While I have come to find games aiming for a cozy distinction to be quite fascinating, I’ll admit that I often worry that part of their core appeal usually involves watering some existing genre style down a bit to make it more approachable. At some point I believe that you risk losing the thread of what can make a game compelling, replacing it with an experience that can be pleasant but feel hollow, but in general I still try to see them through the eyes of people who are just looking to relax and enjoy the ride.

There’s no doubt that when it comes to core visual design, Tiny Garden makes an incredibly smart play by making the game and every element of it look like an old-school toy in the vein of Polly Pocket or Littlest Petshop in the case of my own kids. That hit of nostalgia absolutely helps to get the game off to a good start, and the fact that it then maintains a connection with that aesthetic with all of the little pieces of furniture and plants you’ll be growing then keeps the experience afloat. The fact that you advance to the next day with a pull of the crank on the side of the game container is a great touch that brings that cozy feel forward.

When it comes to the gameplay itself, there’s something here that you can choose to enjoy, but depending on the amount of depth you’re looking for you may also find the experience wanting. It works out as a mixture of puzzle and simulation in the end, with you starting out with a few farming plots and a handful of seeds. Successfully growing crops will help to change the properties of the soil, and in order to unlock new plants and a variety of furniture, you’ll need to work on thoughtfully cultivating the right things. While there are some attempts to get a story rolling with some letters you’ll receive periodically, in general that feels more like an afterthought, with the crux of the experience all revolving around cultivating crops wisely, unlocking new things, and then spending some time arranging your furniture and everything else just the way you like.