Cozy games for winding down at the end of the day

Some nights you don't want a challenge. You want something soft to hold your attention while your brain switches off. That's a whole genre now, and it's wonderful.

Lantern Hollow is my go-to. Wandering its dusk-lit valley lighting lanterns is about as relaxing as gaming gets, and the little stories give you just enough reason to keep exploring without any pressure.

The key ingredients of a cozy game are no fail states and no clocks. When a game can't punish you, your shoulders drop. Warm art and gentle sound help a lot too.

Keep a couple of these installed for the evenings. They're the gaming equivalent of herbal tea, and there's no shame in that.