There are so many indie slice of life games out there, but here are five of the best ones that are worth spending your evenings playing. Beats trying to farm in the cold!
As the weather gets colder outside, I find myself looking to stay in to avoid Winter’s chill. This doesn’t mean I do not dream of warmer places, of better lands, and of things I want to do. I find that it’s the best time of year for slice of life-style games – games where you have a large world, quests and people to interact with, and all without leaving the warmth of your own couch.
Indie slice of life style games are big, complex, and offer a good amount of playtime. They allow you to dip in and out of the world, often working towards tasks and improving your life in these little places. You’ll often be making the world better as you invest more time into it. After playing through a bunch of indie slice of life games, both old and new, I have put together a list of the best five, which really showcase some lovely games that you can spend your winter (or summer!) playing.
Moonglow Bay
Moonglow Bay is the newest game on this list, and I have already spent so much time in the small town fishing community that this slice of life game is based around. You play as an older, retired person who has been brought to this town by your love. Sadly, they go missing as soon as you get here, lost at sea. For years, you just existed, but now it’s time for a change. The town itself has fallen into disarray, people fear the water and the fish that come from it, there are tons of rumors floating around, and they need someone to help provide for everyone.
That’s where you come in. Through talking to the townspeople, you are able to create a journal of all of the fish in the ocean, start investing in properties, and cooking up their favorite foods (to gift to them or sell to them). Moonglow Bay is a lovely game with so much charm to it, and the fact that you play as older characters who have lived full lives is quite refreshing.
The Good Life
The Good Life is a quirky indie slice of life game where you play as Naomi, a journalist who is looking to discover the secrets of the small farming village she has been sent to. As it turns out, you have a massive debt and this is the only way to pay it off, but there isn’t much focus on directly paying it off as it naturally clears through taking big jobs over time.
In The Good Life, the villagers of the town actually turn into cats and dogs on nights when there is a fully moon, which is a surprising secret, but only one of many that they are keeping. This game is really wild and out there, with so many twists, like children pretending to be other children, characters who seem to only appear to scream LOBBSTA at you, and people who are dressed as knights all the time, and talk like they are from medieval times. It’s a long game full of side quests, but it makes for some really fun exploration.
Cozy Grove
Cozy Grove is an indie slice of life game that sees you diving in and out as days passing in real life triggers new things in the game. This is a really good mechanic for me, as that means I can dip in for one day and spend some time playing around in the world before getting to a point when I can no longer play. Then, I should go and do something like eat some food.
Cozy Grove, story wise, is about helping large bear spirits who haunt a campground fulfill whatever their needs are. You play as a Spirit Scout, whose goal is to check out the island’s forest each day, gather materials, and help the local ghosts. You can craft, collect, and otherwise help the color return to this little island in hopes that the world becomes a happier place.
Bugsnax
Bugsnax is a quirky adventure game – one where you are exploring an island of half bug, half food creatures called Bugsnax. These creatures have roamed the area for ages, but the land of Snaktooth Island has a few big mysteries to be solved. Mysteries like where your friend Lizbert has ended up, where these creatures came from, and why these tasty treats are so fun to eat. Bugsnax has a host of different tools that are used to solve puzzles and take on quests from the people of this town. This game is more puzzle-based then the other indie slice of life games that are on this list, but sometimes having a few different tools and puzzles to figure out can really give a break from exploring and quests.
Stardew Valley
In my mind, Stardew Valley is the most classic indie slice of life, as it was one of the first games of that style that I have played. If you don’t know Stardew Valley, it’s a lovely game where you get given your grandfather’s farm, which has been left to fall apart for quite some time. After moving in, you are able to become a farmer, clear the land, and start learning about the new town you live in.
This town has seasonal festivals, lots of different characters, and the ability to grow a life and marry. There is just a lot to do! You can invest in the town through bundles, improving the building and environment you are living in while helping you grow as a farmer and person along the way. Though the days do sometimes feel a touch to slow, it’s a great game that can end up sucking up hours of your time. You can even play this game with your family in multiplayer mode.
Have some beloved indie slice of life games to add? Please let us know, as we’re always on the lookout for more delightful looks at life and our day-to-day existences!
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