The air outside is getting colder and the leaves are changing.

That means some of us are returning to some of our cosier hobbies.

Maybe that involves curling up with a book, knitting a sweater, or revisiting your animal

crossing island.

We know it's been a while, you may be scared of facing your adorable villagers, but

it's time.

But a warning, that interaction may sound something like this.

It's been over three years since Animal Crossing New Horizons was released.

It became one of the best selling video games of the year, selling over 42 million copies,

almost four times as many as the previous edition of the game.

It also renewed interest in cosy games, a genre of video games known for finding the magic

in everyday tasks like gardening, tidying up, or heading on a walk.

Those include the classics, like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and of course Animal Crossing.

But newer games too, like unpacking, Venba, and a short hike.

They weave narrative storytelling in the aesthetics of cosy games into a neat package for players.

For this edition of our Game Mode series, we dig into the rise of cosy gaming and how

the industry is taking notice.

First, we start by taking a closer look at the cosy gaming community.

It's a space for content creators and streamers who might not always feel welcome in the video

gaming world.

We sit down with one of those creators after the break.

I'm Jen White.

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