The new release of Aka is perfect for unwinding under a cozy blanket while playing as the veteran red panda soldier, attempting to achieve inner peace. In the game, Aka settles on a tiny island to structure his new home, while seeking out Ghosts in need of closure.
Aka’s gameplay includes mini-games, crafting, farming, and exploring, as the precious retired soldier lives out his new life. Many popular Switch games, like Aka and Animal Crossing, have the cutest features that are bound to put a smile on a gamer’s face. These adorable games are certain to absorb the player in their respective worlds with a relaxing charm.
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A game taking place in a post-apocalyptic world in which humans must begin from scratch to repopulate the Earth, My Time At Portia has players rebuilding civilization by farming and crafting, using the main character’s inherited workshop.
Though the game may seem like every other life sim, it holds a distinct twist that lets it stand out among the crowd. Helping to care for the people of the village is selflessly rewarding, taking in the bare landscape and making it a place to come home to. As the village is vitalized and unique folks move in, players can mold the perfect society.
Story Of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
Those looking for a game with original writing and love put into every bit, look no further. Story of Season’s Pioneers of Olive Town gives players an unabashedly massive plot of land to work with to either grow crops, raise animals, and build.
The cute character designs and quaint visuals of the once dilapidated farm turned rural town allow gamers to do more than most life sims. Aside from making new friends, players must keep their inhabitants entertained and build relations with nearby villages. Though it may not be as smooth as other farming sims, it’s definitely full of heart.
Unpacking
Similar to Aka, Unpacking has touching little stories inside each seemingly insignificant thing, that help the player delve deeper into the life of the main character. Unpacking puts the player in the shoes of someone who is moving into their new home.
As new pieces of reminders of their life so far are uncovered, a sense of nostalgia and melancholy fill the main character, making all the organizing feel more significant than on the surface. The game is also deeply satisfying as gamers fill up each empty space, accompanied by adorable designs and a serene soundtrack.
Littlewood
Littlewood is an indie farming game where players fill the shoes of a hero, who has just defeated a dark wizard that destroyed most of the world, and must reconstruct habitable places into little towns.
Tasks that come with playing through Littlewood include opening shops and attractions, collecting resources, then slowly building up villages. The cozy game’s impressive customization and easy way of farming make it one of the best life simulator games out there, making it perfect for all ages.
A Short Hike
Sometimes, a hike out in the wilderness is exactly what’s needed after facing a stressful week, and the makers of A Short Hike understand this well. Following a bunch of cute little animals on their escapades through the mountains, players can interact with one-of-a-kind characters while on their journey.
The top-down adventure game is easily comparable to Animal Crossing, as gamers complete quests and scavenge for items while exploring nature. It’s not at all farfetched to think that Aka the panda would make fast friends with the creatures of A Short Hike, since both have much similar elements and friendliness.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
A game for kids that even adults can enjoy, Yoshi’s Crafted World is a platformer that almost makes cuteness something of a competitive sport. Its macramé-inspired art style brings a cozy feeling to each gamer and has a sincerely laid-back plot.
From stages to enemies, every piece of the game’s world looks to be handmade from a different medium. These elements include crayon, yarn, cardboard, and even construction paper, giving the Yoshi’s Island sequel a grade school aesthetic. The game offers an escape from the drama and mayhem of other Nintendo titles.
Kirby And The Forgotten Land
When a wormhole opens above Dream Land, it’s up to Kirby to journey through the ruins and rescue every victim he can. Kirby And the Forgotten Land depicts pleasantly overgrown landscapes as players do all they can to rebuild society.
As the game progresses and the population of the land increases, new buildings will appear, that are capable of giving Kirby ability upgrades as well as item buffs. Just like Aka, adorable minigames are available to be played by fishing and doing other daily activities in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, highlighting the small pink creatures easygoing yet determined nature.
Shantae And The Seven Sirens
The Switch’s Shantae And The Seven Sirens begins with Shantae and friends vacationing to a tropical island paradise, where they were to attend a half-genie festival in tribute of their heroics. However, before they can give their classic belly-dancing performance, her friends are captured by an unknown evil.
The Metroidvania gameplay mixed with cutely designed characters and stages are a great change of pace with similarities to Aka, such as the explorative aspect. As Shantae accesses more of the world around her, she gains new information, collectibles, abilities, and transformations that make the playthrough that much more fun.
Animal Crossing New Horizons
Arguably the best life sim game on the Switch, Animal Crossing New Horizons took the world by storm with its comforting characters and enchanting landscapes during the pandemic, a time when most people were stuck indoors.
A sense of fulfillment similar to Aka can be achieved while customizing the game’s island and meeting all the extremely adorable villagers that come to visit, or even stay awhile. From building houses to collecting creatures for Blather’s Museum, New Horizons creates a pleasant atmosphere free from the stress of time constraints and full of possibilities.
Stardew Valley
What may be considered the ultimate relaxing farming sim, Stardew Valley, is a go-to for gamers who enjoyed playing through Aka. The game’s beautiful bit-sprite nature is made for creating a picturesque, custom world.
During the game, players can live out satisfyingly simple lives as they garden, fish, raise livestock, build, and bond with others. Unlike many other games on this list, the game allows players to marry and have children, cementing another detail of customization to their 16-bit lives. Most of all, Stardew Valley and Aka both assist the player in finding their Zen, alongside each game’s characters.