tech
The rise of cosy gaming: is this the closest many young people will get to home ownership?
More than a quarter of 20- to 34-year-olds still live with their parents. No wonder they are escaping into virtual properties that they can decorate and furnish as they like
TL;DR
- Cosy gaming, originating from social simulation games, involves gentle, non-violent world-building activities.
- The subgenre has exploded in popularity, with the number of cosy games released on Steam rising from 19 in 2020 to 616 in 2025.
- A key new trend in cosy gaming is home-owning simulations, allowing players to clean, paint, and decorate virtual properties.
- This trend is partly explained by the inability of many young adults to afford real homes due to high unemployment and rising prices.
- In the UK, 29% of individuals aged 20-34 still live with their parents, highlighting a generation priced out of the housing market.
- Cosy gaming provides a sense of control, satisfaction, and a calm, predictable sanctuary for young people experiencing uncertainty in real life.