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Replay. The Polish Journal of Game Studies
Brewing Happiness: Design Aspects of Coffee Representation in Cozy Games
Key insights
7 takeaways- 01Coffee is a significant contributor to the 'cozy' genre, functioning as a key tool to amplify feelings of safety, abundance, and comfort through aesthetic, narrative, and mechanical design.See it on page 1
- 02While coffee is a recurring motif in gaming history dating back to the 1980s, its implementation in cozy games specifically emphasizes social interaction and relaxation rather than the 'power-up' or 'energy-boost' mechanics found in earlier titles.See it on page 2
- 03A quantitative analysis of Steam and GOG platforms reveals that coffee-related games represent a niche market, accounting for approximately 0.51% of titles on Steam and 0.275% on GOG.See it on page 7
- 04In titles like Stardew Valley, coffee serves a dual purpose as both a functional resource for speed buffs and a narrative device that facilitates social connection and player-driven breaks.See it on page 10
- 05Cozy games distinguish themselves by using coffee to build emotional empathy and provide players with tools for self-reflection, contrasting with non-cozy games that often treat coffee as a mere commodity or resource.See it on page 6
- 06There is a notable design dichotomy: dedicated coffee-focused games prioritize the rituals of brewing and serving to foster social interaction, whereas broader cozy games often limit coffee to aesthetic or minor mechanical roles.See it on page 12
- 07Despite the cultural significance of coffee globally, the motif remains underrepresented in academic game studies, indicating a substantial gap for future research into how digital media reflects diverse coffee cultures.See it on page 5
Summary
https://doi.org/10.18778/2391-8551.12.05 Brewing Happiness Design Aspects of Coffee Representation in Cozy Games This paper examines the way coffee is represented and used in cozy games. As a genre, cozy games are defined by the concepts of safety, abundance, and softness, which together establish a sense of coziness.
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