If you’re a fan of indie games, Indie Fan Fest is an event you don’t want to miss. Created by The MIX and Digital Bandidos, Indie Fan Fest is a curated digital showcase designed to boost visibility and build wishlist momentum for unreleased indie titles ahead of the February 2026 Steam Next Fest. Standing out during Steam’s massive demo festival can be tough, so Indie Fan Fest gives developers a head start—streaming live on YouTube and Twitch, while also featuring a dedicated Steam event page to connect games directly with players, creators, and press at the perfect time.
This year’s showcase is packed with charming, wholesome titles perfect for cozy-game lovers. Below, you’ll find a roundup of every cozy game featured at Indie Fan Fest 2026 (February), so you can discover new favorites early and start adding them to your wishlist before Steam Next Fest kicks off.
Collector’s Cove
Genre: Sailing, Exploration, Nature, Creature Collector, Crafting
Embark on a tranquil journey to uncharted waters in Collector’s Cove, a farming adventure set on the high seas! There are no enemies in this world: it’s just you, your animal friend, and an ocean full of secrets and surprises.
Grow a flourishing floating farm. Cultivate rare crops and reel in elusive fish. Discover new islands and climate zones, each with its own collection of unique local flora. Fill in your Collector’s Compendium. Craft items and personalize your ship, transforming it into your own home. Learn how to gather enough rare crops and fish; you might even rise to the ultimate rank: Named-Collector!
Release: March 12, 2026 – Play the Demo Now!
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth
Genre: Adventure, Exploration, Point & Click
When Moomintroll unexpectedly wakes up early from his winter hibernation, he finds himself completely alone for the first time, in a world he barely recognizes. The familiar landscape of Moominvalley is now cloaked in the frosty veil of the Lady of the Cold. Initially seeking someone to care for him and longing to banish winter, young Moomintroll reluctantly embarks on a journey into the unknown, learning to forge new friendships and help those in greater need than himself.
Release: April 27, 2026 – Try the Demo Now!
Thrifty Business
Genre: Simulation
Run your very own thrift shop in this laid-back management sim! Sort through boxes to find hidden treasures and arrange nostalgic displays of clothes, antiques, toys & more. Befriend the regulars, help with their requests and expand your store into a hub for the local community!
Release: 2026 – Play the Demo Now!
Fishbowl
Genre: Visual Novel, Story Rich, Emotional
Fishbowl is a visual novel about becoming an adult and seeing your childhood in a new light. Drowning in feelings of grief, isolation, and the responsibilities of adulthood, Alo receives an unlikely lifeline in the form of a magical talking fish from her childhood. With Paplet as her companion, Alo unravels the threads of her past, giving way to a new future.
Release: April 2026 – Try the Demo Now!
Coffee Talk Tokyo
Genre: Visual Novel, Interactive Fiction, Simulation
Coffee Talk Tokyo is the newest instalment of the beloved coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator. It brings the warmth, heart, and delicious drinks from the previous games to an all-new café in Tokyo where humans and yokai alike share their stories.
Release: May 21, 2026
Froggy Hates Snow
Genre: Action Roguelike, Exploration, Strategy
A survival roguelike where a frog digs through freezing snow, uncovers treasures, unlocks upgrades, and battles mystical creatures. Find the escape door — or defeat the final boss to survive.
Release: March 2026 – Play the Demo Now!
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories.
Genre: Simulation, Management
Play as Makoto Hayakawa, a college student spending her summer behind the counter of a small-town convenience store, in a colorful world inspired by early 1990s Japan.
Your days are shaped by simple, tactile actions. You stock shelves, tidy displays, and prepare the store for customers, not to optimize numbers, but to settle into a comforting rhythm. Between tasks, you explore the store and its surroundings, notice tiny details, and connect with regulars whose lives gently intertwine with yours.
Through branching conversations and meaningful choices, your interactions shape relationships and reveal intimate stories of a close-knit neighborhood.
Release: April 2026 – Play the Prologue Demo Now!
Cleaning up!
Genre: Simulation
Turn huge messes into sparkling spaces! Feel the satisfaction of restoring them to order with your super-powered cleaning tools. The quick, cozy joy of tidying up!
Release: April 15, 2026 – Play the Demo Now!
Hidden Around the World
Genre: Hidden Object, Puzzle, Adventure
Travel the world, relax, and uncover hidden treasures!
From the creators of Hidden in My Paradise comes a new cozy hidden-object adventure where you’ll explore beautiful hand-drawn cities inspired by real places around the globe, from the colorful streets of Tokyo and Paris to the beaches of Rio and the canals of Venice.
Each location is lovingly crafted with charming details, delightful animations, and hundreds of hidden objects waiting to be found.
Complete relaxing missions, unlock new scenes, and decorate cozy spots around the world as you collect souvenirs and memories from every destination.
Release: TBA – Play the Demo Now!
Planet of Lana II
Genre: Puzzle Platformer, Adventure, Emotional
As greed and power divide the tribes of their home planet, Lana and her little companion, Mui, must stand together against the forces reshaping their world – struggling not just for survival, but for the soul of their home.
Release: March 5, 2026
ShantyTown
Genre: City Builder, Sandbox
ShantyTown is a relaxing diorama-building game about finding beauty in everyday chaos. Bring new locations to life, stack your urban buildings high, and fill each little nook and cranny with your own touch. Try your hand at shaping a cosy little city that is unique to you.
Release: April 16, 2026 – Wishlist Now on Steam!
Wax Heads
Genre: Conversation, Choices Matter
Wax Heads is a cozy-punk narrative sim about working in a struggling record store. Chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues – whatever gets everyone’s groove back!
Release: May 5, 2026 – Try the Demo Now!
Truckful
Genre: Driving, Adventure, Mystery
Drive your pickup truck through seemingly peaceful countryside valleys, deliver much-needed goods to local townsfolk and unravel the small town mystery. Beware, the old forest is watching.
Release: 2026 – Try the Demo Now!
Train Jumble
Genre: Puzzle, Point & Click
Travel Europe in your self-furnished train while making sure all your passengers are happy with their seats!
Move your passengers so everyone is happy. Happy passengers will give a gracious tip for you to buy new modules for your train while
Release: TBA – Try the Demo Now!
Final Thoughts on the Best Indie Fan Fest Cozy Games
Indie Fan Fest once again proved how much creativity and heart the indie scene brings to cozy gaming. From wholesome puzzle platformers to inventive new takes on relaxation and exploration, these titles are brimming with charm and potential. Whether you’re adding them to your wishlist, sharing them with friends, or keeping an eye out for release dates, there’s plenty to look forward to. Which of these cozy games are you most excited about?
Want to find even more upcoming cozy games? Check this article out below:
