Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse to slow down, grab a blanket, and play something low-stress while the leftovers cool. Cozy games are ideal here. They are gentle, colorful, and built around simple goals like tending crops, decorating a home, or caring for characters instead of chasing high scores or sweating through ranked matches.
The best cozy games for Thanksgiving work in short bursts between family moments, but can also quietly turn into “whoops, we just played for three hours.” They are also easy to share, whether that means couch co op, passing the controller, or just watching someone else build the cutest farm on the planet.
Here are five cozy games that fit the Thanksgiving mood and are great picks for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
1. Stardew Valley
If you only pick one cozy game for Thanksgiving, it should probably be Stardew Valley. You inherit a rundown farm in a small town and rebuild it at your own pace. You plant crops, raise animals, go fishing, mine in the nearby caves, and slowly get to know the villagers.
The magic of Stardew Valley is how flexible it feels. Want to zone out on the couch after dinner while you water crops and pet chickens? It works. Want everyone to play together? Local co op and split screen let multiple players share the same farm and divide chores, which is perfect for siblings, partners, or cousins who all want in.
It also hits that Thanksgiving vibe in a subtle way. You cook with ingredients you grow, share gifts with your neighbors, and watch the town change with the seasons. It feels like spending time in a tiny holiday town where nothing too bad ever happens and everyone remembers your birthday.
Best for: Families or friend groups who want a low pressure co op game that can fill the whole weekend.
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is comfort food in game form. You move to a quiet island, set up a tent, and slowly turn that island into a small, personalized paradise. There is no real “win” state. You decorate, collect furniture, catch bugs and fish, and chat with your animal neighbors.
New Horizons is especially cozy on Thanksgiving because of how gently it moves. The game runs in real time, so your island has its own soft little version of autumn. It is easy to hand the controller to someone who does not play games much and let them pick fruit, talk to villagers, or rearrange furniture.
If you have multiple people with their own islands, visiting each other is a great couch activity. One person plays, everyone else shouts opinions on where to put the next pumpkin patch. It is a chill way to hang out when everyone is full and half asleep.
Best for: Mixed age groups and anyone who wants something gentle and zero stress.
3. Disney Dreamlight Valley
If your household includes Disney fans, Disney Dreamlight Valley is a very easy win. It is a life sim and adventure game where you live in a shared valley with classic Disney and Pixar characters. You cook with Remy, fish with Goofy, go on quests with Moana, decorate your house, and help restore the valley after a mysterious event called the Forgetting.
Compared to Animal Crossing, Dreamlight Valley puts more emphasis on character quests and storylines. There is always another mission to help a familiar character, another area to unlock, or a new seasonal event to check out. That makes it a nice “let’s keep this running in the background all weekend” type of game, because you can always hop in for one more quest before dessert.
It is also very watchable. Younger kids can run around and talk to favorite characters while adults help with tougher tasks or steer the story. The result feels like an interactive Disney special running quietly in your living room.
Best for: Disney and Pixar families who want cozy vibes plus story and familiar faces.
4. Fae Farm
Fae Farm is what you get if you blend cozy farming with fairy tale fantasy. You move to the enchanted island of Azoria and build up a homestead, but you also use magic, craft potions, and explore dungeons filled with whimsical creatures. The game is built as a farm sim RPG for one to four players, which means co op is a core feature rather than a tacked on extra.
This is a great Thanksgiving choice if you like the idea of Stardew Valley but want more spells and exploration. Everyone can take a role. One person farms and decorates, another dives into dungeons, another focuses on crafting, and so on. It feels like running a magical little commune together.
It also looks exactly like a cozy game should look. Soft colors, friendly characters, and lots of customizations for outfits and home design make it easy to get attached to your world.
Best for: Groups who want that farm sim feeling with a little more magic and exploration.
5. Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Spiritfarer is the most emotional game on this list, but it is also one of the coziest. You play Stella, a ferrymaster to the deceased, sailing a hand-drawn boat across peaceful seas. You build cabins, cook meals, garden, and craft while you care for spirit passengers and help them come to terms with their lives before they pass on.
On the surface, Spiritfarer is a management game about building and upgrading your boat. Underneath, it is a story about grief, memory, and the small acts of care we offer the people around us. It is surprisingly comforting, especially around a holiday that already revolves around food, stories, and family.
Local co op lets a second player join as Daffodil the cat and help with chores. That makes it a nice choice for a quiet late night session when most of the house has gone to bed and you are down to just one or two people still awake.
Best for: Solo players or pairs who want something cozy with a bit more emotional weight.
Choosing The Right Cozy Game For Thanksgiving
Each of these cozy games brings a slightly different flavor to the table, so it helps to match them to your group.
- If you want one game to leave running all weekend, Stardew Valley or Fae Farm are both perfect long-haul options.
- If you are playing with kids or non-gamers, Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Disney Dreamlight Valley are friendly and approachable.
- If you are mostly playing solo and want a meaningful story, Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition delivers a cozy experience with real emotional depth.
However you spend the weekend, cozy games are a great way to keep the room relaxed, connected, and just a little bit magical while everyone works through that second plate of leftovers.