Speculative App
Cozy Games Case Study
2024
Background Context
The term “Cozy games” describe video games focused on relaxation, non-violence, and a comforting atmosphere. They often include activities like farming, crafting, and socializing, allowing players to go at their own pace without high-stress challenges. The genre has grown popular as a digital escape from the pressures of daily life or intense games, but its definition is a somewhat personal one. As PC Gamer notes, cozy gaming is more of a "vibe" than an official genre—what feels cozy varies from player to player.
Common themes like community, creativity, and exploration let players connect with NPCs or others, customize spaces, and enjoy gentle storylines. This flexibility allows each player to shape their own cozy gaming experience, making it a uniquely personal escape.
the search term “cozy game“ has grown significantly over the past couple years
1. Introduction
Cozy Games is a speculative concept app that lets users search and rate video games, curate lists, and follow friends or influencers they trust within the cozy gaming community.
2. Problem Definition
The success of cozy games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing: New Horizons has led to a surge in interest and demand, which has expanded the cozy gaming market. This growth has attracted both independent developers and larger studios eager to capitalize on the trend. However, this influx has resulted in an increase in lower-quality, "cash grab" titles that lack the depth and charm characteristic of genre-defining games. As cozy games continue to gain popularity and shape gaming industry trends, it has become challenging for players to find high-quality titles that truly align with the cozy gaming experience.
Currently, cozy game enthusiasts rely on scattered resources—such as forums, social media, and streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube—for recommendations. This fragmentation makes it difficult to navigate the crowded market and identify games that offer a genuinely relaxing and enriching experience without the risk of encountering low-effort imitations
Solution
My app centralizes cozy gaming recommendations, allowing users to catalog, rate, and share games in one relaxing platform. Inspired by cozy gaming aesthetics, it emphasizes warm colors, whimsical graphics, and minimalist, distraction-free interfaces.
Customization options let users personalize their space, fostering a sense of emotional connection. By incorporating these principles, the app provides cozy gaming fans with a familiar, safe space that reflects the cozy gaming experience.
Target Audience
This app is for cozy gamers who enjoy discovering new games, curating lists, and connecting with like-minded players.
3. Research Process
User Research: I conducted surveys, interviews, and usability testing with cozy gamers to understand their needs in game discovery and social interaction.
Competitive Analysis: I reviewed platforms like Goodreads, Steam, and Metacritic to identify gaps.
4. Design Process
Wireframes: Initial low-fidelity wireframes mapped out key pages like the home feed, game search, profile, and review sections. Feedback-driven iterations improved user flow.
Initial hand drawn iterations of the homepage
Initial hand drawn iterations of the “my lists“ page
Early wireframes from left to right: Home Screen, Game Profile, Game Suggestion Page, Inside a List
Prototyping:
I created an interactive prototype in Figma, refining navigation to enhance user experience and ease of access.
UI Design: Through multiple iterations, I settled on a soft, muted color scheme and minimal typography to maintain a calm, accessible interface that aligns with the relaxed feel of many popular games in this genre. Rounded shapes and simple typography contribute to the app’s inviting look, while the main background uses a gentle cream tone with a subtle paper-like texture instead of a stark white to reduce eye strain. The color and design elements also support homepage customization, ensuring the palette pairs well with any images users add.
color styles and components created for the app
5. User Experience (UX) Approach
Adding games to lists is straightforward, with smooth transitions that enhance a gentle, intuitive experience.
Usability Feedback: (Insert quotes or early feedback from user testers regarding the simplicity or flow of the design)
I intentionally excluded a “feed” section to set this app apart from typical social media. The goal is to create a space that feels more personal and immersive—similar to the sense of disconnect many gamers enjoy when engaging with their favorite games in this genre.
6. Challenges & Solutions
Customization: Introducing a customizable photo banner initially led to visual accessibility issues. Certain images made the text hard to read, so I added a dark-to-transparent gradient overlay on the images, ensuring text visibility regardless of the user’s chosen background.
Close up of customized homepage with subltle gradient behind white filler text
QR Scanning: Usability testing showed that many cozy gamers don’t have friends who they spend physical time with who also game - or if they do it’s a small number. This insight led me to replace a QR code feature with a simpler profile-sharing method. (which, in turn, hypothetically fosters digital sharing and helps the app gain traction online.)
7. Outcomes
Key Insights: This project emphasized the balance between aesthetics and functionality, especially for a niche audience like cozy gamers.
Hypothetical Results: If implemented, the app could foster a strong, community-driven space for cozy gamers, with high retention due to its calming, curated design.
8. Conclusion
Summary: The Cozy Gaming App offers a calm, central place for cozy gamers to catalog, rate, and share game experiences without the clutter of larger platforms. Designed with simplicity, aesthetic appeal, and accessibility in mind, it provides a relaxed way to organize and explore cozy gaming.
Next Steps: If I were to develop this app further, I would conduct additional user testing and explore adding a thoughtfully designed newsfeed. This feature would prioritize a gentle, intentional experience, trying to avoid the addictive qualities seen in many social media feeds.