Best Of: Game Mode Gets Cozy

It's been over three years since "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" was released. It became one of the best-selling video games of the year — moving over 42 million copies, almost four times as much as the previous edition of the game. It also renewed interest in a video game trend known for finding magic in mundane tasks: cozy gaming. Games like "Stardew Valley," "Harvest Moon," and "Unpacking," where the objective is less about shooting, fighting, or space colonization and more about gentle verbs — tending, farming, and homemaking. And the video game industry is taking notice. We discuss the impact and popularity of cozy gaming. Want to support 1A?<a href="http://donate.npr.org/1A"> Give to your local public radio station</a> and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find out how to connect with us by visiting our <a href="https://the1a.org/">website</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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