I need a relaxing and stress-free game every now and then, and there are plenty of amazing choices on Nintendo Switch. It turns out 2023 was a great year for cozy Switch releases, and I've gathered the 10 best entries here.
Top 10 Cozy Nintendo Switch Games Released in 2023
Cozy games are for players who want a relaxing getaway in an aesthetic world filled with art, adventure, simulation, and usually a really great soundtrack. Plenty of amazing cozy games released in 2023, but these really stood out as some of the best.
My Time at Sandrock
My Time at Sandrock is one release I was really looking forward to in 2023. It was on my radar ever since I played the first game, My Time at Portia. I was pleased to find everything I loved about the first game included in this new entry—and much, much more. It's filled with adventure, intriguing characters, and fascinating story quests set in a Western town. And thankfully, you don't have to go this one alone; you can invite friends in multiplayer mode.
Sea of Stars
Sea of Stars is an experience I was pleasantly surprised by. Despite being an RPG, this is a relaxing and visually stunning game. You embark on a journey as two Solstice Warriors, destined to save the world from the evil Fleshmancer. Along the way, you add more characters to your team, each with their own special skills. While this experience does have fighting sequences, it's all turn-based, allowing you to remain calm and play at your own pace. Trust me, the amazing pixel animations will instantly win you over.
Related: 20 Best Casual Games of 2023
Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos
Harvest Moon is a fun, cozy experience catered toward farming, romance, and adventure. It features adorable, anime-style graphics and plenty of unique characters to interact and form relationships with. You're tasked with creating your own farm and assisting the villages of Anthos to get back on their feet by awakening the Spirits of the land. I thoroughly enjoyed taming the animals and caring for them back at my farm.
Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly
Coffee Talk is the perfect cozy game; if you played the first game, you'll love this sequel just as much. You're a barista at an aesthetic lo-fi cafe in this urban fantasy city. You get to make coffee and special warm drinks for customers as they enter, hear their stories, and affect their outcomes and feelings with the drinks that you serve. Customize the drinks how you like with latte art and flavor profiles to really give the customers exactly what they need to warm their hearts.
While the Iron's Hot
If you're a fan of medieval RPGs but don't want to play anything too intense, then While the Iron's Hot is the perfect 2023 cozy game for you. You become the village's resident blacksmith and must mine, forage, and farm for all your own materials to craft goods and deliver them to the townspeople in need. Simultaneously, you can explore the mysteries and stories happening around the village and work toward expanding it into a populated haven.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Even though Disney Dreamlight Valley has been around a bit longer in early access, it officially launched in 2023, along with its first major expansion. Now, it's better than ever. What could be more cozy than interacting with your favorite Disney characters, completing quests, exploring the biomes, farming, and decorating your own house and outfits? There is so much to do, and you can do it with your Disney pals by your side, enjoying the iconic music in the background.
Pixel Cafe
Pixel Cafe is a heartfelt story in which you play the character Pixel, attempting to make a career as a barista in multiple different bars. You hear tales of the city Karstok, your grandmother, and other intriguing stories spanning three generations back. Meanwhile, you have to complete arcade levels where you serve customers drinks and food and try to earn money to renovate your grandmother's house. The pixel art fits the vibe, and the original soundtrack will have you absorbed the whole time in the cozy atmosphere.
Spirittea
I was immediately drawn to Spirittea when it released in 2023—not just because it reminded me of Stardew Valley, but also because it was something entirely new. This cute, Japanese-inspired pixel game allows you to create your own unique character and help the town's spirits by managing a bathhouse. You'll have to clean, adjust the water temperature to the spirit's liking, and even cook food for them in minigame style. I loved the look of the grumpy spirits and had fun befriending them, along with the other townsfolk.
Related: 10 Best RPGs of 2023
Cassette Beasts
Cassette Beasts is yet another irresistible 2D game that really gives off a cozy feeling. If you like Pokémon, this is definitely one for you to try. You can tame creatures using cassette tapes and then play them back to transform into them during battle. Plus, you can explore an open world, track down different creatures, and duke it out in turn-based battles.
Roots of Pacha
If you love Stardew Valley, then you'll definitely Roots of Pacha, a pixel farming sim released in 2023. While it has a lot of similarities to Stardew Valley, it also features something completely unique: life in the Stone Age. Explore a vast wilderness, tame animals, gather resources, craft and cook, and form relationships with the people of your clan. You can even play with up to four players in multiplayer and compete in races and other fun activities.
There were so many great Nintendo Switch games released in 2023, but these were some of my favorites and most popular releases that really fit that cozy genre. If you're looking for something calm and relaxing to try, you'll definitely want to give some of these a go.
Looking for more great Nintendo Switch games to try? Check out All Game Boy and GBA games coming to the Nintendo Switch or Should you play Harvestella on Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch? here on Pro Game Guides.
Abby Smith is a super nerd and video game fanatic who grew up playing games on a variety of platforms. She likes to spend her free time binge-watching Netflix, reading all genres of novels, and playing all the best new video games. She is currently a full-time Staff Writer for Pro Game Guides, and as an alumni from Full Sail University, also enjoys dabbling in creative writing such as short stories, scripts, and comics on the side.