If you’re on the lookout for cozy games like Unpacking, you’ve most definitely been smitten by the relaxing and intimate vibe that it creates. There’s no wonder that it’s counted among the most outstanding indie game titles of recent times.
The snug goodness of Stardew Valley and the emotionally charged nature of Venba come very close to replicating the experience provided by Unpacking. And there are plenty of other such games that you can jump into on a variety of platforms. Let’s take a look at all of them.
1. Florence – An interactive story experience
Florence is a narrative game that takes you through a relationship in the life of a girl named Florence Yeoh.
It’s an emotional rollercoaster that lets you play out various scenarios in her life through interactive puzzles.
The beauty of Florence is reflected in its innovative gameplay, which intelligently manages to mirror various stages of a relationship. This amazing adventure even turns the scenario of sending lovey-dovey messages into a love puzzle.
It’s this innovative storytelling and emotionally resonant gameplay that make it an ideal entry into this list of games similar to Unpacking.
Platform: Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Windows
Price: $2.99 (Steam)
2. Assemble with Care – A nostalgia-filled ride
The slow and relaxed vibe of cozy games like Unpacking is beautifully reflected in Assemble with Care.
In this adorable puzzle game, you assume the role of an antique restorer who arrives in a serene town named Bellariva.
As you interact with its residents, you are tasked with fixing various broken items, including old cameras, music players, and arcade machines.
There’s a heavy tinge of nostalgia to this game, which will appeal to players who were born in the 1990s, when tape cassettes and analog cameras were the norm.
Even as you solve puzzles and help the people of Bellarvia, you form unique bonds with them and uncover their stories, making the process of fixing their items even more special.
Platform: Windows, MacOS, iOS
Price: $7.99 (Steam)
3. Venba – A mother-son bond
Venba is a deeply personal game that depicts the changing relationship between a mother and her son.
This outstanding indie game begins when Venba and her husband, struggling Indian immigrants in Canada, decide to have a child despite their financial predicaments.
As we progress through the game, our protagonist’s emotional state and her insecurities are juxtaposed against tasty Indian delicacies that she learnt from her mother.
This relaxing puzzle game features extremely satisfying gameplay and there’s superb sound design to make the food look oh so scrumptious. Venba is a short game so it shouldn’t take you much time to complete it. It’s got a soothing soundtrack as well.
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Price: $14.99 (Steam)
4. Stardew Valley – Farm life simulator
Stardew Valley is easily the poster child of relaxing games like Unpacking. It is by far, my favorite game to play after a taxing week at work. It drops you into a little town where you’ve just inherited your grandfather’s run-down farm.
Your job is to get it back on track by raising livestock, tending to your crops, repairing equipment, and much more.
And while doing all this, you also get to interact with other people from the town, eventually forming bonds with them that can lead to marriage and having children. Everything from the music of Stardew Valley to its gameplay is extremely soothing.
One interesting fact about this cute game is that it was developed by only one person over the course of four and a half years.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, iOS, Android
Price: $14.99 (Steam)
5. PowerWash Simulator – Game and wash!
Whoever thought a game in which you do nothing else but wash objects could be so enjoyable? PowerWash Simulator keeps things extremely simple.
As a novice, you are tasked with learning the tricks and trade of the power washing profession before you climb the ladder to take on more difficult jobs.
But the calm and cozy feeling of cleaning the dirt off objects and houses stays constant in all these jobs. The game even features cooperative multiplayer support that can be taken advantage of by up to six players online.
Moreover, a VR version of the game also exists, letting you further engross yourself in all the washing and cleaning.
Platform: Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Meta Quest (2, Pro, 3)
Price: $24.99 (Steam)
6. Gone Home – Explore to uncover
Gone Home isn’t quite as interactive as the other games in this list, but it’s got its own charm.
The focus is solely on its narrative, which slowly unfolds itself as you delve deeper into its satisfying living space.
Set in 1995, it places you in the shoes of a young woman who has just returned from a trip to find her rural Oregon family absent from the house.
You play in first person as you explore the house, learning clues about their whereabouts and in the process, discover some dark secrets as well. It’s certainly the kind of game that hooks you with its simplicity and charm.
Platform: Linux, Windows, macOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS
Price: $14.99 (Steam)
7. A Little to the Left – Very similar to Unpacking
If Unpacking is about organizing your house, A Little to the Left is about tidying it up.
The cozy puzzle game will have you stacking, sorting, and organizing household items into pleasing arrangements, all while keeping an eye out for a cat who loves to wreak havoc, as all cats do, of course.
The best part about this zen puzzle game is that it’s got incredibly creative puzzles that can have multiple solutions. And it also lets you skip levels with a comforting ‘Let It Be’ button, allowing you to ignore certain messes for the time being.
This, and much more, makes it a great fit in this list of relaxing games like Unpacking.
Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PS4, PS5
Price: $14.99 (Steam)
8. Animal Crossing New Horizons – Charming animal interactions
This game is all about speaking with animals. It drops you onto a deserted island populated by anthropomorphic animals, even as you’re tasked with exploring your surroundings and building relationships.
The game is adored by fans for its peaceful setting, complete with chirping birds, flowing rivers, and gentle music.
And Animal Crossing New Horizons doesn’t force you to complete objectives. You can take your own sweet time as you indulge in other activities like fishing, fossil hunting, customization, and more.
It’s an excellent game that offers you a peaceful escape from the stresses of everyday life.
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Price: $59.99 (eShop)
9. Viridi – Look after your plants
Here’s a relaxing simulation game that you can start playing for free; it does have microtransactions, of course.
The concept of Viridi is pretty simple – You are tasked with taking care of a pot full of succulents in real time.
And you have a companion in your job as well. A snail roams around your plants, changing its emotion from time to time. You interact with it by can singing or spilling water.
Viridi is a small and meditative game that will gobble up a lot of your time with its charming gameplay.
Platform: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
Price: Free (Steam)
10. Outer Wilds – Zany space exploration
For fans of space exploration games, Outer Wilds is a truly unmissable experience.
It puts you bang in the middle of a tiny solar system filled with planets, caves, space debris, and… marshmallows.
The game drops you onto a planet, where the other characters remind you about a spaceship you need to repair and take for a spin. But the fun begins when you get stuck in a time loop.
Every time you die or the solar system’s sun explodes, you are sent back to the start, albeit with new knowledge on how to navigate the obstacles the next time. It’s mostly an engaging and calming game that can get pretty frenzied at times.
Platform: Windows, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Price: $14.99 (Steam)
11. House Flipper 2 – Dabble in real estate
This one’s for the tinkerers; the aspiring engineers who love construction games.
It’s extremely satisfying to fix homes that are in a dilapidated state and turn them into houses that will fetch you great value on the market.
Your tasks can include laying down tiles, demolishing walls, installing lights, and much more.
House Flipper 2 gives you a comfortable feel and even grants you the thrill of earning the maximum amount of money possible with the house that’s at your disposal.
Platform: Windows
Price: $39.99 (Steam)
12. Cat Goes Fishing – Catch fish to earn money
What can go wrong with a game in which a cat goes fishing? Pretty much nothing.
There’s heaps of enjoyment in this game where you start off with just a basic rod and can progress to much better fishing equipment.
There’s quite a lot of strategy involved as well, with each fish having its own unique behavior.
Starting from small ponds, you can move towards fishing in the sea as well. And there are plenty of different boats to embark on your sojourns.
It’s a small little game that doesn’t cost much; so do give it a try.
Platform: Windows
Price: $6.99 (Steam)
13. Cozy Grove – Interact with adorable ghosts
Cozy Grove takes place on a haunted island. But don’t think about it as a scary game.
It plays like Animal Crossing where you help the ghosts on the island find peace. You pitch your tent and set out daily to help the spectral inhabitants with their afterlives.
Building the camp, decorating it to make your own and embarking on quests that take place in procedurally generated environments is an extremely satisfying experience.
Cozy Grove features a long campaign that keeps you hooked throughout its duration. Cozy Grove has got a great soundtrack as well, which immerses you further into its gameplay.
Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
Price: $14.99 (Steam)
14. Strange Horticulture – Run your own plant shop
Taking place in a mysterious town, this puzzle game stays true to the ‘strange’ in its name.
As you take care of a horticulture store, you are met with peculiar customers who are always on the lookout for exotic and even magical flora. Your job doesn’t just involve selling the plants though.
The game has you identifying the unusual plants through logic and observation. In the process, you can unlock new species, delve into an occult storyline, and navigate the dark secrets of the town.
Platform: Windows, Nintendo Switch
Price: $15.99 (Steam)
15. Kind Words (lo fi chill beats to write to) – Brimming with positivity
Kind Words is a unique game. It takes place in the corner of a little room, where you can sit and write letters to strangers as chill, low-fidelity music plays in the background.
You can choose to write letters or receive them from others.
In this way, Kind Words creates a community focused on positive reinforcement, changing the whole meaning of what video games can make possible.
And moreover, it promotes real-world kindness, which is always a good thing. It’s a simple game that costs under $5. So do give it a try if you’re a fan of games similar to Unpacking.
Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: $4.99
16. Journey – Uniquely evocative
The beauty of Journey is that it features no text prompts at all.
It relies on visuals to convey the story as well as instructions on how to progress. In this game, you control a robed figure traveling through a desert.
The best part of its gameplay is that other players on the same journey can also be discovered. They can help you out, but again, there is no text or voice-based chat.
Journey was released way back in 2012, but is still quite a cozy puzzle game to jump into.
Platform: Windows, PS3, PS4, iOS
Price: $5.99 (Steam)
17. Lemon Cake – Wake and bake
A rundown bakery needs to be restored to its former glory and you’re the one tasked with accomplishing this.
It’s a cozy and comforting experience which involves undertaking tasks like growing fresh ingredients, cooking pastries and serving hungry customers.
But there’s a lot more to the game than just cooking and serving. It also features a friendly cat, some secrets to uncover, and a heartwarming story behind the bakery’s revival.
With its delightful blend of baking, community, and exploration, Lemon Cake delivers a sweet experience that’s ideal for unwinding after a long day’s work.
Platform: Windows
Price: $14.99
18. What Remains of Edith Finch – Uncover family secrets
There’s very little action in What Remains of Edith Finch. It’s a narrative-focused game where the job is to explore a house and its surrounding wilderness through a semi-linear series of rooms, footpaths, crawlspaces, and secret passages.
All the while, a sombre narration guides you, providing commentary on your thoughts. You play as a seventeen-year-old girl named Edith Finch, who happens to be the last surviving member of her family.
Upon returning to her ancestral home after seven years, she starts uncovering the secrets of her family’s past and in the process, learns about a series of deaths that led to their demise.
Despite the macabre premise, the gameplay is calm and quiet and the music is soothing, which is what makes it a worthy pick in this list of cozy games like Unpacking.
Platform: PS4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Price: $4.99
