From the pixelated pastures of early farming simulations in the 1980s (e.g., Harvest Moon, 1996), cozy gaming germinated as a counterweight to the high-stakes adrenaline of arcade classics and first-person shooters. Developers experimented with gentle loops: sowing, harvesting, and socializing—cycles mirroring real life’s simple rhythms. As home computers became ubiquitous and indie studios flourished, these pastoral prototypes blossomed into fully realized worlds: Stardew Valley (2016) and Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) stand as the crowning achievements of this lineage, inviting players to trade urgency for tranquility. Irony in Blossoming Blooms: The Rise of “Low-Stress” Escapism In a culture still enamored

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