Cozy gaming, both as a genre and aesthetic, has exploded in popularity over the last few years, especially since the pandemic. I'm no stranger to this space; I've been a lover of cozy gaming since I started my obsession with Stardew Valley nearly a decade ago. It felt like a natural niche for me as a person with lots of cozy hobbies (reading, gardening, cat cuddling, crochet, knitting, etc.). Take a look at my history here at SUPERJUMP, and you'll see exactly what I mean; I love a good, slow-paced sim, management, or adventure game where I can get lost in someone else's world for a little while.

While I've played the games for years, I haven't really gotten into the aesthetics of the cozy gaming community, which are a major part of its presence online. Creating your own cozy gaming corner, full of soft textures and warm lighting, seems to enhance the experience and add to that escapist, stress-relieving joy found in the hobby.

So, I've embarked on a quest: curate my own perfect cozy gaming setup, complete with accessories and hardware that make me feel most at home.

The Vision

So what exactly screams...well, not screams, I suppose, but gently says, "cozy" to me? What exactly is the cozy aesthetic?

Scrolling through Pinterest, Instagram, and other online communities under the tags #cozygaming and #cozygamingaesthetic, I saw quite a lot of trends I could definitely get behind. Cozy gamers, apparently, tend to love things like RGB lighting setups (because who doesn't?) and lots of plants, as well as softer pastel shades of pinks, blues, and greens matched with lighter browns, creams, and white. These setups - usually a bedroom desk or dedicated office/gaming room - often have either a very nature-inspired theme, full of leaves and wood accents, or they're minimalist and white, with soft, cloud or sky inspired touches. Frequent inclusions are fun drinks (hot and cold) in cute mugs and glasses, soft blankets, and candles.

Also cats. Lots of cats.

I took a lot of inspiration from these setups and pondered the things I love about my space. I love space and galaxy-themed items, as well as darker natural woods and contrasting white accessories, and of course, RGB accents. I'm a big fan of long, dangling houseplants and fairy lights, and I almost always have a mug of tea or an iced coffee to hand anyway - why not get some cute drink containers to go with them? And hey, I've already got the cats to go with it!

So, here's the dream wish list for my ideal cozy gaming space:

• A dark wood desk with plenty of space
• White peripherals for my computer (and maybe a white tower case) with RGB accents
• Something space-themed to hold my controllers (also space themed, of course) and my headphones
• Space and nature-themed decor for the walls around my desk
• A cute, warm-colored lamp and nice-smelling candles
• Various plushies from games and shows I like
• Soft blankets on a comfortable gaming chair
• Fun drink station including mug warmer and cute mugs/glasses

Easy, right?

The Problems

So, I started assembling my setup! And...well, it's a lot harder than you might think it is to do this.

For starters, the practicality of my dream setup is a bit questionable at best. I have an active child who loves to hang out with me and game with me. I also have cats who adore being in my space and knocking over everything they can reach. Both of these factors mean that having anything that's pristine white or breakable on my desk - like delicate decorations or drink containers - is an absolute no-go. I can't tell you the number of times my cats have knocked my things to the floor, gotten fluff stuck on everything, or chewed on cables. My kiddo isn't the most careful either, so I'm constantly cleaning up crumbs and spills. Most frustratingly, my office is open-plan on its floor of the house; I don't have a door that I can easily shut to keep them from touching or moving things. This means that candles and plants are a definitive no for now, and glass drink containers and white peripherals are a challenge.

The next issue I face is that I simply have limited space. Our house isn't very big; as I mentioned, I have an office that's just a corner of our finished basement, with my husband's office on the other side and a communal living space in the middle. The only real space I have to decorate is on the desk itself and the two walls behind it in the corner. I also have two computers for work purposes, meaning that space on my desk is already restricted. Having all of the accessories may be fun, but it tends to require room that I simply do not have right now.

Finally, I must address the cost of my dream project. Computer accessories are notoriously expensive, especially for gaming-specific setups; a good keyboard and mouse combo could cost as much as $200 or more, depending on the brand you go with, and RGB lighting for your space, because it's currently trendy, is incredibly expensive in its own right. I want to support small businesses with my accessory purchases, but because their operating costs are higher, they have to charge higher prices for their products. I do think it's worth investing the money in quality pieces, but it's simply not practical as a working mother to justify that kind of investment during an economic recession.

These issues caused me to reassess my ideals. What I'd love to have is an Instagram-worthy setup, and maybe that was my problem. See, the setups you see in #cozygamingaesthetics on the internet are curated, selective, and often unrealistic. These creators may have been paid to advertise certain products in their space; they may have received them for free or as part of a brand deal, meaning they didn't have to invest their own money into the space and have a stake in your wanting to buy these things. Beyond that, many of these spaces have been curated over years and years of careful collection and reorganization. They're not quick-fix, perfectly new rooms that sprung up overnight, exactly as perfect as they appear. They may not even be perfect! I know I've been guilty of shoving clutter out of frame when posting; I have no doubts that these cozy gaming influencers do the same thing. There's nothing wrong with creating a space like this and posting cute pictures of it online, but as the consumer, I have to be wary of these facts and not let myself fall into the trap of false authenticity. I have to remember that it's unrealistic to have a perfect setup immediately or at all times.

Does all of this mean I need to give up on my dreams of a cozy office space? No, not at all. It simply means I have to re-evaluate my wish list and make it more actionable in the real world.

Progress So Far

There were a few things I simply couldn't have or had to rethink. Namely, I just had to accept that I wouldn't be able to have delicate, breakable decor out in the open on my desk. I love my kid and my animals; I want them to be able to enjoy my space, too. So, I've opted for metals, woods, and, in some cases, plastics for all of my decor. I did have to give up on the idea of fairy lights - anyone who's ever owned a cat will know exactly why - but I can still have fun RGB peripherals, and I'm looking into getting strip lighting that I can attach to the desk itself. I also bought something called museum gel, which is a clear gel that works a bit like mounting putty and is used in museums to keep displays secure without damaging them. This helps mitigate the issue of cats knocking things over, which is handy.

Next, I accepted that some of the things I wanted needed to be long-term goals rather than quick buys. I have a perfectly functional computer right now; I don't need to be going out and buying all new monitors and keyboards and mice just for the aesthetics. So, slowly, over time, I'm replacing bits as they need replacing with more aesthetic versions that're going to last me. I recently had to replace my keyboard (because writing for a living does tend to take a toll on it) and managed to find a lovely, affordable RGB white mechanical piece that even has adjustable light modes. While I'd love to now get a matching headphone stand with room for all three of my controllers, my current headphone stand still works just fine, so I'll wait a while before I replace it.

I'm also having fun making pieces to go in my setup! Outside of video games, I love to take part in various crafty hobbies, including knitting and crochet. I've made myself a lovely comfy lap blanket and a good, soft foot rug, as well as mug cozies and coasters that make my setup fun and colorful, and are all the more personal because they were something I made rather than bought.

Finally, I'm learning to accept the space that I'm already in as cozy in itself. I'm learning to love my little corner, full of art and decorations I already own that I'm finally finding homes for on my walls. I keep little trinkets on my desk from various adventures I've gone on with my family, and I'm leaning into the aesthetic I already have while I build the one I want. It's not perfect; it's still messy and cramped and a bit disorganized and uncoordinated. But it's mine, and it tells a lovely story about what cozy means to me.

So, have I achieved my perfect cozy gaming setup? Probably not, and that's okay. I'm going to keep working on it slowly, and I'm not going to let the internet's idea of a picture-ready desk hold me back from enjoying what I already have. When I'm snuggled under a blanket I made, cat purring in my lap, with my hands on my glowing keyboard and the Stardew Valley soundtrack in my ears, I really don't want to complain about the little things I'm missing. It's enough to be cozy where I am.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the developer of Pine Hearts two years ago, after playing and thoroughly enjoying the demo. I was excited to play the game, but as it does, life caught up with me, and I ended up delaying my playthrough until just now. I'm definitely sad that I didn't play this sooner! Pine Hearts is an adorable, heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking romp through a small English nature reserve full of fun, quirky characters and memories for our darling protagonist.

Grief and Moving Forward

Pine Hearts follows the story of Tyke, who is determined to climb to the summit of the titular nature reserve, following the journal his father left behind cataloging their adventures in Tyke's childhood. Along the way, Tyke helps the various inhabitants of the reserve to resolve their problems, from a missing performing band to puzzles in castle ruins to shady fishermen and more. Tyke assists others while working through his own memories of his father, all in an attempt to overcome the challenge - both physically and emotionally - of conquering the summit of Pine Hearts.

I found this adventure, while brief, to be very satisfying. Tyke never talks, but he certainly feels things deeply. With every memory you uncover in this game, you're presented with a little bit more about his connection to his father, and the sometimes rocky relationship they shared. It's touching to see how young Tyke viewed the world, so full of scary things but easily faced together; at the same time, it's heartbreaking to see how much Tyke lost when he lost his father.

At the same time, Tyke doesn't let this grief overwhelm him. Every action he takes is for the benefit of others, often going well out of his way to do so. Rather than simply taking the most direct route to achieve his goals, he engages with this park that's so sentimental to him, building new memories to supplement and support the old ones, and finding closure in other people's stories. I find this deeply beautiful, and I found myself often tearing up throughout Tyke's journey.

Cutesy and Clever Visual Design

The aesthetics of Pine Hearts are, in a word, charming. The blobby, noodle-limbed character designs feel like they're pulled straight from a children's show, with matching bubbly background elements in bright, saturated colors that make it a delight to behold. I adored each different area of the game, which felt distinct and yet cohesive as a world, and appreciated the attention to detail that came with each space; there are distinct greens in the golf course and lush gardens in the castle! As a bonus, every animal you encounter in the game is precious, and yes, you can pet all the dogs.

The secondary setting - Tyke's memory world - has a lovely cardboard-cutout design that feels like when kids work together to put on backyard plays for their parents, which I think is entirely appropriate. The softness of the world through Little Tyke's eyes, complemented by dreamy overlays and a smaller field of view, gives a lot of weight to the fact that he hasn't been back to this park since his father's passing; all of his memories of it have been aggrandized by time and distance, leaving us with this rounded view. It's a really clever way to include the inconsistency of memory into this game that uses memory as a main plot.

Metered Progress and Memory-Based Movement

The actual gameplay of Pine Hearts is just as solid as the visuals. Though movement through the environment can be challenging at times - the movement controls aren't super precise, and there are brief moments where paths are obscured by the landscape - interacting with it never felt like much of a chore.

Progression through the game relies on Tyke collecting teardrops, either from the environment itself or by completing tasks for the various characters within it. When he hits certain milestones, you unlock memories that reveal a new movement mechanic like chopping through blocking logs, digging to reveal hidden items or collect quest pieces, jumping to clear gaps, and a few others. All of the different areas of the largely open world map are explorable using a combination of these abilities, so you're encouraged to return to previous areas and re-explore as you unearth new mechanics.

I found this to be both an interesting way of exploring and slightly frustrating at times. Progress was occasionally difficult when I didn't have a mechanic I sorely needed and couldn't figure out how to get around it (though there was always a way to progress without the missing mechanic, even if it wasn't obvious at first). Still, there were always more than enough drops available to ensure I unlocked what I needed eventually. In the meantime, I simply explored other areas of the map and came back to puzzles I got stuck on later.

This slow, unlocking progression meant that I was encouraged to interact with everyone and everything, which made for some fun moments I wouldn't have thought about trying otherwise. It was nice to see the interaction prompt pop up in a seemingly random area and watch Tyke do something silly like play hopscotch, roast a marshmallow, or clap at a seal. These little moments always rewarded you with drops, making them both cute and satisfying. It kept me invested and playing for long stretches without getting bored.

A Genuine Work of Heart

Pine Hearts was so clearly made with a great deal of heart and care that I can't really find any fault in it. It's a wonderful experience to curl up with, especially if you're someone who's experienced a similar grief or shares a similar level of love and respect for a childhood vacation spot. These memories aren't perfect, and they can be difficult to relive, especially if we've lost the person we made them with, but that doesn't mean we have to give up on them, even when things get hard. Helping Tyke to find closure through kindness to others was rewarding in its own right; I genuinely felt like the world had the potential to be a little nicer after finishing the game.

You can find Pine Hearts on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Google Play, and the Apple Store.

With the cold part of the year quickly closing in and the holidays coming up, there's really no better time, in my opinion, to curl up with a cozy game and get lost in a world that's a lot smaller than yours. In Winter Burrow, the latest release from Pine Creek Games, this idea is pretty literal - it's hard to get much smaller than a mouse's world.

Hope, Hardships, and the Meaning of Home

In Winter Burrow, you play as a plucky little mouse who moves back to their childhood woodland home after the passing of their parents in the big city. They return to find the place worn down and slightly dilapidated, having been left in the care of an aunt who has had some difficulty maintaining it with her age and the harsh winter conditions. It's now your job to rebuild your home and protect the only family you have left.

In the process, you meet your neighbors and help them resolve their own issues. The various animals of the woodlands have problems they can't solve alone - missing friends and family, misplaced resources, dangerous predators, and more become the focus of your interactions. Each character must learn to trust and confide in you to gain your help, and give you something in return; you all grow stronger and safer together.

This game is delightfully precious. It had me tearing up in the intro; though we never get a name for our little mouse, I wanted to protect them immediately. The game's story explores the ideas of grief and hardship, but also love and community during difficult times. It's an exploration of interdependence and support, where even the harshest worlds can't keep you isolated or underfoot forever. I feel like that kind of hopeful commentary is especially poignant at the moment, and I'm happy to see the game tackling these concepts with sensitivity and kindness.

A Nostalgic Art Style

What really drew me to this game in the first place was its aesthetic. Winter Burrow has a cartoon style that looks like a hand-drawn movie from the early '90s. My first thoughts were of The Secret of Nimh, An American Tail, and The Rescuers - the woodlands portrayed here could easily be a part of any of those stories. There's a bit more realism, though, that I deeply appreciate. The world feels grounded, fantastical, but following a sort of logic that mimics our world. I absolutely adore all of the deep, woodsy scenery (especially the reflective puddles! What a nice touch.)

The character designs are equally wonderful, reminding me of series like Redwall and Watership Down. The animals look more realistic, but still wear adorable Victorian-English-style clothes. They fit so well into their little burrows and camps, looking quaint and charming while keeping some of the darkness that seeps from the background of the game's story. I especially love Bufo the Frog with their button-up dress at a mason's table.

The music that accompanies your adventure is subtle, orchestral, and adventurous without taking over the scenes or taking you out of the semi-isolated experience. My favorite track is the one that plays as soon as you leave The Burrow; it feels foreboding, perfect for braving the wilds to rebuild and reclaim your home.

Interesting Mechanics and Gameplay

Winter Burrow's mechanics are pretty standard fare for a survival game, with a few interesting additions that caught my attention in the trailers and have become some of my favorite aspects of play.

The gameplay loop reminds me of Don't Starve. You have four attribute bars to manage: Health, Hunger, Warmth, and Breath. The first three are standard fare. Being attacked by a bug (the antagonists in the setting) will lower your health, but sleeping will renew it. Your hunger goes down naturally over time, but you can forage and cook food to refill it. Your warmth goes down over time when you're outside, especially at night, but can be refilled at any fire or in your home, and heat loss can be slowed by upgrading your clothing or eating certain foods.

I found the addition of Breath interesting; it's a measure of exertion that, if it runs out, limits your ability to interact. For example, chopping wood or picking stone will deplete the bar, and once it's empty, your character pants and will not continue the action until it refills. Though the refill is quite fast, taking only a few seconds, it can be inconvenient if it happens mid-combat! I thought it was a clever way to remind the player that exerting energy in a freezing environment is a challenge, and you need to be clever with your action economy.

I also love that the main mechanics of the game include knitting; I get to spin yarn and knit cute little outfits to keep my mouse warm! It's great! Their little needles are so cute in the menu animation. Aside from knitting, you can also cook a variety of sweet and savory treats and brew up teas for your mouse to enjoy, all made from the meats, berries, and nuts that you forage. The crafting system is simple and straightforward, with organized menus of raw materials and tools, furniture sorted by type, and various other extras that help you on your journey.

I do have two small gripes about the mechanics. First, there is currently no map of the forest for you to reference, which can make quest completion difficult and often means you get a bit lost if you stray too far. This can be dangerous if you're not carrying a campfire kit, kindling, or food. There are plans to implement a map according to the development notes on Steam, so I have no worries about this as a long-term issue. Secondly, there is no way to sort your inventory, either on your person or at the Burrow. This is a bit frustrating and can make finding the materials you need or checking to see how much of certain things you have tedious and frustrating. Yet again, though, there is an inventory management system in the works, so I am content to be frustrated a little longer.

Other than that, I deeply enjoy the loop of the game. It's satisfying to play for long stretches; you always feel like you have something to do without your list of quests feeling overwhelming. The open-world setup makes hopping between tasks easy and allows you to build your skills over time. If you get stuck on something, you can put it on the back burner until you have the experience or materials necessary to complete it without any consequences. I really appreciate the variety of characters and quests, and how they interact with each other to create a cohesive world.

Winter Burrow is Wonderful

Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with Winter Burrow and the team at Pine Creek Games. They've managed to create something that soothes the cozy game itch perfectly, without feeling like it's just another farming sim slop piece in an extremely saturated genre. The unique and beautiful art and music, mixed with engaging NPCs and solid, simple mechanics, make for a relaxing, comforting experience that you're happy to dive into for hours at a time, fully immersing yourself in this lovely little world.

I can't wait to see where Winter Burrow goes from here, and how the community - which is already growing - thrives as the game matures. I definitely believe that, in a too-fast, too-big real world full of over-our-heads problems, sometimes scaling it back to mouse-level can give us the clarity and comfort we need to make it through the darkest part of the year.