cozygamer
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Disney Dreamlight Valley Review: Nintendo Switch
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My Review:4 of 5 Hearts
- The perfect Disney-themed cozy to scratch the Animal Crossing itch
- Fun questlines and unlockables keep you engaged and coming back for more
- Gorgeous aesthetics, music, and items to purchase and decorate with
- Less time-demanding than ACNH, but still just as fun and relaxing
- Rife with glitches and bugs (though the game is still in early access, so this is to be expected)
- Some of the in-game characters are creepy and/or obnoxious
Disney Dreamlight Valley Game Synopsis
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a Disney-fied life sim with a focus on building friendships with classic Disney characters, building and designing the valley of your dreams, and unlocking new biomes and characters on the adventure of a lifetime.
All the while, you’ll be engaged in classic cozy mechanics like farming, foraging, fishing, cooking, and crafting.
Your story begins when your character is sucked into the world of Dreamlight Valley: a once vibrant land brimming with magic and joy that’s now riddled with darkness and ominous plants called night thorns.
You quickly discover that you have the magic needed to clear the valley of these thorns, and to save the valley and its residents from the harbinger of the thorns: The Forgetting.
You’re recruited by Merlin to help revive the valley, befriend the villagers, restore facilities, and rescue the villagers lost to The Forgetting on your quest.
Disney Dreamlight Valley's Gameplay
The simplest way I can describe Disney Dreamlight Valley’s gameplay is this: it’s like if you combined the classic coziness of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns with the magic and whimsy of 90’s-era Disney princess movies.
It truly does feel magical, and hearkens back a simpler, more dreamy time for Disney babies who have become grown millennials.
Naturally, you’ll be doing a lot of cooking, crafting, fishing, farming, foraging, mining, and beautifying. However, one area where Dreamlight Valley severs its ties to traditional cozies is in its heavy story presence and a focus on side quests and unlockables.
While most cozies do feature unlockables to a degree, no cozy does it like Disney Dreamlight Valley–and as a completionist and collecting aficionado, I am HERE for it. You have to unlock EVERYTHING, and it is SPECTACULAR. There are so many hidden little secrets that help you unlock even more things, and it’s a wonderful formula that encourages exploration and deepens the sense of magic and adventure.
Art and Sound: Disney Magic and Whimsy Abound
I always think it’s important to discuss the art and sound of a game, because those two factors have such a strong influence on how immersed a player can become in a game. This is especially true for this Disney Dreamlight Valley review.
The color palette is highly saturated, with all of the cartoon-esque jewel tones reminiscent of the Disney brand. Much of the scenery is lush and natural, but you will never pass by a landscape that doesn’t have a rich green, blue, or purple feature.
I’d also like to touch on one of my favorite parts of the game’s art: THE ITEMS. Scrooge’s shop is literally a hall of gorgeous treasures that I can’t wait to explore every day. From outfits, to hairstyles, to interior decor, to natural features, I am OBSESSED with shopping in this game. Truly incredible item design.
Then, as expected of a game from the same company that consistently produces catchy and timeless songs, Dreamlight Valley’s soundtrack is equal parts delightful and magical. A lot of the tracks are Disney tracks remixed in a light, whimsical, orchestral style that matches the same “vibe” of the game itself. You’ll definitely find yourself humming along!
Overall, the art and sound of this game are top of the line–if we’re rating them, a 10/10 for each, easily.
We Need to Talk About Donald (And Goofy, Mickey, Ariel...)
The worst part of this game, bar none, are the horrific characters.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. “That’s impossible. The Disney characters are so delightful.”
Yes, sure. But not these interpretations.
Donald Duck is obnoxious, he’s always throwing a temper tantrum complete with “tea kettle whistling” sound effects, and I’m sure his accent is endearing to some, but I honestly wish I could turn his voice acting off.
Goofy is always making weird sounds. Like… always. I’ll be enjoying a leisurely gardening session and hear him grunting and freaking out a few paces over.
Mickey is like… always following me? He just makes me uncomfortable; I don’t know what to tell you.
And Ariel… Well, this picture should explain that bit for you.
Otherwise, my only real gripe is the bugginess, which is expected of an early-access game. This truly is a fun game. It’s nothing revolutionary, but wow, is it ever a race to check Scrooge’s shop and do my other dailies every morning!
The Consensus: Is Disney Dreamlight Valley Worth It?
As of right now, you can play Disney Dreamlight Valley early access starting at $29.99. However, knowing that the game is intended to be freemium (free with microtransactions) post-early access, should you get it now?
I believe that, if you feel like you’d enjoy the game, you should absolutely spend the $30 on it. Honestly, it feels as fun as a $60 game and then some–I can’t believe it’s going to be free! One huge benefit to buying it now is being able to save on microtransactions by getting access to in-game currency quickly upfront.
However, I can’t say in good faith that it’s the best financial decision, or that buying it now means the most bang for your buck. All I can say with any certainty is that this game is FUN, and I’m glad I joined the fun when I did! I think DDLV will continue to be the next big thing in cozy gaming until the next Animal Crossing title, and so much of cozy gaming is community. In fact, I only bought the game in the first place because everyone on Twitter was raving about it and I wanted to be a part of it!
So, if timing doesn’t matter that much to you, feel free to wait. But if you value community in gaming as much as I do and you can afford the price, jump on the hype train with us and give Disney Dreamlight Valley a chance. I know you’ll be glad you did!
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Amazon Prime Early Access Deals for Cozy and Casual Gamers
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The wonderous madness begins!
If you’re anything like me, you DROOL over a good sale, which is why I’m so excited to share some of my picks from this year’s Amazon Prime Early Access Sale with you!
Without further ado, let’s get to the good part: the best deals on all things cozy, casual, and cute in gaming!
* Note that affiliate links are used for order links! If you purchase any item using my link, I’ll receive a small commission of the sale at no extra charge to you. This helps me better the blog and make more + better content in the future! Please consider supporting the blog by purchasing via these links.
Nintendo Switch Game Deals
GAME NAME
SALE PRICE
SAVINGS
Animal Crossing: New Horizons + Happy Home Paradise Bundle (Main Game is Physical, DLC Digital)
$59.99
$24.99 / 29%
Cute + Kawaii Gaming Accessories
Razer Viper Lightweight Wireless Mouse
Original Price: $149.99
Sale Price: $75.99
Savings: $74.99 / 49%
Razer Barracuda X Wireless Multi-Platform Gaming and Mobile Headset
Original Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $59.99
Savings: $40.00 / 40%
Razer Opus X Wireless Low Latency Headset: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Original Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $59.99
Savings: $40.00 / 40%
Razer Seiren Mini USB Condenser Microphone: for Streaming and Gaming on PC
Original Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $38.99
Savings: $11.00 / 22%
Turtle Beach Recon Spark Gaming Headset
Original Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $34.95
Savings: $15.04 / 30%
RGB Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo (In Various Colors)
Original Price: $28.99
Sale Price: $23.19
Savings: 20%
NexiGo Wireless Controller for Switch/Switch Lite/OLED
Original Price: $49.99
Sale Price: $31.99
Savings: 36%
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Ikemen Prince Route Guide: Route Order, Route Reviews, Dev Notes, and More!
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Whenever I start a new Ikemen game or start a new route, I always check some route reviews, suggested route orders, and dev notes. However, I could never find everything in one convenient location, until…
*drumroll please*
Now!
Here is your one-stop, one-shop guide to the Ikemen princes, their routes, and which prince you should romance next.
Table of Contents:
Table of Contents
Ikemen Prince Characters and Dev Notes:
Leon Dompteur
Chevalier Michel
Yves Kloss
Nokto Klein
Licht Klein
Clavis Lelouch
Jin Grandet
Luke Randolph
Sariel Noir
Rio Ortiz
Ikemen Prince Route Release Order:
Leon
Chevalier
Yves
Nokto
Licht
Jin
Luke
Clavis (Coming soon!)
Currently Unreleased: Sariel, Rio
Ikemen Prince Route Play Order Suggestion:
As of right now, the current suggested route order for players is to start with one of the earliest released routes and to finish the group of “starters” (Leon Dompteur, Chevalier Michel, and Yves Kloss) before moving on due to later routes spoiling the routes published previously.
So, reference the release order as you choose your routes! As you’ll see in the cute lil chart for the release order above, once you’ve completed the 3 starters in the order of your choice, move on to Nokto Klein, Licht Klein, Jin Grandet, Luke Randolph, Clavis Lelouch, and then Sariel and Rio when they’re released in the English version.
So, basically:
- Leon Dompteur
- Chevalier Michel
- Yves Kloss
- Nokto Klein
- Licht Klein
- Jin Grandet
- Luke Randolph
- Clavis Lelouch
- Sariel Noir
- Rio Ortiz
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13 Cozy Games for Halloween and Spooky Season
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13 Cozy Games for Halloween (and Spooky Season!)
As a long-time cozy gamer who’s new to the cozy gaming community, one thing became very clear right away:
Cozy gamers LOVE Halloween.
No, seriously!
Spooky season is our jam. We love autumn, hot drinks, and cozy blankets, of course!
But we also love the ~spooky~ aspects of Halloween.
Ghosts? Witchcraft? Astrology? Mysteries?
These are all interests and hobbies that are big in some cozy gaming circles.
(And personally, as a mystery game and novel junkie, I am absolutely thrilled.)
Needless to say, some of the best and most popular cozy games evoke the spirit of Halloween. Today, I’m going to share them with you!
* Note that affiliate links are used for order links! If you purchase any item using my link, I’ll receive a small commission of the sale at no extra charge to you. This helps me better the blog and make more + better content in the future! Please consider supporting the blog by purchasing via these links.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Genre:
Action, Adventure, Puzzle
Few games scream “cozy yet spooky” like the Luigi’s Mansion series. I’m personally a massive fan of the series, and I’m looking forward to replaying it this month!
In Luigi’s Mansion 3, you play as Luigi, the cowardly brother of the brave Mario. Watching Luigi navigate spooky situations with quivering legs and the occasional nervous gulp is honestly precious. You’ll work with returning characters like Professor E. Gadd and Polterpup, using your Poltergust machine to suck up the spirits that are haunting the mansion.
You’ll play puzzles, solve mysteries, search for hidden gems, and try to keep your cool while saving the Mario crew. It’s the perfect cozy Halloween gaming experience, and I really can’t recommend it enough.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre:
Simulation, Adventure, Lifestyle, Puzzle
Cozy Grove is the game that sparked the idea to write this list at all. The idea of pairing traditional cozy mechanics with ghosts seemed so strange and foreign to me…
Until I played it and it made perfect sense.
Using traditional cozy elements like farming, fishing, befriending characters, crafting, and collecting, Cozy Grove is a true cozy. The timeline is reminiscent of Animal Crossing in that gameplay is supposed to take place over the course of several months, where the player dips in for 30-minute periods and sets it down for the next day.
Extremely cute and cozy with some spooky spice, this is a fantastic choice for pre-Halloween gaming.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, PC
Genre:
Simulation, Adventure
Quite literally described as a “cozy management game about dying,” it would be criminal for me to exclude Spiritfarer from this list.
In Spiritfarer, you play the role of Stella, who is a reimagination of the Greek myth about Charon ferrying the deceased across the river Styx. (In a less dorky way: you’re a ferrymaster.)
Gameplay consists of exploring, crafting, farming, mining, fishing, harvesting, cooking, crafting, and of course, befriending and caring for your passengers before they cross over into the afterlife.
(I just bought this game the other day, specifically because I want to play it for spooky season. I can’t wait to start!)
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC
Genre:
Adventure, Visual Novel, Mystery
While I think calling Danganronpa “cozy and spooky” might be misplaced, it’s a murder mystery series with some surprisingly chill, funny, and cozy moments. If you love puzzles, mysteries, and visual novels, you NEED to check out this series in the vein of Ace Attorney and Nancy Drew.
Because I don’t want to give literally anything away, I’m going to give you a broad overview. In this series, you play as a high school student who finds themself in the midst of murders committed on your classmates, by your classmates.
You’ll meet timeless characters you’re obsessed with, explore new environments, search for clues to solve each murder, and participate in a class trial for each fallen classmate.
I highly recommend each and every game on this list, but this is one of my personal favorites. There is such a cozy element about visual novels, because you’re basically curling up with an interactive book. If fictitious murder isn’t upsetting to you, I highly recommend giving this series a try.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC
Genre:
Adventure, Visual Novel, Mystery
An Ace Attorney franchise game that stands strong on its own, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a visual novel game with elements of puzzle solving, discovering clues, cross-examining witnesses, and trying to find the truth about a string of crimes taking place in 19th century Japan and England.
There is an oddly cozy element to this series, and I think it’s due to the game’s lightheartedness, humor, and puzzle-solving gameplay. The franchise has a dedicated following (myself included) because of the very same features.
You can play this game without having played previous games in the series. However, if you’d prefer to start with the original trilogy, it’s an equally wonderful choice!
Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Genre:
Adventure, Puzzle, Mystery
The Professor Layton series consisted of 6 core games on the Nintendo DS and 3DS systems. Though Layton’s Mystery Journey is a spin-off, it reflects the same lightheartedness, memorable characters, and puzzles galore that made the original series such a hit.
Unlike the original series, this game is more casual. More reliant on gameplay than story, this is the perfect game if you’re looking for something you can pick up for a few minutes and set back down.
However, don’t get me wrong: it’s FUN! The emphasis on puzzles and minigames makes for a casual gamer’s dream, but many puzzles are difficult enough even for the most experienced gamer.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Genre:
Action, Puzzle, Role-Playing
I recently did a full review of this game (which you can read here), but to summarize, this game is a dark, atmospheric, and spooky game that’s also surprisingly relaxing.
Many cozy gamers are big fans of plants and nature, which makes me want to recommend this even more. You play as the owner of a plant shop in Undermere, a place riddled with intrigue, cults, poisons, and strange occurrences.
The gameplay consists primarily of finding new plants to sell in the shop via your map (often solving a puzzle to do so) and identifying plants for customers based on your herbalism tome.
I seriously cannot recommend this game enough. It’s pretty quick, but it has a surprising amount of depth and substance. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I’ve played it, and I’d bet you’ll feel the same!
Platform:
PC
Genre:
Adventure, Puzzle, Mystery
I’m going to be upfront with you: I’m a little biased when I talk about this series, in part because it’s one of the first video games that I ever played. So, I may have some nostalgia glasses on.
That aside? This is an incredible series that doesn’t get the notoriety it deserves.
In every game, you play as Nancy Drew, the titular heroine of the Carolyn Keene mystery books. Nancy is fun, smart, sassy, and a wonderful protagonist for over 30 different mystery stories.
In the games, you use your detective skills to find clues, solve puzzles, discover the truth, and show the world “whodunnit.” If you like games like Ace Attorney and Danganronpa, I think you’ll love this series.
You don’t have to play the games in order whatsoever. That being said, here are some of the spookier installations of the series (and two of my favorites!):
Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Genre:
Visual Novel, Dating Sim (Otome)
Cafe Enchante isn’t a mystery, unlike most of the games on this list. Instead, it’s a dating sim that takes place in a magical cafe. The characters look like they just rolled in after a Halloween party, and as an otome fan, I couldn’t help but include it in this list.
You play as 19 year-old Kotone who takes over her grandfather’s cafe after his passing. Your customers consist of demon kings, beasts, angels, dullahans, and more. Initially, you’re just doing your job, but it isn’t long before romance begins to bloom.
This is a true visual novel, unlike some of the visual novel hybrids on the list. So, if you want your Halloween a little less spooky and a little more sexy… You’re welcome. (wink, wink)
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC
Genre:
Adventure, Narrative
I recently played this game and knew I had to add it to the list. Spooky, atmospheric, story-driven, and extremely heartfelt, What Remains of Edith Finch is a narrative-driven “walking simulator” featuring a series of stories about the Finch family and their untimely demise.
You solve some puzzles, but for the most part, the game is more on the visual novel side of the gaming spectrum. You don’t need to read as much of the words are read to you, but it is predominantly a story-based game. The voice acting and art help submerge you into the thick of the story, which is intriguing and enjoyable.
If you love a good book, or miss being tucked in at night with a bedtime story, try curling up with What Remains of Edith Finch this spooky season!
Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Genre:
Simulation, Adventure
A “true cozy” that features equal measures of farming, befriending locals, and practicing some witchcraft, Wylde Flowers was made for cozy fans during spooky season!
In addition, you’ll take care of your animals, craft, fish, cook, and more. However, the atmosphere shifts at night, when you begin to brew potions, ride broomsticks, use weather and seasonal magic, and do some casual kitty shape-shifting.
Fully-voice acted, packed with diverse and memorable characters, and brimming with cozy goodness, this is the choice if you can’t get enough farming sims.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC, Xbox
Genre:
Simulation, Adventure, RPG
In Potion Permit, play the role of a chemist and healer in the small, traditional town of Moonbury.
Potion Permit is in the vein of games like Stardew Valley, but the added concepts of caring for residents, diagnosing diseases, brewing elixirs, and procuring ingredients make it fresh, exciting, and fun!
This game isn’t necessarily spooky, but there is a heavy witchy vibe at play that makes Potion Permit an easy choice for October gaming and beyond.
Platform:
Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PC
Genre:
Action, Adventure, Puzzle
I’ve never played this game, but I feel confident in recommending it based on reviews alone. At the time of writing this, Beacon Pines has a 9/10 on Steam, an 85% rating on Metacritic, and a 97% liked rate by Google users.
The game is described as “a cute and creepy adventure set within a mysterious book,” so it was basically tailor-made for Halloween. The gameplay revolves heavily around a branching choices system reminiscent of visual novels, and it encourages rewriting past events to discover different story branches.
I was originally introduced to this game when I favorited the Kickstarter, knowing I wouldn’t fund it because I was struggling financially at the time. Now that my situation has improved, I can’t wait to give this one a try!
Summary
There you have it: 13 cozy (or at least cozy-ish!) games perfect for spooky season and Halloween. Obviously, everyone has different opinions, so not all of these will fit the bill for you. The good news is that, as cozy gaming grows, I think it’s inevitable that we’ll get more “dark cozies.”
Here’s a quick wrap-up of the best cozy games for Halloween:
- Luigi’s Mansion 3
- Cozy Grove
- Spiritfarer
- Danganronpa Trilogy
- The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
- Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy
- Strange Horticulture
- The Nancy Drew Series
- Cafe Enchante
- What Remains of Edith Finch
- Wylde Flowers
- Potion Permit
- Beacon Pines
Have any of these and love them? Have other games that should be on the list–but I missed them? Let me know in the comments!
Stay cozy (yet spooky)!
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How to Design a Gaming Room You’ll Obsess Over
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You’ve scrolled through Pinterest until 2 AM wishing you could design a gaming room of your own one too many times, and you’ve come to a decision:
You want to make those dreams a reality.
But… Where do you even start? How do you design a gaming room? What does a gaming room need? How much does it cost? How the heck do you plan all of this out?
Especially if you’re starting from scratch, designing a gaming room can be super intimidating. That’s why I’ve created this guide!
You’re not just going to learn what you need to do–I’m also going to give you some of my best tips that I discovered when designing my own gaming room!
First, we’ll look at a few questions you might have before you start. Then, I’ll break down my 9-step process for getting inspired, making plans, and making purchases for your gaming setup.
Let’s do this!
What does a gaming room need?
If you’ve never designed a gaming room, you’re probably wondering what you need! Luckily, it’s mostly up to you and your tastes, but here are a few staples:
- Your consoles, PC, and/or mobile device
- A gaming chair (or just anywhere comfy to sit!)
- A table, desk, or entertainment stand for your PC and/or console and TV
- Outlets for all of the wires (this is an easy one to forget, but it’s a must!)
I would say this is the bare minimum for what you actually need, but you can be as minimal or as maximal as you want with your setup.
How much does a gaming room cost?
Again, it totally depends on what you want and how much you’re willing to spend. If you want to use what you already have, then it’s free! However, maybe you’re going all the way and adding an additional room to your home. That will be a lot pricier!
Here are some pricing brackets to give you a better idea about gaming room costs:
Small Steps ($0)
Making due with what you have may be the best choice.
- Using stuff you already own
Decorating ($20-249)
“Beautifying” an existing gaming room setup
- Wall art
- Desk mats
- Accessories
- Lighting
Revamp ($250-999)
Adding new big-ticket items in addition to decor
- Desk
- Gaming chair
- Monitor/TV screen
All New ($1k+)
You’re pulling out all the stops (and then some!).
- Top-of-the-line PC
- High-quality desks and chairs
- Interior/exterior remodeling
How do I plan my gaming setup?
If you’re a planner nerd like me, this is where things get fun! We’ll dig into this deeper soon, but the most important point is to plan BEFORE you buy. Here are some other tips:
- Shop around and research! You’ll want to compare a lot of different items to make sure you make the best and most educated decision–especially for the higher-ticket items like gaming chairs and consoles.
- Pay attention to how you would use a furniture item to see what would work best. As an example, I wanted an L-shaped desk so I could have two different “workstations” that I could easily switch between. However, I noticed that most L-shaped desks have support in the nook of the L that you can’t move your legs through. I found the perfect one that doesn’t have extra supports and is still sturdy!
- Focus on what you FEEL as much as what you like. If you love the color red but want to design a gaming room that feels cozy, you might feel better with pops of red rather than using red as the main color.
The bottom line is to ask yourself questions and do your research!
How to Design a Gaming Room in 9 Steps
1. Decide on a location
The first step in designing your gaming haven is to choose a location. You probably have already decided on a location, but if you haven’t, make sure you choose a location that:
- Has enough room for you, other players (if you’re a social gamer), your gaming tech, and your furniture
- Has access to electrical outlets
- Stays a respectful distance from everyone else in your household
You may have a location that already serves a similar purpose. For example, some people will have dual gaming room/offices or gaming room/living rooms. If that’s the case and you’re already low on space, I’d highly recommend this!
I personally have a gaming room that also serves as my office, and it’s the best room in the house by far. It’s so cute from the gaming decor that the work even feels more fun!
2. Decide on a gaming theme or aesthetic
Who doesn’t love a good aesthetic gaming room? Plus, there are SO many possibilities for themes to choose from. Here are a few examples:
- Choose one color and base your design around it
- Choose a natural location, like the ocean or a woodland forest
- Choose a vibe and run with it! (This could be cozy, kawaii, spooky, energetic, edgy, etc.)
And, of course, in the year 2022, I’d be silly not to include the aesthetic “cores.” As an aficionado but not an expert, I’ll refer you to the aesthetic -cores list in the aesthetics fandom wiki.
3. Get inspired
Now is the time to get on Pinterest (if you weren’t already!) and find some designs that inspire you. I’d also highly recommend checking places like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for visual inspiration.
And remember, you don’t even necessarily need to be looking for gaming setups. Try looking at offices, living rooms, and entertainment rooms as well. You may even want images of certain art pieces that you like, or color palettes. There are no rules!
My best tip: try to find pictures of complete designs that are about the same size as your gaming room location is. This makes it so much easier to visualize how things would actually look when you finalize your gaming room design.
4. Make a list of what gaming furniture, accessories, and tech you need
It’s list time! You know what basics you need: a desk, table, gaming tech, and outlets. Here are a few other items you might put on your list:
- More games (this one never gets checked off, let’s be honest)
- Wall art
- An additional screen or monitor
- Additional controllers
- Desk mat or mouse pad
- Mouse
- Headset
- Storage boxes to keep consoles and controllers organized
- Console/controller skins
- Cases
- Game disc/cartridge organizers
- Lighting
- Figurines, plushies, or other game-inspired items
- Beverages and snacks (this is crucial, don’t @ me)
- A side table for beverages and snacks (equally crucial)
5. Determine your budget
While we would all love to drop several grand on our dream gaming room (#goals) many of us have only so much we can spend.
That’s why it’s important to have two types of budget:
- Total budget for the project
- Budget per item
You’ll want to set an amount that’s reasonable for your income and your existing investment. For example, if your favorite aesthetics change every few months, don’t spend as much on decorations when you know you’ll end up replacing them. Meanwhile, if you eat, sleep, and breathe the color purple, you probably don’t need to think twice!
The same goes for your love of gaming and certain consoles. If you’re usually a mobile gamer but you just got your first console, I’d advise you to spend less as you’re not sure how big this new addition will be in your life.
Finally, keep in mind that your budget can extend over time. Maybe your total budget is $1,200, but you can only afford $100 a month. That works perfectly fine, too!
6. Research the items from your list
Be sure to do your research before making a purchase! Compare the items you want with others and compare them on things like price, specs, quality, size, etc. Typically, you want to find the item that is the best value, so you get the most bang for your buck.
The best place to start is Amazon. Here is what I would suggest for a process:
- Choose an item from your list
- Examine at least 3 different options for that item
- After you inspect each item, if you would consider buying it, add it to your cart
- Repeat with each item on your list
This will help you segue smoothly into the next step.
7. Prioritize which gaming room items you need most
One of the best tips I can give you is to prioritize where you spend your money throughout your gaming room design process. You’re going to want to allocate the most money toward the items that you absolutely need–like your chair, desk, console, etc.
So, if your cart goes over budget, try trimming down on the items that aren’t as crucial. For example, if you’re $20 over budget, you might buy one fewer decoration.
Meanwhile, if you’re $100 under budget, you may want to invest that and upgrade one of your big-ticket items instead of adding more decorations.
8. Order your gaming room furniture and decor
You came, you added to cart, and now?
You buy.
(And then wait, staring longingly out the window while you wait for the mailperson, refreshing the ETA every hour. Godspeed.)
9. Arrange and finalize your gaming setup
Once all of your furniture, tech, accessories, and decorations are in, it’s setup time! I’d suggest trying a few different layouts (at least in your head) before finalizing the gaming room design.
And, now that everything’s set up… get playing!
Summary: How to Design a Gaming Room
Let’s go over what you’ve learned in this guide. Here are the 9 steps to designing a gaming room:
- Decide on a location
- Decide on a gaming theme or aesthetic
- Get inspired
- Make a list of what gaming furniture, accessories, and tech you need
- Determine your budget
- Research the items from your list
- Prioritize which gaming room items you need most
- Order your gaming room furniture and decor
- Arrange and finalize your gaming setup
I hope this has given you some more confidence and know-how for when you design your game room and plan your gaming setup!
Game on!
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5 Cute Gaming Chairs for Plus-Size Gamers
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The Top 5 Cute Gaming Chairs for Plus-Size Gamers
One of the worst things about being plus-size for me, bar none, is that it’s so much harder to find cute things. Now I need to find cute things to support these cheeks? The absolute nerve of my body, I swear.
If only there was someone who found all the best cute gaming chairs that was ready for this jelly…
Oh wait. I did.
(And there was much rejoicing.)
Check out my top picks for cute gaming chairs for plus-size gamers below!
Hint: #2 is my absolute fave! (Do I mean the chair? That’s for you to decide.)
* Note that affiliate links are used for order links! If you purchase any item using my link, I’ll receive a small commission of the sale at no extra charge to you. This helps me better the blog and make more + better content in the future! Please consider supporting the blog by purchasing via these links.
I’m in LOVE with this super cute pink chair! Pink and white are the perfect color combo for a cute gaming room, and the reviews rave that this chair is comfortable, easy to put together, and perfect for plus-size gamers.
When I was getting my office chair, I was torn between this one and the one I purchased (see below). I ended up purchasing the one below because I use my chair for gaming AND work, and I wasn’t sure if my clients would be cool with a pink chair on Zoom. Also, while reviewers said this chair was comfortable, reviewers DROOLED over the comfort of the COLAMY chair.
However, this one is first place because it is just adorable. It’s so perfect for a pink gaming room set-up, and if I had the money, I would buy this one, too!
Pros:
- Fully-adjustable height, armrests, and back
- Beautiful faux leather fabric for a sleek, chic look
- Easy to put together
- Super comfortable
Cons:
- On the spendy side compared to some other options
- Currently ineligible for Prime delivery
Best Comfort
This is actually the chair I’m sitting in as I’m writing this article (it’s the one I use in my own office!) and let me tell you: it is SO. DANG. COZY. With its dark chocolate brown coloring, it’s perfect for a cozy gaming room for cottagecore and forestcore fans! (Ooh, maybe dark academia as well?)
I specifically looked for the most comfortable big and tall office chair I could find for myself (cozy is an aesthetic AND a lifestyle, my friends!), and this was the winner based on the reviews.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve sat in an office chair and not wanted to get off it immediately–until this chair. Now I can sit at my desk to work and play for hours while this glorious throne cradles my sensitive little butt.
Pros:
- It will grace your buttcheeks by cradling them with smooth, plush comfort
- Gorgeous dark brown color and high-quality material
- Feels extremely sturdy and durable
- Adjustable height, reclining, and 360-degree swivel
Cons:
- On the spendy side compared to some other options
- Not pink (liek if u cri every tiem)
Cutest and Most Affordable
Price: $109.99
Weigh Capacity: 350 lbs
Color: Pink, Light Blue, Light Purple
Average Review: 4.4/5 Stars
If you’re obsessed with all things kawaii, this is the chair for you! In a variety of pastels like pink, blue, and purple, this bunny-themed chair is so cute it hurts.
Also, if you take a closer look, you’ll see that the chairs have more than just adorably floppy ears–they also have LIL PUFF BALL COTTON TAILS. How can you not feel happier just by LOOKING at these? Impossible.
The reviews say this chair is adorable and comfy, but one of the bigger qualms is that it’s relatively short, so this chair would be best for a shorter person. It’s also not explicitly a plus-size chair, but I added it to the list because of the weight capacity, widened seat, and of course, the cuteness!
Pros:
- CUTE AF + BUNNY THEME
- Comes in a variety of colors (feminine but not just pink!)
- Very affordable price
- Comfortable to sit in for gaming
Cons:
- The price is reflective of the durability and quality in comparison to higher-priced chairs
- Best for shorter gamers (under 5'5" or so)
- Lower weight capacity than other chairs
Best Value (Tied)
If you’re looking for a kawaii chair that’s the perfect balance between cuteness, cost, and value, this is one of the two chairs I would suggest.
At $130, it’s a lot more affordable than many gaming chairs on the market, and it’s a rare plus-size gaming chair with a cute and feminine design. It has a wider seat and a weight capacity of 400 pounds, perfect for the kawaii plus-size gamer.
Plus, whereas many pink chairs are more muted, this is unique in that it’s practically a neon pink! It’s bright and bold, and the pink and white color scheme appears on the legs as well!
Pros:
- Gorgeous neon pink color scheme
- Extremely reasonable and affordable pricing
- Adjust height, recline, and swivel
- Comfortable to sit in for gaming
Cons:
- The price is reflective of the durability and quality in comparison to higher-priced chairs
Best Value (Tied)
If you’re looking for a kawaii chair that’s the perfect balance between cuteness, cost, and value, this is the chair I would suggest (as well as the chair above).
This chair has such a cute, unique, and fun design. I love that, instead of being mostly pink, it’s mostly white–so it can go with more color schemes!
Many of the reviewers say this chair is a surprisingly high quality for the price, as well as being comfortable and easy to assemble. Seriously, read the reviews–people LOVE this chair! It actually has a slightly higher average review than the other chairs on this list.
Pros:
- Mostly white white pink accents makes it super cute but still versatile
- Extremely reasonable and affordable pricing
- Adjust height, recline, and swivel
- Comfortable to sit in for gaming
- Particularly high quality for the price
Cons:
- Not as high quality as the first two in the list (but still very, very good!)
#1 Best
Comfort
Cute/Cheap
Value (Tie)
Value (Tie)
Price:
$209.99
$241.52
$109.99
$129.99
$157.53
Weight Capacity:
400 lbs
400 lbs
350 lbs
350 lbs
400 lbs
Average Review:
4.4/5
4.4/5
4.4/5
4.4/5
4.5/5
Quality:
5/5
4.4/5
4.4/5
3.9/5
4.5/5
Comfort:
4.4/5
4.4/5
4.1/5
4.3/5
4.4/5
Assembly Ease:
4.4/5
4.4/5
4.3/5
4.2/5
4.5/5
Adjustability:
- Height
- Armrests
- Tilt
- Tension
- 360 Swivel
- Height
- Armrests
- Tilt
- Tension
- 360 Swivel
- Height
- Armrests
- Tilt
- Tension
- 360 Swivel
- Height
- Armrests
- Tilt
- Tension
- 360 Swivel
- Height
- Armrests
- Tilt
- Tension
- 360 Swivel
Prime Shipping?
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All the Cozy Gaming News from the 9/13/22 Nintendo Direct (Farming Sim Fans Rejoice!)
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The Nintendo Direct was an absolute delight for me as a cozy gaming fan. Here are the top announcements and releases from the 40-minute long presentation on 9/13.
* Note that affiliate links are used for order links! If you purchase any item using my link, I’ll receive a small commission of the sale at no extra charge to you. This helps me better the blog and make more + better content in the future! Please consider supporting the blog by purchasing via these links.
** Also, keep in mind that cozy means something different to everyone! I try to focus on casual games, farming sims and life sims, and visual novels in my reviews, so those were the types of games I included.
NEW AND UPCOMING COZY GAME ANNOUNCEMENTS
Image
Description
Release Date + Order Link
It Takes Two
A two-player platforming co-op game with a heartfelt story about love and family.
November 4th, 2022
Tunic
A Zelda-like action-adventure game starring an adorable little fox.
September 27th, 2022
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (Remake)
The beloved Gamecube classic is coming back in a Nintendo Switch remake! Farm, make friends, romance villagers, start a family, and grow old in this former Harvest Moon title.
Summer 2023
Fae Farm
A magic-infused, farm-sim RPG with an emphasis on multiplayer (though you can also play solo!).
Spring 2023
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
A sequel to the bestselling crossover tactical RPG. Oddly cozy and super cute.
Rune Factory 3 Special (Remake)
A remake of the Nintendo DS game, Rune Factory 3, is making its way to Nintendo Switch! Dragons, farming, and dungeon crawling--oh my!
Spring 2023
Rune Factory 6 (Currently Untitled)
All we currently know about the next installment is that it’s currently in the works–and hey, that’s more than enough for me!
(Anyone else remember not even thinking the series would continue after Rune Factory 4 on the 3DS? We are being FED, y’all.)Various Daylife
A combination between a life sim and a tactical RPG, Various Daylife launched the day of the Direct!
Out Now!
Atelier Ryza 3 – Alchemist of the End + the Second Key
Pikmin 4
We know very little about the next Pikmin game. What we do know is that the perspective will now be lower, and hey, it's COMING (finally)!
2023
Just Dance 2023
More avatar personalization options and, more importantly, BTS's DYNAMITE IS ON IT. (I screamed. Sorry not sorry.)
TBD
Harvestella
A life sim, farming sim, and RPG rolled into one, Harvestella appears to be Square Enix's take on Rune Factory. The only question remaining... WHY CAN'T WE DATE THE CUTIES, SQUARE? WHY?
November 4th, 2022
Master Detective Archives: RainCode
A mystery game from the makers of Danganronpa featuring a detective-in-training and his obligatory "anime-tiddy-demon-sidekick."
2023
Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection
A two-pack of Life is Strange visual novel games, featuring Life is Strange Remastered and Life is Strange: Before the Storm Remastered.
September 27th, 2022
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
The newest installation in the classic Kirby series full of super-cute action platforming adventures.
February 24th, 2023
What did YOU think of these announcements? (Tell me in the comments! Seriously! I need to geek out about these games!!)
I don’t know about you, but I definitely didn’t cry. Not even a little. No way; not me.
(I absolutely did, please send tissues.)
Thanks for reading and happy gaming, friends!
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Strange Horticulture Review: Nintendo Switch eShop
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My Review:4 of 5 Hearts
- An interesting mystery story, masterfully told
- Deliciously dark atmosphere featuring calm yet haunting music and soundscapes
- Unique and engaging puzzle-solving gameplay
- Tedious zoom process necessary to read small text
- Short playthrough with low replay value
Game Synopsis
Strange Horticulture is an occult-themed puzzle game with an emphasis on discovering and properly labeling plants.
Sounds boring?
I can assure you, it’s anything but!
As the owner of a plant shop, aptly named Strange Horticulture, the world around you unravels through chatting with your customers. As the world is gradually built through the stories your customers share, you soon become entangled in a mystery featuring dark beasts, rituals, and perhaps even murder.
All the while, you solve small puzzles to discover plants in the land of Undermere, and additional puzzles to identify your new finds.
Serenaded by the soft rivulets of rain glancing against the shop’s windowpanes and beautifully subtle yet enrapturing sound design, you’ll feel completely immersed in this world during your stay.
Gameplay
As previously mentioned, the gameplay in Strange Horticulture centers around following clues to discover new plants. However, merely discovering a new plant doesn’t identify it. To label your new find, you’ll need to wait for a customer searching for a plant to enter your shop, then consult your handy-dandy botany book.
The puzzles to find the plants consist of some sort of clue, either in the form of your personal clue card deck or a letter delivered to the shop, and your map of the local land of Undermere.
As for labelling your plants, you’ll need to use your customer’s desired uses and appearance descriptions to consult your book, and then choose the plant that best fits both sources.
The gameplay is novel, challenging enough to keep you interested, and downright fun. If you have a mind for mystery, you’ll be delighted with Strange Horticulture’s gameplay.
There are even hints available within the game, so if a clue leaves you stumped about your next plant’s whereabouts, you can get a clue without looking up a tutorial.
Art and Sound
As much as I adore Strange Horticulture’s gameplay, it’s made even more engaging with a backdrop of beautiful 2D art and sound designed to draw you deeper into the story.
It’s hard to describe this in a way that makes sense, but the sound is as on-brand as the art, if not more so. A page turn doesn’t sound like a flipped piece of paper. It sounds like an old, delicate sheet of parchment being drawn from one dusty cover to another.
Further, it’s frequently raining in the game, and the sound effects are truly breathtaking. It’s rare to experience such an immersive world, but the creators of Strange Horticulture held nothing back in creating this enrapturing game.
Drawbacks
This game has very few drawbacks, but there are a few worth mentioning.
First and foremost, my single biggest criticism is the zoom mechanic. Much of the text in the game is small, and to read it, you’ll have to zoom in and out regularly. This turns out being pretty tedious, especially when a simple UI adjustment would’ve negated the need for it. You have to zoom in and then scroll around to find the text you’re looking for, and then zoom back out to continue playing. It’s a strange spot of oversight in an otherwise very polished and thoughtful game.
Further, the game is pretty short. It took me around X hours to complete. However, though I’m not usually a fan of short games, this is a notable exception. The game does feel finished, and it wraps up nicely. It’s a suitable length for the story it’s trying to tell, and the experience it’s trying to give the player.
You may’ve noticed that I put low replayability as a negative in the “cons” section at the beginning of this review, and that’s true–for me. However, if you are more of a completionist than I am, then the game will actually have decent replay value; there are 8 different endings.
However, in my opinion, the subtleties in choices made from one playthrough to another really makes the replay aspect feel like more of a chore to me than a new reason to play.
The Consensus
Ultimately, Strange Horticulture is a game that mystery fans shouldn’t miss. It brings you the experience of reading a mystery novel on a stormy night, but instead of merely watching the story unfold, you become a part of it. Strange Horticulture sucks you in and makes you a part of its haunting, fascinating, and unique adventure.
Truly, and I mean this: just buy it. Strange Horticulture is a story, an experience, a cast of characters, and a cozy-yet-haunting atmosphere that you won’t soon forget.
Mystery lovers rejoice!