Cozy Games Give Players "Warm & Cozy" Feelings With Research Claiming They Might Improve Mental Well-Being

Cozy games have long been considered to be fun and relaxing, but studies are showing that these stress-reducing titles can be as beneficial for mental health as mindful meditation is. Popular video games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing have sparked incredible growth in the cozy game genre in recent years, particularly since the pandemic in 2020. This has caught the attention of researchers, who have begun studying the phenomenon. Significantly different in gameplay from the more violent games available, cozy games are being shown to provide more than just good vibes to their players.

As reported by a recent article by Reuters, there have been many studies happening in the past couple of years regarding the benefits of playing cozy games for mental health. One such study of 80 undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse compared the stress-reduction of cozy games versus mindful meditation.

The study published in 2021 measured the effectiveness of playing a casual game like Flower, developed by Thatgamecompany, against a 20-minute mindfulness meditation session in reducing stress.

“To our surprise, there really wasn't a difference between the two forms of interventions. For blood pressure and heart rate, there was no statistically significant difference between playing a video game and engaging in meditation,” Wong said.

Assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University, Michael Wong, also included a statement that "as more research has emerged related to video games, we're beginning to recognize that they can actually offer a lot of benefits."

Cozy Games Might Improve Mental Health, Research Says

Perhaps Even Equal To Engaging In Meditation

In the chaos of today's world, reducing stress can be crucial to a person's well-being. These games can go beyond even improving blood pressure and heart rate. Other studies mentioned in the Reuters article also point to cozy games providing greater life satisfaction, methods to manage ADHD, and more. Therapists have even used cozy games to help patients recognize and put a name to their emotions or work through feelings of grief.

Video games are used as tools in many instances to help people learn more about their mental health. Games such as Vampire Therapist can teach people about cognitive behavior methods in fun ways, while titles like Kind Words can promote gratitude, positivity, and helping others. Even the main campaign story of Disney Dreamlight Valley features strong themes of mental health in regard to the character known as the Forgotten which requires a trigger warning before certain quests, guiding people to a bit of introspection in their own lives.

Titles Like Animal Crossing & Stardew Valley Are Intricate Yet Soothing For Players

They Provide Ways For Feelings Of Success While Being Relaxing

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons into the limelight as a way for people to connect with others and find calming respite from the situation in the world around them. While the lockdowns may be over, the benefits of these games continue. Turmoil in the world continues to drive many to the serenity found in environments like Stardew Valley, where there are simple tasks to do and appreciative and friendly NPCs to visit.

Generally, these titles are all designed to be played at the pace the player wants to go at, with no serious pressure or sensations of danger. They can calm anxieties, reduce heart rate, and lower blood pressure to an extent. While cozy games are certainly not a replacement for medical treatment, the results of these types of studies can at least let people feel a little better about their relaxation time spent with a cozy game.

Source: Reuters