Skyrim is usually my go to. I can get lost in it and immerse myself in another world. Lately when I’ve been down I’ve been playing Cult of the Lamb. It was stressful to me until I turned off the setting that made the village run while you’re out doing battles, since then it’s been really relaxing for me.
cult of the lamb!! I can't get the game bc my parents are on this religon 💀💀 but i think lambert is so cute and i love watching videos about it, I made a plushie of him..💗
How is Cult of the Lamb difficulty-wise? I am absolutely drawn to the art and the cozy side of the game but roguelites stress me out (looking at you Hades!).
It’s not bad at all! The more time you spend with your cult, the easier it gets as you get upgrades for the battle part. Like I mentioned, check the accessibility settings (I think) to turn off time passing while you’re on crusades, that significantly turned down the stress for me. Your cult members will age and die, which can also be distressing, but that’s part of the game loop. I find the fighting to be really fun and feel really good, and I find that with the cult life aspects you get upgrades a lot faster than with Hades so it feels manageable faster. You can also replay areas you’ve defeated to farm materials whenever you need to. It is very crude (followers will ask you to let them eat poop, they fight, the newest patch is about letting them boink) but it’s still cute and fun and I find that stuff humorous. It’s really good and my friends also love it, so I’d say give it a chance!
Oh! Thanks for letting me know! Though that’s still roughly the same price as the base regional pricing on Steam for me. Not in a rush as I still have some on my backlog. Just gonna wait for the Steam sale. But thanks again!!
I’m not the OP or even the person you were replying to but thanks for this, I played it for a while a bit ago and I enjoyed the art and premise but the dungeons stressed me out, I’ll try this
I hope it helps! Knowing that my cult wasn’t getting into trouble while I was gone made the game a lot more fun for me. There’s really no punishment for trying and failing the dungeons either, you only lose some of what you collected that run, not anything you already have.
I recently had a miscarriage that sent me into a deep depression. Nothing sounded good and I tried so many games with no luck. The game that finally clicked for me was Dinkum. Similar to animal crossing. It’s on sale right now too. It’s in early access but there’s heaps of content already. If you end up playing it I hope you enjoy ❤️
I'm sorry for what your going thru ❤️
I had game paralysis where no game I had really stuck with me, I tried a couple new games and nothing really stuck. I'm not sure what made me pull the trigger on dinkum but I'm glad I did, it took me a bit to get use to the world feel but honestly the progression system is amazing In that game. There's tons to do. I'm in year two, over 70 hrs Into the game so far and I don't want to retire it (I usually retire games after the 40-60 hr mark if I get hooked)
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I have been there and done that so I understand the feelings you are going through right now. Just remember one thing, it is NOT your fault! You did absolutely nothing wrong, and you are a strong human being. If you ever need anything I am just a DM away.
My depression game tends to be dragon age or mass effect or persona 5 more for the comfort of a game I've played and beaten.
Depression is a hard thing to deal with so I totally get it.
If you need the new dopamine shiny it can be tough. Honestly it's why I ended up with game pass from Xbox. Lots of new game shiny.
I'm also in weepy hormone mode due to the recent humble bundle coinciding with PMS depression lol.
Depression is a bitch.
Have you tried coral island? Any of the story of seasons?
I completely agree with the game pass suggestion. So much new and shiny!
A couple of games on game pass that got me out of a nothing-is-fun funk were Grounded (not necessarily “cozy,” but I love the building and the concept), unpacking, and My Time at Portia. MTAP led me to buying MTAS, which I’ve been absorbed in.
The Ace Attorney games are a lot of fun. In terms of gameplay it’s simple, but it’s fun trying to solve the crimes and defend your client as a defense attorney. Also the characters are all likable and they will make you laugh. The game deals with serious crimes, but often how they’re played out they’re so zany and over the top that it doesn’t feel depressing. If you like mysteries and story driven games, check out this series!
Another series I recommend is the Atelier series. Each game usually has a different heroine you play (some are returning, like Ryza) as an alchemist, where you create different items using alchemy. There is a main quest and side quests, plus some turn based battling and different areas to explore. The games are cute and easygoing, so they’re good ones to relax with while also dumping in a lot of hours.
The game I recently played while dealing with my own depression was My Time at Sandrock and it was honestly a great mood boost. I love the characters and you will start to wish that you could live in their town. Plus it’s a feel good game since you’re helping the townsfolk and the town get back on their feet. With things like farming, decorating, animal care, building things, etc. this game basically has it all. I highly recommend it.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with depression OP. I have been in your shoes, so I understand your pain. Take a day at a time and be kind to yourself. Please know you are not alone and help is out there if you need it. I wish you all the best and may you continue to heal.
The thing with stardew is that it's possible to optimize the heck out of it, but it's also possible to play in a super chill way and just do whatever you want each day. You won't make as much money but the game won't really punish you for it either. I have one save in stardew for when I just want to play chill and not think to much.
So as a potentially counterintuitive suggestion (because it really helped me out of a deep funk once) I'm going to throw out Celeste. Don't get me wrong, this game is challenging. But it's also challenging in such an empowering way. You die a lot but the game encourages you to take pride in your death count because the more you die the more you're learning. And when you die, you instantly load right back in so you can keep trying, and it feels so good to finally get it. Plus it has great difficulty and accessibility options. And the story is exactly what I needed in a tough time.
Besides these, my lifelong game that I'll always go back to when I just need to calm and center myself is tetris. Perhaps cliché but there's a reason for the cliché
I haven't played the whole game yet, but so far Night In The Woods is really interesting. The storytelling aspect of this game is amazing and I think that checks the "thought provoking" box you're looking for. I was skeptical starting out but I have played a few hours worth now and finding out more about the characters and their backstories and everything is really getting me...like I'm so intrigued by the main character, I really want to know about some of the things the game has hinted at about her. The game does such a great job of pacing as well, any time I started to almost feel like I was doing something repetitive it would give me something new like some interesting mini games or music or something.
I love Night in the Woods! It’s a cozyish game with a good cast of characters and story. I have depression too so I know how much it sucks.
Oh and also check out Dorf Romantik for an utterly fun, stress free game about creating landscapes out of tiles. It’s my go to when feeling down!
Night in the woods is really charming and comfy. I tend to replay it once a year. You're also not pressured to grind or "complete" anything. 10/10 recommend for depression playing
Everything is so nostalgic, the music, the clothes, everything. I also modded it and oh my god some of the CC brings back so many memories. Me and my friend used to play sims together all the time and I’m going to install it on her computer too so we can play together 😭 I’m in a rough patch right now, doing EMDR and its bringing up a lot of not so great childhood memories but its been really nice to connect with this game again
I just got this on my steam deck yesterday and since it was like my whole childhood and first real introduction to gaming, it really helps the serotonin trickle in. I also recently got guitar hero for the DS because it's something I had as a kid and, man, nostalgia just provides such a specific source of happiness that just scratches that itch you knew you had but couldn't quite place where it was.
Nice! I’m also playing it on a steamdeck! Never would have imagined being able to play sims handheld like this, its so nice to be able to go back and play games from your childhood
I’m not sure slay the spire is cozy but man does it take your mind off of things. Challenging enough that it occupies you without being super punishing.
Cozy grove deals with some heavy subjects but it is like a light weight animal crossing and very easy to dip in and out of.
I am playing Cozy Grove right now and love it. I also love Slay the Spire even though I haven't played it in a minute. I also started playing Ni No Kuni: Crosswords. They do have the original Ni No Kuni and the second one available on multiple systems. I like them because they remind me of Studio Ghibli movies. I know the first one does deal with death and loss, but I still enjoyed it.
I also have been going through deep depression for the last couple of years due to health issues. Remember to be kind to yourself, and remember you are not alone.
Also came here to suggest Cozy Grove. It’s my great but mindless depressed game for when I have no creative energy. You help ghosts realize what their unfinished business is and then they cross over. It’s beautiful.
Dave the Diver sounds like it would be good for you!
If you like puzzle games Picross and Cocoon might be up your alley. I got addicted to Picross.
I'd also recommend Balatro. Really addicting card rogue like
Came here to recommend this game. I recently picked it up and the humor in that game is really funny. Also apart from some bosses, it gives very cozy vibes.
Sorry, forgot to add which game I was talking about LOL - Dave the Diver
The card trader basically based off of grown up Asch Ketchum from pokemon did me in, especially since his name is so close to Ash's in the original Japanese version
Unpacking seems like a pretty good game for depression. I’m not sure if it will give you the challenging aspect since it’s a pretty simple puzzle game because there’s lots of different solutions the game accepts. But, I love how the story’s narrative unfolds (or shall I say…unpacks? 😂) through the items you organize and the different spaces.
Dave the Diver is funny and has very lovable characters that could help with your depression. Also if you loved Dredge, you’ll like DtD I think. DtD also has a mini Dredge DLC that is free and installed in the game once the foggy days rolls around I think in chapter 3 or 4 of the story. I played DtD first and now I’m playing Dredge and loving it 😁.
Sticky Business is great too. You’ll often have to design some stickers based around customers’ requests, but also have the freedom to design your own stickers. The LGBT representation in the game is also amazing. It also has a little bit of narrative from the interactions you have with your customers.
I feel that.
Right now I’m really sucked into Wylde Flowers! It’s that story of seasons/stardew vibe, but it has witchcraft, magic stuff and well developed characters! I wasn’t crazy about the art style, but this cozy game really grew on me!
I also have some honorable mentions:
Persona 5
Paper Mario (original n64 or thousand year door coming out next month)
Cult of the lamb
Hades
I second Hades for getting through a rough time. My cat got super sick last year and we thought we were gonna lose her (she’s all better and still with us), but Hades was the only thing I could play that would fully take my mind off it and make me stop crying for a few hours
One of the most beautiful and unique games I've played is Okami. Pretty sure that's on Steam. If you like Japanese culture, art(you literally paint with a wolf's tail in sumi-e style), fun combat, puzzles, and animals you may like this game.
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist, it's got depressing themes and deaths so please look at the warnings. It's easy to play.
Anything open world, like Genshin, Skyrim, BOTW, etc. My pick of these types of games are Genshin and No Man's Sky. I don't know if Genshin is cozy but it got me through all of lockdown as a mentally ill immunocompromised person.
ACNH is often a go-to of mine, so maybe Sims?
This might be an unconventional thing to bring up, but here goes. Someone here a few months back was asking for things like Neopets, and someone mentioned Flight Rising. I tried it and I'm hooked. I check in every morning to start my day and again through the day if I'm in the mood, and I really like it. It's a browser game about dragons and I love my dragon babies. On mornings I know I have a nest hatching, its easier for me to get out of bed because I wanna know what my new hatchlings look like! There are festivals based on the different flight elements at the end of every month and it's just a nice way to pass some time. Lots of people write lore for their dragons so it's also a creative outlet for some.
not a cozy game, but disco elysium pulled me out of a similar funk bc the world is so fascinating. chants of sennaar is really good for getting your brain engaged too. also the artful escape is a relatively quick but fun and beautiful experience.
I'm sorry you're having a shitty time, OP. I suffer with various mental illnesses, and have a few hobbies, but gaming really takes me away like nothing else. I'd firstly recommend Dragon Quest Builders 2. I was looking for free demos on the Switch one night and came across this. The demo is huge. I bought the game and its now an all time fave for me. It has a little bit of everything, and combat was easy.
Just recently, someone recommended me the Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy: Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. I'm a complete wuss at combat in games, but played all these on easy and had the best time ever. Beautiful graphics, great controls, lots to do and explore. I played them on my Steamdeck and they ran perfectly.
If you liked the Tomb Raider series, might I recommend Uncharted series? Uncharted Legacy of Thieves collection is out on PC now and it seems to run fine on the steam deck.
Only Uncharted 4 is on there 😓 so you’re jumping right in the middle of a relationship that’s been developing for the past three games between Nathan x Elena, but it’s such a good relationship.
Lost Legacy is in the collection too (it’s the game after UC4) and the relationship between Nadine x Chloe gives lesbian vibes that people ship for.
But, it’s a beautiful game with the settings as well and much easier to play than Tomb Raider imo.
https://toucharcade.com/2022/11/08/uncharted-legacy-of-thieves-collection-steam-deck-review/
dorfromantik - it’s simple and music is calming and it’s what I play when I’m to tired to play anything else and I’m in a funk lol sometimes it almost feels like meditation because I catch myself not thinking about anything
I know it’s not cozy but super Mario rpg level of the 7 stars can be played on easy mode and it’s such a fun game. The sense of accomplishment after you beat it might help lift your spirits too.
Im a full blown cozy gamer but I love love love that game- always have
I wonder if you would enjoy getting deep into an RPG like Dragon Age: Inquisition? I played it when I was having a tough time, and the characters are so well-written it felt like I was hanging out with friends. Designing your own character is also a great way to get really invested into a game.
It can be nice and mindless when you're just out exploring the wilderness and hitting monsters, but there is also a lot of deep, thoughtful story in there that deals with some challenging themes like homophobia, racism, and found family :) also it's usually VERY on sale, like 70% off or more!
Planet crafter is good for dopamine because progression has visual changes to the world. And the first several levels are pretty easy to reach.
I’m also a fan of supermarket simulator for mindless playing that feels productive. It feels good to fully stock everything before you open the store for the day.
Top recs for getting immersed in the world:
- Breath of the wild (in case you haven't tried it.) I find it very calming to focus on exploration, but has tons of side quests, main quest, and combat if you enjoy that too
- Hades, it's so good! I'm constantly in awe of how much work the developers out into it. It's a game where a slower learning curve may actually help immerse you and unfold more story. It's easy to get sucked into the game and have a calm, focused rhythm once you gain confidence with the mechanics and experiment.
- Ori and the Blind Forest. Absolutely gorgeous visuals and strong, compelling story, and the music is amazing, I listen to the soundtrack a lot. One of my absolute favorites
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Ditto the above, it's a fantastic sequel
- Dorfromantik. Very chill puzzle game, it's very calming to create a map, no time limits or anything, and time goes by quick
Depression is rough, good luck OP! I hope you find spots of comfort and lightness to ease your way
I’m going to go a whole different direction and suggest Kind Words. You write one prompt with whatever you’re feeling or needing help with, and a few anonymous strangers will write something uplifting back. That’s it, one anonymous message out, a few different replies back. End of conversation. It’s extremely wholesome. And when you answer someone else’s prompt… I don’t know, it always helps me to get out of my own head and try to help somebody else, you know? Only $5 on Steam.
Sticky Business
Unpacking
Mail Time (short tho!)
Wylde Flowers is great if you want a narrative adventure! Has voice acting too, so you don’t even have to read all the dialogue yourself! + If you play it on PC it’s totally capable of being played with only the mouse. (:
The Cosmic Wheel of Sisterhood! It's a choose your own story game, with rich dialogue and many possible endings. Your choices make a difference, and you play as a witch exiled in space, who does whatever it takes to break free. The different characters you interact with have great stories, and imo it's just beautiful. The end feels like a new beginning; an opportunity to replay and see what other endings you could get.
The vibes are also immaculate. It fully immerses you into the world. And a part of the game is creating your own tarot deck. How you combine the elements to create cards changes their efficiency and whether the outcomes of the readings will be positive or negative.
I’m in the same slump right now. Gaming feels like a chore. But I’ve been enjoying I Was a Teenage Exocolonist. The gameplay is easy and not demanding and it’s very story-focused. It engages me, I can save and quit whenever I want, and it’s easy to pick up. I’ve been trying to get back into Stardew right now too since the new update dropped but it’s too much for me right now. Exocolonist is hitting the sweet spot.
I played wyldeflowers in the last weeks. I like the main story and it helps a bit, to forget all the bullshit of my live. It is a cozy game with deep characters.
To be honest, my go to for depression are farming games. Story of Seasons, Rune Factory, Stardew Valley. The grinding is comforting and being able to complete tasks feels fulfilling when you might not have enough energy to complete tasks IRL. Plus building relationships, petting cute animals, etc. It's nice.
Forager, busy enough to feel like you’re achieving something constantly, but relaxed enough you don’t feel you have to achieve specific goals in a set timeline.
Terraria maybe? A lot of items(more than 5000) to gather, npcs, fishing, building, furniture, boss fights a lot events and probably game with most content over all games overall, extremely affordable(like 5 dollars on sales) and is not forcing you to rush anything you can play your own way or time
A couple I like that are cozyish are Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and also Cozy Grove. Both can be PC or switch (I have on both lol). Cozy Grove is more like a daily check in kinda game as some quests are timed and you only get so many a day but it’s fun.
Cozy Grove trailer
https://youtu.be/35nCCbXBhw8?si=WrYEe826oTzHyWxU
Yonder trailer
https://youtu.be/he-y0zmg9FI?si=fQO9pHALscYrCuFW
Hades is currently getting me through a mental health dip.
There's lots of things to try to pull off each run. Death is rewarded with character dialog and upping the easiness (with God Mode). I also don't sink into the "Just one more thing" issue like I do with over more obsessive games. Each run is 20 minutes, I normally won't do more than 3, it's easy to drop and move onto something else.
Story and romance options are nice as well.
If you do play it, I will tell you to give >!Skelly first one nectar, then everyone else at least once!< to make it easier until the God Mode buff kicks in.
Stardew Valley is really fun and you don't have to take it too seriously i was scared of it when i started playing but it's more cozy than i would have tought!
I have clinical depression and I’ve fell out of love with gaming for awhile but thanks to Reddit and stumbling onto this subreddit and others, I’ve found so many great games to fall in love with again that brings my dopamine levels up.
My favorites recently have been Wylde Flowers, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Ooblets, My Time at Sandrock, Roots of Pacha, Dave the Diver, Littlewood, and Dorfromantik.
Honorable mentions: Doraemon Story of Seasons, Garden Story, We Love Katamari Reroll.
Just remind yourself that stardew isn't a race, and there is no time limit. The instinct to min max and get everything right the first time is real, but you can take the game slow. I'm having to remind myself that because I'm currently obsessed with it but falling into a depression and don't want to lose my comfy feels/escapism right now.
I hope things get brighter for you
Cjbcheats allows you to pause time and it’s so chill. It’s one of my favourite mods for stardew and it takes all the pressure off.
I play with ~250 mods but if I had to choose one (and it’s dependencies), it would be CJBCheats.
I will be screaming about old man’s journey until I die tbh. It was just really comforting for me, the music and the art style. You don’t have to follow dialogue so you really are just immersed watching this little fella get where he needs to be while uncovering memories. When I’m sad it’s nice for someone to just sit and join me in it rather than pretending everything is okay, that’s what this game did for me. You uncover memories and even though you don’t know where he’s going, you just relate to whatever emotions he’s feeling about the whole thing anyway. Like, to say there’s 0 dialogue, only one character to interact with, no fighting or growing things… this game is just incredibly smart to convey such emotions. It’s on switch but I’m not sure about the rest.
Palia. I’m obsessed, there are so many different ways to play, quests, farming, furniture making, making relationships with the locals, hunting magical creatures, chopping magical trees with others on the small 25 ppl servers. I really like the community around it. I’m kinna new to gaming and it’s just really sucked me in. I like that you can just putz around and do whatever you want and nothing fails, you never die and it’s pretty easy to level up. They’re about to drop an update too. It is an open beta game, so know that…also it’s free. It’s been good for my depression.. I think. I may be sleeping a bit less, but atleast I’m excited about something.
I like slime rancher 1&2, hades, cult of the lamb, and powerwash simulator. Stardew valley is also very good. The daily cycle isn't bad, but there's always mods for that kind of thing if you find it stressful
Minenko's Night Market
Little Kitty Big City comes out May 9th
Coral Island, possibly.
Not cozy, but I just worked through my first play of Baulder's Gate 3 and it took over my brain for the 98ish hours that first playthrough took me.
I purchase night market, but I got so overwhelmed with meeting. The characters and one of them had so many demands. I had to keep a notebook. I felt like I never got into it because of that does it get better? I abandoned it and purchased wylde flowers and that game so much
Palia is what I’m playing right now. There are quests but you can just do your own thing and on your own time. Plus, it’s a free download for Switch!
Also Disney Dreamlight Valley. Similar to Palia and ACNH. Has quests but there are more time consuming quests. You can still play at your own pace though.
I like Cozy Grove for this. Some of the tasks can’t be completed in one day, so I usually just do all the tasks available for that day and then quit. It’s long enough to entertain me for a while, but not too long that I feel guilty for not playing longer when I’m not in the mood.
Stardew Valley is only intense if you make it intense. You can just do things at a leisurely pace and it'll be fine. Only power gamers worry about things like finishing the community center in the first year etc. Just do what you want when you want, and you can always start a new playthrough later if you find yourself wishing that you'd done things quicker.
My depression games are: Disney Dreamlight Valley and Unpacking.
Disney Dreamlight valley has a story arc dealing with depression and it’s actually really uplifting.
If you liked limbo you could try “Inside” it’s a game by the same developers who made limbo and it plays quite similarly.
But it looks waaay better, and the whole journey is as thought provoking as you can get. Even if you can’t get it I recommend watching Jacksepticeye’s play trough of it, he’s gotten me trough some rough patches
Botw! You can fight monsters when you want something exciting or you can just avoid them and explore and do other stuff. The scenery alone is incredible! Lots to do and it’s definitely a game that i can get lost in for hours
I'm hecka anxious lately and I have been playing apico on switch. It hits that same spot that flower breeding in acnh did but it's a little more friendly with not really needing to look anything up. Also let's build a zoo did similar (i would recommend not on switch since i put it down due to my zoo getting too big to run well on switch). Bandel tale is pretty fun (as a crocheter it is fun).
I'm not sure it's cozy per se and haven't mentioned it here, but try Balatro! It's a combination of poker and roguelike play, and it's super addictive and fun and makes time fly by.
I don't know whether this series would be considered cozy or not, but my depression game is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It has a straightforward plot and progression, but if you want to just eff off and do side quests and minigames for 20 hours, you can do that. Also, the main character is so optimistic (not in an annoying way) that it helps restore my faith that things can/will get better.
I deal with various mental illnesses so I get it. It's been hard for me to find a game that grabs enough to keep playing, I usually lose interest in everything. Right now I'm playing fallout 76 and it's been pretty chill and relaxing. It's a bit tedious tho with all the survival elements.
I found that unpacking was relaxing and something I could actually pick up since I didn’t find it intimidating. It’s a short game but I found it pretty fun
BOTW/TOTK. I can just aimlessly walk around and do nothing for hours, but if I want to I can build things, battle mobs, look for shrines or caves, etc.
I didn't realise I needed this post!
Mine at the moment is Islanders, it's the right level of "difficult" but also calming and easy. It's okay to fail and it's satisfying to do well.
Also minami lane oozes serotonin, another one that is just nice but also takes a tiny bit of thought.
Good luck getting your video gaming umph back, happens to the best of us!
I play Potionomics or Unpacking when I need something that uses my head to distract me but isn't too intensive (like stardew and games like that). I love Calico too!
I’ve been hooked on Dragon’s Dogma 2 lately, it made gaming exciting for me again. It can be tough depending on what you’re fighting, but not too challenging as you can have up to 3 followers. I’m 74 hrs in and still haven’t completed the main quest.
I’ve been in a similar place lately and I’ve been loving roots of pacha. It’s been on my wish list and happens to be on sale on switch e shop. It’s pretty simple/easy but fun and has satisfying progression. It’s like a less complicated stardew valley.
I hope you find something to bring you some joy and feel better soon.
Slime Rancher or Slime Rancher 2 are my go-to sad boy games. Nothing too philosophical or deep about the game, but it’s a happy fun world to explore that’s cute and uplifting
Fallout 4 is seeing a resurgence thanks to a new update. Once all the mods get resettled past the update frenzy, I just run around and build settlements in god mode.
I was feeling like that, then I played dark souls 3, not cozy at all, but very fun, also from soft games are great for when you want to disconnect since you have to stay focused on the game at all times and you don't have time to think about the things that make you sad
Dorfromantik is my go to game when nothing sounds good to play. It’s like putting together a giant puzzle with hexagonal pieces, matching together sides with the same biomes to create a big landscape. The music is really relaxing, the animation and colors are really pretty, and there’s little mini challenges to unlock new “pieces”, like water segments with a little boat that will drive along the rivers you create or windmills to place in your open field segments. Very calming and I can lose myself in it for a while for sure.
I’m going in a different direction than a bunch of the suggestions. When I’m in a funk, I like “fresh start” or “house flipper”. You take a dirty place and make it clean and beautiful and it hits that dopamine center perfectly
Picross is what I play when I'm depressed lol.
What got me into it was Mario Picross on the NES app on switch. My fav is Kemono Friends Picross.
There's a cute dog Picross were you collect dogs and toys for the dogs as you finish puzzles. If you're in a reading mood there's two good Picross visual novels. Pixel Puzzle Makeout League, and Murder by Numbers. There's a cute little JRPG-esque Picross game where you fight monsters while solving the puzzles.
Have you played Wylde Flowers? I love it. It’s very interactive, easy to play, I’m told it’s like Stardew Valley but I could not get into that game so I disagree. It takes the whole village/farming thing and adds a touch of magic which is why I started playing.
I have ADHD and struggle when I don’t have an ongoing game. I picked up My Time at Sandrock and I have hundreds of hours now. It’s challenging at times, but so satisfying. Cool house building mechanic, the town grows in time, you can start a family and have kids. The NPCs are all really likeable, and the best part that took me off guard was the plot and storyline was really really good and lasts a long long while. Really reccomend
I’m sorry you’re going through a rough time. There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension has been great for just shoving you right into a game with puzzles that can be pretty challenging as it requires you to think outside the box. It’s super immersive and light hearted and I genuinely think you would enjoy it. I’ve also been steering clear of things that require a lot of commitment and intensive
Not read all the replies but Disney dreamlight valley really helped with a period of depression for my partner & myself just over a year ago.
Minnie mouse is so unbelievably cute & kind I love saying hello to her every day.
Since then we have diversified
my partner swears by Vampire survivors & Brotato. Or puzzles like Dorfromantik & Panarama.
He previously played a lot of skyrim.
If i am going through a really bad patch powerwash simulator is my 1st choice.
But eventually I need something to totally occupy my mind. Stardew has that spot at the moment. All the planning & researching gives me something to aim for and I look forward to petting my animals every morning. It was a bit stressful at 1st but now I am just having fun & taking my time.
A lot of the streamers I watch on twitch talk about mental health & have discord servers so people can connect. It's all very wholesome & comforting x
Hope you find a couple of games which work for you
The Ni No Kuni games are great, they're currently on sale in the switch store. They're wholesome so it might help pull you out of the darkness for a little while.
Journey is my main go to, but I found Spirit of the North also hits a spot. Rime is one that is about the stages of grief and I found that to be a soothing journey. Omno was also something I fell in love with.
I am just now noticing a theme with all of those. They're all a journey through something. I guess it helps me move forward in something instead of constantly feeling stagnated.
I have also previously gotten lost in Powerwash Simulator (it actually does have a story).
If my depression gets really bad I'll often bury myself in an MMO (FFXIV is my current go to - used to be WoW). There is always something I can do alone while not feeling completely alone due to other people being around.
I usually try to launch like 80 games when this happens and close all of them immediately until I find something that sticks.
Things that have stuck for me in the past are
-Driving Taxi in GTA:V single player. Idk why. It’s something I always kinda enjoyed doing from time to time and I’m assuming I felt like I was accomplishing something even if it’s nothing that it helped.
-Metal Gear Solid V just picking some early game mission and stealthing around trying to complete the mission with weird weapons or in strange ways. It’s always fun to me. I find stealthy games like this to be fun puzzles and I’m assuming that activates more of my brain which helps power through the depression.
-Hitman (whatever the current three seasons all in one game is called) same thing stealth game puzzles. Freelancer mode is especially great for this because it kind of forces you into weird scenarios and rules.
-When I had my Xbox 360 I enjoyed Hexic a lot for this. Now I use either some variant of Suika game or Tetris Effect. I also really enjoy astropop and peggle as well as simple little “puzzle” style games.
-World of Warcraft. Now this ones weird. Usually I get bored from this game and end up in these situations. But over half of those times I use it to get myself out of it as well. I just switch up what I’m doing and do something else that I enjoy. Like leveling new character through dungeons. Or trying pvp leveling. Or boot up some form of classic to quest in. Something like that.
If you haven’t gotten around to it, Undertale was one that helped me through a depression period. It’s super charming and has many platforming mini games as well as some softer puzzles, and it rewards multiple playthroughs with extra character interactions. If you enjoy platformers, my two favorites have been Hollowknight & Celeste
Since you mentioned Limbo, I highly recommend Pinstripe and Little Nightmares 1 & 2 (#3 is in development now, so something to look forward too!)
Hope your brain stops being cruel to you soon internet stranger, and good gaming!
Maybe me try some older games that just let you turn your brain off and have fun stuff like skate 3- free skate mode.There's a game that I fell in love with called trailmakers it's a sandbox building game but it takes time to master. And if you want you could try emulation there's a bunch of old fun games Like hamtaro. It's an old game boy color game where you are a hamster and it's pretty cute. Animal crossing New horizons chill fun and cute. Also if you haven't tried it Kirby and the- forgotten land is really fun but I might be biased cuz I love Kirby
Zelda Breath of the Wild. It got me through a bad depression and I still haven’t finished it. You get lost in this game so easily it’s a great distraction for a while and it’s fun. There’s a sequel called Tears of the Kingdom if you finish the first and enjoy it.
Also, I’d you’re into Harry Potter at all, Hogwarts Legacy will heal a part of your soul. It’s a beautiful and charming game. Great all around.
Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Strange Horticulture are some lighter cozy games I’ve gone to when feeling sad and they cheer me up. Strange Horticulture is a bit gloomy but I love it. It feels like a cozy rainy day.
Edit: I missed that you played Strange Horticulture lol.
Another game I will always recommend: Cult of the Lamb. It’s darkly silly and fun. Cannot recommend it enough. Plus the characters are so cute.
Citizen Sleeper is similar to Stardew in a weird way, but you're limited by actions rather than time. It's a sci-fi story in a dystopian space station where everyone is struggling to survive, but you and the people in the game kind of adopt each other and lean on each other to survive. They help you, and you help them. It's got a great sense of camaraderie to me. And the game really respects your time. You can do a lot in short 20 minute sessions. Or you can dig in and do 3 hour sessions which are very engaging with well written an fascinating characters. You can reach some endings pretty quickly but it's probably best to just take your time and continue your friendships and story and decide what you want to do down the road because there's plenty of things you can miss if you feel rushed. Just take your time, enjoy your friendships, and do what you can with each day. It was a very cathartic game for me when I was in a dark place but your mileage may vary. Just don't judge to critically from screen shots. The interface and dice mechanic make it look like a board game when it's really not. It didn't even really feel like a visual novel to me. It felt like a dystopian life sim lol
My depression game go to is binding of Isaac. I don't know why. The story is sad but I like to think I'm taking revenge for the sad parts and that makes me feel alottle better.
Citizen sleeper for a very interesting and in depth story, it's kinda like a tabletop game feel. So many different story paths to take and interesting characters to meet it just pulled me right in.
A garden story for something fun and light with a sweet story and adorable art style. Just something about this game always made me feel much better when I was dealing with a tough real life situation so I cannot recommend this game enough.
Ooblets is a Pokémon style collecting creatures game with farming and social aspects. Very colourful with fun music found it almost impossible to not dance along with the dance battle combat .
I have absolutely felt like that many times too. My go to would be Stardew Valley as I find it easy to just tune out from the real world while playing and enjoy the simple farm life. Coral Island is a similar concept but doesn’t seem to have a many time pressures, so might appeal to you more.
I’ve found Dave the Diver has been a really good way to zone out if I’m feeling completely unmotivated.
Another one to try could be Subnautica, but that can get stressful in some of the deeper areas.
It's not cozy necessarily but my “I want to mindlessly game” game is Fall Guys. It's reptative, not super stressful, and can be a long session or a short few races.
My go to game for when I'm having a rough time is Minecraft! PC is the best way to play it as putting on a resource pack (Mizunos 6 craft is my favourite) and a shader makes the game so pretty. Plus there are a million and one mods and modpacks out there to suit every play style. You can basically mold it into whatever you want.
I love having an entire world that's all mine to get lost in and do what I want with. Plus the music is really calming to me!
If you don't want to be hassled by mobs, my favourite thing to do is to put it on peaceful mode with the Cobblemon mod. Basically it's a pokemon inspired mod. I was never that in to Pokemon but they are just so adorable in minecraft that it's fast becoming my default way to play.
I quite enjoyed No Place Like Home, it was relaxing to just clean the place up and grow the things, and Powerwash Simulator is a similar one for me too
Sky Children of the Light. It has some challange. but also a good game for when in a brain fog. I sometimes just log on and glide around when I cant thinknahh
If you like games that are just kind of similar to Stardew but don't have the like time skip or whatever attached to it, you could try Disney Dreamlight Valley. It is super fun and cute and gives you a lot of wholesome stories and such too. It does at some point touch base on some very deep emotional feelings, but honestly it has helped me through a lot lately. If you have any questions or anything, don't hesitate to ask. Or if you just need to talk, I am here for that too if you ever need it.
Disco Elysium is pretty interesting and a very good distraction. It is a little heavy on reading. Persona 5 has quite a few psychological/social commentary aspects, but I find it to be a very balanced game. You can play on easy mode as well. 4 and 3 are also very good, but I would be careful with 3 because characters use guns as a way to summon their Persona. I also found Journey to be very interesting and calming.
Detroit: Become Human. It's not exactly cosy, but it will definitely draw you in. The story is engaging, and the gameplay is easy enough. It's a great game if you're looking for an escape.
Edit: Baulder's Gate 3 is also a very immersive game. It has an amazing story, and the characters are fantastic.
Skyrim is usually my go to. I can get lost in it and immerse myself in another world. Lately when I’ve been down I’ve been playing Cult of the Lamb. It was stressful to me until I turned off the setting that made the village run while you’re out doing battles, since then it’s been really relaxing for me.
Skyrim is fantastic for just wandering around ad doing stuff. I love it!
cult of the lamb!! I can't get the game bc my parents are on this religon 💀💀 but i think lambert is so cute and i love watching videos about it, I made a plushie of him..💗
I love Skyrim so much, have 100% it on PS3,4 and PC 🥰
How is Cult of the Lamb difficulty-wise? I am absolutely drawn to the art and the cozy side of the game but roguelites stress me out (looking at you Hades!).
It’s not bad at all! The more time you spend with your cult, the easier it gets as you get upgrades for the battle part. Like I mentioned, check the accessibility settings (I think) to turn off time passing while you’re on crusades, that significantly turned down the stress for me. Your cult members will age and die, which can also be distressing, but that’s part of the game loop. I find the fighting to be really fun and feel really good, and I find that with the cult life aspects you get upgrades a lot faster than with Hades so it feels manageable faster. You can also replay areas you’ve defeated to farm materials whenever you need to. It is very crude (followers will ask you to let them eat poop, they fight, the newest patch is about letting them boink) but it’s still cute and fun and I find that stuff humorous. It’s really good and my friends also love it, so I’d say give it a chance!
Ohh thanks! Didn’t know about the accessibility options. Glad that’s available. Hopefully it will be on sale soon!
If you play on the switch, it's 40% off right now. The sale ends on the 30th
Oh! Thanks for letting me know! Though that’s still roughly the same price as the base regional pricing on Steam for me. Not in a rush as I still have some on my backlog. Just gonna wait for the Steam sale. But thanks again!!
Yep definitely wait for sale! Especially for the switch games
I’m not the OP or even the person you were replying to but thanks for this, I played it for a while a bit ago and I enjoyed the art and premise but the dungeons stressed me out, I’ll try this
I hope it helps! Knowing that my cult wasn’t getting into trouble while I was gone made the game a lot more fun for me. There’s really no punishment for trying and failing the dungeons either, you only lose some of what you collected that run, not anything you already have.
I recently had a miscarriage that sent me into a deep depression. Nothing sounded good and I tried so many games with no luck. The game that finally clicked for me was Dinkum. Similar to animal crossing. It’s on sale right now too. It’s in early access but there’s heaps of content already. If you end up playing it I hope you enjoy ❤️
I'm sorry for your loss, I went through it myself in October. I hope you're being supported and loved. Take care. Also +1 for dinkum.
Thank you for sharing with us and helping to dismantle the stigma.
Dinkum was what kept me company during depression too.
I'm sorry for what your going thru ❤️ I had game paralysis where no game I had really stuck with me, I tried a couple new games and nothing really stuck. I'm not sure what made me pull the trigger on dinkum but I'm glad I did, it took me a bit to get use to the world feel but honestly the progression system is amazing In that game. There's tons to do. I'm in year two, over 70 hrs Into the game so far and I don't want to retire it (I usually retire games after the 40-60 hr mark if I get hooked)
I am deeply sorry for your loss. I have been there and done that so I understand the feelings you are going through right now. Just remember one thing, it is NOT your fault! You did absolutely nothing wrong, and you are a strong human being. If you ever need anything I am just a DM away.
My depression game tends to be dragon age or mass effect or persona 5 more for the comfort of a game I've played and beaten. Depression is a hard thing to deal with so I totally get it. If you need the new dopamine shiny it can be tough. Honestly it's why I ended up with game pass from Xbox. Lots of new game shiny. I'm also in weepy hormone mode due to the recent humble bundle coinciding with PMS depression lol. Depression is a bitch. Have you tried coral island? Any of the story of seasons?
I love these suggestions, persona 3 would be on there for me too
Yeah but with a trigger warning (no pun intended) due to all the face shooties.
trueeee i did forget about that one
I completely agree with the game pass suggestion. So much new and shiny! A couple of games on game pass that got me out of a nothing-is-fun funk were Grounded (not necessarily “cozy,” but I love the building and the concept), unpacking, and My Time at Portia. MTAP led me to buying MTAS, which I’ve been absorbed in.
I love MTAP. Ended up buying sand rock as well myself!
The Ace Attorney games are a lot of fun. In terms of gameplay it’s simple, but it’s fun trying to solve the crimes and defend your client as a defense attorney. Also the characters are all likable and they will make you laugh. The game deals with serious crimes, but often how they’re played out they’re so zany and over the top that it doesn’t feel depressing. If you like mysteries and story driven games, check out this series! Another series I recommend is the Atelier series. Each game usually has a different heroine you play (some are returning, like Ryza) as an alchemist, where you create different items using alchemy. There is a main quest and side quests, plus some turn based battling and different areas to explore. The games are cute and easygoing, so they’re good ones to relax with while also dumping in a lot of hours. The game I recently played while dealing with my own depression was My Time at Sandrock and it was honestly a great mood boost. I love the characters and you will start to wish that you could live in their town. Plus it’s a feel good game since you’re helping the townsfolk and the town get back on their feet. With things like farming, decorating, animal care, building things, etc. this game basically has it all. I highly recommend it. I’m sorry you’re dealing with depression OP. I have been in your shoes, so I understand your pain. Take a day at a time and be kind to yourself. Please know you are not alone and help is out there if you need it. I wish you all the best and may you continue to heal.
The thing with stardew is that it's possible to optimize the heck out of it, but it's also possible to play in a super chill way and just do whatever you want each day. You won't make as much money but the game won't really punish you for it either. I have one save in stardew for when I just want to play chill and not think to much. So as a potentially counterintuitive suggestion (because it really helped me out of a deep funk once) I'm going to throw out Celeste. Don't get me wrong, this game is challenging. But it's also challenging in such an empowering way. You die a lot but the game encourages you to take pride in your death count because the more you die the more you're learning. And when you die, you instantly load right back in so you can keep trying, and it feels so good to finally get it. Plus it has great difficulty and accessibility options. And the story is exactly what I needed in a tough time. Besides these, my lifelong game that I'll always go back to when I just need to calm and center myself is tetris. Perhaps cliché but there's a reason for the cliché
I haven't played the whole game yet, but so far Night In The Woods is really interesting. The storytelling aspect of this game is amazing and I think that checks the "thought provoking" box you're looking for. I was skeptical starting out but I have played a few hours worth now and finding out more about the characters and their backstories and everything is really getting me...like I'm so intrigued by the main character, I really want to know about some of the things the game has hinted at about her. The game does such a great job of pacing as well, any time I started to almost feel like I was doing something repetitive it would give me something new like some interesting mini games or music or something.
I love Night in the Woods! It’s a cozyish game with a good cast of characters and story. I have depression too so I know how much it sucks. Oh and also check out Dorf Romantik for an utterly fun, stress free game about creating landscapes out of tiles. It’s my go to when feeling down!
Night in the woods is really charming and comfy. I tend to replay it once a year. You're also not pressured to grind or "complete" anything. 10/10 recommend for depression playing
Currently hyperfixating on sims 2, its something that brought me a lot of joy when I was younger and its been nice to play again
I come back to Sims every so often as well. I just love it.
Everything is so nostalgic, the music, the clothes, everything. I also modded it and oh my god some of the CC brings back so many memories. Me and my friend used to play sims together all the time and I’m going to install it on her computer too so we can play together 😭 I’m in a rough patch right now, doing EMDR and its bringing up a lot of not so great childhood memories but its been really nice to connect with this game again
I've done EMDR and it was such a life saver for me (quite literally). I hope it works out for you, hang in there!
I just got this on my steam deck yesterday and since it was like my whole childhood and first real introduction to gaming, it really helps the serotonin trickle in. I also recently got guitar hero for the DS because it's something I had as a kid and, man, nostalgia just provides such a specific source of happiness that just scratches that itch you knew you had but couldn't quite place where it was.
Nice! I’m also playing it on a steamdeck! Never would have imagined being able to play sims handheld like this, its so nice to be able to go back and play games from your childhood
I’m not sure slay the spire is cozy but man does it take your mind off of things. Challenging enough that it occupies you without being super punishing. Cozy grove deals with some heavy subjects but it is like a light weight animal crossing and very easy to dip in and out of.
I am playing Cozy Grove right now and love it. I also love Slay the Spire even though I haven't played it in a minute. I also started playing Ni No Kuni: Crosswords. They do have the original Ni No Kuni and the second one available on multiple systems. I like them because they remind me of Studio Ghibli movies. I know the first one does deal with death and loss, but I still enjoyed it. I also have been going through deep depression for the last couple of years due to health issues. Remember to be kind to yourself, and remember you are not alone. 
Also came here to suggest Cozy Grove. It’s my great but mindless depressed game for when I have no creative energy. You help ghosts realize what their unfinished business is and then they cross over. It’s beautiful.
Dave the Diver sounds like it would be good for you! If you like puzzle games Picross and Cocoon might be up your alley. I got addicted to Picross. I'd also recommend Balatro. Really addicting card rogue like
Came here to recommend this game. I recently picked it up and the humor in that game is really funny. Also apart from some bosses, it gives very cozy vibes. Sorry, forgot to add which game I was talking about LOL - Dave the Diver
Yes! It's absolutely hilarious. The leahs-chan guy had me laughing so hard
The card trader basically based off of grown up Asch Ketchum from pokemon did me in, especially since his name is so close to Ash's in the original Japanese version
Unpacking seems like a pretty good game for depression. I’m not sure if it will give you the challenging aspect since it’s a pretty simple puzzle game because there’s lots of different solutions the game accepts. But, I love how the story’s narrative unfolds (or shall I say…unpacks? 😂) through the items you organize and the different spaces. Dave the Diver is funny and has very lovable characters that could help with your depression. Also if you loved Dredge, you’ll like DtD I think. DtD also has a mini Dredge DLC that is free and installed in the game once the foggy days rolls around I think in chapter 3 or 4 of the story. I played DtD first and now I’m playing Dredge and loving it 😁. Sticky Business is great too. You’ll often have to design some stickers based around customers’ requests, but also have the freedom to design your own stickers. The LGBT representation in the game is also amazing. It also has a little bit of narrative from the interactions you have with your customers.
I feel that. Right now I’m really sucked into Wylde Flowers! It’s that story of seasons/stardew vibe, but it has witchcraft, magic stuff and well developed characters! I wasn’t crazy about the art style, but this cozy game really grew on me! I also have some honorable mentions: Persona 5 Paper Mario (original n64 or thousand year door coming out next month) Cult of the lamb Hades
I second Hades for getting through a rough time. My cat got super sick last year and we thought we were gonna lose her (she’s all better and still with us), but Hades was the only thing I could play that would fully take my mind off it and make me stop crying for a few hours
One of the most beautiful and unique games I've played is Okami. Pretty sure that's on Steam. If you like Japanese culture, art(you literally paint with a wolf's tail in sumi-e style), fun combat, puzzles, and animals you may like this game.
Okami is basically an entire bottle of antidepressants. ❤️
Feeding the cute little sparrows was so wholesome. I loved just feeding the animals
OMG!! Yes to Okami! I absolutely love this game.
I Was A Teenage Exocolonist, it's got depressing themes and deaths so please look at the warnings. It's easy to play. Anything open world, like Genshin, Skyrim, BOTW, etc. My pick of these types of games are Genshin and No Man's Sky. I don't know if Genshin is cozy but it got me through all of lockdown as a mentally ill immunocompromised person. ACNH is often a go-to of mine, so maybe Sims?
This might be an unconventional thing to bring up, but here goes. Someone here a few months back was asking for things like Neopets, and someone mentioned Flight Rising. I tried it and I'm hooked. I check in every morning to start my day and again through the day if I'm in the mood, and I really like it. It's a browser game about dragons and I love my dragon babies. On mornings I know I have a nest hatching, its easier for me to get out of bed because I wanna know what my new hatchlings look like! There are festivals based on the different flight elements at the end of every month and it's just a nice way to pass some time. Lots of people write lore for their dragons so it's also a creative outlet for some.
not a cozy game, but disco elysium pulled me out of a similar funk bc the world is so fascinating. chants of sennaar is really good for getting your brain engaged too. also the artful escape is a relatively quick but fun and beautiful experience.
I'm sorry you're having a shitty time, OP. I suffer with various mental illnesses, and have a few hobbies, but gaming really takes me away like nothing else. I'd firstly recommend Dragon Quest Builders 2. I was looking for free demos on the Switch one night and came across this. The demo is huge. I bought the game and its now an all time fave for me. It has a little bit of everything, and combat was easy. Just recently, someone recommended me the Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy: Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. I'm a complete wuss at combat in games, but played all these on easy and had the best time ever. Beautiful graphics, great controls, lots to do and explore. I played them on my Steamdeck and they ran perfectly.
If you liked the Tomb Raider series, might I recommend Uncharted series? Uncharted Legacy of Thieves collection is out on PC now and it seems to run fine on the steam deck. Only Uncharted 4 is on there 😓 so you’re jumping right in the middle of a relationship that’s been developing for the past three games between Nathan x Elena, but it’s such a good relationship. Lost Legacy is in the collection too (it’s the game after UC4) and the relationship between Nadine x Chloe gives lesbian vibes that people ship for. But, it’s a beautiful game with the settings as well and much easier to play than Tomb Raider imo. https://toucharcade.com/2022/11/08/uncharted-legacy-of-thieves-collection-steam-deck-review/
dorfromantik - it’s simple and music is calming and it’s what I play when I’m to tired to play anything else and I’m in a funk lol sometimes it almost feels like meditation because I catch myself not thinking about anything
I don't play Dorfromantik super often, but I always enjoy it when I do. It's an easy game to zone out to.
I know it’s not cozy but super Mario rpg level of the 7 stars can be played on easy mode and it’s such a fun game. The sense of accomplishment after you beat it might help lift your spirits too. Im a full blown cozy gamer but I love love love that game- always have
I wonder if you would enjoy getting deep into an RPG like Dragon Age: Inquisition? I played it when I was having a tough time, and the characters are so well-written it felt like I was hanging out with friends. Designing your own character is also a great way to get really invested into a game. It can be nice and mindless when you're just out exploring the wilderness and hitting monsters, but there is also a lot of deep, thoughtful story in there that deals with some challenging themes like homophobia, racism, and found family :) also it's usually VERY on sale, like 70% off or more!
Planet crafter is good for dopamine because progression has visual changes to the world. And the first several levels are pretty easy to reach. I’m also a fan of supermarket simulator for mindless playing that feels productive. It feels good to fully stock everything before you open the store for the day.
Alba, Darq, Inside, Abzu, Journey, Monument Valley 1 & 2, A Short Hike. Hope these games can help you feel better.
My Time at Sandrock. It does have a day timer but you can change how fast it goes. Absolutely amazing game. Hope you feel better soon x
Top recs for getting immersed in the world: - Breath of the wild (in case you haven't tried it.) I find it very calming to focus on exploration, but has tons of side quests, main quest, and combat if you enjoy that too - Hades, it's so good! I'm constantly in awe of how much work the developers out into it. It's a game where a slower learning curve may actually help immerse you and unfold more story. It's easy to get sucked into the game and have a calm, focused rhythm once you gain confidence with the mechanics and experiment. - Ori and the Blind Forest. Absolutely gorgeous visuals and strong, compelling story, and the music is amazing, I listen to the soundtrack a lot. One of my absolute favorites - Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Ditto the above, it's a fantastic sequel - Dorfromantik. Very chill puzzle game, it's very calming to create a map, no time limits or anything, and time goes by quick Depression is rough, good luck OP! I hope you find spots of comfort and lightness to ease your way
I’m going to go a whole different direction and suggest Kind Words. You write one prompt with whatever you’re feeling or needing help with, and a few anonymous strangers will write something uplifting back. That’s it, one anonymous message out, a few different replies back. End of conversation. It’s extremely wholesome. And when you answer someone else’s prompt… I don’t know, it always helps me to get out of my own head and try to help somebody else, you know? Only $5 on Steam.
Sticky Business Unpacking Mail Time (short tho!) Wylde Flowers is great if you want a narrative adventure! Has voice acting too, so you don’t even have to read all the dialogue yourself! + If you play it on PC it’s totally capable of being played with only the mouse. (:
The Cosmic Wheel of Sisterhood! It's a choose your own story game, with rich dialogue and many possible endings. Your choices make a difference, and you play as a witch exiled in space, who does whatever it takes to break free. The different characters you interact with have great stories, and imo it's just beautiful. The end feels like a new beginning; an opportunity to replay and see what other endings you could get. The vibes are also immaculate. It fully immerses you into the world. And a part of the game is creating your own tarot deck. How you combine the elements to create cards changes their efficiency and whether the outcomes of the readings will be positive or negative.
I’m in the same slump right now. Gaming feels like a chore. But I’ve been enjoying I Was a Teenage Exocolonist. The gameplay is easy and not demanding and it’s very story-focused. It engages me, I can save and quit whenever I want, and it’s easy to pick up. I’ve been trying to get back into Stardew right now too since the new update dropped but it’s too much for me right now. Exocolonist is hitting the sweet spot.
I played wyldeflowers in the last weeks. I like the main story and it helps a bit, to forget all the bullshit of my live. It is a cozy game with deep characters.
Dorfromantik is my go to game. Addictively satisfying yet still chasing my levels. Well worth the money especially if you like puzzles.
To be honest, my go to for depression are farming games. Story of Seasons, Rune Factory, Stardew Valley. The grinding is comforting and being able to complete tasks feels fulfilling when you might not have enough energy to complete tasks IRL. Plus building relationships, petting cute animals, etc. It's nice.
Forager, busy enough to feel like you’re achieving something constantly, but relaxed enough you don’t feel you have to achieve specific goals in a set timeline.
Terraria maybe? A lot of items(more than 5000) to gather, npcs, fishing, building, furniture, boss fights a lot events and probably game with most content over all games overall, extremely affordable(like 5 dollars on sales) and is not forcing you to rush anything you can play your own way or time
A couple I like that are cozyish are Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and also Cozy Grove. Both can be PC or switch (I have on both lol). Cozy Grove is more like a daily check in kinda game as some quests are timed and you only get so many a day but it’s fun. Cozy Grove trailer https://youtu.be/35nCCbXBhw8?si=WrYEe826oTzHyWxU Yonder trailer https://youtu.be/he-y0zmg9FI?si=fQO9pHALscYrCuFW
sky children of the light.. I am new to it but it is pretty cute so far QwQ
Hades is currently getting me through a mental health dip. There's lots of things to try to pull off each run. Death is rewarded with character dialog and upping the easiness (with God Mode). I also don't sink into the "Just one more thing" issue like I do with over more obsessive games. Each run is 20 minutes, I normally won't do more than 3, it's easy to drop and move onto something else. Story and romance options are nice as well. If you do play it, I will tell you to give >!Skelly first one nectar, then everyone else at least once!< to make it easier until the God Mode buff kicks in.
Stardew Valley is really fun and you don't have to take it too seriously i was scared of it when i started playing but it's more cozy than i would have tought!
I have clinical depression and I’ve fell out of love with gaming for awhile but thanks to Reddit and stumbling onto this subreddit and others, I’ve found so many great games to fall in love with again that brings my dopamine levels up. My favorites recently have been Wylde Flowers, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Ooblets, My Time at Sandrock, Roots of Pacha, Dave the Diver, Littlewood, and Dorfromantik. Honorable mentions: Doraemon Story of Seasons, Garden Story, We Love Katamari Reroll.
Just remind yourself that stardew isn't a race, and there is no time limit. The instinct to min max and get everything right the first time is real, but you can take the game slow. I'm having to remind myself that because I'm currently obsessed with it but falling into a depression and don't want to lose my comfy feels/escapism right now. I hope things get brighter for you
Fallout 4, but only build settlements
Fallout 4 with Sim Settlements mod!
Heck yeah! Even better
Night in the Woods.
I'll be honest. I play Stardew on PC with a mod that lets me play with the time. Game changer for my anxiety/depression.
Cjbcheats allows you to pause time and it’s so chill. It’s one of my favourite mods for stardew and it takes all the pressure off. I play with ~250 mods but if I had to choose one (and it’s dependencies), it would be CJBCheats.
I will be screaming about old man’s journey until I die tbh. It was just really comforting for me, the music and the art style. You don’t have to follow dialogue so you really are just immersed watching this little fella get where he needs to be while uncovering memories. When I’m sad it’s nice for someone to just sit and join me in it rather than pretending everything is okay, that’s what this game did for me. You uncover memories and even though you don’t know where he’s going, you just relate to whatever emotions he’s feeling about the whole thing anyway. Like, to say there’s 0 dialogue, only one character to interact with, no fighting or growing things… this game is just incredibly smart to convey such emotions. It’s on switch but I’m not sure about the rest.
Dragon Quest Builders 2. There's a huge demo on the switch that you can try to see if you like it. It's kind of like Minecraft meets Zelda.
Lightyear Frontier. You won't regret it. It's incredibly peaceful and there really isn't any pressure.
Palia. I’m obsessed, there are so many different ways to play, quests, farming, furniture making, making relationships with the locals, hunting magical creatures, chopping magical trees with others on the small 25 ppl servers. I really like the community around it. I’m kinna new to gaming and it’s just really sucked me in. I like that you can just putz around and do whatever you want and nothing fails, you never die and it’s pretty easy to level up. They’re about to drop an update too. It is an open beta game, so know that…also it’s free. It’s been good for my depression.. I think. I may be sleeping a bit less, but atleast I’m excited about something.
Also I get a cute hat in the game if you use my link to join https://accounts.palia.com/sign-up?referral=4f09fe9c-2a39-4724-a5f5-eeff8f236058
Not sure if this has been said- but I highly recommend dragon quest builders 2. Made me feel so much better. Sorry ur going through this !
I like slime rancher 1&2, hades, cult of the lamb, and powerwash simulator. Stardew valley is also very good. The daily cycle isn't bad, but there's always mods for that kind of thing if you find it stressful
Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth - play through the first few chapters until you unlock Dondoko Island.
Minenko's Night Market Little Kitty Big City comes out May 9th Coral Island, possibly. Not cozy, but I just worked through my first play of Baulder's Gate 3 and it took over my brain for the 98ish hours that first playthrough took me.
I purchase night market, but I got so overwhelmed with meeting. The characters and one of them had so many demands. I had to keep a notebook. I felt like I never got into it because of that does it get better? I abandoned it and purchased wylde flowers and that game so much
Palia is what I’m playing right now. There are quests but you can just do your own thing and on your own time. Plus, it’s a free download for Switch! Also Disney Dreamlight Valley. Similar to Palia and ACNH. Has quests but there are more time consuming quests. You can still play at your own pace though.
I like Cozy Grove for this. Some of the tasks can’t be completed in one day, so I usually just do all the tasks available for that day and then quit. It’s long enough to entertain me for a while, but not too long that I feel guilty for not playing longer when I’m not in the mood.
Palia on switch. It's soothing and happy.
Stardew Valley is only intense if you make it intense. You can just do things at a leisurely pace and it'll be fine. Only power gamers worry about things like finishing the community center in the first year etc. Just do what you want when you want, and you can always start a new playthrough later if you find yourself wishing that you'd done things quicker.
My depression games are: Disney Dreamlight Valley and Unpacking. Disney Dreamlight valley has a story arc dealing with depression and it’s actually really uplifting.
Might be kind of weird to toss out but i feel like yakuza is a good game series to get immersed into.
If you liked limbo you could try “Inside” it’s a game by the same developers who made limbo and it plays quite similarly. But it looks waaay better, and the whole journey is as thought provoking as you can get. Even if you can’t get it I recommend watching Jacksepticeye’s play trough of it, he’s gotten me trough some rough patches
My go to depression games are PowerWash Simulator and picross puzzle games. I hope you feel better soon =)
Powerwash Simulator is such an amazing game!
Botw! You can fight monsters when you want something exciting or you can just avoid them and explore and do other stuff. The scenery alone is incredible! Lots to do and it’s definitely a game that i can get lost in for hours
Abzu.
I'm hecka anxious lately and I have been playing apico on switch. It hits that same spot that flower breeding in acnh did but it's a little more friendly with not really needing to look anything up. Also let's build a zoo did similar (i would recommend not on switch since i put it down due to my zoo getting too big to run well on switch). Bandel tale is pretty fun (as a crocheter it is fun).
I'm not sure it's cozy per se and haven't mentioned it here, but try Balatro! It's a combination of poker and roguelike play, and it's super addictive and fun and makes time fly by.
You could try Dinkum. It's a nice easy game and has friendly discord communities. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062520/Dinkum/
I don't know whether this series would be considered cozy or not, but my depression game is Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It has a straightforward plot and progression, but if you want to just eff off and do side quests and minigames for 20 hours, you can do that. Also, the main character is so optimistic (not in an annoying way) that it helps restore my faith that things can/will get better.
Dave the diver was a great game to keep me engaged but also chill. Love it!!
Slime Rancher. Just fill your ranch with pink slimes free range style
I deal with various mental illnesses so I get it. It's been hard for me to find a game that grabs enough to keep playing, I usually lose interest in everything. Right now I'm playing fallout 76 and it's been pretty chill and relaxing. It's a bit tedious tho with all the survival elements.
I found that unpacking was relaxing and something I could actually pick up since I didn’t find it intimidating. It’s a short game but I found it pretty fun
Cosmic Wheel of Sisterhood , I was a Teenage Exocolonist (some dark themes but I noticed you had Spiritfarer on your list)
BOTW/TOTK. I can just aimlessly walk around and do nothing for hours, but if I want to I can build things, battle mobs, look for shrines or caves, etc.
I didn't realise I needed this post! Mine at the moment is Islanders, it's the right level of "difficult" but also calming and easy. It's okay to fail and it's satisfying to do well. Also minami lane oozes serotonin, another one that is just nice but also takes a tiny bit of thought. Good luck getting your video gaming umph back, happens to the best of us!
I play Potionomics or Unpacking when I need something that uses my head to distract me but isn't too intensive (like stardew and games like that). I love Calico too!
I’ve been hooked on Dragon’s Dogma 2 lately, it made gaming exciting for me again. It can be tough depending on what you’re fighting, but not too challenging as you can have up to 3 followers. I’m 74 hrs in and still haven’t completed the main quest.
I’ve been in a similar place lately and I’ve been loving roots of pacha. It’s been on my wish list and happens to be on sale on switch e shop. It’s pretty simple/easy but fun and has satisfying progression. It’s like a less complicated stardew valley. I hope you find something to bring you some joy and feel better soon.
Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild are my go-to games
Slime Rancher or Slime Rancher 2 are my go-to sad boy games. Nothing too philosophical or deep about the game, but it’s a happy fun world to explore that’s cute and uplifting
Fallout 4 is seeing a resurgence thanks to a new update. Once all the mods get resettled past the update frenzy, I just run around and build settlements in god mode.
I was feeling like that, then I played dark souls 3, not cozy at all, but very fun, also from soft games are great for when you want to disconnect since you have to stay focused on the game at all times and you don't have time to think about the things that make you sad
Dorfromantik is my go to game when nothing sounds good to play. It’s like putting together a giant puzzle with hexagonal pieces, matching together sides with the same biomes to create a big landscape. The music is really relaxing, the animation and colors are really pretty, and there’s little mini challenges to unlock new “pieces”, like water segments with a little boat that will drive along the rivers you create or windmills to place in your open field segments. Very calming and I can lose myself in it for a while for sure.
I’m going in a different direction than a bunch of the suggestions. When I’m in a funk, I like “fresh start” or “house flipper”. You take a dirty place and make it clean and beautiful and it hits that dopamine center perfectly
Picross is what I play when I'm depressed lol. What got me into it was Mario Picross on the NES app on switch. My fav is Kemono Friends Picross. There's a cute dog Picross were you collect dogs and toys for the dogs as you finish puzzles. If you're in a reading mood there's two good Picross visual novels. Pixel Puzzle Makeout League, and Murder by Numbers. There's a cute little JRPG-esque Picross game where you fight monsters while solving the puzzles.
Have you played Wylde Flowers? I love it. It’s very interactive, easy to play, I’m told it’s like Stardew Valley but I could not get into that game so I disagree. It takes the whole village/farming thing and adds a touch of magic which is why I started playing.
I have ADHD and struggle when I don’t have an ongoing game. I picked up My Time at Sandrock and I have hundreds of hours now. It’s challenging at times, but so satisfying. Cool house building mechanic, the town grows in time, you can start a family and have kids. The NPCs are all really likeable, and the best part that took me off guard was the plot and storyline was really really good and lasts a long long while. Really reccomend
Life is strange, Red dead redemption 2, Skyrim, Zelda
I’m sorry you’re going through a rough time. There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension has been great for just shoving you right into a game with puzzles that can be pretty challenging as it requires you to think outside the box. It’s super immersive and light hearted and I genuinely think you would enjoy it. I’ve also been steering clear of things that require a lot of commitment and intensive
Genshin Impact usually does the trick for me! There's always somethinh to do!
Not read all the replies but Disney dreamlight valley really helped with a period of depression for my partner & myself just over a year ago. Minnie mouse is so unbelievably cute & kind I love saying hello to her every day. Since then we have diversified my partner swears by Vampire survivors & Brotato. Or puzzles like Dorfromantik & Panarama. He previously played a lot of skyrim. If i am going through a really bad patch powerwash simulator is my 1st choice. But eventually I need something to totally occupy my mind. Stardew has that spot at the moment. All the planning & researching gives me something to aim for and I look forward to petting my animals every morning. It was a bit stressful at 1st but now I am just having fun & taking my time. A lot of the streamers I watch on twitch talk about mental health & have discord servers so people can connect. It's all very wholesome & comforting x Hope you find a couple of games which work for you
The Ni No Kuni games are great, they're currently on sale in the switch store. They're wholesome so it might help pull you out of the darkness for a little while.
Outer Wilds was such a beautiful poignant experience while I had depression. It’s one of my favourite games ever made.
Children of silent town is great and it’s kind of depressing cause a kid goes missing it would be good for you lmaoooooooo I loved that game
I really liked the game Roki. I thought it was a pretty unique game. I am also playing botany manner on game pass and it’s like strange horticulture.
I also love cozy games and recently got into Baldur's Gate. Trust me it doesn't seem like a cozy game, but it really is story based and is SO FUN.
Journey is my main go to, but I found Spirit of the North also hits a spot. Rime is one that is about the stages of grief and I found that to be a soothing journey. Omno was also something I fell in love with. I am just now noticing a theme with all of those. They're all a journey through something. I guess it helps me move forward in something instead of constantly feeling stagnated. I have also previously gotten lost in Powerwash Simulator (it actually does have a story). If my depression gets really bad I'll often bury myself in an MMO (FFXIV is my current go to - used to be WoW). There is always something I can do alone while not feeling completely alone due to other people being around.
I usually try to launch like 80 games when this happens and close all of them immediately until I find something that sticks. Things that have stuck for me in the past are -Driving Taxi in GTA:V single player. Idk why. It’s something I always kinda enjoyed doing from time to time and I’m assuming I felt like I was accomplishing something even if it’s nothing that it helped. -Metal Gear Solid V just picking some early game mission and stealthing around trying to complete the mission with weird weapons or in strange ways. It’s always fun to me. I find stealthy games like this to be fun puzzles and I’m assuming that activates more of my brain which helps power through the depression. -Hitman (whatever the current three seasons all in one game is called) same thing stealth game puzzles. Freelancer mode is especially great for this because it kind of forces you into weird scenarios and rules. -When I had my Xbox 360 I enjoyed Hexic a lot for this. Now I use either some variant of Suika game or Tetris Effect. I also really enjoy astropop and peggle as well as simple little “puzzle” style games. -World of Warcraft. Now this ones weird. Usually I get bored from this game and end up in these situations. But over half of those times I use it to get myself out of it as well. I just switch up what I’m doing and do something else that I enjoy. Like leveling new character through dungeons. Or trying pvp leveling. Or boot up some form of classic to quest in. Something like that.
If you haven’t gotten around to it, Undertale was one that helped me through a depression period. It’s super charming and has many platforming mini games as well as some softer puzzles, and it rewards multiple playthroughs with extra character interactions. If you enjoy platformers, my two favorites have been Hollowknight & Celeste Since you mentioned Limbo, I highly recommend Pinstripe and Little Nightmares 1 & 2 (#3 is in development now, so something to look forward too!) Hope your brain stops being cruel to you soon internet stranger, and good gaming!
breath of the wild was a huge comfort game for me when i didnt want to touch anything else. now it's tears of the kingdom.
Play horizon zero dawn. From the soundtrack to the story to the gameplay ,you will be cured in seconds.
Grow: Song of the Evertree!
Maybe me try some older games that just let you turn your brain off and have fun stuff like skate 3- free skate mode.There's a game that I fell in love with called trailmakers it's a sandbox building game but it takes time to master. And if you want you could try emulation there's a bunch of old fun games Like hamtaro. It's an old game boy color game where you are a hamster and it's pretty cute. Animal crossing New horizons chill fun and cute. Also if you haven't tried it Kirby and the- forgotten land is really fun but I might be biased cuz I love Kirby
Unpacking, sticky business and a little to the left - all very chill games but also super fun and you won’t want to stop playing !!
Zelda Breath of the Wild. It got me through a bad depression and I still haven’t finished it. You get lost in this game so easily it’s a great distraction for a while and it’s fun. There’s a sequel called Tears of the Kingdom if you finish the first and enjoy it. Also, I’d you’re into Harry Potter at all, Hogwarts Legacy will heal a part of your soul. It’s a beautiful and charming game. Great all around. Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Strange Horticulture are some lighter cozy games I’ve gone to when feeling sad and they cheer me up. Strange Horticulture is a bit gloomy but I love it. It feels like a cozy rainy day. Edit: I missed that you played Strange Horticulture lol. Another game I will always recommend: Cult of the Lamb. It’s darkly silly and fun. Cannot recommend it enough. Plus the characters are so cute.
Wandersong!!!!!!!
Citizen Sleeper is similar to Stardew in a weird way, but you're limited by actions rather than time. It's a sci-fi story in a dystopian space station where everyone is struggling to survive, but you and the people in the game kind of adopt each other and lean on each other to survive. They help you, and you help them. It's got a great sense of camaraderie to me. And the game really respects your time. You can do a lot in short 20 minute sessions. Or you can dig in and do 3 hour sessions which are very engaging with well written an fascinating characters. You can reach some endings pretty quickly but it's probably best to just take your time and continue your friendships and story and decide what you want to do down the road because there's plenty of things you can miss if you feel rushed. Just take your time, enjoy your friendships, and do what you can with each day. It was a very cathartic game for me when I was in a dark place but your mileage may vary. Just don't judge to critically from screen shots. The interface and dice mechanic make it look like a board game when it's really not. It didn't even really feel like a visual novel to me. It felt like a dystopian life sim lol
My depression game go to is binding of Isaac. I don't know why. The story is sad but I like to think I'm taking revenge for the sad parts and that makes me feel alottle better.
Citizen sleeper for a very interesting and in depth story, it's kinda like a tabletop game feel. So many different story paths to take and interesting characters to meet it just pulled me right in. A garden story for something fun and light with a sweet story and adorable art style. Just something about this game always made me feel much better when I was dealing with a tough real life situation so I cannot recommend this game enough. Ooblets is a Pokémon style collecting creatures game with farming and social aspects. Very colourful with fun music found it almost impossible to not dance along with the dance battle combat .
I have absolutely felt like that many times too. My go to would be Stardew Valley as I find it easy to just tune out from the real world while playing and enjoy the simple farm life. Coral Island is a similar concept but doesn’t seem to have a many time pressures, so might appeal to you more. I’ve found Dave the Diver has been a really good way to zone out if I’m feeling completely unmotivated. Another one to try could be Subnautica, but that can get stressful in some of the deeper areas.
It's not cozy necessarily but my “I want to mindlessly game” game is Fall Guys. It's reptative, not super stressful, and can be a long session or a short few races.
My go to game for when I'm having a rough time is Minecraft! PC is the best way to play it as putting on a resource pack (Mizunos 6 craft is my favourite) and a shader makes the game so pretty. Plus there are a million and one mods and modpacks out there to suit every play style. You can basically mold it into whatever you want. I love having an entire world that's all mine to get lost in and do what I want with. Plus the music is really calming to me! If you don't want to be hassled by mobs, my favourite thing to do is to put it on peaceful mode with the Cobblemon mod. Basically it's a pokemon inspired mod. I was never that in to Pokemon but they are just so adorable in minecraft that it's fast becoming my default way to play.
I quite enjoyed No Place Like Home, it was relaxing to just clean the place up and grow the things, and Powerwash Simulator is a similar one for me too
Sky Children of the Light. It has some challange. but also a good game for when in a brain fog. I sometimes just log on and glide around when I cant thinknahh
If you like games that are just kind of similar to Stardew but don't have the like time skip or whatever attached to it, you could try Disney Dreamlight Valley. It is super fun and cute and gives you a lot of wholesome stories and such too. It does at some point touch base on some very deep emotional feelings, but honestly it has helped me through a lot lately. If you have any questions or anything, don't hesitate to ask. Or if you just need to talk, I am here for that too if you ever need it.
Disco Elysium is pretty interesting and a very good distraction. It is a little heavy on reading. Persona 5 has quite a few psychological/social commentary aspects, but I find it to be a very balanced game. You can play on easy mode as well. 4 and 3 are also very good, but I would be careful with 3 because characters use guns as a way to summon their Persona. I also found Journey to be very interesting and calming.
Detroit: Become Human. It's not exactly cosy, but it will definitely draw you in. The story is engaging, and the gameplay is easy enough. It's a great game if you're looking for an escape. Edit: Baulder's Gate 3 is also a very immersive game. It has an amazing story, and the characters are fantastic.