17 Fantasy Worlds Built Around Everyday Magic Instead of Epic Quests

Video games frequently offer players worlds where magic isn’t just about fighting—it’s woven into everyday life. Many games focus on relaxing activities like farming, crafting, and building relationships instead of epic battles to save the world. Players enjoy the simple, repeating tasks of making potions or caring for magical animals. Here are some games that create truly immersive and cozy worlds where magic makes daily life more enchanting.

‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)

You start by inheriting a run-down farm in a charming town populated by interesting people and magical forest creatures. Your days are spent restoring the farm, growing crops, and getting to know your neighbors. A wizard and helpful spirits add a touch of magic to everyday farm life. You can also explore mines, find valuable resources, and battle monsters, but the game isn’t about becoming a hero – it’s about the peaceful, simple pleasures of country living with a hint of the supernatural.

‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ (2020)

In a beautiful, deserted island setting, people and friendly animals live together. You can build and decorate your own community, shaping the land to your liking. The world is full of magic, with talking animals and ghostly visitors adding to the charm. This game is all about creating a peaceful life – designing your perfect home and making friends, without any fighting or stress. Your biggest challenge might just be getting a good price for your turnips!

‘Spiritfarer’ (2020)

In this game, you play as Stella, who becomes a ferrymaster, guiding spirits to the afterlife. You’ll build and sail a boat, exploring the world while caring for these spirits. Keeping your passengers happy involves cooking and farming. The focus is on heartfelt stories about the lives of those you transport, offering a peaceful and comforting take on death and the journey beyond.

‘Cozy Grove’ (2021)

In this cozy game, you play as a Spirit Scout camping on a mysterious island filled with friendly ghosts. The island’s colors shift as you help these spirits by completing daily tasks and discovering their stories. You’ll gather resources and craft decorations in a relaxing cycle, and the game’s time matches real-world time, making it perfect for short, daily play. It’s a comforting take on life simulation, set in a supernatural world that’s more heartwarming than scary.

‘Wylde Flowers’ (2022)

Tara Wylde inherits her grandmother’s farm on a quiet island, but quickly learns her family has a magical secret – she’s a witch! The game combines the relaxing aspects of farming and running a business with the excitement of learning to use magical powers. You’ll join a group of witches and wizards, all while hiding your abilities from the town. As you grow as a witch, you’ll also build relationships and learn practical spells to help with daily life.

‘Little Witch in the Woods’ (2022)

Ellie, a witch in training, moves to a magical forest to finish her apprenticeship. As you play, you’ll collect plants and materials to brew potions that help the villagers with their everyday problems. The game focuses on exploring the forest and uncovering its secrets at your own pace, without any world-saving pressure. It’s a relaxing experience that really captures the cozy and charming side of being a witch through gathering and crafting.

‘Potion Permit’ (2022)

Moonbury is a town in need of a skilled chemist to help when regular medicine isn’t enough. As the chemist, you’ll venture into the wilderness to collect ingredients, figure out what’s wrong with the townsfolk, and brew the right cures. Winning over the town’s trust depends on your ability to heal them. The game blends easy-to-learn combat with a deep system for diagnosing illnesses and crafting remedies. Instead of focusing on fighting a big bad, your main goal is to restore the health of the community.

‘Strange Horticulture’ (2022)

I run a cozy little plant shop, and it’s my job to find all sorts of interesting new plants for my customers. The story unfolds through what they ask for and the letters I get! It’s a really cool experience because you have to use this encyclopedia to figure out which plants are magical, or maybe even a little dangerous. The puzzles aren’t about big adventures – they’re all about carefully observing things and figuring them out right here in the shop. It’s got this amazing, mysterious vibe, but the best part is you don’t even need to leave your chair to play!

‘Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale’ (2010)

Recette inherited a huge debt from her father and must run a shop to pay it off. You’ll send adventurers into dungeons to collect items, then sell those items to customers. The gameplay centers around getting the best prices and keeping your inventory well-stocked to earn the most money. A fairy helps you learn the ropes of running a business in this fantasy world. Instead of playing as the hero, you play as the shopkeeper who supports them.

‘Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book’ (2015)

Sophie stumbles upon a book that can talk, and she embarks on a journey to recover its lost memories using alchemy. The gameplay centers around collecting materials and crafting items with a magical cauldron. While there are turn-based battles, they primarily help Sophie gather the ingredients she needs. The story is about Sophie’s own development and becoming skilled in her craft, all set within a colorful and imaginative fantasy world, celebrating the pleasure of making things.

‘Fantasy Life’ (2012)

The game lets you create a unique character by choosing from twelve different backgrounds, like a noble paladin or a humble cook. You’re free to change your focus whenever you want – switch from fighting monsters to practicing a trade, or even ignore combat altogether and dedicate yourself to activities like fishing or building things. Many quests involve peaceful tasks, such as crafting furniture or cooking for the royal court. This freedom allows you to truly shape your own story in a fantastical world.

‘Coffee Talk’ (2020)

Imagine a coffee shop in a city much like Seattle, but filled with elves and orcs. You’re the barista, and instead of just making drinks, you’re also listening to your customers’ problems – things like writer’s block and relationship troubles. This game isn’t about fighting or adventure; it’s all about serving coffee and subtly shaping the story through your choices. It’s a unique way to explore what it means to be human, but through the eyes of fantastical creatures.

‘Slime Rancher’ (2016)

Beatrix LeBeau heads to the remote Far, Far Range to earn a living by collecting slimes. You’ll explore a unique alien world, gathering various types of cute slimes to raise on your ranch. You feed and care for these slimes to get resources you can sell for money. Helpful tools and upgrades make managing your lively, bouncy slime ranch easier. It’s a fun, open-ended game all about exploring and building your ranch.

‘Moonstone Island’ (2023)

This game lets you live a free-roaming life where you collect creatures and build a powerful card deck. You’ll fly around a beautiful, pixelated world of floating islands, gathering materials and finding hidden treasures. You can befriend spirits who assist you in card battles and help power your crafting. As an alchemist-in-training, you’ll spend your days practicing alchemy, farming, and exploring – all with the freedom to go wherever you please.

‘Graveyard Keeper’ (2018)

In this game, you run a medieval cemetery and search for a way back to your own time. You’ll perform autopsies, manage burials, and keep the church financially stable. Expect a darkly humorous experience filled with magic, tough ethical choices, and intricate crafting. It’s a unique take on farming simulations, offering a grim but funny gameplay loop where you need to build and automate efficient systems.

‘Ooblets’ (2020)

You find yourself in a quirky town where disagreements are settled with dance-offs! You’ll grow crops and collect adorable, dance-loving creatures called Ooblets. The game lets you personalize your character and home, and your days will be filled with helping the town mayor and competing in dance tournaments. It’s a wonderfully strange and colorful world where friendship and a good beat can fix anything.

‘Wytchwood’ (2021)

In this fairytale game, you play as an old witch who owes a favor to a shifty goat. You’ll wander a beautiful countryside, gathering ingredients to brew powerful potions and solve puzzles. Instead of fighting, you’ll use your cleverness and magical recipes to overcome obstacles and interact with the world. The game’s unique art style brings classic folklore to life.

We want to know: if you could live in any cozy fantasy game world, which one would you choose? Let us know in the comments!

2025-11-29 00:49