Cozy Builder Review: Build Houses, Ignore Locals, Feel Fine About It

Cozy Builder? Sounds like a lazy title considering there’s a huge demand for wholesome, cosy/cozy experiences that are relatively stress-free. And, while Pangea Games Studio isn’t the most imaginatively titled game, it is factually accurate – even with the misspelt ‘Cosy’ 😛

When a game starts with an avatar of a family, or, ‘This was made by a team of 0.5 people with no legs, money or a decent credit rating’, I almost immediately dismiss it, as it’s no doubt going to influence one’s thoughts (unless you’re mean), that you can’t think bad about it. They did the same thing in Forgotten Seas.

Well, I’m not going to get out my sabre and start poking nonexistent flaws, nor am I going to say, ‘Awww, bless them and their lil’ sandbox of joy!’. Unless it’s deserved. Here’s the quick thought process on Cozy Builder: Nice graphics! Oh, customisation? That’s me locked in for an hour. Why isn’t my controller working? Oooh… these buildings are nice? Finished already? Let’s find something else to build. Dry eyes.

Skipped Customisation, Kept the Hammer

Now, for the wordy stuff to pad out the above. First impressions were Disney Dreamlight Valley, until I started to dabble with the available choices and found them limited. I wanted a comical version of me, only I came out looking like a Disney princess holding an offensive hammer. After an hour, I skipped customisation and went with the default.

After that initial waste of time, I was quite taken aback by how enchanting Cozy Builder appeared. It was welcoming, bright, and I felt like I was in Fortnite, only without the scum, and only a hammer to create (and destroy), rather than headshotting some cocky 7-year-old.

I was welcomed by one of the locals, and immediately, I zoned out. I don’t know why, but I wasn’t really interested in what they had to say and impatiently wanted to find out how it all works. It wasn’t wordy or unnecessary, but I wanted to do my own thing, and I was allowed to do that.

First, it was a derelict house that was about 60% complete. Using a controller for the whole experience, which in hindsight was the worst and I’d advise against it, pressing a shoulder button will bring up a wheel of available structures to build.

Paint-By-Numbers Progress

Cozy Builder is targeted at casuals without any need to understand physics like in Valheim, aside from understanding you need to build a wall before a roof, and everything is on rails if you want it to be, with highlights indicating what part is required on the structure, as well as in your wheel.

This made the experience very easy and relaxing, and I wanted that. Building, though already determined, was a paint-by-numbers, and I was happy that I could make instant progress, then wander off to the next house and build that, all the while ignoring the locals.

There didn’t seem to be any restrictions in Cozy Builder until the materials ran out. This doesn’t mean sourcing some rats to kill, or trees to fell, but finding a pile of respawning resources and then continuing where you left off. Or wander somewhere else.

After a lot of wandering and occasional incomplete jobs, I became a Master Builder, which meant I could then build my own gaff. Marvellous. While there’s the freedom to create, much like the customisation, I was actually happy to be guided and would rather complete side quests and restore predetermined structures.

Emphasis again on the name of the game, Cozy Builder is indeed that. It’s a third-person experience that I enjoyed and liked the freedom allocated to me, though I can imagine it won’t be to everyone’s taste, as I’ve since seen a few negative comments. Each to their own, but you don’t have to play it. Unless reviewing.

Not For Local People

And I’m glad I reviewed it. My small child, a.k.a. daughter, has asked for ‘a go’ as she wants to create her own character. This is her thing, as she’ll do this in Miitopia and Tamagotchi Life and seldom engage in the main gameplay, but I think she could be persuaded here, as there’s no pressure.

However… that immediate response of not wanting to engage with the NPCs and skimming over is a theme. The story in Cozy Builder and the quests feel monotonous and a bit of noise. Again, I can do what I want, and given that I was playing with the TV on in the background, later some podcasts, Cozy Builder felt like a companion piece.

It wasn’t something I was hyperfocused on, and that’s what I’d expect from this type of game. There’s something about it that feels like Early Access. I didn’t encounter any technical errors, but I didn’t care about the story or characters. The building aspect is ultimately the selling point, and from that alone, the title is accurate; just play it with a mouse and keyboard.