Game Design Deep Dives: Cozy Games

By Joshua Bycer

Game Design Critic Josh Bycer continues the Deep Dive series with an examination on cozy games. The market for coziness has grown dramatically thanks to showcases like Wholesome Direct and consumers wanting something to help them relax in a stressful world.

Discussing the success of Stardew Valley and how it became the poster child for cozy games and a brief history on the genre Examining UI/UX design and how to have effective playtesting done for your game; both required lessons for developers today Looking at what does it mean to build a low stakes game while still offering progression and rewards to keep people invested

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041087772
• ISBN13: 9781041087779
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 128 Pages