This year at PAX West 2025, we got comfy and shared our favorite cozy indie games. They are the games we lose hours to on rainy afternoons, wrapped in blankets with a cup of something warm. They’re the games we turn to when the world feels heavy and we need a little comfort. From life sims to platformers to narrative adventures, we hope you find something here worth curling up with.

 
 
 

USAGI SHIMA

collecting mobile game japanese-inspired free-to-play

Developer: pank0 (aka Jess Yu)

Platforms: Google Play, App Store, Steam (Windows, MacOS, Linux)

Usagi Shima means ”Rabbit Island” in Japanese, and Usagi Shima by Jess Yu and studio rabbiko is just that! In this cute and cozy mobile game reminiscent of Neko Atsume, you own a rabbit island. Collect cute little bunnies by putting out their favorite items. Bunnies will come and visit depending on the different items you have accessible on the island, the different areas you have unlocked, and the buildings you have placed. Enjoy fun little running mini games, taking pictures, and cleaning up your bunnies. If you want a little cuteness in your day, Usagi Shima is a great mobile game to get that quick serotonin boost — there’s no better notification than getting one that says, “A new rabbit is here!”

 

HAZEL THE PLANT WITCH

gardening mute representation 2d puzzle free-to-play

Developer:  Mini Bunnies

Platforms: itch.io

This charming 2D puzzle adventure was one of the first games I had the pleasure of reviewing for Game Raven. In a world where all witches talk to plants, Hazel the witch cannot. So, Hazel uses recorded language to communicate with the plants in her world as she raises flowers of her own. Hazel the Plant Witch is a relaxing game based on collecting words from plants in Hazel’s world. Hazel the Plant Witch’s gameplay and story are familiar yet refreshingly new. Studios Mini Bunnies and Victoria Caña came together during a 48-hour game jam to create Hazel the Plant Witch. After their victory, they decided to refine and polish the game to publish. Hazel the Plant Witch is a fairly quick playthrough, but you will be surprised at how quickly you bond with characters and how addictive this game is for completionists (yes, you can even get over 100% completion!).

 

OUR LIFE BEGINNINGS & ALWAYS

visual novel first love summer vibes free-to-play

Developer:  GB Patch Games

Platforms: Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, Steam (PC)

Our Life: Beginnings and Always by GB Patch Games is a visual novel that gives me The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes in the best way. Our Life: Beginnings and Always is a very customizable and incredibly inclusive game. The non-DLC version focuses on your relationship with your neighbor, Cove, after he moves into your cozy beach town. Explore your friendship and the possibility of a budding romance as you transition from childhood to adulthood. The DLC unlocks additional characters, but the base game is free to play and features a wonderful story on its own. Whenever I’m feeling down, this is my go-to game to get those cute, first-love feel-good moments again. The studio also has a second game, Our Life: Now and Forever, with great cozy Fall vibes, if that’s more your speed.

 

PERSEPHONE

2d puzzle cozy music artwork mobile game

Developer: Momo-Pi Studio

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Steam, Game Jolt, Android, iOS

When your soul lives forever, you can die as many times as you need. Persephone is a gruesomely cute and perfectly frustrating puzzle game where you use death to your advantage. If you are familiar with the lore of Persephone and Hades, traveling to the Underworld through a puzzle only makes sense. When you are dropped into the first level of Persephone, it seems that the only way out is to…die. The key to this 2D isometric puzzle game is to decide when and how to use your character’s death, abilities, and surroundings to your advantage. Created by Momo-Pi Studio in Bulle, Switzerland, in an attempt to “explore the next level possibilities of death”, Persephone combines the elements of puzzles, surprise, and calming tones.

 
 
 

AMBER ISLE

character customization shop management social sim crafting

Developer: Ambertail Games

Platforms: Windows/Mac/Nintendo Switch

Amber Isle is an adorable life-sim where your neighbors are – you guessed it – Dinosaurs! And these Paleofolk have some wild shopping lists too. One minute you’re hammering together a table that can hold a brontosaurus, the next you’re crafting a waterproof picnic set for a plesiosaur who refuses to eat soggy sandwiches. You’re running the isle’s only shop, which means you get to set the tone for the whole town: you can keep it cute and welcoming, or lean into delightful chaos with your custom designs. My favorite part of this game is that it lets you personalize everything entirely. I lost my first 40 minutes just tweaking my dinosaur character before I even thought about running a business. And with seven fully customizable regions that have their own unique cast of Paleofolk—you’re not just building a shop, you’re shaping an entire prehistoric community.

 

BEAR AND BREAKFAST

laid back management sim hilarious ambient

Developer: Gummy Cat

Platforms: PS5, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows, GeForce Now, Amazon Luna

In Bear and Breakfast, you play as Hank, a bear who finds an abandoned shack and decides it would make the perfect bed and breakfast. With help from his friends, the rundown cabin slowly grows into a cozy getaway spot for travelers. You’ll design guest rooms and common spaces, furnish them as you like, and keep visitors happy by providing a warm place to stay and good food to eat. Along the way, you’ll meet plenty of characters—some kind, some nosy, and some with secrets worth uncovering. The forest holds more than it seems, though, and listening to the people around you can lead to upgrades, side quests, or just a good laugh. It’s a game full of charm, humor, and a touch of mystery nestled within its cozy setting.

 

POTION PERMIT

mobile game puzzles pixel art adventure rpg

Developer: Masshive Media

Platforms: Windows, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna, Android, iOS

Potion Permit is a simulation RPG where you play a chemist sent to the town of Moonbury to treat its residents. It’s up to you to diagnose the townsfolk’s symptoms, gather ingredients from the wild, and brew potions to get them back on their feet. Every cure strengthens your bond with the community and unlocks new opportunities. The friendships you form can bloom into deeper relationships — yes,  you can pursue villagers romantically. Between foraging, crafting, and building connections, Potion Permit is a colorful, laid-back balance between the challenge of managing your apothecary and the joy of small-town life. 

 

THE SPIRIT AND THE MOUSE

atmospheric exploration adventure original soundtrack

Developer: Alblune

Platforms: Steam, Switch, GOG, Epic Games Store

The Spirit and the Mouse is a narrative adventure that follows Lila, a small but determined mouse, and Lumion, a spirit guardian who has been knocked from the skies. To help Lumion return to his rightful place, balance must be restored to the French village of Sainte-et-Claire, which is troubled by mischievous electric spirits. The game blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and light questing into a cozy atmosphere. The Spirit and the Mouse is full of detail—every rooftop, alleyway, and corner is filled with side quests and hidden collectibles. Using electricity-based powers, you’ll navigate the village while listening to its people share their troubles. Helping them means tracking down Kibblins, mischievous electric spirits who are disrupting the power grid. At its heart, The Spirit and the Mouse is a story about connection—between spirits, humans, and the kindness that grows from small acts.

 
 
 

TINY GLADE

sandbox city-building graphics ambient

Developer: Pounce Light

Platforms: PC (Windows, Linux)

Tiny Glade is a stress-free sandbox building game that’s filled with creativity and peaceful ambience. There’s no combat, no resource grinding, and no management systems. You can just enjoy the freedom to play with the different parts of the castle, which evolve the more you build. Using procedural tools, the game responds naturally to your doodles: arches rise where paths cross, walls curve with the land, and the pieces snap to the environment without much effort. One aspect I love is that every castle feels alive. Sheep wander through your courtyards, ivy slowly wraps around stone, and butterflies flit through the grass. With its focus on small, serene spaces, Tiny Glade captures the essence of a quiet summer afternoon: a chance to slow down, relax, and find joy in creating something beautiful.

 

SMUSHI COME HOME

adventure platformer rpg story-driven

Developer: SomeHumbleOnion

Platforms: PC, Switch

Smushi Come Home is a wholesome exploration adventure where you play as a tiny mushroom trying to find its way back home. Dropped unexpectedly into the middle of the forest, Smushi must wander through lush areas at a gentle pace. It can run, glide, climb, and even swim to reach each new place. Along the way, you’ll meet quirky forest creatures who can lend a hand and may ask for your help in return. With light platforming or puzzle-solving, wrapped up in a world that feels warm and welcoming, this game is perfect for a quiet day. It’s a journey about getting lost, making friends, and slowly finding your way back, with plenty of small little wonders to discover along the path.

 

GARDEN PAWS

2d puzzle cozy music artwork mobile game

Developer: Bitten Toast Games Inc.

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Steam

Garden Paws is a gentle life-sim RPG where every day is yours to shape. After inheriting your grandparents’ farm, you’ll settle into a quiet island life. You can do anything, including growing crops, tending animals, fishing by the shore, or setting off to explore caves and hidden corners. Each day, you have the opportunity to run your own shop, create, and earn coins when villagers buy your stock. You can sell anything you’ve gathered or created, from flowers to the odd shiny trinket or furniture you crafted. As the town slowly grows with new buildings, shops, and neighbors, more adventures open up, inviting you to wander a little further or try something new. Whether you spend your time farming, crafting, designing, running your shop, or just enjoying the view, Garden Paws makes each small moment feel warm and rewarding.

 

COFFEE TALK

visual novel lgbtq+ interactive sequel available

Developer: Toge Productions

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Coffee Talk is a visual novel game where you run a late-night café and listen to the stories of different characters who come in, and even give some advice when they need it. It takes place in an alternate Seattle where humans share the city with elves, orcs, mermaids, and more. The choices you make aren’t in dialogue boxes, but in the drinks you prepare. Sometimes, what someone needs is the right cup of coffee, which is all it takes to shift the mood. With its rainy-night atmosphere, lo-fi soundtrack, and soft pixel art glow, Coffee Talk feels like sitting in on the quiet, honest moments people share when the world outside slows down. The sequel, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, is also available if you’re looking for more.

 
 
 

Thank you so much for going through Game Raven Review’s list of Our Favorite Cozy Indie Games! Whether you joined us at the event or are tuning in from home, we’re so glad we could bring some of these indie gems onto your radar.