Miley Cyrus' new turtle is a reminder that cozy games need better pets

Miley Cyrus saving a turtle might not be a sentence many people expect to read on their phones, but the musician recently made headlines for just that reason. Given the inevitable negativity of the news cycle, a refreshingly positive story like this is to be appreciated, as they don't seem to come around all that often. This cute story brings back memories of video game pets who can bring a little sunshine into their universes, but the only animals that really came to mind were dogs, cats, horses, and sailors.

Even leaving the fictional side of things aside, games could implement dozens of different types of animals as pets, but most play it safe and stick to the old reliables. This really seems like a missed opportunity, especially for nice games which focus on farming or replicating everyday life. Where is my turtle or snake?

Cozy games are stuck in a “cat or dog” monopoly.

Pet systems could be useful

Cozy life sims deserve all the praise in the world for the sheer level of customization they often provide, and that goes double for those that involve farming. They offer hundreds of costumes, building layouts, furniture, decorations and ways to spend the day; however, their pet systems are missing something.

Fields in Mistria only allows cats or dogs, while Potion Permit he will give you a dog and no other option. Disney Dreamlight Valley's companions span several species, but behave the same and feel closer to another skin than unique animals. As Animal Crossing: New Horizons doesn't have pets, players solved this problem by capturing sea creatures and basically taking them hostage. Even Stardew Valleythe farming sim to end all farming sims only technically has three pets (dogs, cats and turtles) with the rest being either horses (horses) or farm animals. Last Outbound it allows players to adopt a dog and tame rabbits, but no other animals. Famously, Nintendo hit a home run during the 2000s with Nintendogs and finally, Nintendogs + cats. To be fair, coming up with another catchy animal pun name might have been difficult, though I wouldn't mind seeing Nintendodos.

Cozy games may be a bit more realistic than JRPGs or Soulslike, but they represent an idealized version of real life. Why not include exotic animals that most people can never actually own? Aside from the lack of unique animals, pets tend not to do much in most games, basically acting as another part of your house's furniture. Outside of home Sims, this aspect shouldn't take up too high a percentage of resources, but it could benefit from a little more attention.

Reptiles and exotic animals are perfect for a “cozy” aesthetic

They put The Slow in a cozy place

Almost by definition, cozy games move at a glacial pace, slowing the world down to remove any pressure. The genre represents the ultimate “escape” from the worries of everyday life by providing an alternate, stress-free reality. Despite being generally packed with content, these games maintain a low, calm energy.

So what pet fits this tone better than a reptile like a turtle, gecko or bearded dragon? Heck, even a frog works pretty well. Building a terrarium, upgrading a heat lamp, or watching a slow-moving pet wander around a digital greenhouse could be incredibly therapeutic, and more importantly, novel, because gaming (in general) hasn't hit that side of things with any real verve or traditional success. With the market wide open, we await the definitive reptile pet sim.

As mentioned, the games occasionally feature a turtle, so the slowest moving animal gets occasional representation. However, Reptile Kingdom goes far beyond Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with the possibilities almost limitless.

Place the consoles in the correct order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)heavy (10)

Start

Place the consoles in the correct order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)Start

The weirder the better; Stranger, more memorable

Turn nightmares into cozy dreams

Developers don't have to limit themselves to “weird” real-life pets, and could deviate from the status quo and try something truly bizarre. Say what you will about the acid trip known as Seafarerbut the 1999 Dreamcast game left its mark on the industry in a way that most pet simulators simply haven't. Sonic Adventure 2 features Chao Garden, a cozy pet minigame that could have served as the basis for a full-fledged spin-off. Mr. Mosquito it casts you as an annoying bug that plagues a Japanese family, and oh my god, it's weird.

Then there is TOMAK: Save the Earth Regenerationcult classic about a goddess emerging from a plant. Your job for three years is to take care of her, manage her stats, hold the microphone so she can sing, and feed her burgers directly into the soil to help her grow again. If you fail to form a bond of true love with this sentient plant on the table, the other gods will completely wipe out the human race. Now it's a “cozy” game with some real stakes.

When Miley Cyrus chooses a prehistoric-looking slow-chewing turtle instead of the standard influencer puppy, she taps into the same energy these games have. Attraction is not a fluffy aesthetic; it is the strange, unique rhythm of an animal that lives completely outside of our normal daily chaos. I'm not saying that the next cozy indie sim on Steam has to feature a fish with a human face or nightmare fuel, TOMAKbut something a little more unique than a dog or cat could help them stand out from the crowd.

Don't get me wrong, I love our 4-legged friends as much as anyone, and any game is better when you can pet a dog or cat; however, owning digital pets should go far beyond the norm.