In Australia, it’s a little hard to relate to all the autumnal, pumpkin spice vibes this time of year brings to our Northern Hemisphere friends, but just because the flowers are out and the weather is warming up doesn’t mean we can’t still curl up with a blanket and a chai latte while seeking refuge from the swooping magpies with a cozy yet creepy game.
So grab your candy corn because here are 5 of my all-time favourite cozy yet creepy games to help get you in the Halloween spirit, ranked from coziest to creepiest!
Strange Horticulture | PC, Switch & Xbox
Developed by UK brothers Rob and John Donkin, Strange Horticulture is one for the puzzle lovers out there. You play the role of a proprietor of the local plant store, where you will discover new plants, and meet cult and coven members while listening to their stories and over time, as your collection of plants and knowledge expands, you will have the ability to not only influence the story of the game but also uncover all of Undermere’s darkest mysteries.
If you love all things plants, witchy and chill but with a dash of creepy, Strange Horticulture is the one for you!
Graveyard Keeper | PC, Xbox, PS4, Switch & Mobile
Released back in 2018, Graveyard Keeper almost quite literally is “Stardew Valley, but instead of a farm, you tend to a graveyard”. So yep, you guessed it, it’s a pixelated RPG, management, simulation masterpiece full of crafting, gathering, quests and dungeon exploring!
In its synopsis, developer Lazy Bear Games describes Graveyard Keeper as being “the most inaccurate medieval cemetery management sim of all time” and that at its soul, the game is “about the spirit of capitalism and doing whatever it takes to build a thriving business” however I would tell you between its beautiful pixel graphics, fun soundtrack, witty humour and immaculate vibes, it’s the perfect game to curl up under a blanket with!
REKA | PC
REKA is the debut release from Berlin-based Indie studio Emberstorm Entertainment and published by Fireshine Games.
Drawing inspiration from Berlin once being in Slavic territory, the team at Emberstorm sought to incorporate Slavic culture and mythology into the game, which I adore!
In REKA, your character is an apprentice to the legendary witch, Baba Jaga, and embarks on a journey around central Europe in their fully customizable, chicken-legged cottage. You get to learn and practice witchcraft whilst making a home in the forest and along the way you’ll solve mysteries, forage and uncover many secrets. You will also have a chance to befriend wildlife, accept quests and have the ability to create your own witch with the character creation tools.
DREDGE | PC, Xbox, Switch, PlayStation
Don’t be fooled. This single-player adventure is much more than a charming little fishing game, especially when the sun goes down *insert suspenseful music here*.
Play the part of a fisherman who has found himself in the archipelago town of Greater Marrow and soon discovers that there’s a bit more to the waters around Greater Marrow than it seems.
Along with exploring many different environments on your angling journey, you’ll have the opportunity to complete a catalogue of 128 fish species and complete quests or “Pursuits” for an array of NPCs.
You can read more about Black Salt Games’ Dredge in Brad’s review here.
Little Nightmares | Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Switch & Mobile
An absolute classic in the side-scroller puzzle-platformer realm, Little Nightmares is a must-play! And this applies to the sequel too.
Now, it may be a controversial entry on this list because, boy, does it get the adrenaline pumping (then again, I did say I was ranking them from coziest to creepiest!) But there is just something oddly charming about this 2017 title from Tarsier Studios!
If you are yet to pick up Little Nightmares, you follow Six, a little girl who is trying to escape the perils of the Maw, a too-creepy-for-its-own-good ship and its equally creepy crew and passengers.
“But Hannah, that sounds horrifying.” How can it be charming? Well, that’s the thing: this game draws so much inspiration from common childhood fears like heights and the dark, big, ominous figures – pair that with its dark, whimsical art style and bam! It becomes charming. I don’t make the rules, it just does.
If you love all things Tim Burton, Pon and Zi, Brothers Grimm, and Edgar Allan Poe, you’re going to have a good time with this. It’s basically emo Super Mario Bros!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Now, as much as I would love to continue on with the list, I’d best wrap it up there, but if you’re itching for more, might I also recommend Beacon Pines, Night in the Woods, Limbo and Little Misfortune? I mean, it wouldn’t be a NextPlay Australia list without some honourable mentions.
Of course, many of our favourite cozy games have Halloween-themed DLC and in-game events like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Cozy Grove and Stardew Valley, which are always frightfully fun as well!
So there you have it – there are five of my favourite cozy creepy games of all time. Let us know some of yours!
