There are over ten cozy games that are scheduled to release in August, but here are the top four that I am personally looking forward to! These are for the cozy gamers who love playing games that allow you to collect interesting, cute creatures, use magical powers, and manage your own restaurant!
Creatures of Ava
If you enjoy games such as Pokémon and Paleo Pines, this may be the game for you! In Creatures of Ava, you set off on an expedition as Vic to the Planet of Ava, which includes four different biomes that are unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. However, when you get there, you realize that the creatures of Ava and the land itself is infected by what the local inhabitants, Naam, call “the withering.” Therefore, your expedition that started off as one of exploration very quickly turns into a rescue mission.
There are so many different creatures on the Planet of Ava that can be seen in the pictures and trailers, ranging from dinosaur-like creatures to ones that look similar to our normal, everyday animals like horses. So far, there are more than 20 in total! (Fingers crossed that the developers will add even more.) Although these creatures who are infected are incredibly aggressive, your goal is to rid them of “the withering” without any physical force. What you will use instead is a flute, which can be played to heal them.
Aside from carrying out your rescue mission, you will have the chance to complete puzzles, explore the land, and delve into Vic’s personal battles in Creatures of Ava. Since this game is available for free, I will absolutely be downloading it as soon as it releases!
Release date: August 7
Platforms:
- Xbox Series X|S
- PC (Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, Epic)
Tavern Manager Simulator
If you love playing restaurant manager sims or cooking games such as Overcooked, Bronzebeard’s Tavern, or PlateUp!, then Tavern Manager Simulator is an absolute must for you out of all of the games in this list. In this game, your goal is to restore your tavern, which is quite a daunting task. Along with being the owner of the tavern, you’re in charge of cleaning, cooking, serving, chopping firewood.. basically everything.
Based on my research, it seems like Tavern Manager Simulator is a very straightforward game aside from being able to freely customize your tavern. However, I think that’s the beauty of most restaurant manager sims. Due to these games being so fast paced, it really allows me to tunnel vision and leave everything else in my mind on the back burner. See what I did there? LOL.
Unlike the other restaurant manager sims and cooking games listed above, Tavern Manager Simulator is a single player game at the moment, so I really hope that they open it up to online co-op in the future!
Release date: August 13
Platform:
- PC (Steam)
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain
Like many us of anime enthusiasts, I always get excited whenever I see an upcoming cozy game that is inspired by a well-known anime, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is one of them! This game is inspired by the amazing Studio Ghibli, specifically Kiki’s Delivery Service. Just like Kiki, you will play as a little witch, Mika, who uses her magical broom to fly all over the island to deliver packages to the villagers of Mount Gaun.
Although riding around on a magical broom is fun, this game isn’t just about providing good service to the villagers by delivering packages in perfect condition. Your goal in this game is to earn enough money to purchase a broom that is powerful enough to go to the top of the mountain while fostering friendships and unearthing secrets along the way!
I’m sure that many of you will have Kiki’s Delivery Service or another Studio Ghibli movie in the background while playing this game, and I will be right there with you! There are even more anime inspired cozy games to come this year, so stay tuned!
Release date: August 21
Platforms:
- PC (Steam)
- Steam Deck
- PlayStation
- Xbox
- Nintendo Switch
REKA
Out of all of the games listed in this post, REKA intrigues me the most. Unlike most of the cozy games I mention in this blog, REKA is such a cozy yet eerie, moody game and I am here for it. In this game, you play as Reka, and you end up meeting Baba Yaga. If you’ve never heard of Baba Yaga, she is a witch or an ogress in Slavic folklore who is most well-known as being basically absolutely terrifying. She is said to live in a cottage that is built upon two chicken legs that can move about freely aaand she eats people. Mainly children. It’s honestly a really interesting read if you have the chance to look into the folktales about her.
BUT ANYWAYS, back to the game lol. REKA is set in the autumnal woodlands and the scenery is incredibly beautiful. Two things that really stand out to me are that the map changes every time you start a new game and the story changes based on your choices throughout the game, which makes REKA a game that you’ll want to replay again and again. As Baba Yaga’s apprentice, you’ll be able to build and customize your own cottage with chicken legs, forage for ingredients, cook, complete quests, perform witchcraft, and even more.
I unfortunately wasn’t able to play the demo myself, but based on videos I’ve watched of gameplay and reviews, people seem to be very impressed. I’m so excited to find out the official release date of this game and uncover Baba Yaga’s secrets!
Release date: August – official date not released yet
Platform:
- PC (Steam)
Leave a Reply