I'm back, friends. Let's talk about the Scandinavian concept of "hygge" in video games. Follow me on Twitter @SatchellDrakes Follow me on Instagram @satchell.drakes
As a professional dane, I would say, that Stardew Valley is a great example of a hygge game. The music is soft and relaxing, and community is an important theme in the game.
Can't agree more. It allows you to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want. This makes the game a lot more relaxing as opposed to a game giving specific tasks that you *need* to finish to continue playing.
The first time that I walked into a lone cabin in the middle of the wilderness in Breath of the Wild expressed hygge in a more intimate way than any other game I have played. When it's the entire game experience, it can often feel wildly intentional and designed. However, when it's contrasted against a large and uncaring world, those moments of comfort, companionship, and warmth are deeply affecting. I'm glad to see that you're back.
You spoke a lot about hygge exemplified in visuals, but I think your analysis could’ve been further developed by considering hygge in actions. In other words, the way you play the game is hygge. Titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley come to mind.
Probably the game that instilled this feeling strongest in me was Dark Cloud 2. Being able to build small, cozy towns throughout your adventure allowed you to take a break and just exist. You could chill in a log cabin you built and just feel free. The forest environment showcased this the most for me. It left me with a happy feeling I've never been quite able to explain.
SwankyBox dude, real talk. Sindain and Veniccio were my favorite towns to build in that game. To this day, I still findmyself daydreaming about walking through the Rainbow Butterfly Woods
Although I haven't played it in a very long time; Minecraft used to give me this specific feeling. Usually at night on a friend's server, we'd all just bundle together in our giant log cabin. Something about the lighting and music in that game made certain moments like that feel special.
This was an exceptional watch, and VERY insightful. It brought to mind some adventure games that provoke that same feeling of coziness, peace, and contentment, and the reasons they did do have to do with design and sound. That kind of pleasant stimulus can have very positive affects on the brain. Great job with this.
The early *Harry Potter* games come to mind as hygge or _"huggulegir"_ as we say in Iceland. The RPG-ness of the Gameboy Color versions and the exploration of the warm Hogwarts castle in the PC and PS1 versions really bring a sense of cozyness. All the fireplaces, the music, the big friendly (and unfriendly) animals, the knitted sweaters, the character models and a strong and warm connection to christmas the series has had, especially early in the series. Great work as always, Satch!
Another Beautiful video my dude! A game that may seem a bit obvious to include in this list would have to be Undertale, more specifically Toriel's Home and Snowdin Town. Both of these towns are such a stark contrast from the rest of the game (depending on how you play it of course) of darkness, trickery (courtesy of Flowey) and this theme of war and where your character stands in it. It is both a breath of fresh air and a stab in the gut morally when you enter these areas because we are taught to fear monsters, but their warm and welcoming lifestyle is Toby Fox's way of saying "Do you really want to be the one that set's their world a flames?" Anyway thank you so much for making me think critically about the games that I love again. You rock and please never stop making videos :)
Unravel is probably the strongest example of this that I can imagine. Being Swedish, it's very authentic in that kind of hygge feeling, along with other very Sweden-specific tones and atmospheres it tries to create. If you're in to that kind of thing, I highly encourage anyone to try it out. I think it's a really underrated game. Maybe because it goes for this very specific tone that a lot of gamers aren't that familiar with. But if you understand what it's going for, you can tell how perfectly it nails it. The soundtrack too is absolutely outstanding.
For me, the early game of Stardew Valley is incredibly Hygge. The simplicity of your farm, your tools, your equipment, and even your weapons and armour boots all make me feel so cozy and assured. Doesn't matter that the first sword is rusty, it's my first sword. Doesn't matter that I barely have any furniture or farm equipment, that cute little ranch is still mine. Doesn't matter that I barely know the townspeople and I don't have many friends yet, this is my new home and new life and they're all glad to see me move in anyway. It's a really good feeling.
I've always been looking for a way to describe exactly what I've come to appreciate in games. This video meant a lot more to me than anything else I've watched in quite some time. It captures exactly why I do what I do. When I play Lord of the Rings Online its slightly dated rustic atmosphere with beautiful toning from the games very dynamically coloured world brings me a feeling of home almost unlike anything else. With each point of safety in the world often offering a red glowering place of comfort. Another game springs to mind Fire Emblem, which might sound strange at first but namely Awakening and the lost in translation title for the Nintendo DS both evoke a strong sense of hygge in its support conversations. Where its characters that you've come to relate to just talk. They talk in a setting that brings to light a calm friendly and authentic atmosphere. A game called OneShot I played early last year brought a very desolate feeling world to life with its delightfully unique characters who found bliss in an otherwise doomed world. When you visit the town of bird people in the ruins outside the city they all seem to offer you the comfort of their home because they just want to share the happiness they have. I can recall my first time playing RuneScape way back in 2007 when the feeling of performing mundane but seemingly satisfying tasks such as woodcutting or mining were amazingly contrast by the rewarding feeling, alongside its iconic soundtrack and very palatable art direction for the time. Not too similar from my first time playing Final Fantasy 14 with my friend when we played for 14 hours straight taking in the feeling of the woodland of Gridania never playing the game TOO much and always keeping in that hygge feeling. Sitting by campsights, just talking in the night light. Even the two games that get some smack for this Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Kingdom Hearts 2. Their opening sequences could very well be my favourite part of each game. Its homely, tasteful and relaxing. I remember the very similar feeling in the first 3 Runefactory games which brought the rustic life style to the forefront in a town of people all looking out for each other. Its a feeling of almost being loved. I'd even posit that Darksouls has been capable of grabbing this feeling in the past with how bonfires make you feel safe and yet also hold that familiar red hue of coziness we've come to know and enjoy. Hygge is in more places than one might think. Personally I've realised that its one of the largest purposes I play an RPG for or a similar variety of game. It brings such a level of satisfying amenity that I can't find myself wanting to leave. It almost makes me feel emotional booting up a game such as these and just sitting in its environment. Its a feeling I know I never want to let go of and I hope video games keep for years to come.
My. Dude. Good to see you back at it. For me, the Winnie the Pooh portions of Kingdom Hearts exemplify this. They are such a sequence break for the rest of the game, yet the safety and change of pace really makes it work. It makes me feel like I'm a kid being read a story
Man Satchbag. As a Dane I can't help but think how stressful life must be in the states, when Copenhagen is an example of "western zen". That city is in such a hurry. If you ever return to Denmark, come to Odense. I'll show you the house of Hans Christian Andersen and treat you the real low-key hygge experience. :P But honestly you should definitely visit some of the smaller "cities". Ribe, Svendborg, Kerteminde and Odense are especially worthwhile. Copenhagen can in many ways be it's own thing compared to the rest of the country.
This is a really interesting topic to transition into a discussion of games, and one I wasn't familiar with before this video. It's always enjoyable to see video games explored in a new way, from a new perspective, and this is a great example. I'll always appreciate the diversity of topics and concepts you manage to bring up in your case studies, and look forward to more. Good stuff, Satchell.
Stardew valley immediately came to mind. Also Mother 3 in early tazmily village. Because of the intimate and cozy atmosphere at the beginning of the game, it is heartwrenching as you see it depart. Many many zelda games in their starting village. Also Kakariko village, particularly in twilight princess. Hygge is a delightful experience to be sure.
I mean it's a super cop out example but Arni Village in Chrono Cross just gives me the warmest feeling like it's another home for me. Music always plays a huge part in hygge for games imo.
I would say world 2 from DKC tropical freeze has a lot of hygge. With the wooden buildings, warm colors (with the fall leafs and such) and the beautiful, acoustic, feel good soundtrack
Man I really appreciate this video satch, it describes a warm nostalgia that I have wanted for so long but never could articulate. It speaks the language of oaken bookstores and cobblestone streets and northern European facades and good food shared with good people around the well-fed hearth. Somewhere between Burns's market day pub and Beowulf's Hart, a warm, cozy, secure community that feels like the embrace of mother nature guided by humanity's wit. Hygge.
I feel that the original harvest moon series (now story of seasons), stardew valley and the lesser known final fantasy crystal chronicles definitely fit into this category. And despite controversy a lot of Minecraft when played with friends.
OOh jeez... dude I've been THRISTY for your content FOREVER, I love you my man, you're an inspiration to all designers... Not only is the content crazy good with you, but also as a designer too... I can't get enough man
Legend of Mana's home area had it to such a powerful degree. Going home after each and every mission and going to check on your animals or telling your stories to your little pet cactus were just so satisfying in a way I never knew how to describe at the time.
I feel like a lot of the old point-and-click mysteries do this, in their own ways. Especially ones set in big old mansions. Static screens where you click around to rummage in boxes, desks, drawers and cabinets, listen to footsteps on hardwood and carpet, uncover some strange mystery, satisfying clicks and brushes of paper as you go in and out of menus and notes - I always got the impression that the real sense of searching and discovery was in finding out how these other people lived, and less about who did what with the Lost Gem of Whatever.
Traverse town immediately comes to mind, mostly because of it's theme. It set's you into this cozy environment despite what got you to the town. Going back there and going to twilight town too also gives a sense of coziness that makes a lot of what happens later easier to take into account in kh and kh2.
Never thought I'd see this as a concept to attach to video games, and it works really well. To mimic others, the addition of Stardew Valley (and Harvest Moon, by extension) would have been very fitting, though them and Animal Crossing are in style of "hygge" quite identical. Ohhh man, if I had known you were in Denmark at the time...!
that moment in Dragon Age: Inquisition where you sit down to play cards with your guys. Going to the concert with Zoltan Chivay in The Witcher 3. Finding a familiar face by the bonfire after finally beaten the ledge archers in Dark Souls 1. Really, any moment with a solemn sense of joy you don't need to express, that you just FEEL.
To me, revisiting a game I already played and loved gives a sense of hygge. The nostalgic comfort, the coziness of the familiar places and game mechanics, replaying the game just because I love it and I like to be in that atmosphere with that specific character or charaters I love. For example Croc: Legend of the Gobbos comes to mind. Even though it has it's flaws, the world they've built, the cute characters, the awesome music, it just feels so great to be part of that again. Like meeting old friends after not having seen them for a while, and having some nice conversation and even more nicer tea besides a fireplace. :3
As someone with Synesthesia, visuals are important, but sound is of the utmost importance. Sounds like Epona's hoofsteps in the LOZ series, the music in Snowdin Town from Undertale, the water in the Dark Cloud games, etc. As for overall experiences of hygge in games, One Shot, Fable 2 & 3, Harvest Moon, and Dark Cloud all come to mind. I never knew the feelings I've felt from these games had a name. But I am overjoyed that you could present me with one. Good one, Satch 💕
I felt like the feeling of a small, intimate town being nailed, combined with the warm autumn colors, plus how despite how lost the main character can feel, her days pretty much always end with her going to bed in the relative safety of her own home; all of these contribute to making Night In The Woods an excellent example of hygge in games.
First things first, I love this video. I was trying to think of games with hygge in them, the first that came to mind was Minecraft. I didn't play it much but, if I'm understanding hygge correctly, the first little wooden cabin you would build for yourself always had that comfy, homey feeling. Even more so if you were playing with a few buds. Keep up the ever amazing work Satch, love you buddy!
Definitely agree with you on Animal Crossing, for the longest time it was my wind down game, when I would play it, it would feel like coming back home after a long day out in the winter. When you mentioned Woolly World, Kirby's Epic Yarn came to mind and while perhaps not a complete representation of hygge I wouldn't hesitate to call it cozy and soft.
It isn't very typical, but I would say the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series embodies this philosophy. There is an inhospitable world surrounding small pockets of warmth, comfort, and camaraderie. Each area has its own attitude that is unique to the faction or ecosystem you're visiting. Even competing ideals in these areas sometimes live in harmony, separated only by a few walls (such as the Jupiter train station, Yanov). The game has a certain rhythm that you get into, and the world becomes filled with familiar areas that become favourites for each individual player. The A-Life artificial intelligence system creates unique scenarios that give each player their own "stalker stories" that no other player has, and similar to fishing stories, they're ripe for embellishment and exaggeration. I think the feeling of Hygge wouldn't exist in these games without the inhospitable world though. The fact that the comfortable areas are isolated islands inside the dangerous world of The Zone amplifies the comfy factor and elevates the atmosphere. The fact that sometimes these hospitable and inhospitable worlds clash or combine (such as the dangerous anomalies inside the town around 1000 Rads Bar) helps amplify that even more. The comfortable areas become personal, you have a stake in them, and so you want to defend them.
Night in the Woods is full of hygge. The little interactions your character has with her parents and friends, the warm tones of the evening Mae always wakes up to. It's great, and then the game makes a hard left and suddenly becomes very stressful to play.
Definetely the Final Fantasy games achieve this feeling, with the music being a great extra element to it. And even though thematically it differs greatly from Western design, I gotta mention Final Fantasy 7's Cosmo Canyon as a place that gave me real comfort and warmth once I got there.
In terms of hygge in games for Me, any of the Pokémon titles come to mind, just the ability to explore a world and spending time with these creature and seeing the characters around you do the same is a comforting feeling that just puts a smile on my face.
Oddly enough, A Hat in Time's hub world provides that feeling of hygge for me, especially when I get the band to play a jazzy song. The Trails in the Sky games also give off that sense of hygge. There's a moment in the first game that especially gives off that feeling: it's after you leave the Krone Pass and you're on the Manoria Byroad, which is along the sea. There's a sunset over the water, the area is wooded, and this intensely relaxing and cozy. I remember my breath being taken away, which is something that has only happened in Breath of the Wild in terms of video games (another good hygge title, but someone else already mentioned it)
I think my greatest feelings of hygge happened during very casual moments in jet set radio future and in twilight town in kingdom hearts. Specifically the song Hello Alison (Aisle 10) brings out the hygge in rokkaku dai heights and 99th street when you're just casually skating around the area and grinding to your hearts content. Both of the towns you start out in both kingdom hearts 1 and 2 but twilight town is the first to come to mind simply because of how it feels like home.
I think Kirby's Epic Yarn is a great example of hygge and hyggelig. The music was very relaxing and designing Kirby's house with the little yarn furniture stickers creates a very cozy setting. As someone who lived in Scandinavia for a while, I'm really glad the concept of hygge is becoming so widespread here. I'm hoping for more titles to come out that exemplify the traits of hygge.
Two games come to mind that definitely fall into the Hygge space (from my perspective at the least). Quest for Glory 4 and The witcher series. In particular the second and third entries for The Witcher had a lot of components that felt 'earthy', comfortable and lived-in rather than just something thrown together haphazardly for the sake of a game. Quest for Glory 4 definitely had a lot of comfortable scenery. The town was a perfect example of this.
The original Viva Pinata on the xbox 360 is my main hygge game. Lovely orchestral soundtrack, the easy flow of the day night cycle, the softness of the pinata paper graphics mixed with smooth and vibrant nature, flavorful color palette never quite hurting your eyes but enough to be exciting, and just observing the life in your garden... I spent hours in that game, and still do from time to time. My other one is more nostalgia based than anything, but Pokemon Platinum. The day/night cycle matched with real time felt so warm, the soundtrack is one of my favorites, and the whole world felt soft and cozy while still exciting and begging to be explored. :)
For me it's the old 2D Zelda games. I used to play them at my grandmothers house out in countryside some 20 kilometers south of Copenhagen where I was born. For a less "nostalgic" title, I really loved Unraveled. While it is set in Sweden, it really conveys the transcultural meaning of hygge as a whole. That connection with nature, memories of warmth and the small things in life really made feel at peace with myself and my immediate surroundings.
The game the comes to my mind without much deconstruction and heavy thought (maybe later) were the Hoenn series of Pokemon games. So Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald and to a lesser extent ORAS. Really, I chose these games (beyond because it was Pokemon but also) because I felt like that generation of games featured a bunch of people living comfortable lives. Treehouse cities in Fortree City, sand baths in Lavaridge town. The people there were living comfortable and happy lives. A bit of a departure from the cozy winter ideal of hygge. But yeah, going to check my backlog to see if I can find better cases of Hygge
You're right, I mentioned that too. Hoenn has many cosy places. I bet there are kids who find real comfort in just staying in some of the cities for longer before continuing the main quest.
I totally agree. The Hoenn region games were the first things I thought of too. I feel like RSE's soundtrack also contributes to this... especially the small town's themes, like Verdanturf, Petalburg and Dewford's. So cozy.
Welcome back Satch! And honestly, I think I find hygge in Skyrim b/c I keep playing it so much. Sure, I could blame the game's world and big environment, but I always love exploring Skyrim's lush mountains and roads, and I always look forward to coming home to either my Breezehome in Whiterun or my Lakeside Manor that I'm still building. Then again, the game borrows heavily from Norse mythology, and the Scandinavian influences make it more homely.
The restaurants and character select screen of Odin Sphere are great in this. There's a render for every meal you can eat in various stages, and you can hear the roar of the oven's fire. The character select screen is framed as picking a book and sinking into an armchair to read it. Side note, I find it interesting that the two Final Fantasies directed by Hiroyuki Ito are the ones that nail this aesthetic (technically he did 12 as well, but he picked up where Matsuno left off)
I think Abzû is also a strong contender for hygge due to both its beautiful, serene, aquatic visuals and relaxed, undemanding gameplay style. I would've also mentioned Journey but the problem with saying that is that Journey has moments of tension as well as an over-arcing drive to reach your destination. All in all, great video as always.
Dragon Quest IX was maybe my first experience of hygge in a game, the atmosphere square made in the game is similar to the one blizzard made in WOW, except it's an on the go experience really driving home the idea of community by being able to play with anyone else who owned the game, I'll never forget me and my two brothers getting it on Christmas all of us receiving a copy and just playing it together it was everything hygge exemplifies with its cozy visuals and great feeling of community
Aw, while you were in Copenhagen you should have visited the little arcade bar that I work at. We used to also have cat café over here, which I thought was the most hyggeligste place in Copenhagen. It was so relaxing to just come and eat there and chill with some cozy kittens :3 I would say that Christmas is probably hygge at its best. The cozyness, being with family, the Christmas atmosphere, the smell of delicious food filling the room. Love it. I also think you picked some good choices for games. There aren’t really that many to really choose from. 2 that I came up with would be Little Inferno, where you sit in front of the fireplace and just burn stuff. There is no pressure, no time limit, just you sitting there relaxing and burning things. Another one that I personally find hyggeligt would be Pokémon Snap. While there might be some objectives and skills involved, there’s no risk of losing or dying, you are just thrown into this relaxing word of Pokémon’s doing there things. Observing and taking pictures of them. It feel really engaging and relaxing to just sit back and take in.
I always felt this way about Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls. The music, the architecture, it never failed to make me feel safe, even if just for a few minutes.
For me personally I would have to say the day time sections in both Kingdom: Classic and Kingdom: New Lands. Especially if you're in the foggy, moor like biome. Something about it just evokes this feeling of huddling around a campfire with your comrades early in the morning with a warm cup of coffee or tea.
Oddly enough Zelda Wind Waker gave me a strong sense of hygge on some of its islands. Windfall island had a strong sense of community that was reflected in the design of the region as well as the game play. The area is densely packed with a lot of buildings with people who have various little side quests for the player to do. Oasis island also gave me a strong sense of hygge with its oasis house with the fireplace.
I mean you played the OST at the beginning even - Stardew Valley is really Hygge! A sense of home, connecting with a small community and doing old professions .. it has it all.
As a professional dane, I would say, that Stardew Valley is a great example of a hygge game. The music is soft and relaxing, and community is an important theme in the game.
Same with Harvest moon! Very Hygge!
Christian Haugsted Harvest Moon / Stardew Valley are definitely conjuring those "hyggelige stunder" so I couldn't agree more!
I couldn't agree more! :) What's best is that you can do whatever makes you comfortable in that game, if you feel like it.
Can't agree more. It allows you to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want. This makes the game a lot more relaxing as opposed to a game giving specific tasks that you *need* to finish to continue playing.
As a professional Dane, myself, I cannot agree more.
The first time that I walked into a lone cabin in the middle of the wilderness in Breath of the Wild expressed hygge in a more intimate way than any other game I have played. When it's the entire game experience, it can often feel wildly intentional and designed. However, when it's contrasted against a large and uncaring world, those moments of comfort, companionship, and warmth are deeply affecting. I'm glad to see that you're back.
The shield surfing chick?
I love the hygge atmosphere of Rito Village.
You spoke a lot about hygge exemplified in visuals, but I think your analysis could’ve been further developed by considering hygge in actions. In other words, the way you play the game is hygge. Titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley come to mind.
Exactly the same critic I had :) the examples are very #hygge without being hyggelig.
“Final Fantasy 6 and Final Fantasy 9”
“...nice”
Oh Satch
I'm glad Satch saw the opportunity and took it. If he didn't, there's no doubt that someone else would've.
Avossk was about to write it in the beginning haha.
I think 7 still had this too, but with Nibelheim and Kalm. People need to drop the misconception that the game was all about Midgar.
Got me good!
Oh wow. I did not see it until now. Very cool, Satch
It's been 84 years....
SatchBag is the real Hygge
I love how the video itself is done in a way that gives that Hygge sense
Probably the game that instilled this feeling strongest in me was Dark Cloud 2. Being able to build small, cozy towns throughout your adventure allowed you to take a break and just exist. You could chill in a log cabin you built and just feel free. The forest environment showcased this the most for me. It left me with a happy feeling I've never been quite able to explain.
SwankyBox dude, real talk. Sindain and Veniccio were my favorite towns to build in that game. To this day, I still findmyself daydreaming about walking through the Rainbow Butterfly Woods
HOLY SHIT i didnt think anyone besides me would even think of mentioning this game, thank you for posting this comment. Dark Cloud 2 is 100% hygge
Although I haven't played it in a very long time; Minecraft used to give me this specific feeling. Usually at night on a friend's server, we'd all just bundle together in our giant log cabin. Something about the lighting and music in that game made certain moments like that feel special.
Good video, I is always fun to see other people talking about hygge.
greetings from Denmark.
I think Snowpoint city from Pokemon Gen 4. For a DS Pokemon game, the coldness of the city goes great with the warm houses and townsfolk.
oh yes I 100% agree with this.
This was an exceptional watch, and VERY insightful. It brought to mind some adventure games that provoke that same feeling of coziness, peace, and contentment, and the reasons they did do have to do with design and sound. That kind of pleasant stimulus can have very positive affects on the brain. Great job with this.
The early *Harry Potter* games come to mind as hygge or _"huggulegir"_ as we say in Iceland. The RPG-ness of the Gameboy Color versions and the exploration of the warm Hogwarts castle in the PC and PS1 versions really bring a sense of cozyness. All the fireplaces, the music, the big friendly (and unfriendly) animals, the knitted sweaters, the character models and a strong and warm connection to christmas the series has had, especially early in the series.
Great work as always, Satch!
what about lego harry potter?
Great video! I think Night in the Woods fits this bill perfectly. Going through possum springs makes me feel so homey and warm!
Another Beautiful video my dude!
A game that may seem a bit obvious to include in this list would have to be Undertale, more specifically Toriel's Home and Snowdin Town. Both of these towns are such a stark contrast from the rest of the game (depending on how you play it of course) of darkness, trickery (courtesy of Flowey) and this theme of war and where your character stands in it. It is both a breath of fresh air and a stab in the gut morally when you enter these areas because we are taught to fear monsters, but their warm and welcoming lifestyle is Toby Fox's way of saying "Do you really want to be the one that set's their world a flames?"
Anyway thank you so much for making me think critically about the games that I love again. You rock and please never stop making videos :)
Pokemon Professor Marcus First example I thought of, too
my dude👍
Unravel is probably the strongest example of this that I can imagine. Being Swedish, it's very authentic in that kind of hygge feeling, along with other very Sweden-specific tones and atmospheres it tries to create. If you're in to that kind of thing, I highly encourage anyone to try it out. I think it's a really underrated game. Maybe because it goes for this very specific tone that a lot of gamers aren't that familiar with. But if you understand what it's going for, you can tell how perfectly it nails it. The soundtrack too is absolutely outstanding.
For me, the early game of Stardew Valley is incredibly Hygge. The simplicity of your farm, your tools, your equipment, and even your weapons and armour boots all make me feel so cozy and assured. Doesn't matter that the first sword is rusty, it's my first sword. Doesn't matter that I barely have any furniture or farm equipment, that cute little ranch is still mine. Doesn't matter that I barely know the townspeople and I don't have many friends yet, this is my new home and new life and they're all glad to see me move in anyway. It's a really good feeling.
I've always been looking for a way to describe exactly what I've come to appreciate in games. This video meant a lot more to me than anything else I've watched in quite some time. It captures exactly why I do what I do. When I play Lord of the Rings Online its slightly dated rustic atmosphere with beautiful toning from the games very dynamically coloured world brings me a feeling of home almost unlike anything else. With each point of safety in the world often offering a red glowering place of comfort.
Another game springs to mind Fire Emblem, which might sound strange at first but namely Awakening and the lost in translation title for the Nintendo DS both evoke a strong sense of hygge in its support conversations. Where its characters that you've come to relate to just talk. They talk in a setting that brings to light a calm friendly and authentic atmosphere.
A game called OneShot I played early last year brought a very desolate feeling world to life with its delightfully unique characters who found bliss in an otherwise doomed world. When you visit the town of bird people in the ruins outside the city they all seem to offer you the comfort of their home because they just want to share the happiness they have.
I can recall my first time playing RuneScape way back in 2007 when the feeling of performing mundane but seemingly satisfying tasks such as woodcutting or mining were amazingly contrast by the rewarding feeling, alongside its iconic soundtrack and very palatable art direction for the time. Not too similar from my first time playing Final Fantasy 14 with my friend when we played for 14 hours straight taking in the feeling of the woodland of Gridania never playing the game TOO much and always keeping in that hygge feeling. Sitting by campsights, just talking in the night light.
Even the two games that get some smack for this Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Kingdom Hearts 2. Their opening sequences could very well be my favourite part of each game. Its homely, tasteful and relaxing. I remember the very similar feeling in the first 3 Runefactory games which brought the rustic life style to the forefront in a town of people all looking out for each other. Its a feeling of almost being loved.
I'd even posit that Darksouls has been capable of grabbing this feeling in the past with how bonfires make you feel safe and yet also hold that familiar red hue of coziness we've come to know and enjoy.
Hygge is in more places than one might think. Personally I've realised that its one of the largest purposes I play an RPG for or a similar variety of game. It brings such a level of satisfying amenity that I can't find myself wanting to leave. It almost makes me feel emotional booting up a game such as these and just sitting in its environment. Its a feeling I know I never want to let go of and I hope video games keep for years to come.
One day man... One day I'll reach this level. This right here is pure quality. Its what every channel should inspire to be.
Morse Code aspire*
Andrés Rodríguez k
My. Dude. Good to see you back at it.
For me, the Winnie the Pooh portions of Kingdom Hearts exemplify this. They are such a sequence break for the rest of the game, yet the safety and change of pace really makes it work. It makes me feel like I'm a kid being read a story
My dude! Winnie the Pooh is such hygge for me! Those movies/stories/books give me some deep calmness!
Honestly. your channel is a great example of hygge.
I recall hygge in the home cleaning game in the Beginner's Guide. A very simple example of comfort and warmth.
Man Satchbag. As a Dane I can't help but think how stressful life must be in the states, when Copenhagen is an example of "western zen". That city is in such a hurry.
If you ever return to Denmark, come to Odense. I'll show you the house of Hans Christian Andersen and treat you the real low-key hygge experience. :P
But honestly you should definitely visit some of the smaller "cities". Ribe, Svendborg, Kerteminde and Odense are especially worthwhile. Copenhagen can in many ways be it's own thing compared to the rest of the country.
This is a really interesting topic to transition into a discussion of games, and one I wasn't familiar with before this video. It's always enjoyable to see video games explored in a new way, from a new perspective, and this is a great example. I'll always appreciate the diversity of topics and concepts you manage to bring up in your case studies, and look forward to more. Good stuff, Satchell.
Stardew valley immediately came to mind. Also Mother 3 in early tazmily village. Because of the intimate and cozy atmosphere at the beginning of the game, it is heartwrenching as you see it depart. Many many zelda games in their starting village. Also Kakariko village, particularly in twilight princess. Hygge is a delightful experience to be sure.
I mean it's a super cop out example but Arni Village in Chrono Cross just gives me the warmest feeling like it's another home for me. Music always plays a huge part in hygge for games imo.
Undertale - especially Snowdin. Stardew Valley also captures that feeling more than any other game I've ever played.
I would say world 2 from DKC tropical freeze has a lot of hygge. With the wooden buildings, warm colors (with the fall leafs and such) and the beautiful, acoustic, feel good soundtrack
Your video gives me a sense of Hygge
I think Majora's Mask's Clock Town captures it quite well.
Love your videos, and I love the growth in your style over the years.
The production value in your videos is through the roof, I love them soo much!
Everyone of your videos is truly magical and has so much love and thought put in to it. Keep being you, Satchell.
Just when I was about to forget how amazing your videos are, you come out with this. Great work Satch.
Finally got around to watching this. Production value is always bellissimo.
Man I really appreciate this video satch, it describes a warm nostalgia that I have wanted for so long but never could articulate. It speaks the language of oaken bookstores and cobblestone streets and northern European facades and good food shared with good people around the well-fed hearth. Somewhere between Burns's market day pub and Beowulf's Hart, a warm, cozy, secure community that feels like the embrace of mother nature guided by humanity's wit. Hygge.
This channel is my appointment viewing. I can't help but feel hygge while watching most of your vids and I loved this one too. #greatjob
Always enjoyable man.
Keep up the good work.
Love from Michigan.
Two words: Harvest Moon
MyComputerSucks2 Or nowadays, Stardew Valley.
I feel that the original harvest moon series (now story of seasons), stardew valley and the lesser known final fantasy crystal chronicles definitely fit into this category. And despite controversy a lot of Minecraft when played with friends.
Welcome back man, I needed this in my day.
And my Hygge game is Night In The Woods
Fantastic as always satch. Good work
OOh jeez... dude I've been THRISTY for your content FOREVER, I love you my man, you're an inspiration to all designers... Not only is the content crazy good with you, but also as a designer too... I can't get enough man
I appreciate you expanding my vocabulary through examples I can relate to
Yesssssssssss! Triumphant return, you've been sorely missed.
Legend of Mana's home area had it to such a powerful degree. Going home after each and every mission and going to check on your animals or telling your stories to your little pet cactus were just so satisfying in a way I never knew how to describe at the time.
I think I find a feeling of hygge in nostalgic games
Whoa... never thought I'd see the day! Welcome back dude!
I feel like a lot of the old point-and-click mysteries do this, in their own ways. Especially ones set in big old mansions. Static screens where you click around to rummage in boxes, desks, drawers and cabinets, listen to footsteps on hardwood and carpet, uncover some strange mystery, satisfying clicks and brushes of paper as you go in and out of menus and notes - I always got the impression that the real sense of searching and discovery was in finding out how these other people lived, and less about who did what with the Lost Gem of Whatever.
Traverse town immediately comes to mind, mostly because of it's theme. It set's you into this cozy environment despite what got you to the town. Going back there and going to twilight town too also gives a sense of coziness that makes a lot of what happens later easier to take into account in kh and kh2.
First video of your's I've ever saw. Did not disapoint. Subbed, my dude.
Man, your channel is criminally underrated. Keep up the amazing work.
Never thought I'd see this as a concept to attach to video games, and it works really well. To mimic others, the addition of Stardew Valley (and Harvest Moon, by extension) would have been very fitting, though them and Animal Crossing are in style of "hygge" quite identical.
Ohhh man, if I had known you were in Denmark at the time...!
that moment in Dragon Age: Inquisition where you sit down to play cards with your guys. Going to the concert with Zoltan Chivay in The Witcher 3. Finding a familiar face by the bonfire after finally beaten the ledge archers in Dark Souls 1. Really, any moment with a solemn sense of joy you don't need to express, that you just FEEL.
To me, revisiting a game I already played and loved gives a sense of hygge. The nostalgic comfort, the coziness of the familiar places and game mechanics, replaying the game just because I love it and I like to be in that atmosphere with that specific character or charaters I love. For example Croc: Legend of the Gobbos comes to mind. Even though it has it's flaws, the world they've built, the cute characters, the awesome music, it just feels so great to be part of that again. Like meeting old friends after not having seen them for a while, and having some nice conversation and even more nicer tea besides a fireplace. :3
As someone with Synesthesia, visuals are important, but sound is of the utmost importance. Sounds like Epona's hoofsteps in the LOZ series, the music in Snowdin Town from Undertale, the water in the Dark Cloud games, etc.
As for overall experiences of hygge in games, One Shot, Fable 2 & 3, Harvest Moon, and Dark Cloud all come to mind. I never knew the feelings I've felt from these games had a name. But I am overjoyed that you could present me with one. Good one, Satch 💕
i should not be missing new videos from you!! notifications on!!
I felt like the feeling of a small, intimate town being nailed, combined with the warm autumn colors, plus how despite how lost the main character can feel, her days pretty much always end with her going to bed in the relative safety of her own home; all of these contribute to making Night In The Woods an excellent example of hygge in games.
This is my first video of yours, and I'm pretty impressed. I've never seen a youtuber do a video game related essay about a topic this unique.
I'd like to throw 'little inferno' into the hygge ring as I use that game is my personal yule log every year! Great to have you back, Satch!
I remember subscribing when I was 13 and feeling so cool. Nice to see that sub finally paying off
This is my first time hearing of hygge, and it's copacetic to have it come from you. Keep doin' you.
First things first, I love this video. I was trying to think of games with hygge in them, the first that came to mind was Minecraft. I didn't play it much but, if I'm understanding hygge correctly, the first little wooden cabin you would build for yourself always had that comfy, homey feeling. Even more so if you were playing with a few buds. Keep up the ever amazing work Satch, love you buddy!
Definitely agree with you on Animal Crossing, for the longest time it was my wind down game, when I would play it, it would feel like coming back home after a long day out in the winter. When you mentioned Woolly World, Kirby's Epic Yarn came to mind and while perhaps not a complete representation of hygge I wouldn't hesitate to call it cozy and soft.
Man your videos are high quality. You should be proud.
I love this. So well done.
It isn't very typical, but I would say the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series embodies this philosophy. There is an inhospitable world surrounding small pockets of warmth, comfort, and camaraderie. Each area has its own attitude that is unique to the faction or ecosystem you're visiting. Even competing ideals in these areas sometimes live in harmony, separated only by a few walls (such as the Jupiter train station, Yanov). The game has a certain rhythm that you get into, and the world becomes filled with familiar areas that become favourites for each individual player. The A-Life artificial intelligence system creates unique scenarios that give each player their own "stalker stories" that no other player has, and similar to fishing stories, they're ripe for embellishment and exaggeration. I think the feeling of Hygge wouldn't exist in these games without the inhospitable world though. The fact that the comfortable areas are isolated islands inside the dangerous world of The Zone amplifies the comfy factor and elevates the atmosphere. The fact that sometimes these hospitable and inhospitable worlds clash or combine (such as the dangerous anomalies inside the town around 1000 Rads Bar) helps amplify that even more. The comfortable areas become personal, you have a stake in them, and so you want to defend them.
Watching your videos makes me feel cozy and warm
Good to have you back, Satchel.
Night in the Woods is full of hygge. The little interactions your character has with her parents and friends, the warm tones of the evening Mae always wakes up to. It's great, and then the game makes a hard left and suddenly becomes very stressful to play.
Definetely the Final Fantasy games achieve this feeling, with the music being a great extra element to it. And even though thematically it differs greatly from Western design, I gotta mention Final Fantasy 7's Cosmo Canyon as a place that gave me real comfort and warmth once I got there.
In terms of hygge in games for Me, any of the Pokémon titles come to mind, just the ability to explore a world and spending time with these creature and seeing the characters around you do the same is a comforting feeling that just puts a smile on my face.
Oddly enough, A Hat in Time's hub world provides that feeling of hygge for me, especially when I get the band to play a jazzy song. The Trails in the Sky games also give off that sense of hygge. There's a moment in the first game that especially gives off that feeling: it's after you leave the Krone Pass and you're on the Manoria Byroad, which is along the sea. There's a sunset over the water, the area is wooded, and this intensely relaxing and cozy. I remember my breath being taken away, which is something that has only happened in Breath of the Wild in terms of video games (another good hygge title, but someone else already mentioned it)
I think my greatest feelings of hygge happened during very casual moments in jet set radio future and in twilight town in kingdom hearts. Specifically the song Hello Alison (Aisle 10) brings out the hygge in rokkaku dai heights and 99th street when you're just casually skating around the area and grinding to your hearts content. Both of the towns you start out in both kingdom hearts 1 and 2 but twilight town is the first to come to mind simply because of how it feels like home.
Really great video - definitely gave me a lot to think about!
You've got a unique voice on this website Satchell, glad you're still doing your thing.
I really appreciate what you said about FF9. You were able to convey some things that I have struggled to convey in the past.
I think Kirby's Epic Yarn is a great example of hygge and hyggelig. The music was very relaxing and designing Kirby's house with the little yarn furniture stickers creates a very cozy setting. As someone who lived in Scandinavia for a while, I'm really glad the concept of hygge is becoming so widespread here. I'm hoping for more titles to come out that exemplify the traits of hygge.
It's like rediscovering an old friend seeing you in this. Welcome home.
Two games come to mind that definitely fall into the Hygge space (from my perspective at the least). Quest for Glory 4 and The witcher series. In particular the second and third entries for The Witcher had a lot of components that felt 'earthy', comfortable and lived-in rather than just something thrown together haphazardly for the sake of a game.
Quest for Glory 4 definitely had a lot of comfortable scenery. The town was a perfect example of this.
The original Viva Pinata on the xbox 360 is my main hygge game. Lovely orchestral soundtrack, the easy flow of the day night cycle, the softness of the pinata paper graphics mixed with smooth and vibrant nature, flavorful color palette never quite hurting your eyes but enough to be exciting, and just observing the life in your garden... I spent hours in that game, and still do from time to time.
My other one is more nostalgia based than anything, but Pokemon Platinum. The day/night cycle matched with real time felt so warm, the soundtrack is one of my favorites, and the whole world felt soft and cozy while still exciting and begging to be explored. :)
For me it's the old 2D Zelda games. I used to play them at my grandmothers house out in countryside some 20 kilometers south of Copenhagen where I was born. For a less "nostalgic" title, I really loved Unraveled. While it is set in Sweden, it really conveys the transcultural meaning of hygge as a whole. That connection with nature, memories of warmth and the small things in life really made feel at peace with myself and my immediate surroundings.
The game the comes to my mind without much deconstruction and heavy thought (maybe later) were the Hoenn series of Pokemon games. So Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald and to a lesser extent ORAS.
Really, I chose these games (beyond because it was Pokemon but also) because I felt like that generation of games featured a bunch of people living comfortable lives. Treehouse cities in Fortree City, sand baths in Lavaridge town. The people there were living comfortable and happy lives. A bit of a departure from the cozy winter ideal of hygge.
But yeah, going to check my backlog to see if I can find better cases of Hygge
You're right, I mentioned that too. Hoenn has many cosy places. I bet there are kids who find real comfort in just staying in some of the cities for longer before continuing the main quest.
I totally agree. The Hoenn region games were the first things I thought of too. I feel like RSE's soundtrack also contributes to this... especially the small town's themes, like Verdanturf, Petalburg and Dewford's. So cozy.
Fortree City for sure
Welcome back Satch! And honestly, I think I find hygge in Skyrim b/c I keep playing it so much. Sure, I could blame the game's world and big environment, but I always love exploring Skyrim's lush mountains and roads, and I always look forward to coming home to either my Breezehome in Whiterun or my Lakeside Manor that I'm still building. Then again, the game borrows heavily from Norse mythology, and the Scandinavian influences make it more homely.
The restaurants and character select screen of Odin Sphere are great in this. There's a render for every meal you can eat in various stages, and you can hear the roar of the oven's fire. The character select screen is framed as picking a book and sinking into an armchair to read it.
Side note, I find it interesting that the two Final Fantasies directed by Hiroyuki Ito are the ones that nail this aesthetic (technically he did 12 as well, but he picked up where Matsuno left off)
Always glad to see your content. Stay copacetic.
You can never rush quality.
Thank you.
I think Abzû is also a strong contender for hygge due to both its beautiful, serene, aquatic visuals and relaxed, undemanding gameplay style. I would've also mentioned Journey but the problem with saying that is that Journey has moments of tension as well as an over-arcing drive to reach your destination. All in all, great video as always.
Dragon Quest IX was maybe my first experience of hygge in a game, the atmosphere square made in the game is similar to the one blizzard made in WOW, except it's an on the go experience really driving home the idea of community by being able to play with anyone else who owned the game, I'll never forget me and my two brothers getting it on Christmas all of us receiving a copy and just playing it together it was everything hygge exemplifies with its cozy visuals and great feeling of community
I feel so proud to be a Dane right now!
Also, while on the topic of hygge, you are the hyggeligste UA-camr there is!
Aw, while you were in Copenhagen you should have visited the little arcade bar that I work at.
We used to also have cat café over here, which I thought was the most hyggeligste place in Copenhagen. It was so relaxing to just come and eat there and chill with some cozy kittens :3
I would say that Christmas is probably hygge at its best.
The cozyness, being with family, the Christmas atmosphere, the smell of delicious food filling the room.
Love it.
I also think you picked some good choices for games. There aren’t really that many to really choose from.
2 that I came up with would be Little Inferno, where you sit in front of the fireplace and just burn stuff.
There is no pressure, no time limit, just you sitting there relaxing and burning things.
Another one that I personally find hyggeligt would be Pokémon Snap. While there might be some objectives and skills involved, there’s no risk of losing or dying, you are just thrown into this relaxing word of Pokémon’s doing there things. Observing and taking pictures of them. It feel really engaging and relaxing to just sit back and take in.
I always felt this way about Firelink Shrine in Dark Souls. The music, the architecture, it never failed to make me feel safe, even if just for a few minutes.
Very interesting. It's another feeling that i know I've felt all my life, yet could never put a word to.
For me personally I would have to say the day time sections in both Kingdom: Classic and Kingdom: New Lands. Especially if you're in the foggy, moor like biome. Something about it just evokes this feeling of huddling around a campfire with your comrades early in the morning with a warm cup of coffee or tea.
now I'm all excited for this separate, vanilla-scented video. please continue the waxing at a future date
nice call on ff6 and 9. and with wow tavern music i could sit and listen to the ambient sounds from them on a loop while doing anything
I think Donkey Kong country games in general are pretty Hygge.
The games have a coziness to it that I can’t even explain.
It beautiful!
Oddly enough Zelda Wind Waker gave me a strong sense of hygge on some of its islands. Windfall island had a strong sense of community that was reflected in the design of the region as well as the game play. The area is densely packed with a lot of buildings with people who have various little side quests for the player to do. Oasis island also gave me a strong sense of hygge with its oasis house with the fireplace.
I mean you played the OST at the beginning even - Stardew Valley is really Hygge! A sense of home, connecting with a small community and doing old professions .. it has it all.
Yes!! Dude, I had no idea this feeling had a word, but this is literally the feeling I live for. FF6 and 9 spot on
Also, maybe Nibelheim and Kalm from FF7 could count. Couldn't think of anything really for 8 or 10 either