Playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure is like drinking a mug of hot chocolate while wrapped in a soft blanket. It’s become a part of my daily routine that I always look forward to. Whenever I need a little downtime, I load it up and see what my adorable buddies on Friendship Island are up to. HKIA is a cozy game where you and a bevy of Sanrio characters find yourselves stranded on an island resort. You all set about opening various shops, facilities and cabins around the island to make it feel like home, then take an extended vacation at the chillest place on Earth. You get to design your character from a selection of cute animal templates, collect all sorts of furniture and clothes, do tons of quests and other activities like potion brewing and puzzle rooms. Some of my favorite parts of the game are special occasions like birthday parties. Each character has a quest to throw them a party on their special day, and they’re all tailored to their personalities and interests. Seasonal events always have fun themes, like one each spring that’s fantasy themed where everyone dresses up like wizards and princesses. Every Friday, your pals gather at the island’s dance hall to get down. It’s a little touch that’s so charming and cute. I also love completing the various collections, like gacha figurines from the arcade and the hidden Gudetama who shows up on the island each week. Swimming around as a mermaid is adorable, as are the many quests where you just hang out with your buddies and listen to them talk about their feelings. The whole game is wrapped in wholesome themes like friendship, accepting others and protecting the environment. That doesn’t mean it isn’t full of humor, however. The developers clearly know their audience, as there are lots of references to things ranging from Nirvana albums to BioShock to fanfiction websites. One character, Moppu, is a bit of a sloth and a big gamer. Every time you do a quest for him, he’ll mention a new video game he’s playing and it becomes a little game to guess the reference (like my favorite, Young’in Ring). I know when I turn this game on that something sweet and lighthearted is waiting for me. That makes it a great game for relaxing, and especially nice when I’ve had a bad day. It’s like Animal Crossing with more structure, and that’s the perfect cozy game recipe for me.