Cozy games are the best kind of screen time

After a long day the last thing I want is a game demanding reflexes. That's where cozy sims come in. Harvest Hollow became my evening ritual for a couple of weeks — plant, water, chat with the neighbours, sleep, repeat.

What makes these games work is the absence of pressure. No fail states, no timers breathing down your neck. Progress happens at a human pace, and that turns out to be exactly what a tired brain wants.

There's a small trap to watch for, though. Some cozy games sneak in aggressive systems that push you to speed things up. The good ones, like Harvest Hollow, let you ignore all that and just potter around.

If you've never tried the genre, give it a proper week. The charm builds slowly, and by day five you'll find yourself looking forward to checking on your virtual crops.