Welcome to the November edition of Books, Board Games, and More with Bryn! This month, we’re embracing cozy vibes. Some of these you may already know, some you may not. Either way, there’s plenty to explore from the comfort of your home!
Harvest Moon
Cozy games have become extremely popular in the last few years, but they have been around for longer than you might think! One of the series that is regarded to have helped pave the path for these games is the Harvest Moon series. The very first game was released in the US in 1997! These games blend a farming simulator and a dating simulator with elements of exploration and light adventure. Typically, your character goes to a new place and decides to start a new life, help a village, and/or rebuild a farm. The games our libraries own include Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility (Wii), Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village (Switch), as well as Harvest Moon: One World (Switch) and Harvest Moon: One World Complete (Switch) (the difference between the two is that the complete version includes all the previously released downloadable content and the base game). Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos, available for the Xbox One, PS4, and Switch, is the latest installment in the series.
Stardew Valley
2016’s Stardew Valley (Xbox One) PS4 takes a page from Harvest Moon. It is also a farming simulator with relationship building elements (even romance!). In this game, you relocate to Stardew Valley after inheriting your grandfather’s farm. It has fantastic music, some of which you can enjoy while listening to the Stardew Valley Piano Collections. This game can also be played couch co-op (which is rare to find nowadays) or online with others!
Animal Crossing
Lastly, and arguably one of the most prolific series in the renewed interest in casual, comfortable, cozy games is Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing also has a bit of a longer history, as the first game was released in 2001. The latest two games have been Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS) (2012) and Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) (2020). The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 has given a lot of players a reason to restart their island in New Horizons and has revitalized the Animal Crossing community. The Big Book of Animal Crossing: New Horizons Unofficial Guide, Starter Guide to Animal Crossing, and Animal Crossing (A Great Game) are great places to start for individuals new to the game.
Further Animal Crossing Resources
Other books help players learn about characters, collecting items, and gathering and crafting resources. (Yes, I know, there’s children’s books here, but trust me- you want the least complicated information. I’m still trying to get my darn blue roses to bloom!)
Cookbooks
Of course, I can’t resist the opportunity to give cookbooks a shout out! The Unofficial Animal Crossing Cookbook contains some fun recipes. Most of them don’t seem too difficult, even for someone like me who can barely brown meat! The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook is a little more out of my league but has some really tasty-sounding ideas. Reminder: If you decide to try any of the recipes, I accept treats.
Stay cozy, friends!
-Bryn
