Cozy Grove succeeds on all notes, especially on the Nintendo Switch. Having put time into both the Steam and Switch versions of the game, the latter is the perfect home for this game. As cheesy as this may sound, turning on your Switch, curling up with some coffee, and getting cozy with Cozy Grove is just what you need. Whether you’re looking for a game to play in bursts or a new world to just never leave, this is a title you need to pick up.
If you are looking for a new game to chill out with, Cozy Grove is definitely going to scratch that itch. It has enough in common with other life simulation games to make you feel comfortable, whilst still being different enough to have its own identity. I can’t speak to how much longevity this title has, but I do know that every moment for me has been a joy. So put on your Spirit Scout sash and head to the island, you’re going to love it!
All in all, I say this is a great game to pick up if you're a fan of the genre. It's endlessly charming, and a real breath of fresh air in terms of its style and gameplay loop. On Spry Fox's website, they claim they "want to make the world a happier place" with games, and I say they have more than achieved that goal.
Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Cozy Grove's leitmotif is to take your time, while taking advantage of breathtaking artistic direction. Its positive attitude and its very chill side will delight fans but are unlikely to change the minds of those who do not appreciate the genre.
Technically speaking, I'd recommend playing the game on something other than a Switch because I did see significant frame rate drops and the UI would benefit from a big screen, though I did enjoy sitting in the sun and checking off a few tasks for the day. Furthermore, the touch controls were a little finicky, and it's difficult to place objects exactly where you want them, unlike Animal Crossing. But, it's the curious text that accompanies the various odds and ends that intrigues me. Letters that arrive on the island, apparently unanswered, probing the appearance of a wrecked boat on the shores. As my collection of resources grows, I want to know what else is out there on this weird haven where the boundary between worlds is thin. It doesn't offer the very same adorableness of other games in the genre, yet its muted colours and purposeful pace is welcoming. If you're looking for a low impact and narratively engaging life sim, then spend a while on Cozy Grove.
Had the characters been a little more charming, had each day’s play lasted slightly longer, and had there been something - anything - else to do outside of each day’s central tasks, Cozy Grove would be a much stronger game. But in such a crowded genre where everyone is struggling to emerge from the shadows of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, it’s hard to recommend a game like Cozy Grove.
Cozy Grove measures out its game sessions in snack-size portions, and its gorgeous artwork and genuinely laugh-worthy dialogue almost make up for its metered-out gameplay. Sadly, with a few technical issues on Switch, and the game's refusal to let players set the pace, it's one best played on a mobile device for now.
Update for the update:
Just want to say thank you to the Developers for the few things that they fine tuned in the latest update. I just installed it an hour ago. Specifically the changes to the Crafting with the baking and also the inventory adjustment was really necessary so thank you! It's made a pleasurable game even more pleasurable.
Well what can I say this is a delightful little game. A great way to waste a little bit of time while the world is upside down. I think it's well due and timely. If there's one thing that would be a challenge for some is having patience. This game does require you to have patience. It's not a game that you could just completely binge although if you time travel I suppose you could do that. But I don't see the purpose in that. I time-traveled one day and decided, forget it, I'm going to just do it as the developers intended. Although right now I am on one Quest and it's taking a few days and I wish it would kind of move along but I'm practicing patience. I actually work as a kindergarten teacher so I already have lots of it. But for those who don't this may not be the game for you.
Personally I love it.
I bought this game thinking it would be a nice change of pace from Animal Crossing, but it's literally just Animal Crossing but full 2D and a little more progression based (and ghosts) . If you want a better game, and you're not on a budget, just get Animal Crossing New Horizons. However if you are on a budget, it's actually a pretty good game.
Biggest downer: It's like paying money to play a beta release. It's as if this game was released as soon as they got to an MVP (minimum viable product) and decided to work on the nits later, and... that just doesn't work so well for a game. I can imagine in a year or so, it will solidify and this complaint will go away.
It's a bit like Animal Crossing, in terms of a 24-hour cycle and things to be done each day, and sort of a limit on how much can be done each day. Also like Animal Crossing in that you are farming things and can make things and decorate your world. Not currently networked / multi-player; I don't know if that's in the plan. The interesting thing about this vs. Animal Crossing is that it is interleaved with the stories of the bears, and the tasks you're given each day help advance those stories.
If you are here for the Animal Crossing vibe, and decorating the world and changing your clothes, it's all good. If you want to learn the bears' stories, be prepared to wait... they take a really long time to unfold. One good thing: you don't have to play consecutive days, so you could put this down for a while and come back later.
Not great for younger kids because the bears have adult problems.
I think there was an interesting ambition here of adding the stories to the farming-/grinding-type game, but it didn't quite (yet?) make it to the level of polish that would have made that idea shine.
After 45 days of play, I've given up. I no longer believe the continual promises that it'll get better later in the game. The reality is that it keeps getting a tiny bit worse with each "advance," and the game wasn't exciting to begin with.
There's not much to love about being a gofer for an ever-increasing number of spirits. These spirits have personal issues that are serious enough to keep them stuck in the material world. They're not lovable spirits, nor even likeable. And they just keep getting increasingly demanding every day.
There's not really much more to Cozy Grove than finding hidden objects for the spirits, or buying things from the store for them (with your own funds). You can't chat with the spirits, except that a few will deliver up to two canned thoughts per day. You can't build anything. You can't change the island (it changes on its own). Probably the most disappointing aspect is that you have no choices to make; just do as you're told.
You're a kid doing chores for the grown-ups. Maybe they should've called it Chore Simulator.
EDIT: A game-breaking bug has appeared. Certain types of items keep vanishing from my backpack, making some quests impossible to finish. They are the kinds of items you either find by foraging or buy from Mr. Kit, so they aren't "replaced" by mail. One such quest, I have been trying to complete for three days. I get the items I need, and by the time I get to the questgiver, they've gone from my backpack.
Lovely little game, marred by some technical issues. It is prone to slowing down a fair bit, especially when you are running across the island. There's also a fair old bit of sudden pop-in for background object.
Other than that, it's a nifty little thing, that's meant to be played for 30 to 60 minutes per day. That might not suit some people, but I'm sure I wont be the only person who finds this suitable.
Pro-Tip : When placing objects, put them in your hand first, then throw them to the spot you want them to be in. It's so much more accurate than just dropping them where you stand.
SummaryWelcome to Cozy Grove, a life-sim game about camping on a haunted, ever-changing island. As a Spirit Scout, you'll wander the island's forest each day, finding new hidden secrets and helping soothe the local ghosts. With a little time and a lot of crafting, you'll bring color and joy back to Cozy Grove!
Features:
* Beautiful, dynamic, ...