If you want cozy fall games for Nintendo Switch, look no further! Ever since the pandemic, I’ve gotten really into cozy gaming on my Switch and I know I’m not the only one. When the world became an overwhelming and scary place, many people escaped into the comfort of Animal Crossing and similar games.
What’s cozy gaming you ask? It’s a rather new term used to describe playing games that are relaxing and low-stress. A cozy game may help you unwind at the end of a hard day or distract you when you’re dealing with anxious thoughts. They are games with very little danger, and if there is danger, it’s easy to overcome. They may be games where you complete tasks or puzzles, go on adventures, build things or play through stories.
In the fall, I love to play cozy games that have autumn vibes or spooky themes, a little scarier and darker than usual. The spookiness creates the perfect atmosphere for the season. It’s like watching a scary movie, but knowing you’re safe at home.
Here’s a list of my favorite Switch games that will give you all the fall feels. Light your pumpkin candles, get comfy and let’s dive in.
Night in the Woods
Mae the cat just dropped out of college and moved back to her hometown. As the leaves begin falling and the weather gets colder, strange things begin happening in the town…like disappearances and murder. Her friends are different too. The game has lots of relatable content about growing up, mixed with autumn imagery and spooky themes.
Rain City
With its picture book-like, watercolor graphics, and perpetual rainfall, Rain City is the perfect stormy, fall game. Help a little cat find his missing sister through a series of conversations, puzzles, and tasks. Although it might look like a children’s game, it deals with darker themes and adult situations.
Little Misfortune
This is the darkest and creepiest game on the list. It’s also pretty depressing, sad things happen…a lot. Misfortune is an 8-year-old year girl on a quest for eternal happiness. Sometimes you have good intentions, but make the wrong decisions and have to deal with the consequences. It’s also strange and intriguing and gives you all the Halloween vibes.
What Remains of Edith Finch
One of my all-time favorite games, Edith Finch tells the story of a family who has lost every member tragically…every member except Edith. As Edith, you search the Finch house for clues about why everyone is gone. You get to play as each member of the family on the day they died. It is truly a gorgeously strange and emotional game. I wish more people would discover this gem.
Cozy Grove
Camp on the Cozy Grove island that is inhabited by ghost bears! Complete tasks for them and the black and white, ghostly landscape will be painted in color. It’s a very calming, low-stress game that doesn’t require a lot of decision-making. I personally love giving the sea caption bear a hug whenever I feel like it, just because it’s cute.
Animal Crossing
I had to include this. It’s one of my favorite games to play as I unwind from a stressful day. I’ll throw on an audiobook and spend a few hours improving my island. The seasons change with your hemisphere so it will be fall in the game when it’s fall where you live. Decorating for Halloween/Thanksgiving, furnishing cozy spaces, crafting autumn recipes, and putting together adorable fall outfits are a few of my favorite things to do. I love that the weather changes each day and the landscape turns to oranges and reds as November rolls around.
The Room
This beautiful puzzle game takes you through gorgeous rooms where you have to solve puzzles to move on to the next place. It’s all about solving a mystery and has all the ominousness of a dark and stormy night. The puzzles can sometimes take a lot of thought so it’s the perfect distraction. I’ve played it on my Occulus Quest and it’s even more stunning in VR.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Okay, so this one might be a tad more stressful than the others because you have to catch ghosts with your vacuum before they get you, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy. Filled with beautiful, haunted architecture, this one feels like you’re a ghostbuster…and you even get the cutest ghost-dog as a sidekick.
Be sure to check back for more cozy gaming content!
