April Grove casts you as a rookie forester in a serene, enchanted forest. Your task is to chop trees, gather logs, and uncover the secrets of a woodland community. This retro-inspired game blends life sim, exploration, and light RPG elements in a Game Boy Advance-style pixel-art world. With no enemies, timers, or pressure, it’s all about setting your own pace.

In this game, you’ll trade logs for gold, which you can spend on upgrades like better axes, necklaces, or food buffs that tweak your playstyle. Each swing earns XP, leveling your woodcutting skill to tackle bigger trees and unlock new forest areas. You can also choose a male or female character, customize your gear, and interact with animals for varied outcomes.

Here’s what Steam reviews are saying:

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In this sequel, you’ll also design your own peaceful island and create a colorful home for the Gourdlet characters. However, this is all upgraded by multiplayer, where players can visit friends’ islands, build side-by-side, and chat.

The game adds a new fishing mechanic, letting you cast lines to catch various fish. You can then spend your earnings on cute accessories, buildings, and decorations, personalizing your island until it feels like home. While Gourdlets Together is a standalone game, it builds on the success of Gourdlets, which has a “Very Positive” 93% rating on Steam from 1,579 reviews.

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In Heidi’s Legacy, you play as Adèle, a young woman leaving city life for the peaceful Swiss Alps, seeking a simpler purpose. Each day starts with morning light and your goats, ready for your care. You’ll guide them through meadows, and in return, their milk and wool become resources for crafting goods like cheese, wool clothing, herbal remedies, and wooden carvings.

These creations can be traded or shared with villagers, strengthening your bonds and helping rebuild their homes and lives. Every choice shapes your relationships and the village’s future, with branching dialogue. Additionally, you’ll forage for herbs and mushrooms and fish in calm waters. As you aid the village, new abilities unlock, making it easier to climb rugged cliffs or leap across gaps, opening up hidden areas.

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I have to admit, Projected Dreams surprised me in a good way. I never imagined a game where we would use shadow wall projections to solve puzzles; it truly feels like stepping into a childhood memory. You join Senka, a young girl, in recreating shadow puppet silhouettes using toys and household objects. This unravels a bittersweet, wordless family story that spans 50 years. It’s a cozy, wholesome, and stress-free nostalgic experience, though it does have its flaws.

Projected Dreams offers many interesting puzzles

The core gameplay revolves around dragging toys, mugs, boxes and many other objects from shelves onto a table, positioning them in front of a light source to cast shadows that match a silhouette in Senka’s photo album. You will rotate, stack, and sometimes resize objects using mouse, keyboard or controller inputs. The puzzles start simple, such as aligning a single toy to form a rabbit but grow complex with mechanics like dual light sources, “ghost” objects (invisible in shadows), and sticky items that glue pieces together.

Despite some interesting ideas, the game’s physics-based elements are a bit clumsy. Changing the sides of an object you’re holding feels really weird, and it’s slightly frustrating to use arrows for alignment while rotation has a separate button. It’s not terrible, but takes time to get used to. However, the puzzles themselves were super interesting and became more engaging as the game progressed.

My biggest positive is the hint system, accessible on the back of each photo. Some hints did spoil solutions by clearly showing which objects to use. While you’ll rarely need them, there will be times you do get stuck, struggling to find the right solution because some projections look truly weird and it’s hard to tell which objects are needed.

“The game’s physics-based elements are a bit clumsy.”

Environments change as you progress

The game unfolds in an ever-evolving room that mirrors Senka’s life stages (child, teen, and adult). You will also explore the environment to find collectible objects like cassette tapes, which unlock musical snippets, or trinkets that decorate the photo album. However, searching for specific items can be frustrating, as some are hard to spot in cluttered rooms, and the absence of a clear inventory system means you’ll be repeatedly scanning shelves.

Each chapter of the book tells you if you missed any secrets and how many stars you earned; there are three stars per level, which nicely encourages you to get all three instead of just one. Overall, the experience was pleasant and cozy. It didn’t waste your time, and these types of games are approachable to everyone. It was fun to try and find multiple ways to beat a level.

Another great aspect of the game is its graphics, filled with 90s nostalgia, using a soft, colorful palette of pastels. The 2D illustrations in the photo album tell the story with “funny graphics and special adornments”, balancing humor and touching moments. Animations are minimal but effective, and the entire game has a charming cartoonish feel.

“Each chapter of the book tells you if you missed any secrets and how many stars you earned.”

A short experience, but one you’ll finish feeling satisfied with

While Projected Dreams seems easy at first, some puzzles will definitely test your brain. It’s ideal for those seeking a peaceful, reflective puzzle experience. The game stands out for its effective use of nostalgia, and despite occasional hiccups in physics and controls, it’s an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys this genre. In fact, it’s a short experience, likely taking around 3-4 hours to complete, but it’s still a very worthy buy.

Review copy provided by the publisher

4.2

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It’s an understatement to say the demo version is a big disappointment. It’s quite limited, offering only one item per building category. Though the development likely doesn’t cost much, the demo isn’t a true reflection of the game and is playable until the end of Steam Next Fest.

Have We Ever Had a True Croatian Cozy Game?

Let’s start from the beginning: you choose a map, only one was available, set amidst forests and mountains, where you’ll build a cozy little cabin. It’s interesting that before starting, you can select specific object categories to unlock, like painting, fishing, or other interests, with items and structures color-coded. Of course, core items like walls and decorations are always available. Afterward, you build within a clearly marked grid area.

Log Away lacks tutorials, but honestly, you don’t need them. All you need is your creativity and emotion to bring your vision to life on the fields. Some might wonder, “What’s the point of this game?” The charm lies in relaxation, soothing music, and the rustling of leaves and nature, creating a full zen experience. To make it easier, you can switch between free camera and first-person views, and decide whether to see the roof or walls. Once you have an idea and arrange everything, you’ll find you can interact with objects, like opening windows or even petting a dog.

Object categories include furniture, decor, wall elements, plant embellishments, and more. Like Tiny Glade, it features a day-night cycle. Log Away already looks impressive and beautiful, with noticeable detail on every object and a tangible natural beauty in the river. Personally, I found decorating the interior more fun due to its experimental options, while the exterior felt quite sparse. Sadly, I’m not sure why, they didn’t need to unlock the whole game, but at least two items per category would have been enough. As it stands, you’re quite limited in options and can’t do much.

For Those Who Love Relaxation After Other Games

As is typical for such titles, a photo mode is available, letting you create your own screenshots. Additionally, you can switch visual styles, like from modern to pixel art, with the full version promising even more options. Of course, this won’t appeal to everyone, but for a good photo – why not? On the other hand, the soundtrack features tracks inspired by western, country, and blues genres, composed by Chris Haugen, and it’s truly impressive.

Building in this game is very straightforward. You can quickly rotate items, and some can be stacked, like placing a lamp on a cabinet. You have plenty of freedom to choose where and how to place objects, ensuring you’ll find something to your liking. You can even change colors, so it’s not all just brown.

So, if you enjoy decorating by the fireplace or watching a dog fit into the environment you’ve created, Log Away is definitely for you. Just don’t expect something grand, as cozy games generally don’t demand much interactivity but offer plenty of relaxation and creativity.

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Dice ‘n Goblins is a first-person turn-based and dungeon-crawling RPG that places you in the role of Gobby, a goblin knight navigating trap-filled dungeon to find a safe haven for her people. With its unique dice-based combat that draws inspiration from tabletop RPGs, charming hand-drawn art, and classic grid-based exploration, the game aims to blend luck and strategy in a cozy yet challenging package.

Cute cartoonish graphics

Having already played the demo, I had some expectations for the game’s official release, but its 10 interconnected levels with grid-based movement, reminiscent of titles like Legend of Grimrock or Etrian Odyssey, truly hooked me in. However, it occasionally grew repetitive. The dungeons lacked proper detail, filled with similar-looking enemies and consistent, rather bland textures and graphics everywhere, which was a slight disappointment.

Despite this, I really admired the approach to art style and characters. They’re essentially hand-drawn images integrated into a cartoonish environment, and while that might sound odd, it actually complements the surroundings perfectly. From goblins to mice, every character fits seamlessly into the world. Beyond that, the dungeons feature interconnected layouts, demanding you solve environmental puzzles like finding switches or even drop down through holes and be in the water.

The auto-mapping feature helps you stay oriented, but I wish it had clearer markers for walls and edges, as it can leave you confused about where to go next. The map’s multiple floors and layers often felt unclear too – it was just rather confusing to get around, although going face first into danger was fun. Luckily, the game’s small size makes finding the right path quicker than expected.

“I really admired the approach to art style and characters.”

The turn-based combat is solid but comes with some flaws

The combat system is arguably the game’s most enjoyable and straightforward feature. You equip items like daggers or shields, each providing specific dice, for example, a dagger gives a four-sided damage die or a shield a defense die. These dice are rolled every turn and categorized into damage, defense, and healing. Success depends on strategically selecting dice to chain combos and using unique skills to alter dice effects for maximum impact. Enemies also use dice and combos, which sometimes forces you to adapt to their patterns.

However, the system’s reliance on RNG can make fights feel too fast at times, or drag on, especially in later dungeons. But, since you get a permanent healing dice early on, it makes it too easy to just take hits, which makes the combat a bit boring. The game is even more forgiving because you have stars to change your dice numbers, making it easy to “cheat” the system. While I understand the goal of a cozy game, the balance between early and late game is visible.

As you travel and explore, you’ll find loot in chests, including new dice, equipment, and items to trade with a dungeon merchant. This lets you customize Gobby’s dice pool and skills. What I do miss is a clear visual difference between bosses and regular enemies. Bosses hit hard, but since you can rest at campfires to reset enemies, you can essentially farm levels for free. This can also make enemies too weak over time, though the game tries to balance this by forcing you to explore for new loot, as sticking with the same weapons isn’t a good idea.

“Combat relies too much on RNG and forgiving mechanics.”

The story has its own memorable moments

Dice ‘n Goblins also features a gentle learning curve, gradually introducing mechanics like piercing or poison effects, so you’re not stuck with the same items. With three different skill trees, there’s plenty of room for experimentation. My biggest issue is the inconsistent XP and gold drops from enemies. Some grant a lot, others very little, with no clear explanation for these varied amounts.

Another really good aspect is the story, which is delvered through silly dilagoue and cutscene that hint at a larger world. Interactions with NPCs, including potential allies, add charm and context, though the story is more a backdrop than a driving force here. The focus remains on gameplay, with the narrative serving as a light, engaging motivator. Sadly, most NPCs feel a bit useless, which is a definite letdown. There’s also backtracking, but only in situations where you suspect you’ve missed a room and hope to find a new chest.

On a positive note, I didn’t encounter any major bugs. The only real annoyance is accidentally clicking forward during combat, which can trap you, preventing you from re-selecting dice and forcing you to commit. Missions were also often unclear, with odd progression paths, and dialogue sometimes fails to provide proper direction. But even if you do get lost, somehow you would always find a way out.

“The story unfolds through amusing, silly dialogue and cutscenes.”

Solid pick if you’re into cozy RPGs

In the end, Dice ‘n Goblins proved to be a surprisingly solid RPG. I appreciate games that experiment and offer something new, and this is definitely one of them. The first-person view was so well-executed that I didn’t even miss a third-person option, though it would have been a cool addition. Nevertheless, this is a very charming game, perfect if you’re a fan of the genre.

I often found myself listening to podcasts while playing this one, it’s genuinely that chill and enjoyable. While it’s still a bit rough around the edges, I can’t fault the developers; it’s an indie game that’s functional and absolutely worth a try. For those who love cozy RPGs with a tabletop feel, Dice ‘n Goblins is worth exploring, especially if you can overlook some minor imperfections.

Review copy provided by the publisher

3.8

The post Dice ‘n Goblins – Cozy RPG with unique approach first appeared on IndieGames.

Hanako’s Flower Shop is a cozy visual novel with resource management elements, centered on Hanako, a young woman taking over her grandfather’s beloved flower shop. Set in a cute, anime-inspired village, the game blends heartfelt storytelling, bouquet-crafting puzzles, and light farming mechanics, focusing on themes of growth, grief, and connection through the language of flowers.

The main feature of the game is its bouquet-building system, a puzzle-like task where you create arrangements based on the symbolic meanings of flowers, like red roses for love, white lilies for modesty, or amaryllis for regret. Customers share their personal stories, and key phrases in their dialogue, which are highlighted via a transcript system reveal emotions like joy, grief, or kinship, guiding your flower choices.

Blending multiple genres while staying cozy and forgiving

There are no strict timers or penalties for wrong bouquets; instead, customers gently suggest alternatives if your arrangement misses the mark, keeping the game cozy. The June 2025 update introduced a “Flower Codex”, a journal tracking flower meanings and customer preferences, which helps new players by cutting down on guesswork.

On the other side, resource management in the game involves gathering flowers in three ways: planting them in your garden, foraging in the forest (limited to seven flowers per trip), or buying seeds and flowers for next-day delivery. Gardening is straightforward, you plant seeds, water them, and harvest once they grow, though some flowers take longer to grow than others.

Hanako’s Flower Shop also features a “Neighbor Assistance” option, where characters like the twins Aya and Sayuri can collect flowers for a small fee, meaning this feature really is simplifying resource gathering in a good way. Not everything here is about gameplay though, you can take breaks to listen to the radio or enjoy snacks, which boosts Hanako’s happiness, a small stat that influences your dialogue choices and improves your shop’s performance.

“Resource management in the game involves gathering flowers in three ways.”

Your choices slightly shape the story outcome

The story isn’t truly linear; your choices shape Hanako’s journey and the outcomes for customers. What you say during customer conversations or nightly chats with Grandpa (through flashbacks) impacts relationships and story paths, although major plot points remain consistent. For example, giving a “good” bouquet that matches a customer’s feelings can lead to positive follow-up letters or happy endings, while “non-fitting” bouquets might result in neutral or bittersweet outcomes. The launch version featured multiple endings based on Hanako’s growth and relationships, and the June 2025 update added two new endings.

Cute animations, like sheep jumping over Hanako’s bed at night, add a charming touch while community festivals, such as the Flower Festival, let you sell bouquets, play mini-games like flower-matching puzzles, and unlock unique decor items. The bouquet-building puzzles are forgiving, letting you retry without penalty as long as you listen carefully to customer stories. Also, the resource system is well-balanced, offering plenty of flowers.

A Hint System for these puzzles provides subtle clues if you struggle with flower meanings, while the game’s emotional depth explores themes of grief and self-discovery. For example, helping a customer process loss with a thoughtful bouquet feels truly meaningful. The absence of “wrong” choices reinforces the game’s message that growth comes from good intentions, not perfection.

“Your choices shape Hanako’s journey and the outcomes for customers.”

Best enjoyed in several sessions

Hanako’s Flower Shop features lush, hand-drawn 2D anime-style art, showcasing flower designs and cozy environments like the shop, forest, and village. Characters have distinct designs, and charming animations, though they lack variety. While the art shines, the UI’s text-heavy design feels dated compared to modern visual novels, and some animations, like customer movements, can seem stiff. Still, performance remains solid with no major graphical glitches.

In the end, Hanako’s Flower Shop is a heartwarming visual novel with no major issues, though it’s not for everyone. I believe visual novels need something truly special to draw you in and keep you playing, and while this game suits fans of Coffee Talk or Strange Horticulture, its overly forgiving gameplay might feel too easy. It’s best enjoyed in several sessions rather than one long sitting and perfect for fans of Visual Novels.

Review copy provided by the publisher

4

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At its heart, Ritual of Raven feels like a love letter to cozy farming sims, but with a magical twist that sets it apart. Forget backbreaking farm work, this game lets you harness the power of magic to do the heavy lifting. By enchanting Constructs with Tarot cards, you’ll automate your farm’s chores, leaving you free to explore, and dive into a rich narrative.

You’ll will also meet a cast of colorful villagers, each with their own stories and personal growth arcs. Helping them out rewards you with new Tarot cards and ingredients for rituals, spell jars, and quests. Additionally, you can decorate your home and even parts of the magical world beyond, with plenty of customization options to make it your own.

Your trusty companion, a cheeky Familiar named Raven, will guide you through this enchanting adventure. Together, you’ll tend to your home, fill out your Book of Shadows, and unravel the mystery of the Portal Keepers. The game’s world is packed with things to do, from commanding the moon to shift its phases for your magical needs to fishing for otherworldly items through mysterious portals.

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If you’re not a fan of slow-paced games, Danchi Days might test your patience. However, it’s a smaller, less overwhelming experience. It remains simple, focusing on exploration, interactions, and meeting many people in one city. Perhaps the biggest highlight is the Sensing ability and the NeighborNet (a retro internet system) to help you meet residents’ and uncover their problems. Its charming visuals will likely draw you in, but the real question is, will it hold your attention?

The demo provides plenty of content to explore and try out

The demo was surprisingly well-crafted, guiding you through the game with a tutorial and a full day where you meet the first 10 neighbors. Puzzles aren’t too difficult; they usually involve information you gather from interactions or searching the in-game internet. For example, you might learn how to create a puddle or use a “muddle ball” to stop wasps. The game presents solutions subtly, so you’ll rarely get stuck, as the answer is always within reach.

Danchi Days features two key mechanics for Hoshino’s exploration. The “looking” mechanic allows her to observe everyday details, objects, and living things like puddles, buildings, items, and people. On the other hand, the “sensing” ability lets you interact with designated objects to collect five stars, which then starts a mini-game. These mini-games are crucial for progression. There are many to discover, for example, one involves collecting water droplets by shaking baskets. You’ll need to manage your stamina and reach 100% focus to complete the game successfully.

The story in Danchi Days is a mix of linear and non-linear. You get to choose which residents to invite first, but the game’s hint system will occasionally guide you toward what’s important for the main story. While the demo didn’t offer a full map, progression will likely involve unlocking new zones or festival features. The computer mechanics were easy to use as well; you can check mail, search keywords, and store various items in your inventory. Most things you find on your journey can be used later, and every mechanic is connected with one another.

Packed with potential – a hidden gem?

Danchi Days is enjoyable, and I didn’t encounter major issues playing it. However, it’s not ideal for faster readers. If you try to skip dialogue, it instantly moves to the next line, meaning you can’t load an entire text box with one click; you have to wait for it to finish. The world does feel a bit empty, despite the game indicating the city is “dying”. I wished for more interactive objects beyond those focused solely on the story.

My favorite part is how unique each resident is, with distinct personalities and problems you can help them solve. For example, you can explore residents’ pasts to understand their stories, like with old grandpa Pete, who is a friend of your grandma. I also loved the occasional pixelated picture snippets that act as charming cut-scenes, like Hoshino with her grandma and her friend Rio. Additionally, everything in the game has its own voice, which truly adds to the overall experience.

It truly feels like you’re playing a GBA game, with its distinct square play area and background color. I’m excited to see its full potential. It’s cute, fun, and could easily become a hidden gem many players usually miss. Cozy gamers especially will find a lot to love in this title.

The post [PREVIEW] Danchi Days – Cute slice-of-life adventure game first appeared on IndieGames.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a cozy life sim by Sunblink and Sanrio, released in 2023 on Apple Arcade and January 2025 on Switch and PC, with PS4/PS5 versions planned. You crash-land on a deserted island, joining Hello Kitty and over 40 Sanrio characters to restore Big Adventures Park. Gameplay blends Animal Crossing-style exploration, crafting, and decorating with 3D platforming and puzzle-solving. You will also be able to befriend characters like Kuromi and My Melody through quests, cook dishes, customize avatars, and uncover island mysteries.

Spilled!

Spilled! is a cozy, hour-long indie game by solo developer Lente, released March 26, 2025, on PC via Steam. You pilot a small boat to clean ocean waste, like oil spills and litter, across eight biomes. In the game you earn coins to upgrade your boat’s scoop, tank, or speed, and rescue 16 animals. With a 95% positive Steam rating and a donation to Whale and Dolphin Conservation per sale, it’s a heartfelt eco-friendly adventure.

Doloc Town

Doloc Town is a cozy pixel-art farming sim by RedSaw Games Studio, set in a post-apocalyptic world. Launched in Early Access on Steam on May 8, 2025, you build a farm, plant crops, craft tools, and explore a vibrant wasteland with valleys, wetlands, and ruins. You will be able to engage in bullet-hell combat with a drone companion, interact with quirky townsfolk, and uncover hidden stories – it blends Stardew Valley charm with Terraria-style platforming.

Wanderstop

Wanderstop is a narrative-driven cozy game by Ivy Road, released March 11, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. You play as Alta, a burnt-out warrior running a magical tea shop in a forest, guided by the cheerful Boro. In the game you will grow ingredients, brew unique teas, and chat with customers like Gerald and Nana, whose stories unfold over 12-15 hours across five chapters. While tea-making and gardening are relaxing, the game’s focus is Alta’s emotional journey through burnout and self-discovery.

Ithya: Magic Studies

Ithya: Magic Studies is a cozy background app by Blue Turtle, released May 7, 2025, on PC via Steam. Set in the magical city of Oltak, you play as Ithya, a wandering mage, customizing a study room and exploring hand-drawn scenes like forests and ancient cities. With lo-fi and fantasy playlists, ambient sounds, and productivity tools like task lists and a Pomodoro timer, it’s perfect for focused study or creative work.

Urban Jungle

Urban Jungle is a cozy simulation game by Kylyk Games, released March 21, 2025, on PC via Steam. You transform small apartments into lush, green havens by strategically placing plants, with puzzle-like elements to maximize coziness. No watering or upkeep is needed, just find the perfect spot for each plant. The game follows Ayta Borisova’s life, weaving a heartfelt story through environmental storytelling across 3-4 hours of gameplay.

Locomoto

Locomoto is a cozy life-sim adventure by Green Tile Digital and Amplifier Studios, released April 8, 2025, on PC via Steam, with a Switch version planned. You play as a customizable animal conductor, managing a train in a unique world. You will be able to craft furniture, serve passengers, and explore 25+ stations to save Barrenpyre from environmental collapse.

Kabuto Park

Kabuto Park is a cozy, bite-sized bug-catching game by Doot and Zakku, released May 28, 2025, on PC via Steam. You play as Hana, a girl on summer vacation, catching over 40 bug species like beetles and butterflies in a charming, hand-drawn world. You will be able to train your bugs, level them up with candies, and compete in card-based sumo-style battles to win the Summer Beetle Battles Championship.

Trash Goblin

Trash Goblin is a cozy shopkeeping sim by Spilt Milk Studios, launched in Early Access on Steam in November 2024, with a full release on May 28, 2025. You play as a goblin in a fantasy world, uncovering, cleaning, and upcycling trinkets to sell to quirky customers. With no time pressure or fail states, you manage a shop, upgrade tools, and customize your space.

Small Spaces

Small Spaces is a cozy interior design sim by Niklas Tomkowitz, released in Early Access on Steam on May 27, 2025. You will transform small apartments, from Tokyo flats to New York lofts, using hundreds of furniture pieces and materials. With no timers or penalties, you creatively arrange modular kitchens and decor in a relaxing, top-down or first-person view.

Honorable Cozy Mentions

The post Top 10 Best Cozy Games of 2025 (So Far) first appeared on IndieGames.