New Cosy Game Releases in May 2026

Here is my monthly list of cosy games releasing in May 2026, with a mix of smaller indies and a few bigger names that are already getting a lot of attention!

Highlights this month include Thrifty Business, Coffee Talk Tokyo, Outbound, and Paralives, all very different, but all worth keeping an eye on for different reasons.

If you want the full picture beyond this list, I update my Cosy Game Release Calendar every month with all upcoming cosy releases. You can subscribe to it or just bookmark it to check in whenever you’re looking for something new!

But for now, instead of listing every single release upfront, I’ve pulled out the games people are clearly most excited about first, and then we’ll get into the rest…

1. Paralives (25 May)

Paralives is a life simulation game about building homes, lives and bonds. It’s been in development for years, with a huge amount of goodwill behind it. The building tools alone have had people excited for ages.

I’m cautiously hopeful here. It looks like it could finally give people an alternative to The Sims, but with this level of hype, it really needs to perform!

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2. Outbound (14 May)

Van-life, exploration and crafting, but with a slower feel than most survival games. If it gets the balance right, this could be one of the standout cosy games of the year.

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3. Thrifty Business (18 May)

Run your very own thrift shop in this laid-back management sim! Sort through boxes to find hidden treasures and arrange nostalgic displays of clothes, antiques, toys & more. Befriend the regulars, help with their requests and expand your store into a hub for the local community!

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4. Coffee Talk Tokyo (21 May)

Coffee Talk Tokyo is the newest entry in the beloved series, set in a late-night café in Tokyo. Brew drinks, meet humans and yōkai, and experience heartfelt stories in a cosy, story-rich world.

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5. Arcane Merchant (20 May)

Open your own shop in the heart of a Medieval Fantasy realm! Stock your shelves with everything from potions and swords to mysterious crystals and legendary artefacts. Set your prices, earn your customers' trust and become the richest merchant in the town!

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6. Duck Side of the Moon (7 May)

Waddle and fly as a duck in space! Explore every corner of the galaxy and find curious creatures and materials along the way. Craft gadgets, upgrade your spaceship, and get cosy in this relaxing adventure.

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7. Greenhearth Necromancer (11 May)

Raise a garden... from the dead! Greenhearth Necromancer is a cosy, witchy, semi-idle game about caring for living and undead plants alike. Grow cute plants in your balcony garden, cast spells, and brew potions, enjoying the chill idle gameplay and ambience throughout your day.

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8. Dreamstranded (13 May)

Survival-lite on a strange island, but with a softer aesthetic. If it avoids the usual survival stress and leans into exploration instead, this could be a really nice middle ground!

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9. Walk The Frog (21 May)

Guide Froggo through a world on sticky notes and relax while solving the puzzle of his journey home to find his best friend, Buddy. Meet quirky animal friends, solve satisfying puzzles, help one another and relax in this cosy and heartwarming adventure with an intuitive drag-and-drop puzzle style.

10. Wax Heads (5 May)

Wax Heads is a cosy-punk narrative sim about working in a struggling record store. Chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues - whatever gets everyone’s groove back!

A few others I’m keeping an eye on

• The Greenening (7 May) – restoring nature is always a win for me.

• Mixtape (7 May) - Play through a mixtape of memories, set to the soundtrack of a generation.

• Feline Forensics and the Meowseum Mystery (13 May) - Interrogate a "colourful" cast of suspects until they cough up hairballs... and the truth.

• Hillshade Farm (21 May) - You’ve got land, time, and a whole lot to figure out.

• Life Below (26 May) – a refreshing twist on the city-building genre, set beneath the waves.

So what about you? What new cosy titles are you looking forward to playing this month?