“Cozy” and “Horror” aren’t two things you usually associate with each other, particularly in gaming.
That said, a few games merge these two elements remarkably well. If you want to enjoy a horror title that won’t force you onto the edge of your seat, here are some spooky but cozy games to try out.
A Monochrome Classic
Limbois a stylish 2D puzzle platformer with some of the genre’s most striking environments and visuals and is adelightfully eerie titlewhere you never know what’s coming next.
Every new area looks and feels completely different, from claustrophobic caves to industrial landscapes. There’s no real combat, and you’re forced to take things in your stride.
Limboearns its place on the list as it’spretty slow-paced. Some sections do demand precise timing or platforming, but most of the puzzles will test your brain rather than your reflexes.
Oh, and I should mention that there’s avery creepy spider sectionduring the early game. Something to keep in mind if you’re not a fan of 8-legged creatures.
9Don’t Starve Together
Unforgiving And Ripe For Exploring
Don’t Starve Together
Don’t Starve Togetheris a beautiful survival crafting game set in an unforgiving wilderness.
Your first foray into Don’t StarveTogetherwill likely see you dying before nightfall. This is a game thatdoesn’t hold your hand, and you must experiment to learn how to survive and stay off the menu.
With all that said, you can mostly take your time, and there’s no rush to explore the unknown if you’re not ready. You do have to manage resources likeHunger and Sanity, butDon’t Starve Togetheris a rewarding and cozy experience once you learn the basics.
Don’t Starve Togetheris the standalone multiplayer versionofDon’t Starve, so make sure to pick the latter if you’re going in alone.
8Little Nightmares
Nightmare Fuel Incoming
Little Nightmares
Little Nightmaresis avisually stunning platformerwith a healthy dose of horror andlight puzzle-solving.
Tarsier Studios puts on a masterclass in world-building withLittle Nightmares. The environments are incredible, as is the sound design. There’s usually an ominous mechanical hum whirring in the background, and thesound effects are second to none.
you’re able to hear everything from scuttling footsteps to rain pattering on your coat hood, and I recommend throwing on a pair of good headphones if you can.
My favorite parts of the game are when you’re forced to sneak past one ofLittle Nightmares' many horrific creatures. The developers were clearly proud of these sections, and they areextraordinarily tense.
Some sections demand precision platforming, but most of the game can be approached slowly as you solve puzzles and take in the creepy surroundings.
Little Nightmareshas a tidy runtime of about 4-5 hours and doesn’t overstay its welcome. If you enjoy it, I daresay you’ll enjoyLittle Nightmares 2, and the third game is due to be released in 2025.
7Graveyard Keeper
I Sure Hope This Simulator Isn’t Accurate
Graveyard Keeper
I often seeGraveyard Keepercompared toStardew Valley, and while the titles share similarities, they are pretty different.
Graveyard Keeperis amedieval management simulatorwith gorgeous graphics, dark humor, and, of course, upkeeping a Graveyard. There’s a decent overarching story you can tackle at your own pace alongside your Graveyard duties.
You’ll have to do everything from repairs to autopsies, and I’ll leave it to your imagination what you do withharvested meat from corpses.
The DLCs for Graveyard Keeper are a mixed bag, but the base game offers plenty to satisfy those cozy horror needs.
6Cult of the Lamb
It’s Hard Work Being A Leader
Cult of the Lamb
At first glance,Cult of the Lamblooks like the Happy Tree Friends game we never got.
In practice, the gameplay is a beautiful mixture ofRogueliteand Base Building. Combat is snappy and always feels different as arenas areprocedurally generated.
There’s agenerous assortment of bossesand satisfying meta-progression outside of battle. When you’re not fighting, you manage your base andrecruit followers to your cult.
The art style is absolutely gorgeous and helpsCult of the Lambstand out against the saturated Roguelite landscape.
While there are certainly deeper games in the genre, horror fans will dig the cutesy spin on scary cults, and it’s a great entry point to similar games.
A Powerful Fever Dream
Fran Bowis an eclectic point-and-click adventure game where you play as Fran as she tries toescape a mental asylum.
The story is far more complicated and nuanced than I could realistically explain here, but you travel all over the place as you explore Fran’s psyche.
There’s a bizarre mix of whimsical scenes offset by some genuinely terrifying ones, complete with demons andmessages scribbled on the walls with blood.
As you may expect from a point-and-click adventure,FranBowhas some prettyfiendish puzzles. The challenge is firm but fair, and there’s a reason the title has held an Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam for almost a decade.
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4The Binding of Isaac: Repentance
Horrible When You Think About It
The Binding of Isaac
The Binding of Isaac: Repentanceis one of the most critically acclaimed Roguelites on the market, and it has heaps of content that cankeep you busy for hundreds of hours.
You play as Isaac, who defeats enemies by crying at them. There are dozens of enemy types, from chunks of poop to your mom’s stamping foot, and that’s only scratching the surface.
Despite the weird premise, the gameplay loop issatisfying and addictive. There are hundreds of unique powerups and dozens of playable characters to unlock. The Binding of Isaac offers an almost overwhelming amount of meta-progression, and you’re constantly unlocking new items to spice up future runs.
There’s even co-op if you want to tackle the game with a friend.
I won’t spoil the story here, but it’s easilyone of the darkest tales I’ve ever experiencedin a video game. Consider yourself warned!
3Wytchwood
A Grand Collectathon
Wytchwoodis a relaxing adventure game where you play as a witch who’s made a deal with a goat. I’m not being vague on purpose; that’s all you’re told at the start!
Wytchwoodis afetch-quest-heavy gamewhere you gather items to combine or solve puzzles. You must usually collect multiple ingredients to create more significant items like Spells and Reagents. There are often multistep solutions to puzzles, so expect a fair bit of backtracking.
Themap is absolutely gorgeous, with nods to fairytales and gothic stories. There are no jump scares, but some areas are wonderfully creepy and atmospheric. There’s minimal threat of dying, even though there are plenty of hostile creatures to avoid.
The gameplay loop lends itself nicely to the cozy experience we’re after, asexploration is encouraged, and there are no time constraints to worry about.
Some players may find revisiting areas a little tedious, but if you’re after a chill experience laced with folklore, Wytchwood has you covered.
A “Relaxing” Fishing Trip
Dredgeis a unique fishing adventure game set around a beautiful archipelago of islands full of mysterious inhabitants.
It’s clear from the offset thatsomething is wronginDredge. Most people you chat with walked off the sanity map ages ago, and the game ramps up thepsychological horrorif you dare to travel at night.
There’s a generous serving of Lovecraftian beasties in Dredge, but it’s also a game you can slowly explore outside a couple of timed missions.
Honestly, being stranded at sea when the sun sets is the stuff of nightmares for me, but there’s no denying the cozy pace ofDredgeand the lack of urgency.
1Inscryption
There’s Nothing Quite Like It
Inscryption
Inscryptionis, in my opinion,the best cozy horror gameon the market. It offers a unique blend ofdeck buildingand escape-room-style puzzles, and is unlike anything you’ve played before.
Deck building is nothing new, but Inscryption has a superb take on it. The card game in Inscryption issimple and addictive, and creatures on the cards can even talk and show their displeasure at your choices.
You canrip your own teeth outwith a wrench to get an edge over your opponent while they menacingly stare at you across the table, and it’s horrific elements like this that putInscryptionin a league of its own.
The game constantly throws curveballs your way, and you never fully grasp what’s going on. As deck building is at the core ofInscryption, you’re free to take your time, and there’s nothing mechanically demanding to worry about.
There are elements beyond the card game to discover, but saying more would be a disservice.
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