Top Ten Cozy Board Games

"It was published in 1974 and had this kind of gimmicky aspect with hidden slotted dials that you turned to create oil wells of varying richness. Nothing about the gameplay is cozy. But I remember very clearly being closed up in the house while a hurricane hit our town. My parents were sleeping, and my sister and I amused ourselves by playing King Oil over and over. I was safe and snug inside while a storm raged outside."

"While I may not play it more than once a year these days, it's still my favorite to sit down to when I just want to relax with the other people at the table. I don't have to think hard, just a bit of light deduction-and that's perfect for the end of the day. In fact, the last time I played it was in candlelight during a power outage while visiting my parents."

Nostalgia can transform a game into something cozy regardless of its mechanics. King Oil is an area-control economic game published in 1974 with gimmicky hidden slotted dials that create oil wells of varying richness. Gameplay is not inherently cozy, but memories of being safe inside during a hurricane while repeatedly playing with a sibling make the game feel warm. Clue is a classic crime-solver that provides light deduction suitable for relaxed evenings. Occasional play, such as candlelit sessions during a power outage at family homes, reinforces cozy associations and makes the game a comforting choice for winding down.

Read at Board Game Quest