Cozy games are all about comfort, relaxation, and indulging in delightful escapism; it goes without saying that they generally exclude things like horror or murder. But who says these genres can’t go hand in hand?
In gaming, not all murder has to be grim or gritty—sometimes it can be served alongside a hefty dose of wholesome farming and pie-baking contests.
These games let you embrace your inner murderer without sacrificing the cozy vibes we all know and love. Whether you’re a stealthy assassin or prefer to be more upfront with your slashing, there’s a surprising amount of joy in causing mayhem when it’s all wrapped up in a wholesome package.
So, light some candles, sip your favorite tea, and get ready to explore the softer side of murder in these cozy, killer games.
10Ravenous Devils
Don’t Trust the Mincemeat Pie
Ever thought about opening a bed and breakfast that exclusively serves mystery meat? Well, Ravenous Devils lets you do just that! This game lets you run the cannibalistic Airbnb of your dreams, all with your lovely spouse by your side.
You’ll step into the entrepreneurial shoes of Percival and Hildred, a husband-and-wife duo with a suspiciously successful business and absolutely no morals to speak of.
Each spouse has an important role to play in the business’s operation; it’s Percival’s job to run the tailor shop by day, while luring meaty, unsuspecting customers in by night.
Meanwhile, Hildred manages the front end, using Percival’s “freshly caught meat” to whip up gourmet meals for the unsuspecting public. It may seem a little brutal, but honestly, with today’s grocery prices? Who could blame them!
9Town of Salem 2
Teamwork, Betrayal, and Backstabbing
Most of the gaming community has probably heard of Town of Salem at this point. Town of Salem was a social deduction game that originally came out all the way back in 2014, but got an impressive sequel almost 10 years later in 2023.
Town of Salem 2 has everything that its predecessor did and more. In this sequel, you’ll find yourself lying through your teeth to prove your innocence—or crafting elaborate webs of lies as you attempt to take the entire town down with you.
Whether you’re a cunning Mafia member, an arsonist bent on destruction, or just an innocent citizen trying to survive, every round in this game isa tense social deduction nightmarethat’ll keep you on the edge of your gaming chair.
Just don’t play this game with your friends, unless you’re looking to lose a few in the process.
Do Your Tasks or Die
Among Us may be one of the best examples of a flash in the pan of all time, but it’s still actually a great game for those looking to get a little anger out. While the charming visuals and cutesy art styles may not show it, this game is all about murdering your friends and getting away with it.
Among Us tasks its players with working together as Crewmates on a spaceship, trying to complete their tasks as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately for them, one or more of the players will secretly be Impostors whose only goal is to sabotage the crew and eliminate everyone on board, one sneaky kill at a time.
Whether you’re sabotaging the oxygen supply as one of the Impostors or are just desperately trying to get through your card swipe as a Crewmate, every round delivers a unique blend of camaraderie and paranoia. (Just be prepared to lose a few friendships along the way.)
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7Slaughter Horse 2
If My Little Pony Was About Murder
The Slaughter Horse franchise is a personal favorite of mine thatI can’t believe more people aren’t talking about.
This franchise, and its sequel especially, is like if My Little Pony had a baby with a serial killer documentary. Getting to run around as a magical, serial-killing pony is a unique experience that you’re just not going to get anywhere else.
In Slaughter Horse 2, you’ll step into the blood-stained hooves of a deranged pony determined to watch the world burn. If you want to succeed, however, you’ll have to infiltrate town after town disguised as a baker, opening bakeries and using them as your cover to avoid suspicion.
While stealthily taking out townsponies, you’ll need to keep tabs on all of the authorities and council members that are after your hide, while also occasionally planting fake evidence to throw them off your trail.
Getting caught means game over, so you’ll need to be extra careful about keeping your serial slash-fests under wraps as much as possible. It’s both way harder and way more fun than you’d think.
Slaughter Horse 2 really is like an in-depth version of reverse-Clue. Honestly, the gameplay iswaymore nuanced than I was expecting from a magical pony murder game, but that’s on me for underestimating it.
Apparently, the “M” in MLP actually stands for murder.
6Echoes of the Plum Grove
Kill Them With Kindness
Honestly, I had no idea that this game had murder in it the first time I came across it. I took one look at the cover and thought it was just another run-of-the-mill cozy game, complete with farming and homemaking—that is, until I discovered you could kill your rivals if you thought their gardens looked better than yours.
Working hard to have the best homegrown vegetables is great and all, but it’s a whole lot easier when all your competition is dead.
If, for whatever reason, you think one of your goody-two-shoes neighbors is trying to get in your way, then you may just dispose of them however you see fit, no questions asked.
Being a cozy homemaker by day and competition killer by night is hard work, but it’s all worth it as long as you succeed. Blue ribbons are far better than consolation prizes, after all, and how could anyone ever doubt your dedication to the craft?
5Lakeview Valley
Lakeview Valley is like Stardew Valley’s younger cousin, who isn’t allowed access to sharp objects anymore. Cozy Life Sims are fine on their own, but once you throw some murder and overall mayhem into the mix? It becomes a whole different ball game.
In Lakeview Valley, you have the opportunity to start a whole new life in a whole new town and become the most popular homeowner that everyone looks up to. Or, you could let your intrusive thoughts win and becomethe town’s most prolific serial killer ever. It’s up to you, really.
Whether you decide to endear yourself to the townsfolk or cut their faces off to make Halloween masks, you do not want to miss the wild ride that Lakeview Valley takes you on.
The town itself is already ripe with secrets and dark history; it’s just up to you whether you want to be part of it or not.
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4Cult of the Lamb
Become an Adorable God of Death
If Animal Crossing hooked up with a demonic cult, then Cult of the Lamb would be their messed-up, admittedly adorable love child.
This game masterfully combines the joyful aspects of cozy life sims with ritual sacrifices and dungeon crawling, making it one of the most unique indie games on the market.
As the newly anointed (and resurrected) leader of a ragtag flock of followers, your job is to nurture your new cult while spreading the gospel of a forgotten god—by any means necessary. Going out and cutting down heretics sends a pretty strong message, and soon, there will be no one left who opposes the new god of death.
Whether you’re brainwashing your devoted cultists with mushrooms or sending lesser deities to meet a gruesome fate, Cult of the Lamb lets you indulge your inner tyrant in the coziest way possible.
It’s cozy, it’s creepy, and it’s literally impossible to put down; it’s a game that truly puts the “fun” in “fundamentalism.”
3The Happyhills Homicide
The Hills Aren’t Very Happy, Actually
Given the fact that this game is free to play, I honestly can’t believe that more people aren’t talking about it. The visuals are fantastic, the gameplay is hilariously gory, and it’s all wrapped up in a cozy, pixelated package. What’s not to love?
This twisted indie game puts you in the blood-soaked boots of a masked killer, who kind of looks like a combination of Jigsaw and Michael Myers.
Though it’s very reminiscent ofclassic slasher movies, instead of running from danger, youarethe danger, executing your kills in increasingly creative and gruesome ways.
The Happyhills Homicide is like the Friday the 13th simulator that we never had. If you’ve ever wished you could turn the beloved horror movies of your childhood into an arcade game, then The Happyhills Homicide is the perfect game to add to your collection!
2Overboard!
Getting Away With Murder Simulator
No one can deny the fun of being found in ghost ships and maritime mysteries, but what’s even more fun is actually getting tobethe mystery instead of having to solve it.
In Overboard, you get to play a classic game of Clue in reverse, convincing everyone that you’re not the killer (even though you totally are).
This game lets players experience what it’d be like to play the villain ina classic murder mystery scenario. You get to take on the role of Veronica, a seemingly innocent damsel with blood on her hands. Surprisingly, the murder itself is the easy part; the hard part will be convincing everyone else you didn’t do it.
From finger-pointing to bribery, to planting false evidence, there are few things that players can’t do to maintain their innocence.
Getting caught means a lifetime in prison, so you’ll need to play your cards perfectly if you want to get to shore without wearing a set of handcuff bracelets.
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If Pokémon Was Rated R
Most people within the gaming community have heard of Palworld, but not everyone is familiar with theinsanethings that this game lets you get away with.
If you can imagine what Pokémon would be like if it went rogue and decided to embark on a whiskey-soaked, crime-filled midlife crisis, then you might have a better idea of what you’re getting yourself into with Palworld.
This game may look like a cutesy creature-collecting adventure on the surface, but under its cozy exterior lies a chaotic sandbox that lets you get away with every intrusive thought you’ve ever had; and even some you haven’t had, for that matter.
Palworld is a game where you can build mega-bases, mine the priceless materials of the Palpagos Islands for profit, and, well… kidnap people, murder NPCs by the thousands, and start a poaching ring. Or perhaps create a capitalistic structure of power imbalances so steep that your Pals literally goinsanefrom the strain of it all; whatever you’re feeling.
This cozy game doesn’t just let you get away with murder; it lets you get away with nothing short ofterrorism. I mean, you don’thaveto become a war-mongering Pal poacher if you don’t want to, but it’s definitely an option.
There are plenty of cozy life-sim activities that players can partake in as well, like farming, cooking, base decoration, and even cake baking (just don’t ask what the cakes are used for).
