When discussing cozy fantasy, having a cozy town is a cornerstone of the genre.
Modern games have done a great job of letting players experience the life of homesteading – buying a plot of land and building a home and base of operations there.
In fact, lots of Triple A titles have also jumped on the bandwagon of allowing players to buy, build, and/or refurbish a house. And cozy fantasy games are, thankfully, no exception.
But sometimes, you’re looking for more than just a solitary plot of land. Maybe you’re looking for the comfort that comes from a bustling seaside town, or a quiet medieval village, or just a sense of community in general. Those are the games we’ll be talking about today.
So if you want to visit a cozy town that gives you those warm fuzzy feelings, these are some fantasy places to check out on your next play through.
1. Stardew Valley – Pelican Town
Photo Credit: Stardew Valley Wiki – Pelican Town
Let’s start with arguably the most well-known cozy game of the current PC gaming scene: Stardew Valley.
Stardew Valley is a farming sim in a charming pixel art style. The characters are equally charming to interact and fall in love with. And I do mean “fall in love with” literally – there are romance options available if you’re interested in wooing one of the townsfolk.
Although the general style of this cozy town is more modern, (with a Walmart-lookalike shopping mart included!) there are elements of fantasy: there is a wizard, monsters in the caves, and magical creatures called Junimos that seem to carry the spirit of the town with them.
I think the thing that endures most about Stardew, though, is how lively Pelican Town and the larger valley feel. The characters have intricate interests, schedules, and dialogue that makes sure that no day feels the same in the Valley. If you haven’t played yet, definitely check out this cozy town classic.
2. Fable 2 – Oakfield
Photo Credit: Minstrel Chief’s Fable II Ambience & Music | Oakfield
This one is a personal favorite of mine. I can’t describe how many hours I’ve spent in this world and specifically this town!
Fable 2 is an action adventure RPG where you choose whether you want to be good, evil, or somewhere in between. Your decisions shape the world around you as well as how the villagers interact with you.
Oakfield is a small farming village with a tavern (the Sandgoose) right in the center. It has a river that lets out to the sea, and overall has the feeling of a sanctuary that has remained unsullied by the dangers of the rest of the world.
One of the things I love most about this game is how lively the towns are, and how much you can shape the town with your actions. You can purchase real estate and furnish each house, either keeping it or renting it out. There are several adorable cottages to choose from in Oakfield. My favorite is the house with the windmill that overlooks the docks and ocean.
There is also plenty of ambience to enjoy in Oakfield. The music is beautiful, the graphics were ahead of their time, and the voice acting makes the town come alive. I’ll never forget the Town Crier and his iconic lines: “The time is… very late!”
If you’ve played Fable and have focused more on adventuring, I’d recommend taking it slow next time. Try getting a job at the tavern or cutting wood at the windmill and just enjoy the everyday wonder that the cozy town of Oakfield has to offer.
3. Pokemon Legends: Arceus – Jubilife Village
Photo Credit: Pokemon Wiki – Jubilife Village
Pokemon is a franchise that has dozens of cozy towns to pick from. Floaroma Town, Cerulean City, and Postwick are just a few of my favorites!
But a lot of the towns in Pokemon are designed to be passed through as a small part of your adventure. I wanted to focus on somewhere that you return to as a “home base” again and again.
Enter Junilife Village from Legends: Arceus. For those who haven’t played the game but are familiar with some of the more modern settings in pokemon, this Village is a historical version of the present-day Jubilife City from the Diamond and Pearl games. It really leans into the cozy fantasy vibe that some Pokemon games aren’t able to provide.
This is also the place you call home in this game, and it’s got all of the amenities you could ask for – there are shops for clothing, hair, candy, and general or specialty goods along the main strip, and there are lots of townsfolk that will have requests for you.
The music is calming and sounds like it came straight out of a lofi playlist. There is something so charming about seeing your Pokemon resting in the pasture. Check this town out if you’re looking for a cozy town with animal friends!
4. Kingdom Hearts – Traverse Town
Photo Credit: Shesez – Out of Bounds Secrets | Kingdom Hearts – Boundary Break
Kingdom Hearts is a nostalgic series for many, and for good reason. There are so many stories and worlds to explore from the Disney landscapes that we grew to love as children. But one of the coziest places in the series isn’t from Disney at all – and it has a comparatively dark origin.
Traverse Town is a place that provides a haven to those that have lost their world to Darkness, the game’s antagonistic force. It is a quiet Victorian-style cozy town that is in perpetual nighttime.
But the neverending night is peaceful. The warm street lamps provide a homey feeling, and talking to the rest of the inhabitants that have lost their world gives a specific sense of community that can only come from such a significant shared loss.
You return to Traverse Town throughout the events of the first Kingdom Hearts game, and every time it is a chance to restock, relax, and find a moment of peace in this chaotic world-hopping adventure.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Kakariko Village & Hateno Village
Photo Credit: Zelda Wiki Gallery – Hateno Village
Photo Credit: Zelda Wiki Gallery – Kakariko Village
Alright, let’s be honest: most places in Breath of the Wild are cozy as heck, and it was impossible for me to choose just one. So instead I decided to list two!
Kakariko and Hateno Village are both places that many players find early on in their Breath of the Wild adventure. Kakariko lies hidden in a mountainous valley, while Hateno rests on a large hill with a view of the sprawling plains to the East.
Both are full of townsfolk living a quiet, peaceful life. The music and visuals of this game are breathtaking and add to the wonder of exploration of both places.
Another neat thing about Breath of the Wild is the cooking mechanic. It’s nice to collect ingredients and watch them dance over the cooking pot! .
If you haven’t done it before, I also recommend buying the house in Hateno and following that quest line to the end. If you enjoy building cozy towns, you won’t want to miss it.
6. Harvest Moon Animal Parade – Harmonica Town
Photo Credit: Riot Pixels – Harvest Moon Animal Parade Gallery
This one is a bit of a deep cut and another one of my personal favorites.
Harvest Moon is the spiritual predecessor to Stardew Valley. In it, you play as a farmer moving to a new town for the first time. The people in these games are welcoming and it’s so nice to experience the positivity of each Harvest Moon game.
Harmonica Town is one of my favorites because of its seaside location. The Mediterranean architectural style combined with the routines of the animals and people that call this town home make you feel like you’re living in a bustling Greek port town.
Another reason I love this game is because there isn’t just one community to explore. Although the seaside town of Harmonica is my favorite, there is also a small mountaintop village and a riverside farming community to visit. Your farm is located between the three, so it’s easy to visit whichever one will give you the coziest experience.
7. Skyrim – Riverwood
Photo Credit: The Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages (UESP) – Riverwood
Aaah Riverwood, the village that launched the quests of a thousand Dragonborn.
This is almost certainly the first place you’ll encounter on your adventure in Skyrim, unless you’re using a mod that gives you an alternate starting location. (Which I highly recommend to help provide a different play experience every once in a while!)
Skyrim has a rustic charm that might give you the desire to work with your hands. And Riverwood is no exception! Alvor’s shop is a good place to pick up the blacksmithing trade. The residents of Riverwood also have several quests that need doing that will keep you feeling productive before you set out to Whiterun.
Riverwood tends to be a place that you pass by only briefly on your way to become a true dragonborn. But I encourage you to stop for a while and enjoy the scenery of this quaint cozy town before starting out into the seemingly never-ending world of Skyrim.
8. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon – Pokemon Square
Photo Credit: Bulbapedia – Pokemon Square
Okay, I know that there was already another Pokemon game on this list, but Pokemon Mystery Dungeon deserves its own slot because of how unique it is compared to other games in the franchise!
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is a series where you actually play as the Pokemon rather than a Pokemon trainer. You awaken one day in the Pokemon world and quickly join a Team that saves Pokemon from the natural dangers that pop up every day.
Your home base is right next to Pokemon Square. It’s a thriving cozy town with upbeat music that is sure to get you pumped for an adventure. The residents are a mix of other Rescue Teams as well as shopkeepers and citizens.
One thing that I like most about Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is the sense of routine. Starting the day at Pokemon Square before setting off on a rescue mission really feels like you’re kicking off the day right.
And if you enjoy this town, there is an equally charming town in the follow-up games. I would recommend Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky if you’re looking for a similar experience.
9. Red Dead Redemption 2 – Strawberry
Photo Credit: Red Dead Wiki – Strawberry Gallery
Red Dead Redemption 2 is another game with a surprising amount of cozy towns to choose from, despite the relatively gritty, violent nature of the gameplay itself.
Out of all of the towns, Strawberry is my favorite. It’s a booming mountain town that started as a small logging community but has grown in recent years. Its mayor now hopes to turn it into a resort town.
The most striking thing about Red Dead Redemption 2 is its stunning graphics and attention to detail. And this is especially true in its towns! It’s easy to spend hours walking around and listening to dialogue, watching the residents live their daily lives, or enjoying the wildlife and natural surroundings.
I would encourage any cozy gaming fan to give Red Dead a try. Even though it features a lot of morbid themes and missions that involve combat, the game completely changes once you get the freedom to ride around the map on your horse. It can become a peaceful wilderness exploration experience. Strawberry is the perfect place to visit when you have pelts to sell or food to resupply.
10. Animal Crossing New Horizons – Your Town
Photo Credit: Nintendo of America – New Horizons Launch Trailer
I thought we’d bookend this article with the other most iconic cozy game of our time – Animal Crossing!
In Animal Crossing, what makes it so special is that you make it yourself! The town is your sandbox to build in whatever way you see fit. It is incredibly rewarding to start with the lush island and fill it with the plants and items that you collect throughout the game.
The other great thing about this game is that the residents have unique personalities. You can even change which residents are in your town. There are so many characters with different vibes – you can have a town of all dogs or all cats, or a town of soft-spoken people, or a town where everyone calls each other by food-related nicknames. There are over 400 villagers in total, so there really is no limit to what your town’s social makeup could be!
And like any good cozy town, there is fishing. Who doesn’t love fishing off a bridge they built themselves?
Those are some of my top cozy towns, but there are so many that didn’t make it onto this list. What are your favorite cozy towns in cozy fantasy (and other) games?
And if you’re looking for more of an adventure, check out my article on Cozy Fantasy Adventure Books.
Whatever game you play next, I hope you take some time to appreciate the little communities that make it feel like a home!