Hozy by Come On Studio
Cleaning and organizing can feel cathartic. There is a sense of relief and serenity that comes with it. Unsurprisingly, it can feel just as good inside a game, as well. Hozy aims to replicate those feelings as you clean, unpack, and organize disheveled spaces.
Zen and the Art of Redecorating
The goal of each level is to unpack and organize. Each area starts off as a dirty, abandoned space you have to furnish and clean. You start by cleaning. You’ll mop floors, clean windows, and even paint walls.
Each area has a particular, unique task to mix things up. For example, one area has you replace floorboards, while another is filled up with piles of trash that you need to throw away. It goes a long way to make sure you’re not doing the exact same cleaning and repairing for each area, keeping that feeling of repetition to a minimum.
After an area is cleaned, you’ll open cardboard boxes. These contain furniture and items that can be used to decorate the space. Everything can be arranged in any way you like, which I really appreciate since it provides a feeling of expression, giving a calming, stress-free vibe.
It often feels like a Zen experience. Mopping floors and watching the dusty floors turn into shiny tiles is so satisfying. The soft music as you rotate a chair before placing it in front of a fireplace is very soothing.
I really appreciated and enjoyed the nice, relaxed vibe throughout the game’s four hours (Which I think is the perfect length, as it doesn’t overstay its welcome).
Extra Dust, No Sandbox
The game also features a New Game+ mode. This mode mixes up levels by adding new furniture and lighting variations to some levels. The developers are also looking into adding an update to make the game feel more like a sandbox, allowing players to potentially add whatever items they like to uniquely customize spaces in any way they please, which would be a nice addition.
There were times when I felt like I had to fuss with the camera more than I would have liked. Since the game opts for an isometric view, sometimes it means moving the camera more often to place things on walls. Not a big issue, but it did take me out of the experience a tad.
I also feel that there isn’t much else to sink your teeth into. It’s a simple game with a sparse narrative and short runtime. I feel like those looking for more customization and sandbox-style options will be disappointed. But as it stands, it’s a fun, short game that’s a nice change of pace.
A Clean Space is a Calm Space
Visually, Hozy is a treat. Light shining through windows more intensely after cleaning the dust from windows is a nice detail, and I appreciated seeing dust in the air clear up when I’d open windows.
Wind and various effects from differing light sources add so much ambiance. Every item, from books to detailed framed paintings, is detailed exquisitely, making each space come to life.
The soft ambient music makes Hozy even more relaxing. Its score is a mix of pleasing, subtle synth tones that create evocative background music that never distracts, enhancing the game’s cozy vibes well. Each level’s track starts very softly, slowly adding instruments as a space is cleaned and more items are used to decorate.
By the end of each level, the background music is more pronounced and lively, making the addition of final touches to each space feel even more satisfying.
The Verdict:
Hozy is a relaxing game with a lot of charm, from its fantastic soundtrack to its calming organization-based gameplay. Those looking for more customization options or depth may be disappointed, but if you’re like me and want a simple yet cozy game about cleaning and decorating small spaces for a couple of hours, check this one out.
Hozy is available via Steam.
Check out the official trailer for Hozy below:
