Support NeoGAF

[Jinxed]

Hey everyone

I'm really in a dark place right now, 2025 was horrible and it ended even worst. I'm looking for a small chill/cozy game either on ps5 or steam, I have a ton of games in the backlog but nothing is tempting me. I've been just walking in circles and doing nothing the last few days

Please let's hear your suggestions

 

[Gonzito]

Sorry to hear man

I recommend you Deus Ex Mankind Divided. Its an amazing game that will probably help you feeling immersed, the world building and exploration is incredible

And if you need to talk, my DMs are open

Cheers papi

 

[tusharngf]

forza horizon 5 or motorfest. Use Spotify in the background and roam around the map.

 

[Lightbreak]

If you want a cozy/relaxed open world game there nothing better than this one, is uplifting

 

[Jinxed]

Sorry to hear man

I recommend you Deus Ex Mankind Divided. Its an amazing game that will probably help you feeling immersed, the world building and exploration is incredible

And if you need to talk, my DMs are open

Cheers papi

Thank you, I will look into it.

I appreciate it

 

[adamsapple]

It's not 20 hours but if you need a chill / cozy game, I would say give "Lake" a try.

It's a game about someone going back to their hometown to relax from stress and might be the kind of escapism you need.

Lake PS4 & PS5

Its September 1, 1986. You take on the role of forty-something Meredith Weiss, who returns from the big city to her quiet hometown. She exchanges her busy career at a software company to fill in for her dad, the local mail carrier. During her two-week stay in beautiful Providence Oaks, Oregon...

store.playstation.com

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

I'll say either one of these

Stellar Blade
Resident Evil 4 Remake
The Darksiders trilogy collection on sale for 15 or the bigger pack that includes Genesis for less than 20. More than 30 hours total but it's 3/4 games in one.
Black Mesa
Infernax

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Chill/cozy is very subjective, but what about these

Hades II
Medieval Dynasty
Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous
Ale & Tale Tavern

 

[Jinxed]

Chill/cozy is very subjective, but what about these

Hades II
Medieval Dynasty
Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous
Ale & Tale Tavern

I really dont like rogue like games so hades is out of the equation but i'll look into the others, thank you

 

[Sticks]

Face it

 

[vodka-bull]

Sorry to hear that, I don't know anyone in my circles who had a great year, seems like 2025 has been the shittiest year for almost everyone I know.

If you really want super chill I'd recommend something like powerwash simulator, unpacking or starfew valley.

Wish you the best!

 

[Arsic]

Inazuma 11.

Trust.

Or animal well. Even more trust.

 

[keraj37]

AC Mirrage, short and relaxing

 

[cash_longfellow]

It's not 20 hours but if you need a chill / cozy game, I would say give "Lake" a try.

It's a game about someone going back to their hometown to relax from stress and might be the kind of escapism you need.

Lake PS4 & PS5

Its September 1, 1986. You take on the role of forty-something Meredith Weiss, who returns from the big city to her quiet hometown. She exchanges her busy career at a software company to fill in for her dad, the local mail carrier. During her two-week stay in beautiful Providence Oaks, Oregon...

store.playstation.com

I second this. Lake was a pleasant cozy game that got me through a tough patch as well.

 

[violence]

Keeper was a pretty chill game. It's about four hours though which I actually liked.

 

[Lootlord]

20-30h is short?
Just play some Megabonk and chill

 

[Edmund]

Dispatch is really chill and nice.

 

[damidu]

check this out if you like 2d zelda stuff, charm is off the roof, was fun time for me this year, should be around 15hrs

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Reviews

Tighten up that string, and bust out the yoyo moves! In this 2D top-down adventure you'll explore a sprawling urban landscape, reinterpreting your surroundings through your mastery of yoyo tricks. Solve puzzles, fight the city's rival crime lords, and regain the influence of the Pipistrello...

www.metacritic.com

 

[Mayar]

Take any escapist game with a high focus on visuals or story.

If you like farms - Stardew Valley
For water and ocean lovers, Subnautica is perfect.
If you love building - Tiny Glade
There is also an excellent series of games from the developer - Thatgamecompany - Flower, Journey, Sky: Children of the Light
Of the completely new ones, the only thing that comes to mind is - Infinity Nikki (cozy open-world adventure)

And don't give up, everything will be fine and everything will work out.

 

[Von Hugh]

Cast & Chill
Dave the Diver

 

[Edgelord79]

Cult of the Lamb

 

[John Marston]

When I was at my absolute lowest last summer because of chemo side effects I gave Spiritfarer a try and it really took my mind off the ravages to my body.

It's a cute cozy game with surprisingly deep themes.

Right now the Farewell Edition which includes all the DLC is only 6$ on PSN.

 

[Labadal]

PowerWasher Simulator is as chill as it gets.

 

[Jinxed]

When I was at my absolute lowest last summer because of chemo side effects I gave Spiritfarer a try and it really took my mind off the ravages to my body.

It's a cute cozy game with surprisingly deep themes.

Right now the Farewell Edition which includes all the DLC is only 6$ on PSN.

Thank you non chum, je vais regarder ça. Lâche pas

 

[ssringo]

It's not necessarily a short game but it can be very satisfying (lulz) creating your production lines, tearing them down and rebuilding to be more efficient. Also great at taking your mind off of real world stuff as you plan and calculate.

 

[simpatico]

Hollow Knight weekend is the definition of chill and cozy.

Don't let the outsized focus on the option content convince you otherwise. There's a wonderful world down there and the way I played it was very chill. But I never had any intentions of trying to beat the pantheon etc.

 

[geary]

Recommend Anno 1800 or Satisfactory.

 

[Melfice7]

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

Fantasy life I is anything but short but it is extremely cozy and the overall vibe just puts me in a good mood

I just started it and think it's an incredible cozy game to get lost in. Very addictive

 

[Jinxed]

Some of the games mentionned are on PS+ extra. I might grab that if I can share the subscription with pairing my ps5 to my son's ps5. He could finally get to play GTA online with his friends as well. I need to check out how that works

Thanks all

 

[Sand Dan Glokta]

Was in a dark place myself at the height of covid when it came on steam, around summer 2020. Its a tad longer than the hours range you mentioned but its very worth it. The game is set in a cozy sleepy small town where you get to meet and befriend wholesome and genuinely great written characters, and solve a big mystery that has befallen the town.

 

[reinking]

You can get 30-35 hours out of the story and at least double that if you want to keep playing.

 

[Holammer]

Similar to pikmin, pretty easy and takes 10-12h to finish. 4,99 on Steam right now.
certified: cozy


Metroidvania/Pinball fusion, takes 10-12h. Costs 1,99 on Steam right now.
certified: cozy + the music!


Classic 3d platformer. Takes 30+ hours to finish all three games. The console versions are 30fps, get it on PC for up to 120.
certified: cozy (as long as you don't trophy hunt).


Kind of dark setting, but the story got me emotionally invested. 8h to finish, 3,99 on Steam.
certified: kinda dark, but it's about family.

 

[Shubh_C63]

 

[ByWatterson]

Suikoden I & II
Dragon Quest I & II
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

 

[Deficit]

Hey everyone

I'm really in a dark place right now, 2025 was horrible and it ended even worst. I'm looking for a small chill/cozy game either on ps5 or steam, I have a ton of games in the backlog but nothing is tempting me. I've been just walking in circles and doing nothing the last few days

Please let's hear your suggestions

Emulate Zelda tears of the kingdom/BOTW. Or Twilight princess, windwaker.

 

[Alexios]

Why it has to be short (though 25 hours isn't too short I guess)? Yakuza: Like a Dragon is the coziest game but will take a while longer to beat, probably. Ichiban won't give up and neither will you! Same for the sequel, if you've played this one already and haven't that one yet (Infinite Wealth).

 

[TheAmazingSpiderMan]

if you want a chill game maybe try life is strange double exposure.

 

[amigastar]

GTA Chinatown Wars on the PPSSPP Emulator (PSP Emu) is great and not too long.

 

[PeteBull]

U even got free demo to test game out, dlcs aka mission pack are great too, just play it on easy/normal difficulty for it to be chill time, on harder/hardest difficulties game is really punishing even for veterans of the series like myself

 

[Disciple of MSSP]

Death Stranding with no BTs
Medieval dynasty (probably best option)
Stellar blade
Tainted grail The Fall of Avalon
High on life

Sorry homie. Hate to hear it. Just remember it does get better.

 

[phant0m]

Are you a LOTR fan?

Check out Return to Moria. It's gotten some big updates since launch and most recently an expansion.

 

[Mr Hyde]

Ori 1 & 2 are super cozy and chill Metroidvanias that doesn't overstay their welcome.

 

[EverydayBeast]

God of war ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Indiana Jones, Alan Wake 2, some are longer than 20 hours, cozy? Check.

 

[hououinkyouma00]

Hey everyone

I'm really in a dark place right now, 2025 was horrible and it ended even worst. I'm looking for a small chill/cozy game either on ps5 or steam, I have a ton of games in the backlog but nothing is tempting me. I've been just walking in circles and doing nothing the last few days

Please let's hear your suggestions

This post is going to start dark but it's simply to give context and to say that I've been there and I'm sorry that you aren't doing well. In 2017 I was in a very dark place, and I'm not too proud to say that I tried to take my own life (history of anxiety and depression that still exists but I'm better at working through it now). I'm obviously still here and part of what got me through that time and many other hard times have been games, but I would say 1 game in particular which is why I've quoted our friend Sand Dan Glokta here.

Also, if you need anybody to talk to, I'm here. I know I'm just some random dude on NEOGAF that you've probably never even interacted with before, but I got you if you need anything.

Was in a dark place myself at the height of covid when it came on steam, around summer 2020. Its a tad longer than the hours range you mentioned but its very worth it. The game is set in a cozy sleepy small town where you get to meet and befriend wholesome and genuinely great written characters, and solve a big mystery that has befallen the town.

Persona 4/Golden is my favorite game of all time, and I don't think it will ever be replaced. The original release got me through rough times in high school and allowed me to come home and just escape and forget about all the school and family and all the other bullshit that was suffocating me at the time. I was (and still am) a huge Vita fan and bought Golden day 1 (I also own it on every single platform that it's available on and have played it through to completion on everything but Xbox, and total including the original I've probably played the game over 15 times over the years) but when everything happened in 2017 I spent a couple days in the hospital and was released and had a couple months off of work. This is ultimately what also got me into minimalism as well (I'm not going to go into here because I'm not going to try to preach but it also helped me tremendously and still does) but I remember going stir crazy at home and trying to find a game to play because I needed a distraction and I pulled out Persona 4 Golden again and it was like being in highschool in 2008 all over again. Everything melted away even if just for the time I played the game but that time was so special to me.

The characters, the music, the story, everything about the game is so special to me that to this day if I'm feeling anxious or on the verge of a panic attack I put my AirPods in and put on the Persona 4 soundtrack. It's definitely over 20-30 hours on a first playthrough but it was the first thing I thought of when I saw your post.

I know it's not a game, but I just want to shoutout another piece of media that is similar to Persona 4 for me and it's Spice and Wolf (specifically the anime and I'm sure to the dismay of some the english dub for me personally as it's how I first watched it way back). It's the same as Persona in that even just hearing the intro/outro or the voices of Holo and Kraft just immediately calm me down and it's one of my go to chill out pieces of media.

 

[Rocinante618]

While none of these are 20-30 hours I really had fun and escapism in these than anything else:

- Starfield or Fallout 4 or Skyrim
- Far Cry 4, 5, 6
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake (this game is surprisingly so uplifting and warm)
- Avatar Frontiers of Pandora or Star Wars Outlaws
- GTA 5 and RDR2
- Cyberpunk
- AC Syndicate/Origins/Odyssey/Valhalla
- Hogwarts Legacy

Most of these take me to magical or crazy worlds where I can goof around, roam around, have fun, break stuff, joke and laugh, do the funny and totally forget the pain and grief.

 

[Aldynes]

Orcs must die 3, Tower Defense game with turns to build traps highly addictive and very chill !

 

[dgrdsv]

20-30h is not "short".

 

[mèx]

20-30 hours? Nah, you need a good cozy JRPG in which you can immerse yourself. Well, some of them will have some darker turns here and there, but that's how it is with most JRPGs usually.

Set it to easy and enjoy the slow paced story and a cast of wonderful characters.

It has that Ghibli charm, what's not to like.

A good classic adventure in a colorful world with a traditional combat system.

A straightforward story with good character interactions and an excellent combat system.

It has that cozy feeling from the beginning, even if the story goes bonkers towards the end.

There is also Xenoblade 2, but you would need to emulate it since you don't have a Switch. It would be my top recommendation otherwise. Actually emulating it might be the best way to experience it since it runs like shit on Switch.

There is Grandia too but the PC port is an abomination.

 

[VeganElduderino]

chill cozy I would say

and forgot this one too is great