Best Cozy Open-World Games

Summary

• Open-world games bring comfort through exploration and wonder, creating immersive atmospheres with headphones.
• Some games like Dredge offer tranquil gameplay with a Lovecraftian twist, while others, like Lil Gator Game, provide cozy experiences.
• Games like Sable and Slime Rancher offer low-stakes exploration, distinctive art styles, and calming atmospheres for cozy gameplay.

Open-world games are inherently focused on exploration. Exploration tends to bring with it a sense of discovery and wonder, and those feelings can often be tremendously comforting, even when beset by various threats in the game world.

Some open-world games take this comfort further, building out immersive, relaxing atmospheres that give players room to sit back and reflect on the game worlds — or the player’s own world. Games such as Lil Gator Game allow players to feel joy without conflict, while other titles such as Outer Wilds provide truly cozy atmosphere through music, sound design, and immersive gameplay.

8 Dredge

The Comfort Of Safety And A Relaxing Soundscape

Though Dredge is sharpened by a Lovecraftian twist that injects moments of horror into its otherwise-tranquil gameplay, there’s plenty of cozy atmosphere to soak in — especially if you avoid sailing at night. The accessible, easy-to-learn gameplay and intuitive controls allow for a loop that’s free of frustration, allowing players to focus on quiet exploration, fishing, and inventory management.

The minimalist, flat-color art style is consistently soothing, bolstered by sound design that’s both calming and satisfying. The tranquilizing sound of the open water and the calming act of sailing across it is perhaps the biggest factor in the coziness of Dredge. However, players that are easily frightened may find it hard to relax with the lurking threat of horror come nightfall.

7 Sable

A Vivid Style And A Quiet Atmosphere

Sable‘sunique art style, with its distinctive colors and clear influence from Moebius, is one that’s immediately apparent. It’s soothing to the eye, thanks in large part to the color palette and subtle direction. This alone helps Sable to be a cozy experience, elevated by accessible gameplay, low stakes, and an intriguing world.

Sable is an exploration-heavy game that relies on the player to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy its set-pieces without the pressures of combat. Drifting across the dunes on the iconic hoverbike is, in itself, a laid-back experience, only bolstered by a wholesome spirit and immersive atmosphere.

6 Lil Gator Game

A Wholesome, Small-Scale Adventure

Featuring a complete lack of challenge, little in the way of conflict, and truly low stakes, Lil Gator Game is an inherently relaxing experience. However, it’s still a meaningful one, thanks to a heartfelt story and wholesome characters.

This wholesome atmosphere and the cute, colorful art style keep Lil Gator Game a decidedly cozy experience. The gameplay is heavily focused on 3D exploration, which takes clear influence from games such as The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, making for a tactile experience that lets simple joy take center stage.

5 Slime Rancher

Low-Stakes Exploration With A Cartoon Style

The farming-sim loop and satisfying tactility of the gameplay makes for an engaging time, but Slime Rancher‘s greatest strength is arguably its laid-back atmosphere. Exploring the diverse and colorful world of Slime Rancher consistently invokes a sense of discovery and wonder, made rewarding by feeding back into the farming-sim gameplay loop.

The accessibility of Slime Rancher’s gameplay, the cute and cartoonish visuals, and the calming soundtrack ensure that the simple act of play is almost always relaxing. Furthermore, the game features tremendously low stakes that prevent the experience from becoming stressful.

4 A Short Hike

A Colorful Adventure In A Tiny Open World

Featuring a wholly unique art style that’s both pleasing and soothing to the eyes, A Short Hike is an inherently cozy experience. This is only elevated by the accessible, satisfying gameplay loop that gives players the simple task of hiking up a mountain.

The peaceful environments, sound design, and whimsical music provide a consistently soothing atmosphere. The small scale of the game’s open world also helps the game’s coziness, preventing players from becoming overwhelmed and ensuring that none of its charm is missed.

3 The Long Dark

Hostile Environments Contrasted By Cozy Interiors & Moments Of Quiet

Hardcore survival doesn’t exactly scream “cozy,” but The Long Dark‘s hostile environments and harsh consequences only elevate the relief of safety. Finally returning to base — or discovering a new shelter — after a long trek through the wind and snow is a feeling that’s almost always rewarding, allowing players to sit and steep in the cozy atmosphere provided by a warm fire.

These small comforts are contrasted by hungry wolves, the threat of starvation, and the simple but very real danger of freezing to death. However, these menaces work with the tranquil atmosphere and snug interiors to provide a dramatic ebb and flow. Not a great fit for those seeking a wholly cozy experience, but for those interested in a distinct blend of tense survival punctuated by spikes of coziness and safety, The Long Dark offers a unique experience.

2 Outer Wilds

Contemplative Quiet-Time Through Space

Outer Wilds is a one-of-a-kind adventure driven by its mysterious, melancholic atmosphere and a near-unrivaled sense of wonder. Giving players free-reign in a small but diverse solar system and allowing them to explore both on-foot and via their own spaceship, Outer Wilds is also tremendously immersive.

This immersion only helps to elevate the cozy nature of the game’s atmosphere, boosted by a mesmerizing soundtrack and fluid gameplay. The lack of conflict and the low-stakes provided by the game’s time loop makes for an experience with little frustration, allowing players to focus on exploring the nooks and crannies of the world.

1 LEGO The Lord Of The Rings

A Cozy Adventure Through A Familiar And Nostalgic World

Fans of the source material are likely to find an immediate and nostalgic familiarity with LEGO The Lord Of The Rings. Combined with the potential nostalgia offered by LEGO games as a whole, and LEGO The Lord Of The Rings is able to offer a decidedly cozy experience.

Though this title does feature a linear narrative that follows the events of Peter Jackson’s adaptations, players are also able to freely explore much of Middle Earth. The coziness of LEGO The Lord Of The Rings is somewhat reliant on nostalgia and familiarity with the source material, but the heartwarming music and memorable locations do a lot to elevate the overall experience.