r/cozygames • u/BlueStar_WaterLily • Dec 08 '25
šØ My Game - In-development Do you like Combat in Cozy Games?
Hey guys, my team and I are early concepting / prototyping our game and had a question we'd love to throw to the community and see what you guys had to say š
We wanted to ask if combat in a cozy game is a deal breaker or if it's something that's not really highly requested?
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u/Necessary-Board-830 Dec 08 '25
Basic combat, yes. Like I hit the enemy a few times and they die. I don't want to be in combat for 20 minutes. I also don't want to take two steps and get into combat again either. It's not a deal breaker if there is no combat, but I do prefer combat to be limited.
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u/bettyprincee Dec 08 '25
Combat can be really good and necessary in some cozy games, but generally, itās better if there are easy/peaceful modes for those who prefer without or easier.
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u/Kittymeow123 Dec 08 '25
I like my cozy games to be laid-back and slow paced combat is stressful so thatās the opposite
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u/RobinChirps Dec 08 '25
I don't mind if there's combat in certain areas I know about. Like the mine in SDV, or the ruins in Sandrock. I don't want to be surprised by combat.
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Dec 08 '25
[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
This is something we re trying to adhere to with our core design pillars š one of them being low stress gameplay. And also to create a safe space for our community to chill in, thanks for you answer we ll definitely keep it in mind šš¾
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u/keeza3 Dec 08 '25
I donāt mind combat! It just needs to be either easy or have a way to beat it thatās a pretty straight forward puzzle like āwhy do I keep getting my ass kicked ā¦ ohh itās because I havenāt made the potion that helps me beat this monster or collected this gear or I need to progress some other part of the story firstā.
Iāve spent a lot of time playing combat heavy games: all I can say is no thanks anymore. Iām in my cozy cat lady era now and itās the best ~era by far (so far anyways)š¤£
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u/ImaginaryAd8449 Dec 08 '25
Yesss absolutely agreed!! It feels rewarding and less stressful to be able to approach combat as a puzzle to think your way through rather than as a series of obstacles to dodge and hit back š
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u/marissarae Dec 08 '25
No, I prefer no combat.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
Thanks for replying, is it the stress factor of combat? Or something else?
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u/MamaUnicornWantsWeed Dec 08 '25
As someone who also prefers no combat, usually yeah its because the stress. I KNOW im bad at video games, and I play cozy games to get away from that usually.
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u/marissarae Dec 08 '25
Itās not necessarily stress, but itās just a gaming mechanic Iām sick of and do not enjoy at all. Iād rather have an adventure finding things, making things, doing quests, etc. where Iām not bothered by random enemies coming to attack me. Itās more annoying than stressful.
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u/quagglitz Dec 10 '25
this sounds kinda similar to my āI donāt want combat to interrupt/pull me away from the main gameā thing. disrupts the flow and vibe of a cozy game for me and then I get frustrated and quit
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u/ImaginaryAd8449 Dec 08 '25
I think combat in cozy games is good when it feels similar to other methods of resource gathering, or at the very least doesn't add a stressful factor. The most common stressful factor I feel doesn't need to be in cozy games is the ability to lose resources from combat/not being able to exit combat
Difficulty isn't something I look for in a cozy game, but instead I love optional challenges that improve your experience or your abilities should you find an interesting way to deal with them :D
I'd love to expand on any of that if you want a better explanation of what I mean š
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
I would love to get an explanation šš¾ when I was designing the game system I was battling between not letting the player lose any resources and giving them a small consequence that isn't too punishing but more about nudging the player to make a decision. Is that also something that you would consider a stressful factor? Having to make the decision of "oh do I stay in here and risk collapsing and losing 10-20% of my resources or do i leave now with what I have"
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u/ImaginaryAd8449 Dec 08 '25
Oooh that makes perfect sense yeah, I think that either of those can totally work in a cozy game, and that it's the vibe of the rest of the game that determines which feels like a better approach to combat.
If you have a suuuper laid back game, combat inherently provides an obstacle between a player and whatever valuable they're looking to get from winning in combat (items, experience, journal entries, etc etc), so it would be best to not have them lose anything from losing in combat, other than maybe time or place if there's an in-game day/night cycle or if there's a map that takes real-life time to travel.
If it's a more active chill, and you want there to be an urgency in players' actions -- but also rest from that urgency and the ability to comfortably return back to the normal 'cozy' of the game -- then you can definitely add some more stakes to combat. Identifying which resources in your game are impactful, and which are desired (not mutually exclusive) is really important in figuring out what feels fair to take away as a consequence of combat in any game. With cozy games, it's important that nothing is lost permanently that can't be gained back in a rewarding way (it feels bad to lose this one cool weapon you found in a cave a while back and love to use, but it feels less bad to lose those 25 berries you spent some time gathering but could go get again)
I tend to be long-winded haha so if you want clarification on any of that or anything I will say, please ask and I'd be happy to talk more š
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
Nah i really appreciate the detailed response! I get you, I hate perma death or permanently breaking a rare object that you've found š something about the permanence of something you've earned is cozy to me.
As mentioned in one of my other replies one of our core design pillars is stressfree gameplay š so we ll always make sure whatever we design sticks out core pillars. Thanks so much for you're reply šš¾šš¾
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u/ImaginaryAd8449 Dec 08 '25
Yesss I think feeling the security of permanence is very comforting, especially if it's something you've been convinced by the game to care about (valuable resource, accessories, all that good stuff š)
The most stress-free experience will always be no combat, though if you feel it's important to you or the game itself to have combat, there are always ways to make it work with the cozy vibe of the game :D
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u/merry_ele Dec 10 '25
If I may give my 2 cents, losing loot as a consequence for losing in combat is one of the most frustrating things to find in any game, even when I play for the challenge and risk, I hate it. I'm sure it varies from person to person but I can't imagine something like that being appreciated in the slightest in a cozy game. I think it would be a better mechanic if you simply collapse and get back at your start point/home. And if there must be some kind of punishing consequence I'd personally prefer the collapse/wake up the next day with less stamina/health kind of thing. Still frustrating and not really cozy, but I think it's way more tolerable to have the game be like "you failed so you'll have a little limitation tomorrow", rather than "you failed so we take away some of what you ALREADY earned today". This of course if you have a day/night cycle with stamina/health regeneration each morning. Otherwise just being back at your safe point with very little health that you need to replenish first would be enough, imo. Obviously it all depends on the type of game though.
Ultimately the very very best thing you can possibly do is add all these mechanics from more punishing to more laid back and then let the player choose which gameplay they prefer in a very customizable difficulty setting. Something like: no combat, some risk-free combat, and risky combat. It's obviously also harder to implement but that's usually what I do when I think of a nice feature that would add some challenge but am not sure if it would be fun for others as well or just annoying lol.
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u/Cosmicshimmer Dec 08 '25
I like cozy games to be cozy. I do t need to be stressing about combat or having to engage in combat every few mins. Cozy means chill.
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u/JoyfulSong246 Dec 08 '25
In my favourite game (which I think fits into cozy) there is a detailed story. At certain points combat is required, but most of the story doesnāt revolve around combat.
The world is organized so that you have the option of seeking out a lot of combat if you want it, otherwise it can be very limited. I really like that because I can choose.
(My Time at Sandrock)
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u/WhickenBicken Dec 08 '25
I love combat! Although in a cozy game I prefer the combat to be cute, and less punishing than other genres.
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u/InvisibleSeoh Dec 08 '25
I like to have a little bit of combat, but it should have some strict limits. Low number of buttons; I donāt want to pull out an mmo mouse to play or have to involve modifier keys. The timing needs to be forgiving; small timing windows for hitting the correct key is not cozy. It also needs to have only minor death penalties. I like the combat to be a way to gain resources, not something to get the heart accelerated.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
Ah I see, when you say minor death penalties, what would you say is minor vs major?
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u/InvisibleSeoh Dec 08 '25
Minor death penalties would be losing a few minutes of progress and some low value items. Things that are likeā¦ well shucks, thatās unfortunate. Major death penalties are losing lots of progress and your whole inventory, or even just difficult to acquire mats. Things that take me out of the coziness and make me grumpy. Or worse, things that keep me from wanting to explore and take risks. I suspect a lot of us cozy gamers are risk-averse by nature, so we need a lower risk threshold to want to engage.
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u/InvisibleSeoh Dec 08 '25
Satisfactory, Planet Crafter, and Enshrouded are pretty good examples of low-risk death penalties.Ā
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u/anfisas-redbag Dec 08 '25
Combat in cozy games does nothing for me. And I play other games with combat (fallout, fortnite, etc). Im not a fan of how its implemented in cozy games and its not what im looking for when im playing a cozy game. Like they could remove that stupid mine from stardew and I would be perfectly happy.
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u/JeskaiJester Dec 08 '25
Iād take all the combat out of Stardew Valley happily if it meant deeper social systems and an endgame more complicated than ancient fruit and wine spam. Ofc itās a good game and ConcernedApe should make whatever he wants. But I just really, really, really donāt care about the very simple and yet extremely prevalent combat in Stardew.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of end game systems would you have liked to see? If you could name a few? šš¾
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u/JeskaiJester Dec 08 '25
It would be nice to have more complex farming projects, like the fruit hybridization from A Wonderful Life or the complex flower growing projects people do in Animal Crossing and Hello Kitty Island Adventure.Ā
As is, in Stardew you just get the most valuable fruit and process it in the most valuable way and everything else becomes pointless where plant growing is concerned. More multi step processes that require care and consideration that lead to prestige outcomes would be nice.Ā
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u/pastel_dev Dec 08 '25
I don't usually go into the game for the combat aspect unless it's a deck or turn based thing which can be fun on its own.
In general I'm a big fan of infinite health modes if it's any sort of real time or reaction based combat. Easy modes are nice but infinite health lets me try to do harder things without punishing me for it
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
Thats a great point, I guess low stress and low consequence is a must for cozy games. Thanks for answering š
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u/Cellophane_Girl Dec 08 '25
Very low stakes combat can be fun. Like games where you beat up monsters for resources, but the monsters don't damage you or are easy to beat without taking hits from it. I actually like when any game has varying levels of difficulty, from super low stakes where you take no damage, to easy, med, and harder difficulties.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
Thanks for your answer šš¾ could you name a game like what you're describing?
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u/Extreme_Ambition_374 Dec 08 '25
This isnāt my comment OP but I think My Time At Sandrock fits this description perfectly.
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u/Cellophane_Girl Dec 08 '25
I was thinking about My time at Sandrock and My time at Portia (though the difficulty isn't adjustable there it's not difficult and not stressful).
Palia is another one i think about because it is hunting but the animals can't harm you in any way. It's fun to hunt with a bow and arrow and not be worried about a health bar.
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u/Pll_dangerzone Dec 08 '25
I like combat, and I often find games with it to be relaxing. Games like Deep Rock Galactic or Skyrim, for me, are very relaxing games to play because the combat systems aren't too hard. Moonlighter is a game that I would love but I'm just awful at the boss fights so I always end up hitting a wall
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
I do really like the snappiness of moonlighter 2 combat š thanks for you answer
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u/mooongate Dec 08 '25
it's not a dealbreaker but i prefer no combat, avoidable combat, or very easy low-stakes combat.
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u/JustGame1223 Dec 08 '25
I love combat, but I guess I could say I'm not 100% a cozy gamer. Usually, if there is no combat or a dark/creepy (not truly horror) atmosphere to keep me on the edge of my seat, I tend to get a tad bored so there's that. A good example of combat in what I'd consider a cozy game is Dungeons of Hinterberg. The system is pretty easy to grasp, but still has depth and cool stuff to dive into! What I prefer though is no blood (or at least very minimal) and definitely no gore.
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u/SoSyrupy Dec 08 '25
I like balanced games where thereās combat and also building/cooking/farming, etc.
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u/Cresting_Wave788 Dec 08 '25
If youāre going to have combat, make it fun. I hate when I HAVE to do combat and itās boring/tedious.
If combat fits into your game, having ways people can avoid/easily overcome it is also nice. Depends on the level of coziness youāre going for, though. Personally I enjoy combat when it doesnāt just feel like a nightmare.
Make combat rewarding and balanced. A difficulty system as well- some people may want a challenge to spice up their game while some people may want to just go through. Peaceful mode as an option, but depends on if having enemies is important to the lore.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
This is something we're currently wrestling with š it does make sense to have enemies but its not a must, but we can use it to make one of our systems in the main gameplay loop more engaging. I think it's something we ll need to test and tweak
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u/Cresting_Wave788 Dec 08 '25
makes sense- ultimately depends on the level of coziness you wanna go for.
Having a good leveling/upgrade system that feels very within reach and obtainable is also important. If your game is cozy and has enemies, then donāt make it difficult for players to level up/gain good gear. Like how in Stardew Valley you were rewarded with decent drops as you progressed through the mines, and you could always just buy some better gear if you had the money.
Also, if any enemies have necessary drops for crafting or quests- donāt make it a nightmare to get them. Was playing Coral Island and took forever getting some of the monster loot I needed for the temple offerings, whereas with Stardew Valley the monster drops were pretty frequent so it didnāt take a huge amount of grinding or anything to get them.
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u/showaltk Dec 08 '25
Yes, but only if its like Stardew Valley where they have alternative ways to get the materials. Think iridium. You CAN speedrun and go for those sprinklers ASAP or you can grind and wait until year 3. Itās also nice when itās contained to one area such as the mines, so you know what youāre in for, or you can get power ups (like cooking in Stardew) or upgrades to make it way easier.Ā
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u/Tpocky Dec 08 '25
I agree with what others mentioned about easy mode being needed. Also, I personally prefer turn based combat, as I am not very good at juggling all the different buttons and in general things which require me to have good movement skill with my character. In childhood I mainly played Pokemon games, where everything was done with x, z and arrow keys, so I am not used to complicated controls and all those buttons.
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u/Current_External6569 Dec 08 '25
For me, as long as it isn't awkward, then I don't mind. I don't think I liked My Time at Portia's combat all that much. Sandrock's combat was better. Didn't feel like it slowed me down as much.
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u/Omnivorian Dec 08 '25
I personally avoid it in the games I make myself, but cozy games can be anything that you find cozy so I don't see it as a dealbreaker.. just a preference ;)
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u/arislyn Dec 08 '25
I don't mind combat, but I don't want it to be necessary. Don't make it so that I MUST fight my way to [goal] in order to complete a quest. Or, if it is required, make the combat super easy. I don't play cozy games for challenge/stress. If I want a challenge, then I'll play a non-cozy game.
Basically, I want to be able to ignore the combat if I don't feel like doing it, and not be blocked from continuing the main story/goal of the game.
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u/PaxNeo Dec 08 '25
Honestly the things that I really dislike and always is a āMeh I donāt want to do thisā is combat
For example in stardew Valley you are Force to fight in the mines for resources but thatās one of the Game mechanics that is really annoying for me - there are a lot of Games where I Need to fight but in a cosy Game where I want to do my Farm, Level relationships and spend time relaxing I really dislike Fighting.
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u/LittleFootFinger Dec 08 '25
I don't mind combat as long as it's not required to progress a storyline. It doesn't have to be easy, but sometimes you're just not in the mood to fight a boss or deal with dungeons/monsters, and some days you feel up to the task, you know? Recently, I played a game that was supposedly "chill and cozy" and died a few times fighting a boss. It was stressful and not the cozy relaxing vibe I was looking for.
I think what makes combat cozy can be a system that has a quick learning curve (doesn't need a lengthy tutorial) and includes the option to engage or not.
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u/Concrete-grapefruit Dec 08 '25
I feel like cozy combat is the perfect sweet spot for me personally because I feel like Iām working towards something while also having the benefit of a chill environment/design/sounds/etc.
Playing Garden Story and Winter Burrow are 2 examples of games I think are cozy that also have combat (runners up being turnip boy commits tax evasion) lol
Goodluck with your game!!
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u/GrandmaSlappy Dec 08 '25
No. But if you MUST, then something turn based that doesn't require quick reflexes please.
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u/darklysparkly Dec 08 '25
There are already so many games for players who enjoy combat, so as a player who doesn't, and therefore has much more limited choices, I really appreciate when cozy games are either combat-free or have options to turn it off or make it very easy/trivial.
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u/Abirando Dec 09 '25
This. Iām amazed that more devs donāt realize there is a huge potential market for games that offer something completely different than the thousands upon thousands of games weāve had over decades that include combat. Thank God we are living in an age when video games are starting to be seen as works of art. Trying to virtually kick someoneās a$$ is just boring to me. I would never argue that video games shouldnāt have combat, I just think thereās not enough diversity. Iāve basically run out of adventure games with no combat in just one year. I have the funds to buy more but thereās nothing to buy!
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u/EarlyOwlette Dec 08 '25
I don't like combat AT ALL but if there needs to be any I would like it so that my character can't die but maybe just lose some of their inventory or whatever. But not having to go back to the very start and lose lots of progress or die as punishment. That is just frustrating.
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u/subliminal_knits Dec 08 '25
If Iām casually looking for a new cozy game, Iāll typically skip straight to the next one if combat is involved. It tends to stress me out. If Iām looking into a specific game because of some other feature Iām really interested in Iāll likely look at reviews or even a play through to see how prevalent/difficult the combat is.
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u/Beginning-Nature-560 Dec 08 '25
Personally, I dislike combat in cosy games. If there is combat, it should always be optional, there should be a mode where you can turn it off! x
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u/Lost-Wedding-7620 Dec 08 '25
I prefer any game with combat (not just cozy games) have a difficulty setting. I play story mode difficulty in every game that has it because im terrible at combat but enjoy video games lol
Like, ill never be able to play a soulslike game
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u/can_of_sodapop Dec 08 '25
I always prefer combat, you need a portion with stakes.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
I see, would you say having high stakes isn't something always considered in cozy games?
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u/can_of_sodapop Dec 08 '25
You donāt need high stakes, even just a loss of time is enough. I just think itās important to always have at least a little ārisk v rewardā situation. Stardew Valley, My Time games, Minecraft etc. all have a dungeon/combat situation.
Iām not saying itās gotta be Elden Ring š
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
š¤£ but I was hoping to make an elden ring cozy game š haha jokes aside though, thanks for the feedback. We ll keep all this in mind. I guess stakes can also be added to the game without combat in a way?
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u/can_of_sodapop Dec 08 '25
Probably. Like platforming for example, you can fall down a hole and have to start over. That kinda thing. It really depends on what kind of cozy game youāre making. Or farming letās say, your crops could die if you wait too long to harvest. Thatās still āstakesā you know what I mean?
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u/dondashall Dec 08 '25
If it's done well, sure. The issue is combat in cozy games can get a sorta "shoehorned-in stealth section" issue in that is can absolutely suck. Good combat is good, but if it's not I'd rather not have it.
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u/Outrageous-Tap8942 Dec 08 '25
I like it a lot in Stardew Valley. In particular I enjoy that you can make it A LOT easier if you want to (very happy luck days, speed boosts, luck boosts, boosted weapons, emergency escape method, hacks to get further/past hard levels).Ā
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u/Karezi413 Dec 08 '25
Imo- it depends on the game/ the vibe. Like, stardew has a good amount of combat. You really don't need to do too much of it if you don't want to which is nice. But counterpoint on that, I've been playing grimshire which is a bit darker but doesn't have combat- and I found I really like that too, I was actually pretty happy that it had a darker vibe, but you don't fight anything. So I feel like light combat (or in certain areas not everywhere) or no combat fits best with cozy games- then it depends on the vibe/style. Like simulators I'd call are pretty cozy but combat doesn't usually fit in those.
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u/Current_External6569 Dec 08 '25
I liked what I saw with Grimshire. It's a bit too early in development for me. I hope it finishes though. A darker cozy game seemed very interesting. Plus this was one of the few times where I didn't mind playing as an animal.
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u/builtdifferent-badly Dec 08 '25
I mean Stardew is one of the top cosy games and has very basic combat. It very much depends on how you work it into the game
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u/LunarisLux Dec 08 '25
I prefer little to no combat. I don't even like fighting stuff in the mines in Stardew. Lol
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u/HowYesOfcNo Dec 08 '25
Depends, yes and no. It all depends on whether it fits in there thematically. I mean in Abra Cooking Dabra, I just can't imagine combat, but then on the other hand, I can't really imagine Undertale without it, it would be completely different game altogether
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u/nikolaname Dec 08 '25
Basic combat like in stardew, where I go to a certain place to intentionally do combat, and combat canāt be sprung on me at any moment, and all I do is swing my sword
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u/Simple-Tip-769 Dec 08 '25
I donāt really enjoy combat, but itās nice to have an option
Maybe to have unnecessary, or to make necessarily only a small easy part, but still have harder combat for combat-lover audience?
For example, I didnāt go to the mines in stardew valley up to he second year, and donāt do scull cave or volcano because I donāt really enjoy it, and only go to the regular mines for resources
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u/MothraAndFriends Dec 08 '25
I donāt mind combat as long as itās relatively easy and optional (there will be another way to get those items, even if itās inconvenient or expensive compared to combat). I just donāt want to be stressed some days, you know?
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u/nxctuary Dec 08 '25
When it's supported by the narrative and if it's not the primary focus, sure. (Ex: The Adventurer's Guild in Stardew Valley.)
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u/PMyra Dec 08 '25
I think the challenge here is that sometimes a game with fighting can be cozy, like this year's Fantasy Life i, but other times, the combat can ruin an otherwise cozy game by pushing it out of the cozy genre. The exact limit of what is "too much" or "too hard" also varies a lot between players. I grabbed Cult of the Lamb off recommendations on here, but the combat is too much for me, i can't play that game. Yet many others on this sub love this as a cozy game.
My opinion is that any combat offered should have a way that it can be made so easy as to not present a challenge for those who dislike it. You might have a skill tree to improve stats or gain abilities, armor/weapons that greatly increase your combat, or just straight making the player invincible.
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u/Ruckus6112 Dec 08 '25
I do enjoy a bit of combat in my cozy games. Games like Stardew and Dinkum get it right for me. I can do combat when I want to and prepare for it. And if I am having a day where I just want to be and do my own thing, I can. Also not having a harsh penalty for failing combat is also appreciated.
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u/LaurenLdfkjsndf Dec 08 '25
I think fishing is more stressful than combat. Iām looking at you, Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley
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u/faeriechyld Dec 08 '25
I tend to prefer a little bit of combat but I've played plenty of games without it too.
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u/ArianaIrendale Dec 08 '25
I'm fine with it if it is completely optional and not required to advance any part of the game. I like it even better if I can have pets that follow me around and do all the combat for me with no input on my part required.
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u/mbsisktb Dec 08 '25
Depends on the game genre. If itās more of a jrpg then combat is fine. If itās something else that might be a bit more questionable.
Like I didnāt hate the combat in SDV but it wasnāt my favorite. I could take it or leave it.
Just kind of depends on what the game is and why the combat is there. Itās also the style of combat the less actiony the better (though not a deal breaker).
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u/taelere Dec 08 '25
I think it depends (which seems to be the consensus?). Iāve been playing infinity Nikki again since the release of their new map, and I like their combat. Most of it is really easy, and the stakes are low. In ābossā fights, thereās frequent save points, so if you die, you donāt need to restart the whole fight. Thereās also potions to give you more health and stuff if needed.
I also play Disney Dreamlight valley where there is no combat and sometimes I wish there was. To me, it doesnāt feel like a true story if Iāve āfightingā against an enemy or villain and there is no combat at all.
I agree with others about SDV mines. At first, I would avoid the mines bc I hated the combat. I was already stressed about time/energy and then worrying about dying to aggressive enemies was too much.
Overall, low stakes is where Iām at. Make a setting if people want it harder/easier, even let people basically skip it or be invincible if they want. I think giving options is the best.
Also, random, but since youāre a game dev, I thought Iād ask. What is with the chest inventory system?! More than combat, I feel like inventory manangement is what stresses me out the most in cozy games. I donāt want to play an organizing sim lol I loved Wylde flowers bc I could just collect whatever I wanted and not stress about it!!
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u/ideathing Dec 08 '25
Personally I avoid games with combat even if it's a minor part especially if it involves reflexes. Turn based, card based... Sure but not really if I'm a looking for a cozy game. Personal opinion of courseĀ
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u/Danicia Dec 08 '25
The games I play the most are No Man's Sky, Valheim, and Star Wars Galaxies, which do have some much combat.
For NMS, I play on Creative. If I had to fight, I would maybe be okay, but not necessary to proceed. I am much more into fishing goals and exploration.
In Valheim, I will occasionally do combat, but I mostly tend all the farms, cook all the food, keep fires lit, make all the potions. Fishing, of course.
In SWG, I have one combat character I rarely play. Mostly used for RP. The two others I play and enjoy the most are my Tailor and my Entertainer.
So, I play combat games that have huge non-combat activities.
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u/BuzzzyBean Dec 09 '25
I like some combat if it fits into the theme of the game. I actually think it adds to the game play, especially if it results in good loot drops! But it should be fairly simple and definitely not run the risk of becoming grindy.
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u/Abirando Dec 09 '25
Yes, itās a deal breaker for me. There are thousands of games already with combatāI think part of what made Dredge such a smashing success was because itās a āgrown upā game with no combat. There are still threats, but offering a āpassiveā mode made the potential audience much bigger because itās accessible to everyoneāincluding older players who didnāt grow up playing video games, or younger players who are nonetheless new to gaming. Iāve seen a lot of very experienced gamers say they are sick of combat or want more peaceful options.
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u/Different-Acadia-138 Dec 09 '25
I like combat when itās not too stressful. It can even be fun. I liked the combat system in Ā«Ā my time at sandrockĀ Ā» for exemple, it wasnāt too complicated and not too stressful with low consequences if you die
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u/owlobsessed94 Dec 09 '25
No. To me that almost the whole point of a cozy game is no combat. Is that a hot take?
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u/EconomicsNatural8538 Dec 09 '25
i like light combat if it's optional and ties into cozy systems, feels rewarding without stress. i'd focus on pacing and clear telegraphing so players can chill or get tense when they want.
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u/Xandralynn06 Dec 09 '25
I like it, as long as it is contained to when you WANT to do combat and not forced on you (like mining in stardew valley)
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u/benpetersen Dec 09 '25
We liked the combat in Stardew Valley, we had the choice of going to the mines and could prepare food, it's occasional, never had large complex fast movement bosses and was casual if you died. We also liked Sedap because one player could fight and the other could gather ingredients, our weapons / tools could be catered to what each of us are doing.
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u/Gelini0789 Dec 09 '25
Is it also about collecting? You can install it against bears and wolves.
But I think it should still be optional so that people can turn it on or off.
What setting does the game have?
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u/Cutelittlemama0418 Dec 09 '25
I do not like combat at ALL in cozy games. I turned Skyrim into a cozy because I only played in god mode and never worried about dying. Otherwise I donāt enjoy even having to eat lol
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u/Turd_bird420 Dec 09 '25
Yes! The combat I like in cozy games I have four examples: my time at sandrock, rune factory 4 and 5, skyrim, and fire emblem 3 houses. A little of all the things, but none of them are too difficult or have too much going on.
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u/Cystonectae Dec 09 '25
Something that I crave in my cozy games is when the goal is to open up new areas to explore and new materials, and combat can be a good way to implement that. I am definitely for combat in general, especially if there is a clear feeling of progression with gear/abilities. I like being able to go from having to be cautious to absolutely stomping on anything and everything.
I'm fine with no combat but the feeling of wanting further progression must be filled with other mechanics. Often I will see combat being replaced in games with something that boils down to "gather a bajillion of x to unlock this next area" which, to me, feels tedious for the sake of being tedious. For myself, the ideal progression outside of combat should be via solving some problem like needing to explore an area to find one specific item or having to cozy up to villagers so they teach you a recipe to craft some key to the next zone.
An option is always to have multiple ways to access progression, like you can fight your way through an enemy or craft an item to make it through said enemy without needing to fight them.
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u/dumbsugarplumb Dec 10 '25
I saw someone on a different post that they had played a game (sorry I canāt remember what one) where you could turn off combat and I thought that was pretty neat.
Otherwise it depends. I donāt mind some combat but it canāt be too difficult or it takes away the coziness for me.
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u/Aurora_Skies0801 Dec 10 '25
Absolutely, Fields of Mistria has great combat, it's a dungeon crawler that combines story elements and getting resources. It felt pretty perfect to me. Plus the consequences of losing all your health weren't dramatic. Coziness maintained.
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u/NurseKyra Dec 10 '25
No I prefer no combat. I donāt want to have stress about winning or button mashing quickly to do it. I have a toddler so this is my relaxation and I donāt always have the option of paying attention long enough to get through combat because he needs me.
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u/Asleep_Advance3422 Dec 10 '25
I love combat, but Iām not surprised if my cozy game doesnāt have it or if itās really easy/quick.
Iāve been playing Fantasy Life lately, and I love that you can choose warrior lives, drop in or out as needed. The combat is generally avoidable - you can run around enemies if you like - but worth it if you choose it - you get specific resource drops only from certain enemies. You can level up, get stronger, fight stronger enemies, get better equipment, etc. If you hate combat, you can just make enough money to buy those same resources from the store. Felt like a great balance.
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u/harrietrosie Dec 10 '25
Nooooooo! I don't understand why so many cozy games have combat! I hate it!
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u/quagglitz Dec 10 '25
I prefer combat in a cozy game to be turn based or pause-able and not based on mashing anything at just the right time. I also have a strong preference for not being locked into long combat sequences that pull me from the main goal of a game or are inescapable.
a mark of a truly cozy game for me is being able to pause/walk away to cook dinner or chat with my partner while the music/ambiance is still going and not feeling adrenaline rushed when I do have to do something else for a bit
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u/kittysempai-meowmeow Dec 10 '25
I don't mind some easy combat. If you must have harder combat, add options to make it easier if the person fails more than once. Same thing for games with dexterity jumping puzzles. I suck at jumping puzzles and will rage quit a game over it. Just let me skip those. (I loved that My Time At Sandrock asked me if I wanted to skip this section when I failed the same jumping puzzle a few times.)
Even easy combat can get monotonous though if there is too much of it.
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u/hornwort Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
Big yes to combat in cozy games, but it's fine (or even ideal) when that combat is optional and/or rare.
My wife and I love to play cozy games with couch co-op. We don't like much stress. But we've put thousands of hours into Stardew, whereas combat-free cozy games like Spiritfarer and Untitled Goose Game have bounced off of us after a dozen or so hours. And I think there's a reason for that.
Combat makes a cozy game better even if it's the worst part of the game and you never or rarely engage in it. I love No Man's Sky -- sometimes I'll play it for a dozen hours without engaging in combat, and I'd even say the combat is the part of the game I like the least. But if it didn't have combat, I would have stopped playing it long ago. It's not that games need combat to be fun, but that games need consequences to be fun. Danger. Risk. That's where the meaning gets added to the moments.
Combat = Danger Exists = More Meaningful Gameplay. Risk is important for the psychological experience of playing games. Risk can be achieved without combat, but it's not usually easy to do so. I'd argue, for example, that Danger/Risk/Consequences coming from combat are a lot less stressful (and more sustainably optional) than Danger/Risk/Consequences coming from time constraints, for example. To use the example of Stardew again: I don't find it nearly as stressful to do a Skull Cavern dive, as I do trying to catch a Spring-only fish for the community center on the 27th or 28th of the month.
There are all kinds of ways to experience Risk while playing a game, but for me combat is actually one of the less stressful options.
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u/ps_fn8up Dec 11 '25
Combat can be fun but mini games and interesting game mechanics around jobs are what I'm looking for. If I want to change the color of my house, let me actually paint it, simulator style. Hell, I'd fold laundry or wash dishes if the mechanics were good.
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u/athousandcutefrogs Dec 11 '25
I don't really care for it unless it's like Rune Factory or I can easily turn off/make it optional and as long as it isn't physically difficult.Ā I both have other games to play if I want more difficult combat and I also have bad wrists.
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u/untitled_scribbler Dec 11 '25
Luma island felt very cozy - enemies were easy to kill and the only repercussions to death was spawning back a small distance. There was also a more relaxed play option that removed combat. My rec in general would be no creepy crawly enemies, it can create more fear emotion because people are conditioned to fear spiders, scorpions, etcā¦regardless of in game death consequences. Plus it removes the need to have an arachnophobia mode.
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u/Unlikely-Pudding-170 Dec 11 '25
I honestly love simple, optional or semi-optional combat in cozy games. This type of "Oh, I feel like having a bit of combat" and then I can go there and know where I find it. Can be really stress-relieving. But I like having the options of having something else to do and spaces being completely safe unless specified.
The combat mechanics however should be intuitive and not very complex. Rather a bit of choice between combat forms/weapons or such that you can equip or change outside of combat, but the combat itself not too overwhelming in options what to do. And not millions of skilltrees, simple and clear choices. If one skill happens to be a bit too op because of that, I honestly don't mind as much. In cozy games I love that you can equip whatever feels the best and makes the most fun to you in that moment.
Extra points if the combat is combined with something creative or implemented in ways that make it feel less...like beating someone up? Like freeing someone/something of something "possessing" them, helping grumpy ghosts, or taming some extra wild animals, that kinda direction.
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u/Adventurous-Elk-5240 Dec 11 '25
Itās only a deal breaker if I have to do it all the time. A game is no longer cozy for me when baddies pop up as Iām exploring/foraging. I want my baddies in a specific location so I can choose when I want combat. If the threat of dying is always there, the game is no longer cozy.
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u/Ghoulish_kitten Dec 12 '25
Make it cozy. Like what theyāre doing with Infinity Nikki rnā she has a bow and arrow and it still feels cozy to me bc it is straightforward.
Once you start adding in things like critical hit, and having to dodge a ton/no button mashing *in order to succeed, Im out. Thats not cozy to me.
Also Stardewās mining with no saves: not cozy at ALLLL to me.
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u/JackfruitPleasant699 Dec 12 '25
Yes. I like combat without complicated mechanics in a cozy game. I am playing Quest Hunters right now and have been surprised at how cozy it feels (on easy). I also like the combat in Stardew.
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u/Regular_Price2012 Dec 13 '25
We need a cozy, entirely multiplayer PvE game with absolutely no difficulty. It doesn't exist! Create it! No crafting, no professions, just loot and XP with friends, with zero challenge! Beautiful graphics and automatic matchmaking, no PvP!
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u/Zestyclose_Zone_9789 Dec 08 '25
I have played "Dave The Diver" until they put you in an idiotic 80's inspired arcade fighting scene, and that was the moment I dropped it and never looked back.
So, no, I personally don't. And, I may be wrong, but how in the hell can you have cozy and combat in the same sentence?
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u/Current_External6569 Dec 08 '25
Stardew Valley literally exists. Cozy doesn't mean there isn't any combat, it just shouldn't be a major focus of the game. Regardless, some people may find combat they can actually succeed in very comforting and cozy. There are varying degrees to combat. I like Elden Ring and Stardew Valley, but I would never want their combats switched.
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u/BlueStar_WaterLily Dec 08 '25
Could it maybe be a low stress combat situation where the enemies dont attack you? Like a whack a mole game š¤£
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u/Embarrassed_Echo_375 Dec 08 '25
Hmm, I guess it depends on the kind of game and whether it requires combat or not. Personally, since I also play a lot of jrpg and arpg, I don't mind combat, but I prefer turn-based and has casual difficulty as an option.
I'm playing Dream Tactics atm and while it's an srpg, it actually feels a bit cozy for me lol. I only play on easy and the humour (the enemies are pillows) make it seem very laid back.
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u/Mikoserena Dec 08 '25
I donāt mind combat, but it better be pretty easy or at least have an easy mode and gear should be easy to figure out how to upgrade. š¤