Summer Game Fest 2024 - The best cozy games from indie studios

Expectations had already been dampened in advance. But that didn't stop us from "sacrificing" our sleep and Friday evening to watch the live stream of the Summer Game Fest on YouTube from 11 p.m. The viewer numbers were very impressive for a YouTube live stream: by midnight the number was almost 560,000 viewers. But enough about the logistics of the Summer Game Fest. We actually wanted to talk about the announcements in the Cozy Games category, which are developed by indie studios and are pure art. The list is therefore short(!).

• Neva // Nomada Studio : This is a personal choice and a matter of taste, but Neva definitely deserves the first place in our opinion. This is especially true if you love and appreciate art, aesthetics and beautiful music, that exact combination, because Neva represents exactly that. And how could it be otherwise when it comes from the studio that produced Gris.

• Deer & Boy // Lifeline Games Studio : Deer & Boy is a poetic, cinematic platformer in which you follow the journey of a boy who, after a tragic event, decides to escape his own fate of reality. If you don't soften at the trailer, you have a heart of stone. The game features a unique visual style and a captivating soundtrack. The graphics are described as minimalistic yet atmospheric, using simple, hand-drawn elements to create an atmospheric and emotional journey.

• Wanderstop // Ivy Road Studio : The game features charming hand-drawn graphics that evoke a sense of whimsical adventure. The art style is vibrant and colorful, creating a visually appealing world for the player to explore. Wanderstop's main gameplay mechanics revolve around the tea shop ritual. This begins with growing and harvesting the tea ingredients and ends with their preparation in an extraordinary machine. We love Ancient Knowledge. ;)

There were also other announcements that can be classified as cozy games, such as Lego Horizon Adventures. From what we've observed, the indie studios have been better at producing a fantastic combination of visuals, music and storytelling. So the interdisciplinary art is being made by the little ones. 😉