After years of hoping for news at every direct, Hollow Knight: Silksong is finally out in the world. And as our own review can attest, as much as fans love the game, it’s also really, really hard. Fans of the first Hollow Knight game looked forward to a new challenge, and this impressive indie masterpiece delivered. But after the grind of such a difficult game, many of us just might need a break with something a little bit less intense.
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The massive success of Silksong once again proves what many gamers already know: some of the most exciting things happening in gaming right now come from indie studios. So, if you’re looking for a more relaxing game to play after finally beating Silksong, why not turn to another great indie game? This list of cozier, less intense indies will deliver a much-needed rest after the satisfying challenge of beating Silksong. Or just taking a break because you can’t beat that one boss. Don’t worry, we don’t judge.
5. Sticky Business
Price: $9.99
Platform(s): PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch
If you love stickers and/or business simulator games, Sticky Business is a must-play. This indie title from Spellgarden Games lets you create, pack, and sell your own sticker designs. The game offers an in-game design feature to combine various pixel art elements into custom stickers. When your designs are done, you’ll also get to pack satisfying boxes to fulfill orders from your loyal virtual customers.
This 2023 release has achieved the coveted Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam. It offers a mix of cozy simulation, design, and puzzle elements to keep players engaged without those “throw your controller” vibes the tough Silksong bosses offer. In other words, the perfect cozy indie palette cleanser.
4. Spirittea
Price: $19.99 (Currently available with Xbox Game Pass)
Platform(s): PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Have you ever wished you could run a bathhouse, but for spirits? Perhaps you want a cozy pixel art game that’s not about farming? Either way, Cheesemaster Games’ Spirittea is here to deliver. This game is a pixel art life sim where you move to a small town to run a bathhouse for the spirits. Through your hard work, these lost spirits will slowly return to themselves and become patrons at your iconic spirit spa.
This game, which released in 2023, offers a blend of management and life sim elements. You’ll get to know the locals and follow various story quests to meet new spirits and solve problems in the town, while also upgrading and running your inn. With cooking and fishing mini-games, Spirittea offers those cozy staples that can help you unwind right alongside the spirits in your spa.
3. A Short Hike
Price: $7.99
Platform(s): PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One
As the name implies, this game isn’t super long, but it is well worth the journey. In A Short Hike, you’re on a mission to summit the mountain so you can get cell service for an important call. Though it is relaxing overall, you will need to unlock new abilities to find your way up the mountain. So, it’s got a bit of a challenge to it that’ll satisfy those who still need a little difficulty even in their cozy games.
Released in 2019, A Short Hike has an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam. It’s still a go-to recommendation for great relaxing indie games, so I couldn’t possibly leave it off this list for those who’ve yet to have the pleasure. It only took me about 2 hours to beat, so it’s definitely a quick little jaunt, but with a pricetag to match. It’s often featured in bundles from sites like Fanatical and Humble Bundle, as well, so it’s easy to get for even less.
2. Tiny Bookshop
Price: $19.99
Platform(s): PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch
If you’re a book lover like me, you likely have at least heard of Tiny Bookshop. This new bookshop management sim from Neoludic Games is the ultimate relaxing experience. Buy, stock, and sell books in your own travelling bookshop that can be decorated to your heart’s content. The game lets you recommend real books to customers with various requests, with a slow and easygoing pace that’s easy to pair with an audiobook, podcast, or the latest season of Great British Bake Off. There’s a storyline to follow, but it’s all a light touch, perfect for a soothing experience that is entertaining without demanding too much.
Tiny Bookshop is the newest game on our list, having just released this year. It has earned an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam and a 4.5/5 rating from yours truly here at ComicBook. If you like books and need something soothing after Silksong, you could certainly do worse than a trip to Bookstonbury to run your own Tiny Bookshop.
1. Spiritfarer
Price: $29.99
Platform(s): PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One
One of the top story-driven, emotional indie games of all time has got to be Spiritfarer. In this management game, you’ll step into the role of a ferrymaster to the dearly departed. Build your boat and guide various spirits to the afterlife, with some light platforming and exploration elements to keep things interesting. With beautiful art and a heartwarming story, Spiritfarer will capture your attention while still offering less of a steep difficulty curve compared with Silksong.
This indie classic from Thunder Lotus Games offers around 30 hours of gameplay for the main story, with plenty of side quest content to extend the experience. It has an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam, and for good reason. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of playing this indie gem, it’s high time you treated yourself to Spiritfarer.
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Image courtesy of Stage 6 Films -
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
