If you have a hankering for a wholesome, cozy game, but you don’t have a huge budget, don’t worry: You don’t have to spend big bucks to play excellent games. There are plenty of incredible, cozy games that you can buy onSteamfor under $10… and some are even available for free.
Discover some of the most wholesome, charming, andrelaxing cozy gameson Steam right now, including some well-known names and some hidden, lesser-known gems. Keep your spending to a minimum while you do:All these affordable cozy games are available for under $10,and are worth every penny.
10Kabuto Park — $4.99
Catch ‘Em All… All The Bugs, That Is
Kabuto Parklets you experience a popular Japanese summer pastime.Catch and battle various bugsin this adorable, wholesome game from Doot and Zakku. The simple and charming design lets you catalog cute crawlers and other insects like beetles, moths, and beyond.
If you think this sounds like anindie take onPokémon,you wouldn’t be too far from the truth. The concept forPokémonalso came from creator Satoshi Tajiri’s bug-collecting hobby, according toThe Guardian.Kabuto Parkdoesn’t dress up its bugs like fantasy creatures, though, instead leaning fully intothe nostalgic charm of insect collecting.
9Sticky Business — $9.99
The Joys Of Running Your Own Business Without Any Of The Hassle
Have you ever wanted tostart your own sticker businessbut never quite figured out the logistics? Do you love watching those “pack orders with me” videos by small business owners on YouTube? ThenSticky Businessmight be just the game for you.
The $9.99 cozy Steam game lets you live out your dreams of owning a small online sticker shop. This involves using pre-made elements todesign your own stickers and sticker sheets,from the individual designs to the full sheet layout. Then,customize your online shopfrontand watch business take off, without having to pack and mail a single order in real life.
8Minami Lane — $4.99
An Adorable Tiny Street Management Simulator
Minami LaneThe game has a short playtime of 2-4 hours, befitting $4.99 price tag. The game places youin charge of a fully customizable tiny street, entrusting the wellbeing and happiness of its residents to you.
Build homes to attract residents, then give them every kind of shop and amenity they might need, from boba cafes to bookstores—all presented in aesthetic soft pastels. Increase the happiness of quirky neighborhood residents by listening to their needs, completing quests, andupdating the street to be the perfect home.
And don’t forget to keep the streets clean of trash andsay hello to the local cats and Tanukis!
7Townscaper — $5.99
An Aesthetic Town-Building Toybox
If you just want to poke around in a toybox of a game without any goals or story, you can do so inTownscaper.Place colorful blocks down tocreate cozy hamlets and idyllic islands,in an experience that’s self-described as “more of a toy than a game.”
Townscaperislike the LEGO of cozy gaming.Simply place down colored blocks and watch the game’s algorithm turn them into houses, stairways, bridges, and more. Spend as long (or as little) as you like designing a perfect little area, or move on to your next project in this interactive toy from solo developer Oskar Stålberg.
6An Arcade Full Of Cats — Free!
Find Hidden Cats In A Nostalgic Arcade Full Of Easter Eggs
Hidden object games on Steam are plentiful, and they tend to be hit or miss, butall the games made by Devcats are solid hits.Let yourself sink into the zen experience of theX Full of Catstitles, all of which feature gorgeous artworks with many quirky little kitties to uncover, and all of which are well under $10 on Steam.
An Arcade Full of Catsis an especially good place to start for hidden object enthusiasts since the title is completely free (with an optional DLCs at $2.99). It also features a huge number of gaming Easter eggs hidden among its highly detailed arcades, which take players back in time through the decades in aloving homage to the history of video games.
Best of all, the development studio, Devcats, is (allegedly)made up entirely of a team of adopted kittieswhose owners helpfully do their bidding in creating games that raise awareness about cat adoption and rescue.
5Kind Words (Lo Fi Chill Beats To Write To) — $4.99
Write And Receive Positive Letters To And From Real People
Everyone could use a kind word now and then.Kind Wordsconnects players in need of a pick-me-up with positive messages from other players. Players share their concerns or troubles with a request for letters andreceive kind messages from fellow human beings.
The game encourages players touplift others and be uplifted in turn. The experience is enhanced by the cozy isometric setting and the soft color palette and design.
A sequel is now available, calledKind Words 2 (lofi city pop).Though it’s not under $10 like the original (it’s priced at $19.99 on Steam), it’s worth looking into if you enjoy the positive experience of the first game.
4Palia — Free!
Explore, Decorate, And Fall In Love In This Cozy MMO
Make new friends of the NPC or real person variety inPalia,an MMO designed by Singularity 6 to foster a sense of community. Thefree cozy MMOis light on combat, leaning instead into exploration, resource collecting, fishing, and decorating elements of an online RPG.
Teamwork is encouraged, as resource gathering is enhanced in direct proportion to the number of players who participate. Or, if you’re not in the mood to interact with other players, you can spend more time getting to know the characters of the wholesome world—or even forming relationships withseveral romanceable NPCs.
3Monument Valley 1 & 2 — $7.99 Each
A Meditative Puzzle Experience
Originally developed for iOS in 2014,Monument Valleyhas become a well-known puzzle series by Ustwo Games. Thegorgeous level designs are a feast for the eyes, while the simple but challenging gameplay offers a brainteaser that’ll scratch the itch of an experience that’scozy without being mindless.
Monument Valley1and2are currently available on Steam for under $10 each. A third game, which was first released on mobile devices by Netflix, releases on July 22, though it’ll come with a higher price tag.
2Spilled! — $5.99
A Short Cozy Game About Cleaning Up An Oil Spill
There’s nothing more calming than agood cleaning simulator, andSpilled!is a cleaning sim with a great message. Sail around the oceans on a little boat,cleaning up oil spills and removing garbagefrom the waters.
Spilled!is a very short game that will only set you back $5.99, and a portion of the price will go to a good cause: $0.10 of each Steam sale will bedonated to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation charityof the UK.
1A Short Hike — $7.99
Walk, Climb, And Glide Your Way Up A Mountain
In the wholesome indie hitA Short Hikeby adamgryu, assume the role of a young bird as she walks, hikes, and glides her way up toward the top of Hawk Peak on a very important mission. Meet and help whimsical characters along the way, collect seashells and feathers, andenjoy the journey to the summit at your own pace.
Even among cozy games, it’s rare to find a gem that’s so beloved by everyone who plays it that its Overwhelmingly Positive Steam rating is achieved through a whopping 99% majority (of over 16K reviews).A Short Hikeis one of the most delightful games you can play for under $10 onSteam.
