13 Games Like Garden Paws That Let You Build and Befriend

ByKristen Updated on

If you fell in love with the charm of Garden Paws—running a shop, caring for animals, and making a cozy home—you’re in for a treat. These 13 games capture that same wholesome magic: a little building, a lot of befriending, and zero stress.

Whether you want to grow a town, raise critters, or just vibe in a world that feels like a warm hug, this list has you covered.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Colorful scene from "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" showing animal characters and a human character on a beach with tents, a building, and various activities.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons | Gameplay Screenshot

Live the island life—decorate your home, befriend cute villagers, and take each day at your own pace. It’s a wholesome, feel-good escape you’ll want to return to daily.

Stardew Valley

A Stardew Valley farm with trees, crops, sprinklers, scarecrows, and a character standing in the center, shown at 9:00 am on Summer 4 with a visible inventory bar.
Stardew Valley | Gameplay Screenshot

Start a farm, raise animals, mine for treasure, and build relationships with townsfolk. It’s cozy, deep, and easy to get completely hooked on.

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My Time at Portia

A person runs through a yellow field toward cows and a horse, with a barn, fences, and large, dome-like structures in the background under a blue sky.
My Time at Portia | Gameplay Screenshot

Inherit a workshop and help rebuild a charming post-apocalyptic town. Craft, farm, and build friendships as you leave your mark.

Sun Haven

A colorful garden scene with trees, mushrooms, a table with food, flower stands, and lanterns. The garden is surrounded by a stone path and has various decorative elements.
Sun Haven | Gameplay Screenshot

A fantasy farming sim with magic, dragons, and charming townsfolk to woo. It blends cozy vibes with adventure and a sprinkle of spellcasting.

Littlewood

Pixel art town scene in winter with snow-covered roofs, buildings, and people. A fountain is centered, flanked by decorations and animals. Day 16 of Winter displayed at the top.
Littlewood | Gameplay Screenshot

Build a town after you’ve already saved the world. It’s all about peaceful village life, decorating, and bonding with your neighbors.

Ooblets

A colorful, cartoon-style garden scene with various plants, wooden barrels, small creatures, and characters tending to crops inside a fenced area.
Ooblets | Gameplay Screenshot

Grow adorable creatures, dance-battle them, and run a quirky farm. It’s colorful, weird in the best way, and full of charm.

Hokko Life

A video game character stands on a tiled path between buildings and flower pots, with on-screen prompts for object actions visible at the bottom.
Hokko Life | Gameplay Screenshot

Design furniture, build homes, and make a quiet town your own. It’s like a more creative take on Animal Crossing.

Slime Rancher

Video game scene depicting a player aiming a device at three pink, smiling cat-like creatures inside a glass enclosure. UI elements are visible, showing player stats and inventory.
Slime Rancher | Gameplay Screenshot

Raise bouncing slimes on an alien planet and build your ranch from scratch. It’s lighthearted, satisfying, and full of silly joy.

Calico

Two characters in colorful outfits stand by a wooden house with a heart symbol and paw print. A speech bubble explains the house serves as an animal shelter. A large cat is walking nearby.
Calico | Gameplay Screenshot

You run a magical cat café and fill it with cuddly animals, baked goods, and soft vibes. It’s simple, sweet, and a little surreal.

Spiritfarer

A large turtle with trees on its back emerges from the water near a wooden pier at sunset; two characters stand on the pier with a speech bubble that says, "She's here.
Spiritfarer | Gameplay Screenshot

Help spirits find peace while managing your floating home. It’s heartfelt, beautiful, and quietly powerful.

Dinkum

A character in a cozy video game holding a bug net in a lush garden with plants and a compass on the screen.
Dinkum | Gameplay Screenshot

Live the Aussie outback life: fish, farm, explore, and grow your town. It’s like Stardew meets Animal Crossing with a down-under twist.

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

In this serene farming sim, a player tends to a grid-like garden of diverse plants by the river. With a thought bubble displaying a watering can and sunflower, the adventure unfolds alongside a handy map in the bottom right corner.
Harvest Moon: Light of Hope | Gameplay Screenshot

Restore a town after a storm by farming, building, and forming friendships. A familiar cozy classic with that farm-life feel.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town

A video game character stands in a small fenced hot spring next to a wooden building, with health, time, date, and currency displayed on the screen.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town | Gameplay Screenshot

The original farming sim returns in a refreshed package. Build your farm, woo a partner, and enjoy a quiet rural rhythm.

Kristen is a writer, photographer, cookbook author and avid cozy gamer. Her work has been featured in various publications including Forbes, The Associated Press, Elle, Pure Wow, Chicago Sun-Times, and Willow & Sage Magazine.

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