The case for cozy games before bed

Not every game needs to raise your heart rate. Lately my most-played titles are the calm ones: farming sims, gentle explorers, slow puzzles. They're the games I reach for when I want to wind down instead of wire myself up.

Orchard Keeper is a good example. Its seasonal rhythm and forgiving pace mean I can play for ten minutes, feel like I did something, and put the phone down without a cliffhanger dragging me back. That's a feature, not a shortcoming.

These games also tend to be kind to the battery, since they aren't pushing graphics. That makes them perfect for late-night play in bed when you don't want to be tethered to a charger.

If you only ever chase intense games, try spending a week in the cozy end of the catalogue. It changed how I think about what mobile gaming is actually good at.