When gamers need a much-needed laid-back gaming experience, they should look no further than cozy games and sims. This relatively new genre is showing no signs of slowing down, and more unique ideas and themes are being introduced every day. If Disney and the Doraemon franchises can push out popular cozy games, it leaves unlimited options for other franchises to take advantage of a much-beloved gaming genre that has gone well beyond a trend.
With this in mind, many fans and gamers alike now find themselves wondering what other franchises should get the cozy game treatment. What other popular shows, movies, or games could be utilized in this way? The opportunities and ideas are many and the possibilities are endless, though some franchises would arguably make much better cozy games than others.
7 The Simpsons
Perhaps an odd choice for a cozy game. However, adding something as humor-filled as The Simpsons to the cozy genre isn't too crazy of an idea. A business sim would suffice, however, an urban farming sim would be absolutely fun and hysterical for fans of the series.
What could be farmed? Tomacco or farming radioactive fish and other references from the show. Things that are anything but nutritious, but offer great fan service for franchise fans. Even if a farming sim is a little out there, having an Animal Crossing scenario in the town of Springfield would be very doable due to the large and extensive character list. Either way, both could be fun if done well.
6 Harry Potter
This idea is a little more straightforward. A Harry Potter cozy game in which the player works as a photojournalist for The Daily Prophet. This game would be a lot like the style of Eastshade. However, it'll have a stealth quality to it, much like in the photography quests in the Bully and Judgment franchises.
At times, the player will have straightforward photo missions but sometimes they must be sneaky regarding getting certain stories and whatnot. The game itself would be open the way that Eastshade is, just to keep it simple. It would also take place throughout the wizarding world rather than just Hogwarts.
5 Lord of the Rings
Having a Lord of the Rings game that utilizes the best parts of Rune Factory or even Stardew Valley would be amazing. Having a farming sim take place in a Hobbit village or even being able to choose whether to have a farm in Hobbiton, Rivendell, Mirkwood, Rohan, or anywhere else in Middle Earth would be amazing.
To have a game do so would require a huge undertaking in programming, but having set villagers for each would be incredibly cool. Even cooler would be an open-world farming sim with the ability to farm in multiple locations. Of course, there would be orcs and goblins to contend with on the journeys in between, just to add a bit of extra challenge into the mix.
4 Pokemon
Having a Pokemon-themed social/village sim doesn't seem all that far-fetched. After all, the franchise has dipped its toes into many genres over the years and there have been plenty of Animal Crossing copycats too, some of which have been quite pleasant. The fact that both IPs are tied to Nintendo could also help.
Having numerous villager varieties would be simple with the Pokemon franchise simply because there are so many possibilities for villagers. Including editing options that are stylized after the various games throughout the franchise would provide players with plenty to play around with and customize too.
3 Over The Garden Wall
This fan favorite would make for an amazing village and farming sim. The player would settle into the Unknown, maybe through their own journey through limbo. Regardless, if this series was made into a cozy game it would be amazing to implement a bit of Stardew Valley meets Cozy Grove.
For fans of an eternal Halloween, this would be perfection. To even see characters of the Unknown hobnobbing with Jason Funderberker, Sarah, and other schoolmates of Gregory and Wirt would be delightful. Having the humor, the eternal Fall aesthetics, and the mystery of the series really would make for a top-tier cozy sim.
2 Avatar The Last Airbender
It honestly doesn’t matter what kind of cozy sim takes place in this universe. Whether it’s a farm sim entitled “My Cabbages” or even an Eastshade-style game in which players are a painter traveling through the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Players can work as a painter documenting the return of the Avatar or the world therein.
The series would do well as a life or business sim too. Imagine running a tea shop or a business in Ba Sing Se, or a zoo filled with all kinds of creatures from the world of Avatar. Fans of this series only want more from it. To partake in any cozy sim immersed in the world of Avatar would therefore be a real treat.
1 Studio Ghibli Anything
Just like with the Avatar universe, the Ghibli universe also has infinite possibilities in the realm of cozy gaming. A Studio Ghibli farming sim could feature several towns in this world. Imagine running an apothecary in the world of Kiki's Delivery Service and growing ingredients in a garden in the town Kiki has taken up residence.
A business or farming sim could easily work here too. A farming sim can even work in the world of My Neighbor Totoro or players could try their hands at running a bathhouse for spirits in the Spirited Away world. Having an Animal Crossing-type of sim in the world of Spirited Away or Ponyo would be amazing too. The possibilities here really are endless.