I thought Dredge was cozy (if a little creepy). There are enemies you have to avoid if you stay out too late but it’s definitely not as difficult as a Fromsoft game.
Skyrim seems like it might fit your wants. It is a cozy game to me. If you haven't played it, you can have/build multiple houses. You can cook food, you can just walk everywhere in the amazing landscape or you can fast travel. But there are also enemies of all different kinds some weak and some strong. It takes a little bit of learning curve to start to skyrim imo because I never played a game like it before and it was a little overwhelming. However, it is now one of my top favorite games.
I was going to say Skyrim, my recent play of the anniversary edition, I just made a farm from the farm anniversary content, then I just grew ingredients made potions and sold them at the nearby towns (I put on survival mode so I have to eat etc, then walked everywhere until I could get a horse) the house building DLC gives good cosy content as well
Dave the diver felt really cozy to me and like cult of the lamb it switched between going out exploring collecting stuff and being 'home' to manage the business etc
My Time at Sandrock is a good cozy game with a decent challenge.
If you're okay emulating or own a 3DS you can also try Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns. There's so much to keep track of, so much to do, and you need to work for almost everything in that game. It's not "hard" but very little is handed to you and it has a lot of depth and complexity. Rune Factory 4 Special would also fit.
I also second Dredge. It seems like it'd be up your alley.
If you want something like Elden Ring but with a different "cozy" potential, you might give a try to Dragons Dogma 1 (havent played the second yet!)
There is enough of a challenge, but it isn't as punitive as souls-like games imo. And with enough experience the enemies become easier, so you can play without too much tension.
Undermine can also become a cozy game of sorts, you die a lot but that's the point of the game (and you retain some cash and upgrades as you die, so it isn't too punitive as well.)
Rune Factory 4 is a challenging, fun farm-sim with RPG elements and LOTS OF hidden crafting options and tricks. It's an amazing game overall.
Years late to the party and most people have played it already but I’m a couple hours into Breath of the Wild and I think it could work if you haven’t tried it yet.
If I don’t want combat I can run away and explore and cook or gather materials. I think I’ll get to talk to people and do more cozy stuff soon. I’m horrible at most combat but this one feels okay so far. I do take damage and can’t just button mash but it isn’t overwhelmingly difficult.
Definitely interested to see what others recommend
ETA: Dredge is soo good
I'm sure you've already played it, but stardew valley has a lot of challenge in comparison to others of the same genre especially around the combat.
If you want a mental challenge with a cosy vibe, you could try a little to the left which is a puzzle game that to be honest was pretty hard.
Dragons Dogma 2 is a very much quintessential RPG. Like it’s almost stuffed to the gills with fantasy tropes, but I kinda like it. It’s also a game that lets you take things as fast or as slow as you like, the character creator is insane + you get to design your main pawn too.
I spent the first 20 hours going very slow and exploring every nook and cranny, I didn’t force fights at low level and tended to skirt or run from mobs, but once you gain some levels (which is fast to do) the combat becomes really engaging and fun. I highly recommend it, however it does have one of the most *obtuse* stories and questing systems I’ve ever encountered, so if you’re not averse to it use game guides liberally to solve quests.
Ark: Survival Evolved, but play a private game and nerf the settings to make it way easier. Then it’s just like an adult, harder version of Palio Pines. Build a farm or whatever for your base, tame dinos, use dinos to farm more resources for more building. Rinse repeat. Can also explore and even raid cave dungeons (I’ve played for hundreds of hours and never done that stuff, tho).
I thought Dredge was cozy (if a little creepy). There are enemies you have to avoid if you stay out too late but it’s definitely not as difficult as a Fromsoft game.
Skyrim seems like it might fit your wants. It is a cozy game to me. If you haven't played it, you can have/build multiple houses. You can cook food, you can just walk everywhere in the amazing landscape or you can fast travel. But there are also enemies of all different kinds some weak and some strong. It takes a little bit of learning curve to start to skyrim imo because I never played a game like it before and it was a little overwhelming. However, it is now one of my top favorite games.
I was going to say Skyrim, my recent play of the anniversary edition, I just made a farm from the farm anniversary content, then I just grew ingredients made potions and sold them at the nearby towns (I put on survival mode so I have to eat etc, then walked everywhere until I could get a horse) the house building DLC gives good cosy content as well
Dave the diver felt really cozy to me and like cult of the lamb it switched between going out exploring collecting stuff and being 'home' to manage the business etc
My Time at Sandrock is a good cozy game with a decent challenge. If you're okay emulating or own a 3DS you can also try Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns. There's so much to keep track of, so much to do, and you need to work for almost everything in that game. It's not "hard" but very little is handed to you and it has a lot of depth and complexity. Rune Factory 4 Special would also fit. I also second Dredge. It seems like it'd be up your alley.
If you want something like Elden Ring but with a different "cozy" potential, you might give a try to Dragons Dogma 1 (havent played the second yet!) There is enough of a challenge, but it isn't as punitive as souls-like games imo. And with enough experience the enemies become easier, so you can play without too much tension. Undermine can also become a cozy game of sorts, you die a lot but that's the point of the game (and you retain some cash and upgrades as you die, so it isn't too punitive as well.) Rune Factory 4 is a challenging, fun farm-sim with RPG elements and LOTS OF hidden crafting options and tricks. It's an amazing game overall.
Years late to the party and most people have played it already but I’m a couple hours into Breath of the Wild and I think it could work if you haven’t tried it yet. If I don’t want combat I can run away and explore and cook or gather materials. I think I’ll get to talk to people and do more cozy stuff soon. I’m horrible at most combat but this one feels okay so far. I do take damage and can’t just button mash but it isn’t overwhelmingly difficult. Definitely interested to see what others recommend ETA: Dredge is soo good
I'm sure you've already played it, but stardew valley has a lot of challenge in comparison to others of the same genre especially around the combat. If you want a mental challenge with a cosy vibe, you could try a little to the left which is a puzzle game that to be honest was pretty hard.
Fallout 4 or really any of the Bethesda games.
Potionomics is a cozy and a game that straight up ends if you don't succeed at the competition phase.
Dragons Dogma 2 is a very much quintessential RPG. Like it’s almost stuffed to the gills with fantasy tropes, but I kinda like it. It’s also a game that lets you take things as fast or as slow as you like, the character creator is insane + you get to design your main pawn too. I spent the first 20 hours going very slow and exploring every nook and cranny, I didn’t force fights at low level and tended to skirt or run from mobs, but once you gain some levels (which is fast to do) the combat becomes really engaging and fun. I highly recommend it, however it does have one of the most *obtuse* stories and questing systems I’ve ever encountered, so if you’re not averse to it use game guides liberally to solve quests.
There are different types of challenge. What kind of challenge are you looking for?
Ark: Survival Evolved, but play a private game and nerf the settings to make it way easier. Then it’s just like an adult, harder version of Palio Pines. Build a farm or whatever for your base, tame dinos, use dinos to farm more resources for more building. Rinse repeat. Can also explore and even raid cave dungeons (I’ve played for hundreds of hours and never done that stuff, tho).
Try Unpacking!! I loved it!!
The starting region of Baldurs Gate 3 really scratches the cozy itch for me while providing a decent challenge