The best cozy games on Nintendo Switch to play handheld

Important takeaways

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

The Nintendo Switch is best known for its handheld capabilities, allowing players to immerse themselves in different worlds and stories wherever they are – whether on the go or curled up on the couch. Of the many game genres that can be played on the Nintendo Switch, none lends itself to handheld gaming more than cozy games.

The convenience and comfort of handheld gaming makes downtime just that little bit more relaxing… unless it happens to be something like this Resident Evil. The following games take advantage of the Switch's versatility to create a more relaxing gaming experience, allowing players to unwind and turn off the worries of everyday life.

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 former Animal Crossing games were designed for Nintendo's other handheld consoles, making the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch long awaited 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, turning a deserted island into a five-star retreat. Just walking around the game is soothing – watching time pass and hearing the sound of rushing water and rustling leaves as you explore.

Stardew Valley

Take care of grandpa's farm, make friends and uncover the secrets of the valley

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

Without needing an internet connection at any time, Stardew Valley is perfect for gaming on the go. Plus, with game days lasting only around 14 minutes, it's ideal for short bursts of gaming at leisure or for winding down before bed.

Cozy Grove

Communicate with spirits to complete their quests

Cozy Grove revolves around the natural world and the importance of being present in the moment. The game's somewhat dark premise about the afterlife creates an intimacy that is well-suited for handheld play.

The player earns rewards by completing quests for various ghostly bears that represent spirits, adding color to the game's monochromatic landscape. After completing these quests, players gain the trust of the bears and discover more about who they were in their past lives. Cozy Grove requires no internet connection and can be saved at any time, providing extra convenience when playing handheld.

Super Mario RPG

Adventure awaits Mario and friends

It wouldn't be a Nintendo list without a Mario game! Super Mario RPGported to the Switch from the SNES, brings together familiar characters with much cuter graphics. Nintendo clearly had handheld mode in mind during the redesign, as recently added quick events require more smooth 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 play spaces, Super Mario RPG provides a wonderful escape from everyday life.

Spirit dangers

Captain the Boat to the Afterlife

Coined as “the award-winning cozy management game about dying”,Spirit dangers is just that and more with its beautiful art style and heartbreaking plot. As Cozy Grovein-game themes foster an intimate environment 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 ocean map and finding collectibles are just some of the requirements to complete this adventure – there's always something to do in Spirit dangers.

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

Solve puzzles to crack the case

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

The game feels equally 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 playing the game handheld using the touch screen feature to be particularly useful when finding tip coins and traversing the streets of London.

A little to the left

Peaceful, satisfying organization

Featuring a mischievous cat, realistic and satisfying sounds and an appealing color palette, A little to the left make organization fun! Some levels have multiple solutions, making the game engaging and replayable while maintaining a chill 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. Additionally, puzzles have no time limit for completion, meaning all can be solved at your leisure without any pressure. Relaxing is easy with A little to the left.

Ooblet

Grow your own little friends

Ooblet 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 to have cozy vibes. Plus, Ooblet is well suited for on-the-go gaming, as it can be enjoyed handheld without the need for an internet connection.

Minami Lane

Short but addictive street building

Gaining its fair share of popularity on the cozy gaming side of TikTok, Minami Lane has proven to be a short yet sweet addition to the cozy roster. It's not hard to see why – with pastel colors and whimsical graphics, the game's visual appeal is undeniable.

It makes sense that this game is played handheld due to the E rating and large UI, making a closer screen more appropriate. Thankfully, the game is quite affordable compared to other options on this list, which makes it Minami Lane a more accessible entry to handheld cozy gaming on the Nintendo Switch.

Loddlenaut

Dive into a new world

Loddlenaut uses several typical cozy game features while displaying an individual and peaceful atmosphere. With its collectible creatures (Loddles), addictive ocean scavenging and eco-conscious crafting, Loddlenaut is perfect for winding down after a long day.

The premise is quite similar to other underwater games such as Subnautica and Abzu. Bout, with simpler graphics and no threat of dying in the game, the experience becomes much less stressful for players. Started 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.