Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year, and fall is my favorite season. The nights draw in, a cold wind blows, and the spirits become restless while things get a bit chilling. But, I don't really play horror games - my preference is rooted in the cozy, the cute, the laid-back. The good news is I'm clearly not alone, as there are plenty of cozy, creepy games out there to keep us amused this spooky season, and for many more to come.
I'm also a firm believer that handheld is the way to go for most games of this ilk, so let me present to you a rundown of farming-y, simulator-y, 'cozy' games with a creepy twist so you can get your game on this spooky season, without involving jump scares or bloody murder at the hands of Ghostface, Jason, or Pyramid Head.
Up first is a selection of games that are already out on Nintendo Switch and/or Steam Deck. Myself and the Pocket Tactics team have all logged hours in these, so trust us when we say they're a good time. Um, if you don't like body parts, look away now.
Graveyard Keeper
As the name suggests, Graveyard Keeper has you taking on the role of a keeper of a graveyard. That means menial tasks like unloading bodies, digging holes, and crafting items to keep the place spick and span. That's right - dealing with the dearly departed's physical remains is your job. Pick 'em up, place 'em in the ground, cover 'em, and await your next shipment. Or… throw them in the river if you're full up.
This is a life sim in the same vein as Stardew Valley and Potion Permit, just with a very macabre filter. You can buy some tongue-in-cheek DLCs like the Game of Crone and Better Save Soul packs, which add even more spooky goings on.
Check prices: Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck
Wytchwood
Have you ever wanted to become a crone living in the woods, getting angry at those treading on your garden, and collecting mushrooms? Well, you can be in Wytchwood. The artstyle of this game is fantastic, and really draws you into the fairytale-like settings. There are monsters abound, though, so watch your step and don't let the ghostly hands grab you in the haunted house.
Brewing potions and casting spells is key as you work out how to help your fellow forest dwellers and get that pesky black goat off your doorstep. This is a laid-back option, perfect for spending a few hours wandering the woods… while being a witch.
Check prices: Steam Deck
Bloomtown: A Different Story
My fellow writer Connor Christie - also a connoisseur of life-sims and Stardew-lites, gave the game a big ol' eight out of ten in his Bloomtown review. He likens the game to Undertale and Earthbound, but make no mistake - there are demons and dastardly deeds here. Oh, and it's by the same team as Graveyard Keeper, so you know it's good. And creepy.
Bloomtown mixes monster taming with day-to-day life, disappearing children, nightmare fuel that crosses the veil from sleep to waking hours… You know, all that good, weird stuff that keeps you up at night.
Check prices: Steam Deck
Ok, now, join with me in waiting for these next few games, as some don't have release dates and are in 'coming soon' wishlist purgatory. Seriously, I've had Witchbrook on my list for about seven years.
Neverway
Coming to Nintendo Switch and Steam in 2026.
Featured in 2025's Indie World Showcase, Neverway follows the classic story of a girl leaving her boring job and starting a farm. She then becomes the herald of a god and gets surrounded by horrors beyond comprehension.
The 'nightmarish life-sim RPG' has a really interesting art style - it's reminiscent of retro games, and each screen has a different filter over it, muting the colors and making it all a bit gloomy. A perfectly fitting style for a game where you're constantly fighting back against a dark reality seeping into your own.
Witchbrook
Coming to Nintendo Switch and Steam in 2026.
Chances are, you've heard of this one. Witchbrook first got an announcement in March of 2018. Twenty eighteen. Could you imagine! It's already been seven years, and it'll be eight before it releases in 2026 after suffering a delay. It's confirmed to come to Steam, Switch, and Switch 2, though, so we have plenty of handheld choices.
It looks super cute. I can't wait. You go to a wizard and witchcraft school in an isometric, pixely world, where you can make friends, cast spells, fall in love, and run errands to earn money. It's not the creepiest thing on the list, but as it's magic-based, I'm sure there'll be the odd "oops, I turned them into a toad" or "I lost them in a portal" moment.
Moonlight Peaks
Coming to Steam in 2026.
Oh, boy, I can't wait for the Moonlight Peaks release date to finally roll around, whenever it may be. The minute I saw this vampire-y farming game, I wishlisted it. I played the demo. I've been impatiently waiting for a long time. You get a pet cat, you can turn into a bat, have a coffee with death, and grow some crops, of course.
Moonlight Peaks is similar to Fae Farm, Story of Seasons - that sort of thing. Speaking of which, the game's publishers are Marvelous and XSeed, who released Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar and Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma this year - both of which are excellent farmy life sims, so it's in good hands. The developer Little Chicken aims to bring the game to Switch, and the previous Marvelous games also came to the console, so we have high hopes.
Grave Seasons
Coming to Steam in the future.
If you like horror movies, you've probably heard of Blumhouse. It's the studio behind Cabin in the Woods and Five Nights at Freddy's. The studio is also working on a game called Grave Seasons, and I'm very excited about it. It doesn't have a release date yet, nor is it confirmed for Switch - only Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation - but it's on the list nonetheless.
In this lovely, pixel-art farm sim, you can plant crops and sow seeds to your heart's content… and then figure out which of your neighbors is the serial killer responsible for so many deaths recently. There are also supernatural elements here, and plenty of scary things hiding in the dark.
Haunted Chocolatier
Coming to Steam in the future.
Last, but absolutely not least, on the 'creepy cozy games to look out for' list: Haunted Chocolatier. It comes from Stardew Valley's mastermind maker, ConcernedApe, and is probably one of the most anticipated games in the world.
Similar to his previous title, it's a life-sim with a pixel style, but this time you're a chocolatier (obviously). How does the haunted part come into it? You live in a haunted castle. The game "will be released at some point", so we'll need to be patient before finding out which ghosts there are and just how haunted the scenery is. We imagine this will follow in Stardew Valley's footsteps and come to both Steam Deck and Switch, though nothing is confirmed yet.
Speaking of ConcernedApe, this list also wouldn't be complete without an honorable mention to Stardew Valley. Yes, yes, it's a cute game where you grow turnips and marry people - but you also find Mayor Lewis's creepy basement, where you get chased by sentient shorts, so take that how you will.
Well, are you feeling the spooky spirits? Hopefully, this list will give you some more Halloween games to play and look forward to. We keep up with all the best indie games, so if you ever need recommendations - we've got you. Happy Halloween, everyone!