Review: Cozy Grove
If you've been looking for a fun, relaxing life-sim style game, then Cozy Grove is the game for you. I splurged, as I do almost every year, during Steam's Winter Sale, grabbing a few odd, yet fun games to try. This year, Cozy Grove was one of them. After sitting on my wish list since the game released in April of 2021, I decided it was time to give it a try. There are many things I love about this game, but the things that keep me coming back are the ease of play, the characters and branching storyline, and the beautifully done artwork.
Much like Animal Crossings, it's set in real time and ideal for roughly 1-2 hours of play per day. In this way, the game is peaceful. You aren't caught up for hours, or even days, in a never-ending quest than leads from one thing to the next until you're completely burnt out. Most quests last roughly 15 to 45 minutes, allowing for instant gratification, while others need to brew a bit and are active over a few days. You're rewarded for exploring the island to find new treasures and adventures in many ways, from merit style badges to Captain Billweather Snout's Book of Secrets.
I personally love to loot everything when gaming, so this collection style gameplay appeals highly to me. Add in camping, crafting, and upgrading and you've hooked me for life. Plus, Cozy Grove's menagerie of creatures on the island are all friendly, so I don't have to fight anything or anyone to get what I want. This simplicity helps me relax at the end of a long day. Whereas if I'm playing Borderlands, I'm certainly looting everything, but I'm also fighting my way through scores of characters and challenges to get there. It's still super fun, but it puts me in a much more active mindset. It's a different playstyle, is all, and it depends on my mood as to which of the two I'd choose to play at any given time.
Cozy Grove's characters are lovable, whether they be a spirit bear, animal, or imp, and its story is unique. All of the spirits you can befriend on the island are found one by one, each with their own storyline, setting up a campaign that could easily give you weeks of game time. Your focus as a Spirit Scout is helping said spirits remember their lives by fulfilling quests that will eventually allow them to find peace. You're basically an adorable ghost psychiatrist who helps them relive their sometimes not so great memories, in turn giving you a history lesson about the island and why it's so haunted.
On top of the seventeen spirit bears you befriend, you'll also meet merchant and seasonal bears who bring interesting and sometimes necessary wares to the island. This is also very similar to Animal Crossings' set-up. Again, both games sync to real-time. So, each bear has their specialty, their specific days and times to be on the island, and for some, the festivals that come with them. You'll also notices several imps as you wander the island, which are odd little critters that tend to disappear as quickly as you spotted them. Although small, they are important to the island as a whole, from being a part of quests to feeding them and mending their broken imp hearts. Plus, during the winter festival, snow ball fights with the imps are plentiful, much like my real life in the Northwest. Some reality built into video games is healthy. Just a pinch of a reminder, you know?
The pets of Cozy Grove could be a whole other post. Think Pokémon, kind of. Or maybe there's more of a Neopets vibe going on since they respond to décor and evolve or mature due to being fed. Either way, it's a fun addition to the Cozy Grove universe, and I want to collect them all. I also want them to all be friends, but I guess that's not happening thanks to the cats. Typical.
As an artist myself, I must say the art and design throughout the game is absolutely wonderful. The beautifully drawn, dynamic landscape literally comes to life before your eyes as you complete pieces of the storyline. Even when colors are muted before lighting up certain areas, the game's style is simply exquisite. Each character has their own unique look to match their personality and quests, making them all very unique individuals. I found myself excited to unearth each new spirit bear, since I never knew what the designers had in store for me. You can also decorate the island and your tent, as well as change your clothing to mold the universe as you see fit. Cozy Grove's crafting feature opens up a whole slew of options in that respect, thanks to maker-bear extraordinaire, Jeremy Gruffle. Crafting and Cooking recipes can be found around the island, the developers once again showing off their well-known influences.
All told, it's one of those games you just have to play to see what I mean. It's simple, it's fun, and it's a great way to spend a couple of hours of your day away from all of the overwhelming things life sometimes presents. It's even better than Animal Crossings in my opinion, mostly because the inhabitants of my thriving little island tend of guilt trip me each time I'm away for too long. If you're anything like me, who tends to get distracted easily, you know what I mean. I don't need too much reality in my video games, okay? I'm sorry I was away for exactly 294 days and that you want to move to another island now. Life happens. My spirit bear friends don't judge me!
Anyway… If I haven't convinced you to give Cozy Grove a try by now, this game is probably not the one for you. But, if you're at least intrigued by the notion, it's worth every penny.
This review is also posted to Cozy Grove’s public Steam account because I am, in fact, a huge nerd. But I’m excited to share my nerdiness with you, dear reader. You obviously made it this far, so enjoy and may your groves remain cozy.