Frictions in Cozy Gaming: Power, Race, and Cultural Flattening in Palia

Frictions in Cozy Gaming: How Dynamics of Power, Race, and Cultural Flattening Shape World Building in Palia STEPHANIE T JONES∗†, Northwestern University, USA and Chicago State University, USA ANGELA D. R. SMITH∗‡, University of Texas at Austin, USA and University of Rochester, USA The emergence of "cozy games" represents a significant shift in video game design, prioritizing comfort, community, and low-stakes interaction.