Autumn is the perfect time for chilling out with a nice cup of pumpkin spice in a burnt orange or brown sweater to play a beloved video game. For this year’s video game autumn aesthetic, there are throwbacks to the simpler times as well as some up-and-coming games. These games will have you cuddling up on the couch, so get ready with your favorite fuzzy socks and a cup of hot chocolate.
6. Don’t Starve Together—Steam $14.99 and may be on sale
While there is a “Don’t Starve” version for solo gamers, fall is not always a season of solitude. “Don’t Starve Together” is as collaborative as it is creepy as players must fight against their ever-draining sanity, health and hunger. With eerie vibes, this game is the perfect start to the aesthetic as we transition out of October and into November. Be ready to bond with friends and fight for survival.
5. Firewatch—Steam $19.99 and may be on sale
“Firewatch” is a low stress simulator game. Playing as a man wanting to escape his harsh reality, you take a job as a firewatch in a national park. You explore the woods, interrupt teenage shenanigans and make a new friend with the second distant firewatch. Even though it is the shortest on this list, “Firewatch” is a lovely combination of exploration and storytelling.
4. Potion Craft: Alchemy Simulator—Steam early access $14.99
In this adorable simulator game, you play as an unseasoned alchemist that has just moved to a new town. You must fulfill customer orders and expand your potion bank through creative discovery maps. Things get interesting as you grapple with morality, choosing to accept or deny certain nefarious or wholesome orders that can affect your good and evil score in game.
The unique aspect of this cozy fall game is that it is early access. The game will continue to update, evolve and add to the gameplay,
3. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild—Nintendo Switch $59.99
As the first open-world game in the Zelda series, “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is, dare I say, a breath of fresh air from the well-worn in story and game mechanics. Even if you have never played a Zelda game before, these games are iconic, no matter where a player begins. Playing as a traveling swordsman, you wake up 100 years in the future to a Hyrule you don’t remember and must discover your place in this new reality.
Bonus: “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2” will be released May of 2023, making this a perfect time to start familiarizing yourself with the world.
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons—Nintendo Switch $59.99
An oldie but a goodie. “Animal Crossing” is a classic cozy game where you can build your own town with the same gameplay as the story-driven “Animal Crossing“ games: fishing, gardening and meeting new neighbors. You may find yourself watching the time tick away as you get lost in rerouting rivers and paying off your house debt.
1. Little Misfortune—Steam $14.99 and may be on sale As my personal favorite, “Little Misfortune” will tug at your heartstrings in the best way possible. Playing as a young girl on an adventure, you must use the power of imagination and glitter to evade dark forces in a hauntingly beautiful story. Similar to games like “Fran Bow” and “Sally Face”, the story tackles themes like the fragility of youth and childhood trauma as you are thrown back into the shoes of a three year old with a can-do attitude.
Written By: Rachel Grace Heckle
