Cozy games are doing something right

There's a whole category of games whose entire pitch is 'relax a little', and I used to be snobby about them. Then I spent a few weeks with Tiny Harbor Town and quietly changed my mind.

The appeal isn't challenge, it's rhythm. You check in, place a few buildings, watch your villagers do their thing, and close the app feeling slightly better than when you opened it. There's real craft in making something that calm without being boring.

Hollow Lantern is the more atmospheric cousin of this idea. It's not busy at all, but its quiet mood pulled me through in a couple of sittings. Both games prove that low pressure doesn't mean low care.

If your gaming time is short and stressful enough already, a cozy title might be the best thing on your phone. I stopped treating them as lesser and started appreciating what they do well.