Cozy games that don't waste your time

There's a difference between a cozy game and a slow one. A lot of so-called relaxing titles are just padded with waiting timers dressed up as chill.

The real cozy games, like Tiny Workshop Tycoon, keep things moving. Progression trickles in steadily, and you always feel like you're building toward something instead of watching a bar fill.

I think the secret is respect. A good cozy game trusts you to enjoy it without manipulation. It doesn't beg you to come back every hour.

If a game keeps interrupting your relaxation to sell you speed-ups, it's not cozy. It's just a chore with nice music.