Cozy Xbox Games on GamePass in 2024
Gaming streaming has exploded in recent years, and one of the best decisions I made this year was subscribing to Xbox Game Pass. With its vast selection of games, including a growing number of cozy games, it offers incredible value, especially with new titles being added each month. If you're looking for the best cozy games on Xbox Game Pass in 2024, here are my top picks.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Developer Image: Gameloft
Disney have taken on their own space in the life and farming simulation market with Disney Dreamlight Valley, with an unrivalled selling point - you’re villagers are Disney characters! Unlock the mysteries of the “Forgetting” and help characters come out of their realms to live alongside you as you complete tasks, farm, cook, fish and help restore Dreamlight Valley to it’s former greatness. There’s a good mix of Disney themed items and outfits to unlock themed by your favourite Disney films and characters. What’s more, the game is still in development with more realms and characters to be added, so keep an eye out for your favourite!
A Little to the Left
Developer Image: Max Inferno
A relaxing puzzle game where you need to sort, stack and organise household items with over 100+ puzzle messes to satisfyingly tidy. Keep an eye out for a mischevious cat who may cause a little chaos in your organising.
The Sims 4
Developer Image: Maxis
Of course, the most obvious option for a life sim is The Sims 4, or any version of The Sims, the original life simulation. Dominating the life sim market since 2000, there’s a reason this game is so popular. The level of customisation is uncomparable to any other game I can think of. You can build anything, be anything, do anything! And with a wealth of expansion packs, you can theme your world around anything you desire. An absolute must have for any cozy gamer looking for a life sim.
Stardew Valley
Developer Image: ConcernedApe
Of course, the most obvious choice if you’ve not already played is Stardew Valley, now considered the peak of cozy farming simulations. And for a good reason, Stardew Valley was created by 1 developer in a solo project, and with many updates over the years it has grown to be an outstanding game in this genre. Grow and sell crops, fight monsters in the mines, fish, craft items, cook recipes, raise animals and gather their produce, and meet a cast of amazing characters to befriend, romance, and maybe marry! If you haven’t already played it… just do.
GRIS
Developer Image: Nomada Studios
Play as a young girl lost in her own world coming to terms with a painful experience in this atmospheric platform adventure game. Complete puzzles and optional skill based challenges to unfold Gris’s story. Read my full review here!
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of The White Witch
Developer Image: Level 5 Inc
A story rich and gorgeously designed RPG created by Studio Ghibli, where you follow Oliver, a young boy who finds himself in a mysterious world where he hopes to find a way to bring back his mother after a tragic accident. There’s huge variety of familiars that you can tame and add to your pack to help you in turn based battles by training up their skills and improving your relationships with them.
Coral Island
Developer Image: Stairway Games
Leave the big city life of Pokyo for Coral Island, and help reinvigorate the nearby town and it’s coral reefs in this re-imagining of farming simulator games. With a large variety of outfits, body types and accessories you’re free to express your own individuality as you search for your special someone amongst 25 available singles within over 70 interactable characters from all walks of life. Build a home, farm and life together, or spend your days diving in the coral reef, mining gemstones and filling up your museum and restoring heritage sites. Coral Island has a wealth of activities from farming, raising animals, crafting, fishing, mining, collecting, befriending, romancing, so many possibilities!
SpiritTea
Developer Image: Cheesemaster Games
Spirittea is a charming roleplaying game with elements of life and management simulation where you a writer that moves into a town plagued by mischievous spirits challenging the peaceful balance of the townsfolk. Restore the town’s bathhouse, upgrading to fill with as many spirits as you can manage to please the spirits and befriend and solve the townsfolk’s puzzles to create harmony with humans and spirits alike. Read my full review here!
Flock
Developer Image: Hollow Ponds, Richard Hogg
Soar through beautiful landscapes in this co-op multiplayer game playing as a flying shepherd, charming creatures into your flock, gathering their wool and making them cute accessories. Read my full review here!
Little Kitty, Big City
Developer Image: Double Dagger Studio
In this chaotic and adorable exploration and adventure game, play as a little kitty trying to find it’s way back home. It’s an open world playground for this mischevious cat with trellises to climb, slippers to steal and jars of jam to knock over. Make friends, complete quests or cause a ruckus in cute collectable hats in your adventure to find a way home. Read my full review here!
Celeste
Developer Image: Maddy Makes Games Inc
Play as Madeline and help her to survive her inner demons as she ascends to the top of Celeste Mountain in this puzzle platformer. Complete hundreds of challenges, uncover secrets and solve the mystery of the Mountain with a gorgeously atmospheric synthy soundtrack.
Spiritfarer
Developer Image: Thunder Lotus Games
In this beautifully hand drawn management life sim about death, build, manage and improve your ferry to help carry spirits to the afterlife. You can farm, mine, fish and craft all while caring for and building bonds with your spirit passengers, as you get to know their heartwarming and thoughtful stories.
Botany Manor
Developer Image: Whitehorn Games
It’s 1890, and you are Arabella Greene, a retired botanist that has just inherited a Somerset Manor in the English Countryside. Your publisher has accepted your book proposal and you are now tasked to complete your herbarium, a collection of studies and research about Forgotten Flora in this exploration puzzle game. Read my full review here!
Unpacking
Developer Image: Witch Beam
Unpacking is a unique zen puzzle game that transforms the tedious task of unpacking boxes and moving home into a soothing, meditative journey. Unpack, organise and arrange belongings into various homes over a period of 20 years as you learn more about the owner’s story through light puzzle-solving and subtle storytelling. Read my full review here!
A Short Hike
Developer Image: adamgryu
Choose your own path and hike at your own pace in the peaceful mountains of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you climb to the summit in this exploration adventure game with cute hikers to help and items to collect. Read my full review here!
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends
Developer Image: Catch and Release LLC
Play as a sushi master robot opening your own sushi restaurant. Buy ingredients for better recipes, furniture to decorate your restaurant and chat with the residents to uncover the secrets of the town while you manage your restaurant serving customers sushi. Read my full review here!
Cassette Beasts
Developer Image: Bytten Studio
Arrive on a remote island where you discover a variety of monsters to collect and help you in turn based battles in this open world RPG. Get close to your beasts increases their benefits and fuse monsters together to create new types. Record monsters to your cassette tapes and find a way home.
Magical Delicacy
Developer Image: Skaule
Play as a young witch Flora and cook meals and potions in this magical cooking game and platformer. Grow plants, find recipes and deliver your creations to the town’s residents as you unravel long forgotten island secrets.
