The case for cozy games before bed

I stopped scrolling before sleep and started playing something gentle instead, and my brain is grateful. The right game can be a genuine wind-down ritual.

Greenhouse Tycoon Mini is my current bedtime pick. Watering plants and rearranging a tiny glass house asks just enough of me to quiet the day's noise without lighting up my mind. No timers, no pressure, no fear of missing out.

Lanterns of Vell works too, though for a different reason. Its slow exploration and soft soundtrack put me in a reflective mood rather than a sleepy one, so I save it for earlier evenings.

The trick is avoiding anything competitive or stressful. If a game makes your heart rate climb, it's the wrong choice for the last twenty minutes of your day.