Animal Crossing: New Horizons
It’s no surprise that the newest Animal Crossing lands on this list of cute games. The Animal Crossing series is known for being casual, chill, relaxing, and just plain cozy. Who needs a linear plot when you can decorate your house or sit on a bench for hours?
In this game, your goal is to spruce up and take care of your very own desert island. You can also get to know your cute animal neighbors, go fishing, plant trees, pick flowers, and enjoy an easy rural life.
There’s very little conflict in the game, if any, so when March 20 rolls around you can sit back, relax, and chill out with all your animal friends on the Switch. In the meantime, check out one of its new trailers.
Kerbal Space Program 2
Kerbal Space Program 2 isn’t particularly wholesome but you have to admit that your tiny astronauts make it a pretty cute game. Let’s just ignore the fact that they can die in the depths of space in a fantastical blaze of glory.
According to its developers, the newest Kerbal Space Program boasts revamped gameplay aspects, better UI, and plenty of new features that build upon the original game that we know and love.
So, our cute little buddies will be able to go on a number of new adventures in whichever way you choose. Their success or failure will also be determined by your hand. So, no pressure.
This space simulator has no set release date but it’s expected to come out in 2020 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Fans of the series already know that Ori is downright cute. It makes everything bad that happens to them feel so much worse.
Due to its difficulty and charm, the first game was absolutely gorgeous and a joy to play and, from what we’ve seen of its sequel, it will be just as awesome and just as metroidvania-y.
Ori gets dragged into yet another adventure and it will be up to the player to see them survive in a brand new world that looks just as wild as the last.
And we won’t need to wait long because Ori and the Will of the Wisps will be out on March 11 for PC, Steam, and Xbox One.
Dreams
Made by the developers of Little Big Planet, Dreams is essentially a game that you can do pretty much anything in. You can build your own levels, whether those are platformers, puzzles, racing games, or even artsy demos. You can also place whatever elements you want within them to create some pretty amazing stuff.
Trailers and screenshots have shown that there are very few limitations for your creations and they can range from being made of cute, adorable graphics to something you would expect from a nightmare.
You can also play through and explore other people’s levels and designs to see what they managed to create with the same tools. So, the game turns into a sort of game dev community hub.
Dreams has been in early access for a little while but Media Molecule’s latest darling will be out on Feb. 14 for the PS4.
Tamarin
Tamarins are squirrel-sized monkeys and, as the title suggests, you take control of one. This particularly cute little tamarin is trying to make its way through the wilds in hopes of saving its family from a crazy insect invasion.
Not only is the setting beautiful and a sight to behold, but the little tamarin we take control of is so cute and adorable it hurts. It also makes tiny squeaking sounds that will just make your heart squeeze.
Tamarin looks like a game that will have you appreciating the beauty of nature and the cuteness of tamarins with angry insects bent on your destruction in the background.
Tamarin is set to release in early 2020 for PC and PS4 with an Xbox One version in development.
Ooblets
Ooblets is going to be a little hard to explain. It’s a cute game. That much is certain. The game’s developers, Glumberland, describe it as a mix between Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, and a little bit of Pokemon, so take that as you will.
You’ll be able to do quite a number of things in this game, ranging from taking care of your own farm, exploring your town and the local biomes, capturing and training little Ooblets, and battling other Ooblet trainers. So, it really is a hybrid kind of game.
The titular Ooblets are Pokemon-esque creatures that look like they can both kick you in the shin really hard and give you a very squishy hug. So far, there are just around 35 of these little buddies to find.
This cute game’s release date has been pushed back a few times but it should be out sometime in 2020 for PC and Xbox One.
Mineko’s Night Market
The website for Mineko’s Night Market describes it as a “game about crafting crafts, eating eats, and catting cats” so you already know it’s going to be good. And when they mention cats, they mean that there are going to be cats all over the place, including a mythical elusive one known as Abe.
The game takes place in a cozy, Japanese inspired town full of plenty of things to do like mining, farming, chopping trees, exploring caves, setting up your own little shop, and racing on cats.
Add in the game’s warm, colorful, and cartoon-y graphics and you’ll get a quirky little gem that will help you de-stress, relax, and chill out to cats filling your screen.
After not releasing in 2019, Mineko’s Night Market is expected to be out later in 2020 for PC, Switch, and Mac.
Spiritfarer
A more or less cute game, Spiritfarer is a wholesome take on death and dying. And no, you didn’t read that wrong. In this game, you are the ferrymaster to the dead and your task is to send spirits to a peaceful afterlife.
Within that concept and theme, you have the ability to craft, farm, cook, and harvest materials to upgrade your ferry as you explore the world. You’ll be able to encounter a number of different spirits that you can take care of and interact with until you inevitably send them into the afterlife.
Above all, its developers boast that it will be a cozy, relaxing, and calming game where you’ll be able to experience stories that will have you seeing death in a different light.
If this has piqued your interest, you can snatch up Spiritfarer soon in 2020 on Steam and Xbox One.
Temtem
Temtem is essentially a Pokemon MMO without using the name Pokemon. The titular Temtems are creatures you can capture, train, and find out in the environment that you can use to battle other players you encounter.
In true MMO fashion, you can either team up with other Temtem tamers for a nice cooperative experience out in the open world or fight against them to level up your team.
Honestly, fans of Pokemon should check this game out, especially if you’re also either into MMO’s or if you’ve ever just wanted to see a Pokemon game as one.
Temtem has been in beta recently but it is set to release on Jan. 21 for Steam and the Humble Store.
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
The beloved Pokemon spin-off series returns with improved graphics, more adventures, and even cuter Pokemon. If you’ve never experienced the Mystery Dungeon series, just know that you’ve essentially been magically turned into a Pokemon.
To cope with this, you make friends with other Pokemon and, concurrently, you all go dungeon crawling as a team.
Since this is Pokemon we’re talking about, you can change up and tailor your team to the specific dungeons that you’ll be exploring. One little addition is that Rescue Team DX uses a grid-based, turned-based combat system.
The game’s graphics also take on a more artsy and watercolor inspired touch than the main Pokemon series, making everything feel more cozy and warm for you to enjoy.
Luckily, we don’t need to wait long for this cute game’s release because Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX will be out on March 6 for the Switch.
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