Introduction
Cozy is an adjective to describe something pleasant and inviting, warm and often small. Over time this word has become the centre of entire genres in various communities. We can find cozy games, fantasy, mystery, and so on. As an enjoyer of everything warm, fuzzy and cozy I personally love this trend and will be recommending books and games as we talk about the phenomena itself.
Cozy games
Cozy games can be defined as video games that involve beautiful graphics, a slow pace, less focus on violence and overall relaxation. Violent and high intensity video games have dominated the field for a very long time so the introduction of cozy games is quite different from that. Many of these games are farming simulators, like the popular game ‘Stardew Valley’ by ConcernedApe. As someone with 150 + hours in the game I can confidently say it is one of the best cosy farming sims out there as it encapsulates this genre perfectly. Puzzle games are also very popular in this world like the game ‘Unpacking’, where you learn about someone's life through unpacking their belongings. Both of the games mentioned share a common feature: pixelated graphics. This is a common characteristic of the genre as it generates a warm and small feeling, but generally speaking graphics are very important to the genre, pixelated or not. Another popular cozy game is ‘Animal Crossing’, in which you meet cute animals and create your own paradise of an island.
When the genre wasn't as established, and even now, it has been “criticised” for being too feminine and not real gaming. This is obviously rooted in misogyny and if you play a video game that inherently means you are gaming in some capacity. The genre has become a more inclusive and relaxing space for many people so its growth is only a positive thing in my eyes.
Cozy fantasy
We now move from video games to books, in these cozy fantasy novels the themes are usually ones of found family, magic within the daily life and less high stakes wars or violence. The story usually follows a small village or some variation of it. The main character may partake in baking, gardening, witchcraft all the while accompanied by a familiar and friends (and maybe a love interest!). The story may touch sad topics but will probably conclude in a happy way. One of the most popular cozy fantasies on the internet is ‘Legends and Lattes’ by Travis Baldree, if you love coffee this story is for you. We follow the journey of an orc introducing her coffee shop into a village who has never heard of such a beverage. Other mentions are ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ by Sangu Mandanna of a witch finding her found family and 'A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic' by J. Penner that recounts of a magicless human whom essentially bakes and meets the love of her life. On TikTok and other social medias like YouTube you will be able to find endless lists of cozy fantasy books to add to your TBR, if you desire more recommendations.
Why the cozy epidemic?
We may ask what it means for such a genre to explode in popularity, I think it can be summarised in a few points. First of all in the time we are living it make sense that people are constantly looking for an escape, especially into a lifestyle that is very foreign to us (slow paced, absence of social media, focus on nature and hobbies) and it is generally a relaxing experience to read these books or play these games. I would also argue that in the space of gaming the lack of competition or stress in these games can also be a reason that for more casual players the genre is a great option. Second of all, the inclusivity of this genre makes it more accessible and more enjoyable to many more readers and/or players. Lastly, often being involved in this genre also means partaking in a certain lifestyle, desirable to many. It is common to partake in other hobbies, apart from reading and gaming, like baking or other "cozy activities/hobbies" and often influencers in this space will have cute desk setups or reading nooks which is again desirable by many so it makes sense that we imitate their lifestyles. As I mentioned earlier I would define myself as a cozy gamer and reader so the rise of this trend in my opinion is of a positive nature in many ways.
Further readings
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