As someone who's put an embarrassing number of hours into Stardew Valley, this all really resonates. Cozy games give you this weirdly powerful illusion of control and calm - your farm, your pace, your little pixelated life that somehow feels safer than the real one. It's not just escapism - it's like a reset button for your brain. I love that the article highlights how these games aren't necessarily "easy," just low-stress. They let you engage deeply without the constant threat-response loop that most traditional games (or life) tend to trigger.

It does feel a bit similar to sitting down with a good book and taking things ahead at your own pace, quite zen.

I will say that personally even the more action/goal oriented games can be quite enjoyable as long as they’re not too difficult, it’s the online PvP ones that get the most stressful for me. I don't really play many of those anymore, it feels like other players are just better and I don't want to have to be on the edge all the time.

Oh also it’s a really nice site!

I fully agree!

... and then you try your hand at Stardew Valley fishing and all sorts of weird frustrations bubble up inside you haha.