--- title: "Posts about game design | A Short Sail" description: "Every A Short Sail blog post tagged \"game design\". News and notes about the cozy sailing game." url: https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/ image: https://ashortsail.com/og/22-arrive-pebble.jpg --- # Posts about game design 17 posts. [See all posts](https://ashortsail.com/blog/). - 16 Dec 2026 ## [Why cozy characters never get tired](https://ashortsail.com/blog/why-cozy-characters-never-get-tired/) Why do cozy game characters never get tired? One study explains how cozy games hide effort, and what happens when a game asks more of you than it looks. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - 14 Dec 2026 ## [Why we unwind by working in cozy job games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/why-we-unwind-by-working/) Why do tired people relax by farming, cleaning or running a cafe in a game? What research says about cozy job games, routine and the pull to be productive. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - 13 Dec 2026 ## [Why your favourite game feels like home](https://ashortsail.com/blog/why-games-feel-like-home/) Why a game you love can feel like home, even a dark one. What research on cozy games says about familiar places, inns, camps and knowing your way around. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - 12 Dec 2026 ## [Is cozy a genre or a feeling? What research says](https://ashortsail.com/blog/is-cozy-a-genre-or-a-feeling/) Is cozy a genre or a feeling? Four views from game designers and game scholars, compared in one table, with a plain answer and a free link to every paper. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - 11 Dec 2026 ## [Cozy games research: what 8 studies and reports say](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-research/) Cozy games research in plain words: what 8 studies and reports say about safety, routine, chores and wellbeing, where they disagree, and a free link to each. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - 31 Oct 2026 · Updated 9 Nov 2026 ## [How to design a cozy game: lessons from Kitfox Games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/how-to-design-a-cozy-game/) How do you make a game feel cozy? Safety, abundance and softness, cozy mechanics, cozy online play and a cozy studio, from the Kitfox Games design notes. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - 29 Oct 2026 ## [Cozy game rating checklist: 25 questions, one score](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-game-rating-checklist/) A cozy game rating checklist built from designer and psychologist research: 25 yes or no questions, five ingredients, and a score for any game. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - 24 Oct 2026 · Updated 31 Oct 2026 ## [Why we love grumpy neighbors in cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/grumpy-neighbors-cozy-games/) Why do cozy games need a grump? What the Project Horseshoe designers say about cozy characters, with George, Shane, Spiritfarer, Cozy Grove, and more. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - 23 Oct 2026 · Updated 31 Oct 2026 ## [Six cozy stories that feel like home](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-game-stories/) The six story types behind cozy games, from Homecoming to After Hours, with one game for each: Alba, Night in the Woods, Venba, Stardew Valley and more. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 22 Oct 2026 · Updated 9 Nov 2026 ## [Cozy places in games: cafés, cabins and boats](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-places-in-games/) Why some places in games feel so cozy: cafés, cabins, boats and small rooms. What designers say, and six games with a place you will want to stay. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 21 Oct 2026 · Updated 31 Oct 2026 ## [Relaxing game soundtracks: why cozy games sound cozy](https://ashortsail.com/blog/the-sound-of-a-cozy-game/) Why some games sound so calm: soft, steady, real sounds and gentle music. What designers say, plus six games with relaxing soundtracks. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 20 Oct 2026 · Updated 9 Nov 2026 ## [Are cozy games good for you? What experts say](https://ashortsail.com/blog/are-cozy-games-good-for-you/) Can cozy games help you relax? What psychologist Rachel Kowert and the Project Horseshoe designers say, what they do not say, and five gentle games to try. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - 19 Oct 2026 · Updated 9 Nov 2026 ## [Dark cozy games: six picks that mix comfort and dread](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-but-dark-games/) Six cozy but dark games, from Dredge to Spiritfarer and Outer Wilds, with what is cozy and what is dark in each, and how the mix works. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 18 Oct 2026 · Updated 31 Oct 2026 ## [Small open world games: 6 picks and what they get right](https://ashortsail.com/blog/small-open-world-games/) The best small open world games, from A Short Hike to Outer Wilds and Tchia, and the six things they get right: movement, edges, density, landmarks and home. - [open world games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/open-world-games/) - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 17 Oct 2026 · Updated 9 Nov 2026 ## [What breaks a cozy game? 10 things that spoil the mood](https://ashortsail.com/blog/what-breaks-a-cozy-game/) A cozy game feels safe, full and soft. Ten things that spoil it, from timers and nagging to needy pets, and how good cozy games keep the mood. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 2 Sept 2026 · Updated 29 Oct 2026 ## [Cozy games on Steam by the numbers (2026)](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-games-on-steam-by-the-numbers/) How many cozy games are on Steam? 2,847 released games carry the Cozy tag, 1,452 of them from 2026. Our counts, how we got them, and the date. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - 31 Aug 2026 · Updated 9 Nov 2026 ## [Cozy game glossary: 43 terms explained](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-game-glossary/) What does wholesome game mean? What is a life sim, a soft fail or cozy horror? 43 cozy game terms in plain words, each with one example game. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [game design](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) ## A Short Sail The cozy sailing game with a cat. Coming soon to Steam and [itch.io](https://yosriady.itch.io/a-short-sail) [Play the free demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) [Get updates](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-design/#newsletter)