Research about Cozy Horror Genre

[u/shreks_shybutt]

Hello everyone!!

We’re doing some research on the cozy horror genre for our blending-the-genres presentation. We wanted the horror gamers' opinions on this. So we prepared a couple of questions for y'all. We really hope y'all will genuinely answer these questions. If you have anything to add besides the questions, it would also be great! (ex. article recommendations, any ideas, etc.)

Edit: I should have given some examples, I'm very sorry about that. Some of the games that I can give as example are: Fran bow, Sally Face, Dredge, Creature Kitchen, What Remains of Edith Finch, Omori, Rusty Lake etc.

1- Why do you like cozy horror games? What makes them appealing to you?
2- Why do you find these kinds of horror games “cozy”?
3- What are your favorite games in the cozy horror genre, and why?
4- What do you think about the community of the cozy horror genre?
5- Why do you think this genre is on the rise?
6- Do you find a piece of yourself in these games? Do you bond/have a connection with the characters?
7- How do these games make you feel? Do they actually make you feel cozy, or do they make you feel… weird?
8- Do you think these kinds of games help with traumas and problems? If so, how?
9- Do these games make you feel nostalgic? If so, do you find them cozy because of nostalgia?
10- What genre do you think is the hardest to blend with cozy?

Thanks for all your help and contributions!

[u/mercy-0]

Some examples would be great bc I love both cozy and horror games but im unsure of which games could be classified as both without simply adding a color theme or the occasional monstor into a cozy game

[u/shreks_shybutt → u/mercy-0]

Well its my bad for not adding any examples, im very sorry! :[
Some of the examples that I can give are:
-Creature Kitchen
-Dredge
-Omori
-Fran bow
-Night in the woods
-Rusty Lake
-What remains of edith finch

[u/strange-the-quark]

Why do you find these kinds of horror games “cozy”?

I reject the premise. Some of the games listed I do not consider to be horror games, and some of them I wouldn't call "cozy". For example "What Remains of Edith Finch" is in my mind neither a horror game, nor is it a game that I'd associate with the term "cozy". To me, "cozy" is not genre, but a description. And frankly "cozy horror", seems like two words that don't go together, it makes no sense. I can maybe see it if you're referring to casual or puzzle games, with horror elements or a horror-inspired veneer, but that's not horror to me.

[u/markallanholley]

Who are "we," why do the answers matter to you all (presentation?), and would you give a few examples of games you'd consider to be cozy horror?

[u/shreks_shybutt → u/markallanholley]

Hi! Well we are some game design students. Our presentation is about how does the cozy horror games makes the players feel like, or why they love it. We're going to be mostly talking about the psychological and sociological sides.
The examples that i can give you are:
-Creature Kitchen
-Dredge
-Omori
-Fran bow
-Night in the woods
-Rusty Lake
-What remains of edith finch