The sequel to Cozy Grove is currently in the works and is projected to be released at the end of 2023, but fans may be able to hold over with the new NeighBEARS DLC that'll be available along with the physical release on the Nintendo Switch. Cozy Grove has often been compared to games like Animal Crossing: New Horizon, Stardew Valley, and Don't Starve, but it seems to be no secret that the developers did draw some inspiration from these beloved video games.

Cozy Grove lead artist Noemí Gomez explained to Game Rant in a recent interview that to make a good game, developers must look at similar franchises that have had success. From the in-game mechanics to the art style, Gomez said that she was in her "element" when it came to blending the different types of references to create a new experience for Spirit Scouts.

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How Other Indie Games And Animations Influenced Cozy Grove

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While some games have the same concept, they still have their own take on it. Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets players invite cute and unique villagers to their aesthetically pleasing islands. Stardew Valley takes place in the countryside with the responsibility of carrying on a depleting farm of the character's deceased grandfather. Don't Starve is in a dreary parallel world where a scientist must keep himself alive--both mentally and physically. Now, blend this all together, and fans will get a hand-drawn, cute, yet spooky, Cozy Grove.

To make a good game, the most intelligent thing you can do is appreciate and value how other games touch on the points your game will be sharing with players. Games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley were a great inspiration for our in-game mechanics, even if not so much our art. However, it's still worth analyzing these games and media, so we can design fresh characters and worlds that the player can connect with. Don't Starve was also one of our biggest references style-wise, as we landed on similar character proportions.

Outside of video games, Gomez turned to other sources of animation like Spirited Away and Over The Garden Wall. Spirited Away follows the story of a 10-year-old girl who stumbles onto an abandoned amusement park and learns from a mysterious boy that she must work to free herself. The Studio Ghibli film is known for its captivating scenery and charming, yet differing--and sometimes spooky--character designs. Over The Garden Wall is a television miniseries that focuses on two brothers who get lost in a strange forest adrift in time, and they try to find their way out. The show, which was released on Cartoon Network, uses a more subtle color palette but has also been praised for its alluring art style that sprinkles in some mild horror.

I think these represent a great example of those contrasting ideas I touched on and we as a team really wanted to showcase. Both Spirited Away and Over the Garden Wall have a fresh, young or cartoon-like style that aligns with the kind of animated movies we grew up loving, but also have a contrast that breaks the initial good feelings they give off as they touch on darker elements, mature themes, and varied color palettes. Of course, the whimsical and the mundane coexists beautifully in these too.

Combining The Cute With The Dark in Cozy Grove

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A majority of Cozy Grove fans have often noted that the art style reeled them in and has kept them hooked ever since. Gomez said that it wasn't too difficult to combine the charm with a mundane theme because it was something that could be found in children's illustrated books that allow kids to understand their emotions, death, or loss. Cozy Grove was going for something similar.

We like to call Cozy Grove's style "Adult Cozy" because of this. I remember, in the beginning of development, our spirits were going to be represented as just that, spiritual creatures, but we thought sticking with Bears would be more interesting. This created a great contrast between how the characters look and their personal struggles, as Cozy Grove touches on some heavy topics.

The lead artist also said that she's had a lot of uncertainties about some of her art for the game, but after seeing how warmly it was received, she felt more confident. Still, if she had to pick, she said the biggest challenge was more technical when the art team was deciding on the isometric view game because perspective "is always tricky in 2D games," especially when dealing with a lot of visual elements. In Cozy Grove's case, that's just about everything from the environment to the NeighBears and even the hidden object quests.

Fans of Studio Ghibli films and cozy game enthusiasts may find a sweet spot in Cozy Grove. It takes a whole different storyline perspective on the term "cozy" while still implementing fan-favorite features like farming, crafting, and good art. Some players have argued that the daily play limit may be highly restrictive—it's a 40-hour-plus campaign that is synced to real-world time—but many found themselves deeply invested regardless.

Cozy Grove is available now on PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox.

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