I wasn’t looking for a new, cozy gaming obsession, but I found one. While Iron’s Hot, a strange combination of crafting, mining, and puzzle-solving, is available on Xbox One and Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Game Pass.

It has also become the game that I can no longer put down.

Cozy games have been all the rage lately; the focus is not on nervous shooting or intense challenges, but on relaxing and finding a nice, comfortable flow. Games like Animal Crossing took over during the pandemic as a way to let go of all our worries and spend time in a quiet place without too many worries in the real world.

There are plenty of examples of these types of games, many of which involve some form of crafting or resource gathering, such as Minecraft, Stardew Valley or the well-known Cozy Grove. Each has its own niche, but the idea is to have some simple challenges and gentle quest systems to give you a sense of achievement, all set in a cute world, usually with some catchy, sweet music.