There’s this concept in game design called game flow, which in simple terms is essentially what happens when a game is both engaging and challenging at just the right amounts to the point where you get immersed in the experience. You can’t have good flow without both some challenge and reward.
That’s why games that are too simple and/or easy are boring. I feel like that’s a very fine line you have to walk if you want to make a “cozy” game. How relaxing is relaxing enough without being boring? You need a minimum of challenge and stakes, because that’s makes good games good.
Imo what’s key to a cosy game is that you choose within the game how much you want to challenge yourself. Take stardew, for example. My mum was content just farming crops. I went into the difficult mines with lots of combat etc. You can enjoy the game if you don’t do the hard parts, or you can do them sparsely, or all the time. You choose, and that’s what makes it so relaxing.
These trailers have started to blend together for me, and I think that’s the issue. They might have a “nice vibe”, but that alone isn’t enough. What makes your game unique and fun to play? Sell me on that!
Cosy games are meant to be relaxing, almost stress-free experiences that revolve around repetition and reward playing them in small doses each day. I can understand why hardcore gamers don’t like them, but at the same time they’re not made for them.
I’m not a hardcore gamer, but usually mostly in RPGs. But I’ve also got hundreds of hours in stardew and thousands in the Sims. When I play one of those, I’m always low key scared to grow bored because I LOVE those games and I know that there won’t be another good one right around the corner.
When I got bored of Skyrim, I played the Witcher, and when I got bored of that, I played Fallout. Repeat ad nauseam, because there’s more playable, entertaining RPGs out there than any one human could play in a lifetime.
With cosy games, not so much. When you grow bored of one, chances are, there won’t be another one that’ll be enjoyable to you at all, and you’ll have to hope and wait that something good will come out at some point.
Well, I’m making one so i guess i can’t say they suck. I do feel like a lot of them aren’t great games, though. As in, they create a good vibe but they often lack solid gameplay. I think the writing in some I’ve played leans far too much into awkward and insecure characterizations too, and that gets tiring for me quickly. I’m trying to avoid those pitfalls in mine.
Hmm I guess “cozy” games are a genre, but I kinda felt like they are games that make you feel cozy, fun without the stress. If a game sucks then I don’t know I’d consider it “cozy”.
Yeah this looked dope. I legit thought this was death stranding 2 at first. Until they started swinging a weapon lol. Definitely keeping my eye on this one
Looks interesting. I liked the first game but never finished it, it felt like there wasn’t much new to unlock after the first chapter and got very repetitive quickly.
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