How ‘cozy gaming’ is taking mindfulness mainstream
Meditative hits like 'Stardew Valley' and 'Animal Crossing' are helping a generation of gamers foster helpful habits.
By Chase DiBenedetto, Mashable
So what makes a cozy game? According to players, they tend to be low on stimulation, built around aesthetics many of us would call “cute” or “soft.” Many involve life simulations — running a coffee shop, or power washing a particularly dirty town. Most importantly, cozy games aren’t really about winning. They encourage players to enjoy the ride.
Soaring in popularity during the pandemic, cozy gaming became an oasis for many during a period of increased anxiety and depression. Gamers often describe cozy games as helping them enter relaxed, meditative states and reduce their daily stress. And science can explain why.
The psychology behind mindfulness and cozy gaming
Here’s what research on wellbeing, social and emotional learning, and play tells us: “Engaging in genuine play is good for you and is restorative,” says Kurt Squire, a professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine and a veteran video game researcher. “Being surrounded by cuteness and/or positive things is also good.”
Learn more in an article published by Mashable.