House design games are especially enjoyable. The ability to create something unique brings a strong sense of accomplishment. But certain times after a full day of making choices, decision fatigue has already set in and that once enjoyable game feels overwhelming. Skip the stress, and instead sink into the carefully curated world of Hozy.

Hozy from developers Come On Studio is a casual room design game that despite limitations, has endless creativity. Offering a tactfully chosen sampling of decorations and furniture to design the room on each level, there’s no mulling over cohesiveness of props. With nine different locations to design, and no time pressure, slow down and get cozy into Hozy.

Gameplay

Hozy’s gameplay is very simple and with a laid out “to do” list and reno tools, there’s never any guessing as to what to accomplish next. Each level has its unique requests, so what applies to one room might differ from the next. 

When loading into any level, any tool players need to accomplish tasks will spawn in. Tools for renovation like a paint roller and a crowbar, for ripping up flooring. A mop, window squeegee, and garbage can to also help clean up left behind messes.  A list in the top right corner will shows what tasks need to be finished before furniture and decor boxes can be brought in. 

Hozy flooring and painting options are limited, reducing that overwhelming feeling of an endless catalog. Flooring usually doesn’t give options, while painting offers 3 different colors. Don’t be worried about it being cohesive with the furniture. The decor and furniture was selected to be cohesive with whatever wall color is chosen. Also a hint: Paint doesn’t just belong on walls ?

There are very few rules when it comes to placing furniture and décor in Hozy. Turn, place and maneuver items as to fit. Rotate the room camera to access different angles. What might look good one way, might not from another perspective. For example, where some players may see plants need to be placed on a windowsill, others may see them scattered across a room on endless surfaces. There isn’t a wrong answer, decorate to your liking, but there are times where pieces cannot overlap. Items will glow orange if it cannot be placed somewhere. If there isn’t space in the room or you would rather not use it in your design, pull it over off the room space and it will automatically be pulled into an accessible storage chest.

Once everything has been taken out of the boxes, a “finish” button will appear on the bottom right of the screen. The level can then be completed, even if everything hasn’t been put in a proper place. Players can come back later to a previously finished level to restart or tinker with your design.

Pictures

Once you are completely finished with your design and feel it is ready to be showcased, you can take in-game photos with advanced camera controls and filters. Experiment with different angles and lighting to highlight the details of your work, and the space you’ve transformed. Photos you take can be accessed from your Steam profile.

In-Game Lore

A lot of lore inside of Hozy isn’t a story that’s told by words, but rather in the objects you unbox. When clicking an unlocked level, you are given a small tidbit about the space along with your client’s photo. It isn’t until you start unpacking their decor and furniture boxes that you unpack more about them. Some are heartwarming, others a tad sad, and some straight up odd. While you can uncover bits of the client through certain items, much of it remains speculative, leaving you free to create your own lore as you design. 

Atmosphere

The atmosphere in Hozy is specifically crafted to surround the player in warmth and quiet comfort. Have you ever heard of the concept of Hygge? (pronounced hoo-gah) It’s a Danish word meaning “a mood of cozy”. Hozy is the perfect example of hygge, expressing it through its warm lighting, soft atmosphere, and inviting spaces. 

Some levels of Hozy include multiple rooms, indoor and outdoor, each having their own acoustics. As the camera spins, sounds shift and blend. Yann Van Der Cruyssen, composer for other games like Stray, Seasons After Fall, and Cave Story, created an alluring soundtrack for Hozy. Each song flows into another, creating a seamless auditory transition without breaking the immersive experience. 

The lighting in each Hozy level has been perfectly curated to bring a certain feeling to a room. Take our tutorial room for example. The pictures below show the room before and after renovation. In the before photo, the dirty windows and dust floating in the sunlight create a sense of neglect, suggesting the room has been left untouched for quite some time. In contrast, the after photo feels bright and inviting, the sunlight bringing warmth to the space. 

As you play Hozy, you’ll notice that some (not all) furniture and décor have little icons when you hover over them. Some control the lighting, others start the music, and a few… Well, I’ll let you click them and discover their secrets for yourself.

Final Thoughts

For those looking for a video game that feels like a warm bath after a long day, Hozy is one to sink into. With versatility in design comes so much replayability. No pressure, no time limits, just a great game to relax with.

Hozy releases on March 30th for Steam on Windows and macOS.

Thank you to the developers for the key given to review. Hozy was reviewed on a PC.