RPGs tend to have everything I love in a video game: Interesting combat, well-written characters and relationships, and some of the best stories I’ve experienced. They also offer a wide range of experiences, such as Disco Elysium’s more text-based gameplay to more action-heavy games with massive worlds and realistic graphics.
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Other genres also offer something for those who prefer RPGs. Cozy games are surprisingly a good fit for RPG gamers, as they tend to include some of the most popular features of RPGs, such as an emphasis on character relationships and building your character in whichever direction you like. Here are some cozy games that span the gap between the cozy games and RPGs.
8
Kynseed
A Gorgeous Pixel RPG Cozy Game
Kynseed is a fully-realized RPG, but it’s also very much a cozy game that falls firmly into the pixel farm genre. It’s similar to games like Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria, but there’s more emphasis on combat here, with animations and sound effects that are strangely satisfying. Much more action-based than you may expect.
It’s set in a medieval-adjacent world and filled with magic, even more so than Fields of Mistria, and is perfect for RPG fans looking for more games in the fantasy genre. The combination of cozy and RPG means you can build a life while adventuring, and Kynseed hits a great balance between the two.
7
Sea of Stars
A Turn-Based RPG With a Cozy Feel
Steam
Sea of Stars is the least traditional of the cozy games on this list, and is far more like an RPG than a cozy game. However, this does make it a great game to play if you want to get a taste of what cozy games can do for you.
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It has a lovely, relaxing atmosphere that pushes coziness in every mechanic and element, with magical undertones throughout. It’s also a great way to get accustomed to the pixel art games that are quite common in the cozy game space, all while retaining the RPG elements you may be used to from other RPGs.
6
Night in the Woods
An RPG With Fall Aesthetics
Night in the Woods is a side-scroller and platformer where you take on the role of Mae, who’s returned to her hometown after a stint in college. The characters are anthropomorphic animals and all residents of a dying town, Possum Springs. There’s not much in the way of combat here, but that doesn’t detract from it at all.
Mae’s a fascinating, and sometimes unlikable, character. It’s obvious upon arriving in Possum Springs that there’s some bad history between her and the town, which slowly unfolds as you speak to its inhabitants and Mae’s old acquaintances. It takes the brilliant storytelling and writing that I love in RPGs, and delivers it all on its own.
5
A Short Hike
A Small Game with Big Impact
A Short Hike lives up to its name: It takes just a couple of hours from beginning to end. It’s also a masterclass in saying a lot with just a few words, and its impact on me and many others was far greater than its run time or premise implies. Its exploration is seamless and rewards curiosity.
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You play as a bird who goes on a hike to reach the summit of a mountain. It’s a simple premise with soothing mechanics and music, the perfect game to unwind. Its short play time makes it a low barrier for entry if you’ve never played games in this genre before, and it’s less than $10. A Short Hike is the perfect game for those looking to dip their toes into the cozy genre.
4
Spiritfarer
Big Emotional Impact
This is a side-scroller with a lot of emotion and heart. You take on the role of a ferrymaster who transports spirits to the afterlife. This kind of subject matter is always going to be emotional, and Spiritfarer depicts it in a way that’s respectful without getting cheesy. It’s a thoughtful game about saying goodbye, something that all of us are familiar with in one way or another.
I loved Spiritfarer as an RPG player as it told its story in a way that quietly unfolds, while also giving me the freedom to customize my boat and relationships the way I wanted. Like A Short Hike, it’s a quieter game with no combat, but it’s one that reminds me of quiet nights at camp or at a home hub in RPGs.
3
Fields of Mistria
Farming with Magic
Fields of Mistria is a pixelated farming sim, but it also is so much more. It takes the farming sim template and takes it to its intended end point with its characters, lore, and skill systems. Several things are done really well here, especially its worldbuilding and characters. Listening to the Mistrians chat with each other throughout their day and discovering their personalities and backgrounds is one of my favorite parts of playing it.
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But where Field of Mistria truly stands out is its lore. Mistria’s history is uncovered through the artifacts you unearth, delving into the mines, and through the mysterious dragon statue on your farm. As you progress, it becomes clear that your arrival in Mistria was no accident, and fate begins to unravel. The depiction of magic and fantasy in a farming sim makes this a great cozy option for RPG players who love fantasy.
2
My Time at Sandrock
An Underrated Gem
My Time at Sandrock is an open-world cozy game that also technically doubles as an RPG. A lot of the time you’ll spend in Sandrock will involve building relationships with its characters, mining, and building items, but there’s also a combat component and a sprawling story that gets surprisingly intense.
But most of all, Sandrock has all the things many love about RPGs and does them really well. Its combat system is simple, but clean and challenging enough to not become a bore. The responses all ultimately lead to the same outcomes, but your options to get there are different enough that you still feel like your character is yours. Sandrock remains one of the best ways for RPG players to ease into cozy games.
1
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
A Classic Cozy Series
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is probably one of the best examples of the combination of cozy farming sim with epic fantasy RPG. While it’s technically a cozy game, there are a lot of JRPG and RPG characteristics, including some breathtaking, sweeping battles, character building, and an interesting story.
Rune Factory is one of the most iconic cozy game franchises, and any RPG fan will get a lot out of Guardians of Azuma. It’s familiar in all the right ways, its story and mechanics hold up to some of the best RPGs, and it’s is less of a transition than jumping straight into a pixel farm sim.
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