The term “cozy” has become much more prominent in the gaming lexicon in the last few years.
Rather than big, bombastic setpieces, cozy games are all about sitting back and soaking up the vibe.
There can be cozy vibes in just about any genre of game; it’s less of a framework and more of a state of mind.
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While recent games have been tailor-made for this purpose, though, there have been plenty of games over the generations that fit the cozy bill.
Even if you go back to the days of the Nintendo 64, you can still find games that are rich with smooth, cozy vibes.
10Harvest Moon 64
A Genre-Definer
Harvest Moon 64
Arguably one of the progenitors of the entire cozy game scene is theHarvest Moonseries (or Story of Seasons, if you prefer).
This was the series that made farming cool, and its third entry, Harvest Moon 64, was unlike any other game on the N64 at the time.
There’s very little pomp and circumstance to it; you inherit a struggling farm and take on the daily task of caring for it.
You can raise crops, care for animals, meet and greet your neighbors, and even start a family. It’s your slow country life, so live it the way that makes you happy.
9Hey You, Pikachu!
Life With An Electric Mouse
Hey You, Pikachu!
Be honest with yourself: you’ve dreamt of being friends with aPokemonat least once in your life, right?
It’s okay, we all have. The main games have their little bonding moments, but the closest we’ve ever come to actually dialoguing with a Pokemon is Hey You, Pikachu!
This game came with a special microphone peripheral, which you used to directly command and speak to Pikachu on screen.
The efficacy of this peripheral was… a tad spotty, admittedly. Even so, just getting to pal around with a Pikachu on a sunny day was peak 90s chill, and it’d be cool torevisit the conceptwith modern tech.
8Pokemon Snap
Among The ‘Mons
Pokemon Snap
Pokemon are fascinating creatures, but we don’t get as many opportunities as we’d like to see them outside of battling scenarios.
One of the few opportunities we did get wasPokemon Snap.
Rather than directly interacting with Pokemon, your job is to snap photographs of them in their natural habitats.
It was really cool to see Pokemon living their lives without humans around, not to mention satisfying to get a perfect shot.
To really complete the cozy nature trek vibe, you could take your cartridge to a game store to print out physical copies of the photos.
7Wave Race 64
Shred Those Waves
Wave Race 64
There’s nothing like a beautiful, sunny day at the beach for maxing and relaxing. Of course, if you’re looking to have fun on the water, that’s when you break out the jet skis.
Wave Race 64 is a unique racing game that encourages you to bounce and sway with the waves to maximize your speed and control.
Getting really good at this game puts you in a bit of a zen state.
You can seewhich way the waves are flowingand utilize them to their fullest.
For added fun, you could also unlock a friendly dolphin to ride on, which is peak summer vacation vibes.
6Pilotwings 64
Shoot Into The Wild Blue
Pilotwings 64
Just about everyone wishes they had the ability to fly freely through the sky. We’re not talking aboutrealistic plane sim flying, but rather solo, self-propelled flight.
Pilotwings 64 gives you a variety of ways to experience the joy of flight.
These include semi-realistic options like gyrocopters and hang-gliding to wackier scenarios like jetpacks and being launched out of a cannon.
Outside the main events, you could also equip a bird suit and just freely flap around the game’s surprisingly expansive 3D environments.
Whether you want to challenge yourself or just enjoy the scenery, Pilotwings 64 is chock-full of vibes.
5Rocket: Robot On Wheels
Physics Puzzles And Smooth Jazz
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
1999’s Rocket: Robot on Wheels was the first game made by Sucker Punch.
Yes, the studio that made Ghost of Tsushima started out with a 3D collect-a-thon; life’s funny like that.
Compared to other 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, Rocket places a greater emphasis on problem-solving and gradual exploration.
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Rather than smashing stuff, you’d make use of the game’s prototypical physics engine tosolve puzzlesand unlock cool new machines and vehicles.
It’s a pretty chill game to just waltz around and explore, backed by an incredibly smooth jazz soundtrack.
4Space Station Silicon Valley
Delightfully Silly
Space Station Silicon Valley
The precise definition of “cozy” can vary a bit from person to person. Besides the usual slow-life stuff, it can also refer to silly things.
There’s nothing cozier than a good laugh, after all, and that’s Space Station Silicon Valley’s bread and butter.
Thisodd little gameplaces you in control of a variety of robotic animals, each with their own quirks and abilities.
By switching between these animals, you’ll explore levels, accomplish goals, and uncover secrets.
It’s all a very tongue-in-cheek affair, right up to the game’s final boss being a disembodied brain that can’t even attack you.
3Mario Golf
No Time Like Tee Time
Mario Golf
Golf is arguably the best sport to play on a nice day, when the vibes of the season are truly immaculate.
The N64 had a few golf games, but the best is almost definitelyMario Golf.
Despite the bright and colorful veneer, it’s still good ol’ fashioned golf at the center of things.
There are no power-ups or wild stage hazards, just a nice, long green to drive a ball into.
Mario Golf is one of the N64’s best pick-up and play games, as its golfing system is nice and easy to understand.
2Cruis’n USA
Come On And Take A Free Ride
If OutRun is the patron driving game of the 1980s, then Cruis’n USA is the patron driving game of the 90s.
While it is aracing game, there’s none of the wacky items of kart racers or bombastic set pieces of later Cruis’n games.
There’s just you, the road, and a few other randos to outpace.
It’s the kind of driving game where appreciating the scenery on a long straightaway is a big part of the experience.
There’s certainly plenty of famous American landmarks to appreciate, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon.
11080° Snowboarding
Just You And The Mountain
1080 Snowboarding
Every season has its chill vibes, and for the winter, there’s nothing better than the quiet majesty of a snowy mountain.
1080° Snowboarding is the best winter-themed game on the N64, having you race down a variety of snowy mountain tracks, then returning to the lodge to hear that awesome character-select theme.
Even if you’re not into racing, you’re able to just boot up training mode and go down the slope at your own pace.
You can even call up a handy trick list if you want to experiment with your airborne grabs and whatnot.
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