For those who need fresh doses of cozy in their lives, the Wholesome Direct 2026 showcase, held during Summer Games Fest 2026, gave players a look at all things cozy, whimsical, and downright wholesome coming in the next couple of years. Spanning just over an hour, the Wholesome Direct 2026 showcase featured a wide array of game title announcements, some fun exclusive footage from games like Planet Zoo 2, and release dates for the much-anticipated cozy titles.
From dressmaking games to capybara-driven vacation fests to some farming ventures, one thing became clear throughout the Wholesome Direct 2026 showcase: the importance of relaxation. With all these games designed to help players channel the calm many so desperately need, wrapped in the most adorable aesthetics, there’s plenty for cozy stans to enjoy in this year’s lineup.
Without further ado, let’s get into the announcements and everything we saw during the Wholesome Direct 2026 showcase.
What was announced during Wholesome Direct 2026 Showcase
Dressmaker – September 2026
Developer: Cozy Lives
Publisher: Free Lives
Synopsis: Dressmaker is a creative, cozy game where you design and construct the dresses of your dreams! The game now features clients with individual measurements—no standardized sizing for these bespoke dresses! There are new fabrics, including lace, silk and sequins, many new dress types, friendships, story quests, and a posh little store!
Platform: Steam
Book Nook – Announced; Demo Available Now!
Developer: Malapata Studio
Synopsis: Book Nook is a world premiere reveal from Malapata Studio, makers of Camper Van: Make It Home. Book Nook lets you take things slow and enjoy the process of building a cozy Book Nook. There’s no timer, no pressure. Just the quiet pleasure of figuring out where each piece belongs and that gentle “click” when everything fits.
Watch your miniature nook come together step by step. Position each element carefully, from larger furniture to delicate decorations, and see the scene gradually take shape in a soothing, hands-on way.
Platform: Steam
Fields of Mistria – 1.0 Vers. August 5, 2026
Developer: NPC Studio
Synopsis: Fields of Mistria, a magical farming and life sim RPG, launches into 1.0 on August 5, 2026! This new trailer reveals first-ever looks at marriage and children, new Saturday Market NPCs, a new home exterior, and even a giant chicken mount. The 1.0 release also brings the conclusion of the Town Repair storyline, along with new quests and features.
Announced Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck
Spirit Crossing – Open Beta Now!
Developer: Spry Fox
Publisher: Spry Fox
Synopsis: Spirit Crossing is our cozy MMO full of unique art and seasonal soundtracks. We started working on this game with the goal of helping the world feel a little less lonely, and we’re excited to now share it with more players by bringing it to PC!
Players can explore shifting Wilderness landscapes full of minigames, participate in co-op activities, or simply enjoy a quiet sunrise. As players join the game, they will be assigned to a Waystation – shared villages to decorate and fortify together.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck. Currently live on iOs & Android.
Join the Spirit Crossing Playtest!
Tinkernest – Announced!
Developer: afterwalk
Synopsis: Tinkernest is a crafting colony sim that feels like coming home. A warm campfire, the cutest animal villagers, and the curiosity of putting two items together and seeing what comes out. Craft, build, automate, and explore the ancient tunnels down below.
A debut title by two friends, one of whom was responsible for the art style of “Spilled!”, which features unique 3D-rendered pixel art. Made at Spelkollektivet, a game dev house in the middle of the Swedish forest.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck
Moonlight Peaks – Demo Now Available
Developer: Little Chicken Game Company
Publisher: XSEED Games
Synopsis: Experience life as a vampire in the magical town of Moonlight Peaks—demo available now! In this heartwarming, supernatural life-sim, you set out to show your skeptical father that a life of compassion is possible – even for the undead.
Make friends with local creatures of the night and perhaps find eternal love. Settle down in your family’s haunted cottage, customizing it to suit your own gothic style. And unlock mystical abilities, potions, and spells, all in the name of a bountiful harvest.
Platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Google Play / Android
In the Drift – Announced!
Developer: Daniel Fineberg and friends
Publisher: Daniel Fineberg and friends
Synopsis: In The Drift is a narrative game about fixing the internet in space. Directed by Daniel Fineberg, one of the co-creators of Sable, In The Drift follows the story of Luna, a young woman starting her new job as a telecoms engineer in space.
Solve problems on the job during the day, then spend the evening hanging out with the crew back at the ship. In The Drift is a story about trying to be a good person and finding hope and meaning in a world that feels like it’s drifting apart.
Platforms: Steam
Capy Castaway – Demo Coming Soon
Developer: Kitten Cup Studio
Publisher: Big Blue Sky Games
Synopsis: Capy Castaway is a cozy narrative exploration game about growing up, finding home, and learning to care together. Play solo or with a friend, and explore a playful world set in a Toronto-inspired environment that rewards your curiosity with shiny trinkets and moments of joy.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck
Discounty – Free “People or Profit?” Expansion Now Available
Developer: Crinkle Cut Games
Publisher: PQube
Synopsis: Return to Discounty with a brand new final chapter in this free expansion: “People or Profit?” What will you do now that you’re in charge? Pick up where you left off or start a new adventure to experience one of three branching endings.
Collect resources to restore buildings, invent new profit-making gadgets for your store, and get to know Blomkest’s new residents. Make your permanent mark on the town as you chart your course: will you support the people, or relentlessly pursue profit?
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
Dungeon Tourists – New Footage, Coming Soon!
Developer: KMLO
Synopsis: Dungeon Tourists is a multiplayer photo rail-shooter. Take and collect photos of the curiosities you meet in the dungeons. Unravel secrets, throw baits, unlock accessories and cosmetics, share your photos, and hang out with your friends online!
In Dungeon Tourists, there are no quotas and no gameovers. Dungeon Tourists is about short sessions with your friends, and progressing at your own pace. If you liked Pokemon Snap, Penko Park and Webfishing, this game is probably for you!
Platform: Steam
Fourleaf Fields – New Footage
Developer: BEHEMUTT
Publisher: HypeTrain Digital
Synopsis: Fourleaf Fields is a cozy tiny-world farming sim where you grow giant crops, care for adorable bugs, and uncover the town’s secrets through gossip. This exclusive trailer reveals new veggies, new bugs like the rhino bug and snail, new characters including Jules, Maya, and Luke, and new locations such as the Community Kitchen and the Forest.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, More to be announced
Is This Seat Taken? – August 2026
Developer: Poti Poti Studio
Publisher: Wholesome Games Presents
Synopsis: Is This Seat Taken? is a logic puzzle game where you play matchmaker for groups of hilariously particular people. Each character has pet peeves that make seating them a delightful challenge. Find the perfect spot for each person to unlock new levels in this cozy, silly, and relatable experience.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Google Play, PlayStation 5
Usagi Shima – October 2026
Developer: studio rabbiko
Publisher: studio rabbiko, Wholesome Games Presents
Synopsis: Usagi Shima is a cozy bunny collecting game where you transform an abandoned island into a bunny paradise! Decorate your island with toys, plants, and buildings to entice curious bunny tourists to pay your island a visit. Discover, take photos, and make friends with a variety of bunnies that visit based on how you’ve decorated and arranged the island. No timers, no stress – just a hand-drawn, soothing bunny sanctuary that you can play at your own pace.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, iOS, Google Play
Milki Delivery – Demo Now Available
Developer: Doot Tiny Games
Publisher: Doot Tiny Games, Wholesome Games Presents
Synopsis: Explore a charming countryside as a young bike courier named Neha. In this short but satisfying adventure, you’ll deliver milk bottles, gather food for your pet cow Milki, meet friendly and intriguing characters, and help the community by completing a variety of small quests.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck
Hidden Folks 2 – Announced!
Developer: Hidden Folks B.V.
Synopsis: The indie hit and black and white searching game from 2017 that spawned a whole new genre on Steam. The game is set to release on mobile and desktop in 2027 with hand-drawn, interactive, miniature landscapes in various new themes, together with more silly jokes, more mouth sounds, and various quality-of-life improvements.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, itch.io, iOS / App Store / Apple Arcade, Google Play / Android
Lou’s Lagoon – Demo Now Available; Coming August 27, 2026
Developer: Tiny Roar
Publisher: Megabit Publishing
Synopsis: Lou’s Lagoon is a cozy exploration and crafting adventure that sees you take to the skies across the Limbo Archipelago in search of your missing Uncle Lou who is missing after a storm. Harness your collection of trusty gadgets to collect resources, clean up the storm damaged islands and unravel the mystery surrounding Lou’s disappearance.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Beastfolk Barber – Announced!
Developer: Safe Flight Games
Publisher: SIGONO
Synopsis: Here’s the first look at Beastfolk Barber, previously known as Project Salon. What if you ran a barbershop in a world like Zootopia, where every haircut plays out like a conversation in Coffee Talk?
Beastfolk Barber is set in a modern city where beastfolk live side by side with humans, navigating the tension between who they’re expected to be and who they are. As their barber, you’re someone they can open up to. With every conversation and every cut, you help them become who they truly are.
Platform: Steam
The Wandering Village: The Last Leviathan – New DLC Announced
Developer: Stray Fawn Studio
Synopsis: A new DLC introducing a massive amphibian creature, complete with new buildings, resources, a different tech tree and hours of fresh content. Launching alongside it is a big free update that deepens the interaction with both Onbu and the new creature, adding new body temperature and mood mechanics, cosmetics, as well as the brand-new Arctic Ocean biome.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Croakwood – Early Access Coming Winter 2027
Developer: Texel Raptor
Publisher: Texel Raptor
Synopsis: Croakwood is a relaxed and creative town-building simulation game about frogs, nature, and an ancient forest! Design and create a town from the ground up, explore an old and mysterious forest, guide the growth of a community of tiny amphibians, and meet interesting characters along the way.
Platform: Steam
Deer & Boy – June 23, 2026
Developer: Lifeline Studio
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Synopsis: Deer & Boy is a narrative cinematic adventure that tells a silent story through stunning visuals and evocative music. With no dialogue to distract, every moment speaks directly to the heart, making it accessible to players of all ages and backgrounds.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE – Announced!
Developer: teaisfortoby
Publisher: teaisfortoby
Synopsis: PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE is a mystery puzzle game about communicating with people you don’t understand. College grad Louis has just moved back to his childhood home, but things seem worse this time around. He’s chronically ill, struggling to find adequate healthcare, and can’t seem to recognize the streets he was raised on.
When he is attacked by a mysterious entity, communicating only through a cassette player, he must consult with it and the other townsfolk to discover the true nature of the assault.
Platforms: Steam, itch.io
Design and Conjure – Demo Available Now; Releasing Fall 2026
Developer: Tiny Kiwi Games
Publisher: Thermite Games
Synopsis: Design & Conjure is a cozy magic game where you tidy, decorate, and build scene by scene — restoring a magical hometown one space at a time. From enchanted bedrooms to potion shops, and now revealed for the first time: outdoor scenes. Set up camp, unpack magical picnics, and arrange your perfect spot beside a flowing waterfall. With 1,500+ items and a brand-new Creative Mode, a fresh demo is available now.
Platform: Steam
Dragon Shelter – September 24, 2026
Developer: Wild Forest Studio
Publisher: Curve Games
Synopsis: Dragon Shelter is a farming sim set in a fantasy world. Join a heartfelt adventure where friendship, care, and hard work restore harmony to a forgotten world. Rebuild the lost bond between humans and dragons as you transform abandoned lands into a place filled with warmth and joy. Grow crops, gather resources, raise adorable dragons, and help townsfolk rediscover their happiness.
Platform: Steam
Momento – Shadow Steam Drop; Coming to Consoles June 30, 2026
Developer: Fat Alien Cat, Nomo Studio
Publisher: Silver Lining Interactive
Synopsis: Momento is a cozy room decorator with a twist: the choices you make play out over the course of a lifetime! Decorate your room, choose which items are important to you, and discover how the objects you choose will alter the course of the story, in a winding ode to the power of everyday things.
With 17 rooms, 6 endings, a gameplay loop designed for replayability, and a Creative Mode to decorate to your heart’s content, it’s an innovative new entry in the cozy game genre—and available right now on Steam!
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
Petal Runner – New Footage Revealed
Developer: Nano Park Studios
Publisher: iam8bit Presents
Synopsis: Petal Runner is a game about companionship, life, loss, and what we carry with us.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, More to be announced soon
Froggy Brews – Demo Now Available
Developer: Komodo Range
Publisher: Komodo Range
Synopsis: Play as Froggy in a gentle narrative adventure about tea and connection. Return to your old neighborhood of Bloomville, brew tea, forage for resources, and explore a magical world. This demo showcases never-before-seen moments, new faces, and tea decoration systems, offering an exclusive first look at the world and its stories.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Epic Games Store, itch.io, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Planet Zoo 2 – New Footage Revealed
Developer: Frontier Developments
Publisher: Frontier Development
Synopsis: Build a wilder world in Planet Zoo 2. Create distinctive zoos around the globe filled with awe-inspiring animals, including fully aquatic and flying species, before taking your experience beyond the zoo to release your animals into expansive Wildlife Reserves.
This video gives us our first look at the Grey Wolf and their adorable pups in Planet Zoo 2 as we build them a cozy autumnal nook habitat, filled with food, water, fun enrichment items and plenty of beautiful scenery items!
Platforms: Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X
Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit – July 15, 2026
Developer: Spry Fox
Publisher: Spry Fox
Synopsis: Cozy Grove‘s sequel is now coming to PC and consoles! In Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, players will befriend and assist an assortment of troubled ghostly bears. As they explore, they’ll find hidden secrets, bring peace to spirits, and even send gifts to their online friends via an asynchronous multiplayer feature. The sequel offers new bears to befriend, new island activities and seasonal events, animal companions (including a fashionista snail), a new powerwashing activity, and other surprises.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X. Available now on iOS and GooglePlay.
Go-Go Town! – July 16, 2026
Developer: Prideful Sloth
Publisher: Prideful Sloth
Synopsis: Step into the role of a hands-on mayor and build your town from the ground up. Plan neighborhoods, automate logistics and grow your community—all while juggling workers, infrastructure, and day-to-day chaos to create your dream town. Play solo for total control, or bring friends for co-op mayhem.
Launched into Early Access in 2024, 6 Major Updates and 7 Minor Updates have been added since then, and there’s even more to come with the 1.0 launch including Switch 1 and 2 and a new Sandbox Mode!
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Loftia – Early Access Coming Fall 2026
Developer: Qloud Games
Publisher: Qloud Games
Synopsis: Loftia is a cozy solarpunk MMO where players can farm, craft, explore floating islands, and build a brighter world together with friends. This exclusive new trailer gives players a fresh look at Loftia’s gameplay systems, alongside community-filmed moments from recent Beta playtests, showcasing social features, playful interactions, and the joy of sharing a cozy world together.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Tales of Seikyu – June 11, 2026
Developer: ACE Entertainment
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Synopsis: A peaceful farming life sim set on the island of Seikyu. Grow your farm, restore your ancestral home, form heartfelt bonds with villagers, and shapeshift into different spirit forms to explore a world that moves gently with the seasons. 1.0 includes a conclusion to the main story with Chapter 3, the new fox yokai transformation, three new romanceable villagers, a marriage system, new festivals and much much more!
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck
Spiritstead – Demo Announced
Developer: Turbo Dog Games
Publisher: Turbo Dog Games
Synopsis: Spiritstead is a city builder set in a world of magic. Build a village and care for the people who live there, with the help of hidden spirits you discover along the way. We’re so excited to be sharing a new trailer and news of our brand new demo, dropping today!
This demo takes place in the lush Green Forest biome, where players gradually expand, create, and decorate their village. Collectable and unlockable spirits along the way will assist with collecting items around the village, boosting town happiness, and mining crystals to help unlock and expand territory.
Platforms: Steam
Paralives – In Early Access; Free “Unpacking” Update Revealed
Developer: Paralives Studio
Publisher: Paralives Studios
Synopsis: Paralives is partnering with Unpacking to offer a free themed game update which will include iconic Unpacking items to decorate characters’ houses, playing Unpacking, dressing characters with an Unpacking T-Shirt, and collecting in-game Unpacking stamps. A discounted Steam bundle of both games will also be available for fans to purchase!
Platform: Steam
Moomin: Midsummer Madness – Announced!
Developer: Crossbridge Game Studios
Publisher: Shochiku Games
Synopsis: Shochiku Games is proud to announce Moomin: Midsummer Madness for Switch 1 & 2 and Steam – the next Moomin adventure game, inspired by Tove Jansson’s beloved stories.
After a great flood sweeps through the valley, Moomintroll, Little My, and their colourful friends find themselves in a floating abandoned theatre filled with puzzles and mysteries. How are they going to get back home? Join the Moominfamily in a brand new hand-painted story bursting with Nordic charm and heartwarming moments.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Hokko Spaces – Announced!
Developer: Wonderscope Games
Synopsis: Hokko Spaces is a calm, casual sandbox experience that gives players fun tools to create beautiful, lively spaces inhabited by adorable characters. Unlock cute residents and watch them hang out together, do some gardening, and enjoy the spaces that you build for them. No rules, no stress, just cozy dioramas and chill vibes.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch
Rubber Bird – Announced!
Developer: Outretaupe
Publisher: Outretaupe
Synopsis: Jump, stretch your arms, grab and throw everything around you! Follow Rub on his quest to answer the big question: why does he have arms? Explore a colorful island, talk to funny birds, and discover new places and secrets level by level. With no game over or time pressure, this lighthearted physics platformer is designed to be welcoming and goofy. Mess up the place in this 2-3 hour game!
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck, itch.io
WATERFUL
Developer: Lenja Kaufmann (Findling Games)
Publisher: Lenja Kaufmann
Synopsis: WATERFUL is a peaceful nature builder where you dig riverbeds to guide water through charming, procedurally generated desert valleys. Create different shapes to grow a variety of plants and discover the animals attracted to the new habitats.
Complete tiny quests, unlock new springs and tools that help you transform valley after valley. Play your way: collect every animal, tackle challenging terrain, or simply relax and create a beautiful oasis, thriving under your care.
Platform: Steam
Anemorie – Expected Q1 2027
Developer: InnGamez Studio
Publisher: Catoptric Games
Synopsis: Anemorie is a visually captivating, story-driven adventure set in the 1990s, where you step into the life of Anna—a young woman navigating the complexities of self-discovery, love, and resilience. Living with a heart condition, Anna possesses a unique gift: the ability to glimpse memories embedded in cherished objects.
Platforms: Steam, Steam Deck