The best cozy games where you play an instrument yourself are Tchia (a ukulele you play note by note), Sky: Children of the Light (a harp, piano, guitar and more), WEBFISHING (a guitar that works like a real one) and Wandersong (you sing to solve problems). If you want a rhythm game instead, try Melatonin. We checked every game on October 29, 2026.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tchia | Players who want a sunny island to roam, with a ukulele always in hand | About 7.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X |
| Sky: Children of the Light | Players who want to make music with other people, with no words needed | About 5 hours for the main story, then open-ended (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, iOS, Android |
| WEBFISHING | Players who want a silly, social hangout with real music | Open-ended | PC |
| Wandersong | Players who want a kind adventure where music is the whole point | About 9.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Sea of Thieves | Groups of friends who want to sail and sing, and do not mind a fight | Open-ended | PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X |
| A Short Sail | Players who want to find instruments and tunes on a cozy sea | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
| Melatonin | Players who like music games but not stress | About 2 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch, PS5 |
| Night in the Woods | Players who want a story about friends, a small town and a band | About 9 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
What counts here
This list is for games where you play the instrument. You press the keys, pick the notes or strum the strings, and the sound comes from you. A rhythm section inside a bigger game is fine. Pure rhythm games are a different thing, so we put two of them in their own short part at the end.
We left out games where a character plays music on their own while you watch, such as a life sim where your character practices the guitar to raise a skill. That can be fun, but it is not what most people mean when they search for this.
Our picks
- Best first pick: Tchia
- Best for playing with strangers: Sky: Children of the Light
- Best real guitar: WEBFISHING
- Best story about music: Wandersong
- Best calm rhythm game: Melatonin
- Our own game: A Short Sail (in development)
Play an instrument yourself
Tchia
Who it is for: players who want a sunny island to roam, with a ukulele always in hand.
You climb, glide, swim and sail around an archipelago inspired by New Caledonia. Tchia carries a ukulele. You can play it freely, note by note, and some songs you learn have effects in the world, such as changing the time of day. Big story moments become rhythm sections, where you play along to a song.
It is larger than most cozy games and has some light combat against cloth soldiers. More island picks are in our cozy island games.
Developer: Awaceb | Year: 2023 (on Steam in 2024) | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 7.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Sky: Children of the Light
Who it is for: players who want to make music with other people, with no words needed.
You fly through soft, glowing lands and meet other players along the way. You can hold hands, light candles together and play music. Sky has many instruments, among them a harp, a piano, a guitar and a flute, and you play them note by note on a small grid. Many players sit together and perform for whoever passes by.
It is free to play, with in-app purchases for cosmetics and passes, and it is always online. It also has a lot of daily routine, so it can feel like a chore if you play every day.
Developer: thatgamecompany | Year: 2019 (on Steam in 2024) | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, iOS, Android | Length: about 5 hours for the main story, then open-ended (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
WEBFISHING
Who it is for: players who want a silly, social hangout with real music.
You are a little animal at a fishing camp. You fish, chat and hang out with other players. The guitar from the General Store works like a real one, with strings and frets, so real chord shapes carry over. There is also a tambourine. Players share songs and play together by the water.
It is an online game with public lobbies, so the mood depends on who is there. It is small and cheap, and the fishing is simple. More in games like WEBFISHING.
Developer: lamedeveloper | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Wandersong
Who it is for: players who want a kind adventure where music is the whole point.
You are a cheerful bard who tries to save the world by singing. You sing with a song wheel: each direction is a note. Your songs move things in the world and help the people you meet. It is funny and warm, and you never fight.
It is mostly a side-scrolling platformer with some puzzles, so it asks for a little skill. The story also takes some sad turns.
Developer: Wishes Ultd., Greg Lobanov | Year: 2018 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 9.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Sea of Thieves
Who it is for: groups of friends who want to sail and sing, and do not mind a fight.
You crew a pirate ship with friends. Each pirate can pull out an instrument, such as a hurdy-gurdy, a concertina or a banjo, and play a shanty. When others play the same song, they join in and play together. You pick a song from a list rather than play notes yourself.
It is not cozy by default: other crews can attack you, and there are skeletons and sea monsters. The Safer Seas mode lets you sail with no other crews, with some limits on progress. More in cozy games like Sea of Thieves.
Developer: Rare | Year: 2018 (on Steam in 2020) | Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
A Short Sail
Who it is for: players who want to find instruments and tunes on a cozy sea.
A Short Sail is a cozy sailing game where you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat. You deliver mail, fish and make friends across the islands. You can find instruments and tunes and play music, and islanders may join in as a little band.
There are no timers, and there is no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves. You can play alone or online with friends. The full game is coming to Steam and itch.io in Q1 2027, and you can play the free demo at play.ashortsail.com in your browser.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
A rhythm section instead
Melatonin
Who it is for: players who like music games but not stress.
Each level is a dream about a small part of daily life, such as food, shopping or work. You tap to the beat, with clear visual cues to help you. You can practice a level before you play it for a score.
It is a pure rhythm game, so you follow the music rather than make your own. It is also short.
Developer: Half Asleep | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch, PS5 | Length: about 2 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Night in the Woods
Who it is for: players who want a story about friends, a small town and a band.
Mae comes home to her small town after leaving college. She hangs out with old friends, and one of the things they do is band practice. Mae plays the bass in a short rhythm section.
It is warm and funny, but it is also about mental health and a town in decline, and it gets dark. See cozy but dark games for more like it.
Developer: Infinite Fall | Year: 2017 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 9 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
How we checked
We checked each game’s Steam page for the developer, platforms and Steam Deck status, and HowLongToBeat for the length, on 29 October 2026. For the instruments, we read guides and the game wikis. If music is the main reason you buy a game, watch a short clip of the instrument first, because “play an instrument” can mean very different things. Music matters in cozy games beyond instruments too: see the sound of a cozy game.
Our own game
We make A Short Sail.
Related guides
- The sound of a cozy game: why music and sound make a game feel safe.
- Cozy multiplayer games: more games to play with friends.
- Games like WEBFISHING: small, social hangout games.
- Cozy games with festivals: games with events, markets and music nights.
- Cozy island games: sunny islands to explore.
- Relaxing games to play before bed: quiet picks for the evening.
Questions
What games let you play instruments freely?
Tchia, Sky: Children of the Light and WEBFISHING all let you play notes freely, not only follow a song. Tchia has a ukulele, Sky has many instruments such as a harp, piano and guitar, and WEBFISHING has a guitar with real frets and strings.
Can you play the guitar in WEBFISHING?
Yes. You buy a guitar at the General Store. It works like a real guitar, so real chord shapes carry over. There is also a tambourine.
Can you play the ukulele in Tchia?
Yes. Tchia carries a ukulele. You can play it freely, and some songs you learn have effects in the world, such as changing the time of day. Story songs play as rhythm sections.
What is a good cozy music game?
Wandersong is a gentle adventure where you sing to help people. Melatonin is a calm rhythm game about dreams. Sky: Children of the Light is a social game where strangers play music together.
Can you play instruments in Sea of Thieves?
Yes. You can play shanties on instruments such as a hurdy-gurdy, a concertina and a banjo, and other players can join in. You pick a song rather than play notes, and other crews can attack you unless you choose Safer Seas.
