Cozy games are having their day right now, and 2025 seems primed to continue that trend. Fans of farming and life simulator classicsStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossinghave plenty of games to look forward to in the new year. There are games that stick to the classic formula, games that offer something new and innovative, new entries in beloved series, and brand-new IPs that promise to make their mark on the cozy genre. Those looking to add some cozy games to their 2025 list and hoping for something that will recapture the magic ofAnimal CrossingandStardew Valleyshould check out the following games:
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Releases January 30
Previously released as a mobile game,Hello Kitty Island Adventureis making its way to Nintendo Switch and PC on June 27, 2025, with a PlayStation release planned for later in the year. This adorable life simulator puts a Sanrio spin on the classicAnimal Crossingformula. After their plane goes down over a mysterious island, players are tasked with restoring the island to its former glory, unlocking its many different regions, and ultimately encouraging visitors to return - and perhaps even move in permanently.
Working alongside Hello Kitty, Pompompurin, My Melody, and otherSanriofriends, players can fish, catch critters, cook up tasty recipes, and decorate visitor cabins to invite even more Sanrio characters to stay. There are also mini-games to play, challenges to complete, and secrets to discover both high in the sky and deep beneath the sea. Of course, in true Sanrio style, players can also customize their own adorable animal character and unlock various outfits and accessories to wear. This colorful, tropical game releases in late January and is perfect for anyone looking for a sun-filled escape from the gloom of winter.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game - Releases March 25
Anyone who has ever dreamed about being a hobbit and living in the cozy, gardening- andbreakfast-loving community created by J. R. R. Tolkien should check outTales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game,a cozy hobbit-focused title from Weta Workshop. Players can create their very own hobbit character and settle into a hobbit-hole in the village of Bywater, where they can garden, fish, decorate their home, get to know their neighbors and, of course, throw elaborate shared meals and parties for the entire hobbit neighborhood to enjoy.
Tales of the Shirewas created and designed byLord of the Rings' Weta Workshop, who strove to create a world and aesthetic accurate to the one Tolkien himself might have experienced during his life. The hobbit holes are cozy, the rivers are bursting with fish, the meals are plentiful, and nobody ever forgets about second breakfast. Players will be able to meet and befriend plenty of original hobbit characters and—as some of the game’s trailers have hinted—might even be visited by a few familiar faces and old friends as well.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time - Releases April 2025
In the latest entry in theFantasy Lifeseries, players find themselves on a near-deserted island that was once a bustling paradise.The Girl Who Steals Timehas many classic cozy game elementslike gathering resources, exploring, and befriending neighbors - but it does it with a unique time travel twist. To collect resources, players will have to visit the island’s past when it was still teeming with life. Then, those resources can be used to create furniture, buildings, and other essentials needed to restore the island in the future.
Throughout the game, players will be able tochoose between various jobs called “Lives,“including farmer, blacksmith, alchemist, and more. Each Life has its own specialties, with some focusing on crafting while others center around combat. Players can switch between Lives depending on what the island needs most. Along the way, they might just discover the truth about what happened to the island in the first place.Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Timewill also feature co-op functionality, allowing up to four players to experience the game together.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Releases Spring 2025
Rune Factoryis one of the biggest names in the farming genreand one of the series that inspired ConcernedApe to createStardew Valley.The latest entry in the series takes players to Azuma, a brand-new land far to the east. In Azuma, players will use their unique “Earth Dancer” powers to grow crops, fight monsters, and even bring back the gods. It is a completely stand-alone title that does not require playing any of the previousRune Factorygames to understand.
Guardians of Azumaboth honors classic farming simulatorswith crops to grow and villagers to befriend and expands on the formula with a focus on combat, the ability to use magical powers for farming, and the inclusion of not just one single farm but multiple farms/villages representing the different seasons. This rich adventure promises some of 2025’s most magical, cozy gaming as players strengthen their powers and ultimately restore not just villages and farms, but the gods themselves.
Tales of Seikyu Releases 2025
Tales of Seikyu, another cozy game with a magical twist, will appeal toAnimal Crossingfans for one major reason: the game’s world is inhabited not by ordinary humans but shapeshifters, yokai, talking animals, and more. This charming game, which draws inspiration from Asian mythology, puts players in the shoes of a seemingly ordinary protagonist who has suddenly discovered their very own power: the power of transformation.
Using this power, players will restore the peaceful yokai sanctuary to its former glory, befriend all sorts of adorable yokai, and perhaps even find love with some of them.Tales of Seikyuwill also feature a combat and exploration element in a rich, colorful world that brings to mind the sprawling vistas of titles likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.AlthoughTales of Seikyudoes not currently have a set release date, it is scheduled to debut sometime in 2025.
