Cozy games and titles with solo play options are experiencing rapid growth in popularity on Steam

Analytics platform GameDiscoverCo published research results that revealed the main trend on Steam over the past five years. Analysis of keywords in game descriptions showed an impressive increase in mentions of the term "cozy" – from 0.4% in 2022 to 3.1% in 2025 among projects with revenue exceeding $100,000. This 675% increase over three years confirms that cozy games have evolved from a niche genre into a full-fledged market segment.

GameDiscoverCo's research is based on detailed analysis of game descriptions on Steam – text blocks under the icon in the upper right corner of the store page. Analysts compiled a spreadsheet of the top 1,000 most popular keywords, filtering out service words and breaking down the data by year. This approach made it possible to track how developer and player preferences in describing projects have changed and identify the most significant trends of recent years.

Second place in popularity growth went to the word "solo" with a 450% increase. However, this doesn't indicate growing interest in singleplayer games – the term is used to denote the ability to play "solo or co-op," "solo or PvE mode." This actually reflects the rise of multiplayer projects that, like Subnautica 2, seek to reassure solo players about the comfort of playing without partners.

Other significant trends include a 325% increase in mentions of "factory," reflecting the popularity of management sims on PC. The word "adult" grew by 314%, while the terms "expand" and "shop" have also become noticeably more common in descriptions of successful games. These changes demonstrate how Steam audience preferences are evolving toward more diverse genres and gaming experiences.

The term "cozy" has become a convenient way to describe non-violent games. The word also applies to certain types of farm sims and games that in the 1990s might have been dismissively called "for girls." The breadth of the term's application turned out to be an advantage, allowing diverse projects to be united under an understandable and attractive definition that resonates with a growing audience.