfect game to completely chill out with.
Create your coziest dream house without any stress or restrictions.
Cozy Room Decorator
Another decorating game coming in clutch with letting your creativity run free. In this one, you’ll be able to use your interior decorating skills instead and put together your dream living spaces. I personally really enjoy redecorating my spaces, so I’m looking forward to trying out all sorts of ideas with this game. It has the potential to be used as a 3D template for redecorating your real home! The best part of this game is there are no collision restrictions at all so you are even able to merge items together and create your own furniture.
This perfect little sandbox game even has online features which allow you to view other creators published rooms. There is currently a demo available on Steam and the official release is for March 22nd.
Items are completely free and able to be used in any way you wish.
Brocula
For all my vampire fans, this one’s for you. In Brocula, you’ll play as a 500-year-old vampire that has awoken in the unfamiliar future. Since Brocula has lost his wealth, he must take on a few part-time jobs to scrape by and earn money in order to repair his once grandiose castle. You’ll also have to deal with reclaiming the castle back from the mayor and work through the new bureaucratic system. The demo is up, and the full game will be released on March 27th.
Even a vampire must catch the bus to work sometimes.
