2026 is already a great year for arcade games, but there are so many around the corner that could be the genre’s best year yet. There is a wide variety in the genres of cozy games that rank alongside the usual farming and life sims, some magical and some exotic.
12 Best Games With Multiple Collections
Casual games are great, but casual games with endless collectibles? Even better. From feathers to fish, these are the hardest games to collect
Sinking an hour or two into a cozy game is one of the best ways to relax, and all of these games promise to do just that. There are many different art styles, concepts, and settings that don’t look the same to each other. In a genre where many games are based on the same game loops, it’s amazing to see the creativity of the developers on display here.
10
Deer & Boy
A good platformer
Deer & Boy is a silent comedy about a boy and a deer traveling together. Honestly, its trailer blew me away with its visuals and great concept, and I feel like it’s the kind of game that will make me cry. The deer grows as you progress through the game, and builds a bond with the boy by passing tests and solving puzzles together.
As a platformer, Deer & Boy is different from the other games on this list, but it’s a thoroughly enjoyable game. It has the kind of healthy vibe and warmth that many cozy players appreciate. Deer & Boy has a tentative release date of 2026, around the end of the year.
9
Coming out
Hit the road
Outbound is the next Kickstarter-funded adventure game with an emphasis on customization and eco-tech. Your vehicle is a solar powered van with a bewildering number of customization options. You can turn your van into a custom-made matryoshka doll, with almost the entire home opening from the roof and sides of the van.
The emphasis on nature and the small eco-footprint is refreshing and represents a new trend in casual games that incorporate an eco-friendly narrative. I find this a welcome relief from seeing the pollution and stories about climate change, and the thought of stepping back into the world where I can live in harmony with nature is hopeful.
8
Animula Nook
See the World Differently
The big worlds in Ariety and Borrowers offer a very different view of everyday housing. Animula Nook runs with this concept, turning an ordinary place into a falling world. You are reduced to a miniature version of yourself, where everyday items found around the house become your food and building materials.
Animula Nook gives you full control over creating a tiny house, with tons of customization options. Exploration is exciting and novel, with your new perspective making even the most familiar things new. Animula Nook does not have a release date yet, but it is likely to be released by the end of 2026.
7
The Humblets
Cozy Camper Retreat
|
The platform |
PC |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
HypeTrain Digital |
|
Kind of |
Sacrifice |
|
Release date |
TBD |
The Humblets put a cozy spin on the survival genre. Set in a world of glamorous beauty and design, Humblets is all about exploring and living without the hassle, warm summer camp vibes. You play as a humblet, a small creature that resembles a cute brownie or a hobbit. You can customize your humlet to your liking, including clothing options and legend like horns and pointy ears.
13 Best Open World Games
For cool game lovers with open world aspirations.
Humblets will be a co-op game for up to four players, allowing you to explore the world and collect resources with your friends. It looks like a low-level exploration game, perfect for relaxing with friends or by yourself. I’m a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings and while Humblets aren’t LotR property, they feel close enough to the hobbit exploration game for me to be sold.
6
Moonlight Peaks
One of the Gothic Horror Girlies
Moonlight Peaks is another farming sim, but this one has a supernatural theme. You play a vampire, and you can befriend the townspeople, including werewolves, mermaids, witches, and other vampires.
The setting is different from other farming sims because of its gothic-horror-meets-Hello-Kitty aesthetic. You gain vampiric powers that help you get around and make simple farming sim tasks easier as you progress, including floating watering cans. You can also decorate your vampire lair, with beautiful decoration and customization options. You won’t have to wait long for this as it has a definite release date of June 7, 2026.
5
Paralives
Comfortable Life Sim
Considered one of the first contenders in The Sims franchise, Paralives has been in development for years now. It was supposed to be released earlier in December last year, but this was pushed back to May 2026.
People have been excited about Paralives for years because of its challenge to the dominance of The Sims 4. Competition can push developers to be more creative, and Sims 4 competitors are needed now more than ever due to the purchase of EA in Saudi Arabia and rumors that there will be no more expansion packs. Its unique art style and building tools set it apart from The Sims 4, and hopefully will make the life sim space very different.
4
Loftia
Islands in the sky
|
The platform |
PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|
|
Publisher |
Qcloud Games |
|
Kind of |
Common |
|
Release date |
TBD |
Loftia is a solarpunk MMO that lets you travel between islands floating in the sky. Its emphasis on green energy and eco-technology is a natural fit for farming games. Loftia takes this further and offers creative solutions to the islands’ unique challenges, such as inter-island transport and improving crop production and benefits using science while being environmentally friendly.
Loftia will be a free MMO, so you can play as part of a real community with friends. It recently had a successful closed beta with positive reviews from beta players, and is on track for a 2026 release.
3
My time at Evershine
The latest in Success Line
My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock were both huge hits in the cozy gaming space. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the My Time At… series has found a strange place and thrives in it.
12 Best Games With Multiple Collections
Casual games are great, but casual games with endless collectibles? Even better. From feathers to fish, these are the hardest games to collect
You’d think a post-apocalyptic world would be pretty cool, but My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock are heartbreakingly beautiful. There’s a real sense of community, and the biggest draw of the setting is the diversity of each game in terms of locations, setting challenges, and story. My Time at Evershine will go in a different direction, set in a more European-inspired world with an emphasis on its RPG and settlement mechanics.
2
Places to stay in Mistria
A Magical World That Matters
Fields of Mistria has been in early access for a few years, but its next update promised a full release and should arrive in a few months. Set in the picturesque landscape of Mistria, Fields of Mistria’s true strength lies in its characters. There are plenty of team interactions to listen to and participate in, which go a long way in making Mistria feel alive.
The art style is inspired by shoujo anime from the ’90s, and it makes for great visuals. It has a strong arts program that includes cooking, farming, ranching, and mining. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on Fields of Mistria in early access alone, and I’m still excited to see what the full game has to offer.
1
Witchbrook
It’s been ten years
Gamers have been waiting for Witchbrook since it was announced ten years ago, but 2026 seems to be a tentative release date. Witchbrook is a life simulation game where you play as the town’s new witch, attend a school of magic to learn new spells and potions, and build a life in the town of Mossport.
The artwork is amazing and detailed, and the world looks really alive in the trailers. For those who want to avoid other magical school games, Witchbrook will be the perfect place to spend hundreds of hours learning magic and making friends with unique characters.
10 Upcoming Fun Games That Could Take Over Your Life
It’s so comfortable you’ll never want to take it off.
