There is a specific genre of games that I have a particular soft spot for, and that’s home renovation and/or decoration games. I’ve written about a few of them, and even have a list of some of my favorites, but Hozy was one that didn’t come to my attention until after that list was written, and it might be one of my favorites yet. 

I’m a sucker for interior design games. I don’t have the ability (or the funds, let’s face it) to transform my living space in real life, so I enjoy living life vicariously through the pixels on my computer screen and giving rooms a makeover in that virtual space. Hozy offers that, but also scratches my cleaning itch at the same time. 

From decrepit to decorated

There’s something endlessly satisfying about taking a space that looks like it belonged to a hoarder and turning it into something not only presentable, but something cozy. Games like House Flipper have offered this before, but Hozy does it in a way that feels so much more satisfying than you might expect. 

Rather than throwing things into a trash bag and then having to take it to the bin every time the bag gets full, you can click and hold to gather up a floating ball of trash, then dump the whole thing in the bin. It’s a feature that truly comes in handy, considering the state that you find the rooms in before you have a chance to work your magic. 

Of course, there are tools to use. You can mop the floors, clean up the windows, and then paint the walls a fresh white. That transformation of before and after is a gift to witness, and even more of one to be responsible for. I just wish cleaning in real life were so easy. 

Small spaces, big ideas

As soon as the space in Hozy is clean and fresh, you start to unpack furniture and put it in place, taking the space from cold to cozy in an instant. I won’t lie, there always seems to be too much furniture and not enough space, but that’s probably familiar to anybody who has ever moved house and figured out they couldn’t possibly keep everything. 

To complete a level, you need to place all of the available furniture in the room. Now, there’s the temptation to just put things in one big pile just to get through the level, but that’s no fun and defies the point of Hozy entirely. Plus, there’s a huge amount of satisfaction to be gained through organizing all of the objects and finding a home where they not only fit, but look good, too. 

The playtest of Hozy was updated on August 18 to include a whole new room, and it takes this concept of small spaces to a whole new level, requiring you to fit an entire life into a tiny little loft space. I still haven’t figured out a suitable layout for everything, but I’m determined to do so before too long. I’m also not entirely sure which psychopath decided to put a full-size standing piano in a tiny loft, but to each their own, I suppose.

Hozy is a space decoration gem by Come On Studio that has heaps of potential and is already receiving updates as part of the playtest, which is an excellent sign for things to come as the game approaches release. You can sign up for the playtest now through Steam, and remember to wishlist the game if it’s something you’re looking forward to!