Nintendo Switch: Best Cozy Games To Play Handheld

Key Takeaways

• Nintendo Switch’s handheld design enhances cozy gaming experience.
• Cozy games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley foster relaxation.
• Titles like Spiritfarer and A Little To The Left offer intimate, leisurely gameplay.

The Nintendo Switch is best known for its handheld capabilities, allowing gamers to immerse themselves in diverse worlds and stories wherever they may be – whether that be while commuting or curled up on the couch. Of the many game genres playable on the Nintendo Switch, none lend themselves to handheld gaming more than cozy games.

The convenience and comfort of handheld gaming makes downtime just that bit more relaxing… unless it happens to be something like Resident Evil. The following games utilize the Switch’s versatility to create a more relaxing gaming experience, allowing players to wind down and switch off from everyday troubles.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Decorate A Personal Paradise Island

Animal Crossing is one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, and it exemplifies cozy gaming very well. Many of the previous Animal Crossing games were designed for Nintendo’s other handheld consoles, making the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch highly anticipated by fans.

The game’s changing seasons, soothing music, and satisfying mechanics create the ultimate relaxing experience. Players can catch bugs and fish, dig for fossils, and decorate, transforming a deserted island into a five-star getaway destination. Even just walking around in the game is calming – watching time go by and hearing the sounds of rushing water and rustling leaves while exploring.

Stardew Valley

Tend To Grandpa’s Farm, Make Friends, And Uncover Secrets Of The Valley

Stardew Valley has proven to be one of the most influential cozy games, inspiring numerous other farming simulator releases. This is for good reason! The pixel art style, addictive music, and charming characters combine beautiful visuals with heartwarming storylines as players maintain and upgrade their farms.

Without needing an internet connection at any point, Stardew Valley is perfect for gaming on the go. Additionally, with in-game days only lasting around 14 minutes, it is ideal for gaming in short bursts during free time or to wind down before bed.

Cozy Grove

Communicate With Spirits To Complete Their Quests

Cozy Grove centers around the natural world and the importance of being present in the moment. The game’s slightly dark premise of the afterlife creates an intimacy well-suited to being played handheld.

The player earns rewards by completing quests for various ghostly bears representing spirits, adding color to the game’s monochromatic landscape. After completing these quests, players gain the bears’ trust and uncover more about who they were in their past lives. Cozy Grove does not require an internet connection and can be saved at any time, allowing for extra convenience while playing handheld.

Super Mario RPG

Adventure Awaits For Mario And Friends

It wouldn’t be a Nintendo list without a Mario game! Super Mario RPG, ported to the Switch from the SNES, joins familiar characters with much cuter graphics. Nintendo clearly had handheld mode in mind during the redesign, as newly added quick-time events require more agile button control.

The adventure itself is easy to follow and has very funny moments, with some skill required during battles along the way. Through captivating colors and vivid game spaces, Super Mario RPG makes for a wonderful escape from everyday life.

Spiritfarer

Captain The Boat To The After-Life

Coined as “the award-winning cozy management game about dying,”Spiritfarer is just that and more with its beautiful art style and heart-wrenching storyline. Like Cozy Grove, the themes of the game promote an intimate setting that is best experienced through handheld play.

Players take on the role of ferryman to the deceased through Stella and her cat Daffodil, who must ferry spirits to their final resting places. Upgrading the boat, unlocking new areas of the sea map, and finding collectibles are just some of the requirements to complete this adventure – there’s always something to do in Spiritfarer.

Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle And The Millionaire’s Conspiracy

Solve Puzzles To Crack The Case

Fans of the Professor Layton series will know his shoes are some big ones to fill when it comes to solving London’s mysteries. In Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle And The Millionaire’s Conspiracy, Katrielle tries to do just that by teaming up with her assistant Ernst and a talking dog named Sherl.

The game feels equal parts nostalgic and innovative for fans of the Layton series, but it’s also charming enough to capture newcomers with its quirky art style, voice acting, and character encounters. We found that playing the game handheld with the touchscreen feature is particularly useful when finding hint coins and traversing the streets of London.

A Little To The Left

Peaceful, Satisfying Organization

With a mischievous cat, realistic and satisfying sounds, and a pleasing color palette, A Little To The Left makes organization fun! Some levels have multiple solutions, making the game engaging and replayable while maintaining a chilled atmosphere.

There’s also a new puzzle to solve every day with The Daily Tidy Delivery feature, which is perfect for short bursts of gameplay in handheld mode. Furthermore, puzzles have no time limit for completion, meaning each can be solved at leisure without any pressure. Winding down is easy with A Little To The Left.

Ooblets

Grow Your Own Tiny Friends

Ooblets is a charming life simulator where players grow and collect little creatures called Ooblets! The unique *dance* battle system – yes, *dance* battle system – is executed through a simple card game. Players can acquire more Ooblet species to unlock additional cards to use in battle.

With a delightful color palette, adorable characters, and a wide variety of Ooblets to collect, this game is guaranteed cozy vibes. Plus, Ooblets is well-suited for on-the-go gaming, as it can be enjoyed handheld without the need for an internet connection.

Minami Lane

Short Yet Addictive Street Building

Garnering its fair share of popularity on the cozy gaming side of TikTok, Minami Lane has proven itself a short yet sweet addition to the cozy gamers’ roster. It’s not hard to see why – with pastel colors and whimsical graphics, the game’s charm is visually undeniable.

It makes sense for this game to be played handheld due to the E rating and the large user interface, allowing for a closer screen to be more apt. Thankfully, the game is quite affordable compared to other options on this list, making Minami Lane a more accessible gateway into handheld cozy gaming on the Nintendo Switch.

Loddlenaut

Dive Into A New World

Loddlenaut utilizes several typical cozy game features while demonstrating an individual and peaceful atmosphere. With its collectible creatures (Loddles), addictive ocean cleanup, and environmentally conscious crafting, Loddlenaut is perfect for switching off after a long day.

The premise is quite similar to other underwater games such as Subnautica and Abzu. But, with simpler graphics and no threat of dying in the game, the experience becomes a lot less stressful for players. Beginning as a Kickstarter project and then showcased at the Wholesome Games Direct, Loddlenaut gained recognition within the cozy gaming community and quickly grew in popularity from there.