10 Wholesome Games With Beautiful Worldbuilding

ByKristen Wood Updated on

Looking for games that warm your heart and spark your imagination? These ten wholesome titles offer not just cozy gameplay, but also stunning, thoughtfully built worlds you’ll want to get lost in.

Spiritfarer

Animated scene of a forest market stall with a red canopy. Two anthropomorphic animals and a person are present. The stall is decorated with various items and signs.
Spiritfarer | Gameplay Screenshot

Sail across a dreamy sea as you guide spirits to the afterlife. Every island feels like a tiny, handcrafted story.

Stardew Valley

A purple building with a clock is surrounded by trees, fences, flower petals, and colorful balloons. Several characters stand outside on green grass.
Stardew Valley | Gameplay Screenshot

Build a life on your farm, grow close to your neighbors, and uncover the gentle mysteries of the valley. It’s peaceful, charming, and full of heart.

A Short Hike

Pixel art image of a small boat approaching a dock on a vibrant island with cliffs, trees, and a winding path. A compass in the corner indicates direction.
A Short Hike | Gameplay Screenshot

Take a relaxing stroll up a mountain as you meet quirky characters and explore hidden trails. The world feels alive and quietly magical.

Cozy Grove

A cartoon-style harvest scene with a character near a red bag in a garden. There are tents, autumn foliage, and a clock showing 2:51 PM. Game interface elements are visible.
Cozy Grove | Gameplay Screenshot

Settle on a haunted island and help friendly ghost bears find peace. The hand-drawn art and daily discoveries make it feel like a living storybook.

Eastshade

Rocky shoreline with red plants in the foreground, overlooking a calm sea under a cloudy sky. Sunlight brightens the scene, with some trees and rocks near the water's edge.
Eastshade | Gameplay Screenshot

You’re a traveling painter in a world of animal-folk and natural wonders. The scenery alone is enough to calm your soul.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Two cartoon animal characters stand outside a colorful, hexagonal building in a forest. One character says, "Th-there's something in the woods..." in a speech bubble.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale | Gameplay Screenshot

Bring color back to a black-and-white world with your magical paintbrush. Every area is packed with creativity and heartfelt moments.

TOEM

Isometric view of a city block with several buildings, staircases, benches, trees, and people interacting in a grayscale, cartoon-like style.
TOEM | Gameplay Screenshot

Explore a cozy black-and-white world through the lens of your camera. The towns and forests you visit feel like quiet, whimsical memories.

Unpacking

Isometric illustration of a small kitchen with stools, a counter, stove, refrigerator, wall art, and moving boxes on a wooden floor.
Unpacking | Gameplay Screenshot

Move through someone’s life by unpacking their belongings. The worldbuilding here happens in the quiet details of every object.

Garden Story

Pixel art game scene showing a village with a dialogue box from Lychee: "Sawp! You're new here, aren't you?" Characters and buildings are styled in a cute, colorful design.
Garden Story | Gameplay Screenshot

Play as a tiny grape restoring a broken island. The pixel art world is sweet, colorful, and full of healing energy.

Dordogne

Illustrated scene of people shopping at an outdoor market with colorful stalls and produce. A checklist shows items like baguette and tomato seeds. Old buildings are visible in the background.
Dordogne | Gameplay Screenshot

Step into watercolor memories of a French summer. The scenery is stunning, and the world feels soaked in nostalgia.

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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