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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 contr
by KurSix 2y ago
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.
- KronisLV 2y agoIt 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!
- KurSix 2y agoSomething about being in control of the pace just makes it feel more restorative
- staindk 2y agoI fully agree! ... and then you try your hand at Stardew Valley fishing and all sorts of weird frustrations bubble up inside you haha.
- KurSix 2y agoHaha totally, fishing in Stardew starts off feeling borderline impossible, like the fish are personally mocking you. But once it clicks, it actually becomes super satisfying
- natebc 2y agoStardew has always been stressful for me. What crop to plant on which day, whose birthday is coming up, the energy economy ... I've NEVER been able to really get into it because of the constant feeling that I was missing something or wasting energy/time on the wrong things.