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Cozy Games
#381: In this episode of GT Radio, Josué, Lara, and Link dig into the increasingly popular idea of cozy games and whether they actually help with emotion regulation—or if the term itself is doing more marketing work than therapeutic work. Sparked by Josué’s search for ways to calm and regulate his nervous system, the conversation explores whether certain games function similarly to meditation, grounding exercises, or flow-state activities.
The team quickly discovers that “cozy” is a slippery concept. While the term often refers to a soft aesthetic, gentle pacing, or low-stakes mechanics, personal experience matters far more than genre labels. Games that calm one person may stress out another depending on context, life circumstances, sensory tolerance, and personal associations. As an example, Josué shares how Unpacking, often described as cozy, became actively distressing while he was preparing for a real-life move.
Throughout the discussion, the hosts compare distraction versus intentional regulation, flow state versus narrative immersion, and low-stakes mechanics versus emotionally heavy themes. They examine how accessibility options, difficulty sliders, and player-controlled pacing can transform a game’s emotional impact. The group also highlights research showing that games can support emotion regulation—but often in ways that depend more on the player than the game itself.
From power-washing simulators to cult management, card games, farming sims, and short narrative adventures, the episode ultimately reframes the question. Instead of asking “What is a cozy game?” the better question becomes “What kinds of games help you feel more regulated, grounded, or restored?”
Characters / Media Mentioned:
- A Short Hike
- Unpacking
- Spiritfarer
- Donut County
- Katamari Damacy (series)
- Animal Crossing (series)
- Stardew Valley
- Breath of the Wild
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Cult of the Lamb
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Celeste
- Minecraft (Creative Mode)
- PowerWash Simulator
- Viscera Cleanup Detail
- House Flipper
- Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Wandersong
- Into the Breach
- Slime Rancher
- Tetris / Tetris Effect
- Pokémon Snap
- TOEM
- Sea of Thieves
- Ni no Kuni
Themes / Topics Discussed:
- Emotion Regulation
- Cozy Games as a Marketing Term
- Distraction vs. Intentional Coping
- Flow State
- Accessibility and Difficulty Options
- Low-Stakes Gameplay
- Narrative as Regulation
- Sensory Overload and Calm
- Music and Sound Design
- Player Context and Lived Experience
Relatable Experiences:
- Looking for Ways to Calm Down After a Long Day
- Feeling More Stressed by Something Meant to Be Relaxing
- Using Games to Distract from Anxiety
- Getting Lost in a Story to Regulate Emotions
- Finding Comfort in Repetition or Routine
- Being Activated by Real-Life Parallels in Games
- Needing Different Coping Tools at Different Times
- Discovering That “Relaxing” Means Different Things to Different People
Join the conversation on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org, or connect with the Geek Therapy Network on Discord, Mastodon, and other platforms linked at https://geektherapy.org.
What games help you regulate your emotions—or unexpectedly stress you out?
How do you know when a game is helping you cope versus just distracting you?
View all episodes
By Geek Therapy Network#381: In this episode of GT Radio, Josué, Lara, and Link dig into the increasingly popular idea of cozy games and whether they actually help with emotion regulation—or if the term itself is doing more marketing work than therapeutic work. Sparked by Josué’s search for ways to calm and regulate his nervous system, the conversation explores whether certain games function similarly to meditation, grounding exercises, or flow-state activities.
The team quickly discovers that “cozy” is a slippery concept. While the term often refers to a soft aesthetic, gentle pacing, or low-stakes mechanics, personal experience matters far more than genre labels. Games that calm one person may stress out another depending on context, life circumstances, sensory tolerance, and personal associations. As an example, Josué shares how Unpacking, often described as cozy, became actively distressing while he was preparing for a real-life move.
Throughout the discussion, the hosts compare distraction versus intentional regulation, flow state versus narrative immersion, and low-stakes mechanics versus emotionally heavy themes. They examine how accessibility options, difficulty sliders, and player-controlled pacing can transform a game’s emotional impact. The group also highlights research showing that games can support emotion regulation—but often in ways that depend more on the player than the game itself.
From power-washing simulators to cult management, card games, farming sims, and short narrative adventures, the episode ultimately reframes the question. Instead of asking “What is a cozy game?” the better question becomes “What kinds of games help you feel more regulated, grounded, or restored?”
Characters / Media Mentioned:
- A Short Hike
- Unpacking
- Spiritfarer
- Donut County
- Katamari Damacy (series)
- Animal Crossing (series)
- Stardew Valley
- Breath of the Wild
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- Final Fantasy XVI
- Cult of the Lamb
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Celeste
- Minecraft (Creative Mode)
- PowerWash Simulator
- Viscera Cleanup Detail
- House Flipper
- Chicory: A Colorful Tale
- Wandersong
- Into the Breach
- Slime Rancher
- Tetris / Tetris Effect
- Pokémon Snap
- TOEM
- Sea of Thieves
- Ni no Kuni
Themes / Topics Discussed:
- Emotion Regulation
- Cozy Games as a Marketing Term
- Distraction vs. Intentional Coping
- Flow State
- Accessibility and Difficulty Options
- Low-Stakes Gameplay
- Narrative as Regulation
- Sensory Overload and Calm
- Music and Sound Design
- Player Context and Lived Experience
Relatable Experiences:
- Looking for Ways to Calm Down After a Long Day
- Feeling More Stressed by Something Meant to Be Relaxing
- Using Games to Distract from Anxiety
- Getting Lost in a Story to Regulate Emotions
- Finding Comfort in Repetition or Routine
- Being Activated by Real-Life Parallels in Games
- Needing Different Coping Tools at Different Times
- Discovering That “Relaxing” Means Different Things to Different People
Join the conversation on the GT Forum at https://forum.geektherapy.org, or connect with the Geek Therapy Network on Discord, Mastodon, and other platforms linked at https://geektherapy.org.
What games help you regulate your emotions—or unexpectedly stress you out?
How do you know when a game is helping you cope versus just distracting you?