Cozy
The genre of cozy games center a relaxing atmosphere, nonviolent conflict, heartwarming play, and friendly, wholesome activity. They are often slice-of-life games about interpersonal relationships with themes like farming, travel, hospitality, family, nature, and care. The aim of the cozy genre is to instill a sense of peace and tranquility in its audience, and provide a respite from the outside world. Cozy games and media are escapist fantasies, taking solace in the small beauties of the world. Cozy TTRPGs are a great way to experience the best the genre has to offer. Gathering with your friends to play games and tell collaborative stories is cozy fare to start with; add a hot cup of tea, a warm blanket, some soft music (and maybe a furry friend), and a cozy game starts to feel pretty immersive! Because the stories in cozy games tend to be peaceful, they usually de-center combat and highlight nonviolent methods of conflict resolution. Empathy, kindness, and understanding are characters' most powerful tools, and they help accomplish goals like completing journeys, solving small-scale problems, healing harm, and mending relationships.
Popular Cozy RPGs
Brindlewood Bay
Brindlewood Bay is a tabletop roleplaying game that combines Murder, She Wrote with H.P. Lovecraft. In it, you play a group of elderly women, members of the local Murder Mavens Mystery Book Club, who help the authorities solve murder cases in a picturesque New England Town. Over the course of their investigations, they become aware of a dark occult conspiracy that connects the cases, and will eventually have to face that conspiracy in order to save their community. The game is low-prep and easy to play no matter your experience with tabletop roleplaying games.
Fabula Ultima
Fabula Ultima is a Tabletop Roleplaying Game inspired by Japanese-style console RPGs, or JRPGs. In Fabula Ultima, you and your friends will tell epic stories of would-be heroes and fearsome villains, set in fantasy worlds brimming with magic, wondrous locations, and uniquely bizarre monsters! This is a game about larger-than-life heroes and tragic antagonists. There is no predetermined plot, scenario, or "adventure", and the heroes' actions, motivations, and objectives will drive the story forward while the Game Master reacts to their choices and places obstacles on their path, often in the form of powerful villains with their own devious agendas, which will change time and time again as the protagonists manage (or fail) to thwart their plans.
Frequently asked questions about Cozy
Blog links about Cozy
Cozy Reviews and Actual Plays
Grannies Vs. Cthulhu: Brindlewood Bay
Dicebreaker plays Brindlewood Bay, a game of old ladies solving (sometimes paranormal) murder mysteries, with the designer Jason Cordova.
Ryuutama: Roleplaying With Dragons
Hero Squad plays through Ryuutama, a cozy, heartwarming, natural fantasy RPG about feeding stories to dragons who control the seasons.
Dreamstream: Wanderhome
A cast of podcasters and comedians convenes to play Wanderhome, a game of traveling animal-folk searching for home.