The rise of cosy gaming has taken a new turn, with virtual home ownership becoming a popular escape for young people priced out of the real housing market. Games like Hozy allow players to clean, paint, and decorate abandoned homes, offering a sense of control and satisfaction that many lack in their daily lives.
What Is Cosy Gaming?
Cosy gaming refers to gentle, low-stakes video games that prioritize relaxation and mindfulness. Originating from social simulation games like Harvest Moon (1996) and The Sims (2000), the genre has exploded in recent years. In 2020, only 19 cosy games were released on Steam; by 2025, that number had soared to 616.
The Appeal of Virtual Home Ownership
The latest trend within cosy gaming focuses on home-owning experiences. Hozy, for instance, lets players "clean, paint, and decorate abandoned homes with satisfying mechanics and intuitive controls." Other titles like MakeRoom, Unbox the Room, and Renovation Plan offer similar virtual renovation satisfaction.
This subgenre resonates strongly with millennials and Gen Z, who face high unemployment and soaring housing costs. In the UK, 29% of adults aged 20-34 still live with their parents. Cosy gaming provides a sanctuary where they can exert control and create beautiful spaces, something often unattainable in reality.
Why Not Just Decorate at Home?
Real decorating is boring, hard, and often involves frustration, panic, and heartbreak—from taxes to broken boilers. Virtual home ownership offers all the joys without the stress. As one observer noted, "Cosy gaming provides players with a calm, predictable sanctuary that helps them manage their stress levels."
While some may find it depressing that young people turn to virtual homes, others see it as a coping mechanism. After all, actual home-owning is not always what it's cracked up to be. For now, many are content moving virtual bookshelves on their phones, waiting for a virtual plumber to arrive.
