There’s a chill in the air, which means that it is finally time to bundle up on the couch and play some cozy games. That means downloading and playing no-stress titles like Slime Rancher 2, a game created for moments of comfort when sinking hours upon hours into gaming is totally acceptable. Slime Rancher 2 entered early access in 2022, then had its 1.0 launch on Steam in 2025. As a certified lover of cozy titles from Animal Crossing: City Folk to Harvest Moon: Back to Nature, I have found that these low-stress games are best played on handheld devices. Devices that can be brought anywhere and are no hassle to set up.
Following in the footsteps of its cozy predecessors, Slime Rancher 2 is moving to a handheld console, which I am willing to wager will hopefully upgrade its cozy atmosphere even further. Handheld devices are made for encouraging players to game at their own pace, a cornerstone of all cozy games. On PC or PlayStation, where cozy titles are far removed from the players, games like Slime Rancher 2 are really not digested in the same way. There’s something to be said about how handheld consoles can almost elevate the experience of a cozy game like Slime Rancher 2, making gameplay even more appealing.
Slime Rancher 2 Just Got More Cozy in Handheld Form
While the game launched back in 2025, Slime Rancher 2 is gearing up for a Nintendo Switch 2 launch this January, offering players an entirely different experience. For the uninitiated, Slime Rancher 2 is a sequel to the first-person sandbox-style game Slime Rancher, developed by Monomi Park. In the sequel, also created by Monomi Park, players are back with Beatrix LeBeau, a young rancher who has made a home for herself thousands of light-years away from Earth in Far, Far Range. Her goal? Capturing and taking care of these slimy, excitable alien balls called slimes. Having satisfied her goal in Far, Far Range, Beatrix is taking on a new frontier, starting a journey across Slime Sea to Rainbow Island, home to a host of brand-new slimes.
The land is as much of a mystery to players as it is to Beatrix. Seen through the eyes of Beatrix, players must explore and uncover the mysteries this colorful island has to offer. Players are tasked with building new gadgets used to aid in their ranching and exploration, collecting resources, expanding their conservatory, and capturing new jiggly slimes available to them on the island, like the bouncy cotton slime, the nectar-drinking flutter slime, which looks similar to a graceful butterfly, or the aquatic angler slime. This is Beatrix’s home now, and players must cultivate a life for her among the cute and mischievous slimes.
To capture said slimes, players must utilize their trusty Vacpack, a gadget similar to something you’d see in Luigi’s Mansion. The Vacpack sucks up little slimes, making transporting them a piece of cake. Every slime is sucked up and kept in a player’s storage tank, ready to be shot out into a corral back on their ranch. Slime Rancher 2 is one of those low-stress titles with a vibrant world focused primarily on exploration. Players can get lost in this created world, capturing new and exciting creatures, similar to Pokémon, while making their way across the island.
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Slimes are charming and absolutely adorable; my favorite visually is the yolk slime, and there aren’t any strict guidelines on how to play. Visuals are also equally relaxing. The world is interactive and colorful, bathed in a soft glow that makes everything seem magical. Like something out of Animal Crossing, this game’s sequel has expanded on customization, allowing players to further decorate their ranch as they see fit. Players can now place furniture and decorate almost the entire island, making the space truly their own.
In short, this title is something many could get lost in if given the chance. No rules and no goals in mind. Players can relax and wander to their hearts’ content, progressing at their own pace. This is why Slime Rancher 2‘s move to the Switch 2 is so excellent as opposed to playing the game on a non-handheld console. The console was made for cozy titles like this. This is because handheld consoles tend to offer players a more intimate experience. Unlike playing on a PC via Steam, for example, the proximity to a player’s screen via a handheld console is closer, and the feeling of holding a console in hand is tactile and enjoyable. Gaming sessions are often more isolated, free of distractions. The screen dominates a handheld console’s design, making visuals extremely potent and further immersing the player in what’s happening.
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For an uncomplicated game like Slime Rancher 2, controls should be a breeze. Luckily, handheld consoles often have very simplistic control schemes that are precise, making controls easy to learn and further lowering that barrier to entry. Think of how someone on a handheld console is playing their games. Handheld consoles are something people can play anywhere at any time. When I am playing on my Switch, I am often cozied up on the couch or in bed rather than sitting at a desk on my PC. While I love playing on my PC, I do get fatigued sitting there for hours on end.
The way a person plays a game, either sitting up or lying down wrapped up in a blanket, directly affects how it is perceived. I’d likely think a game like Slime Rancher 2 was more cozy if I was able to play it lying down with a heating pad on. Handheld consoles also have a built-in controller, which means there is no need to grab or buy another piece of equipment to play a cozy game. All players need to do is sit down, bundle up, and turn on their Switch 2 to experience the cozy world of Slime Rancher 2. No fuss required.
Cozy Games and Handheld Consoles Are a Perfect Match
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Games like Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Pikmin, or Harvest Moon are so great on handheld devices because they prioritize user comfort by managing pacing and untethering the user from complex machinery with cords. Games like these, along with Slime Rancher 2, offer players bite-sized and repetitive tasks like watering plants, gathering strange and wonderful creatures, shearing sheep, or picking fruit that are pretty low-stakes and can be done at any time. Progress isn’t linear, so players can take each task whenever they please, putting down and picking up the console when they want. Without having to get up and turn off their console or put away controllers, players can simply pause or switch off their handheld console at will, deciding when to continue without ceremony.
I’ve found myself taking more time on games when playing them on handheld consoles. I can go at my own pace, simply because there is no rush. Both the console and the cozy game emphasize a low-stakes environment, urging players to game when it feels most comfortable. Handheld consoles aren’t a big commitment for these reasons. Cozy games also go hand in hand with handheld consoles, because cozy games don’t often boast extreme graphics, and handheld consoles don’t have the capabilities to process them anyhow.
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Slow-paced cozy games look great on handheld consoles, not limited in any way by the console’s capabilities or lack thereof. Comfort is also subjective and truly depends on what most folks have been gaming on. For example, if someone grew up playing primarily on the Nintendo DS, they’re likely to have had better experiences playing on newer handheld consoles like the Switch 2. If someone grew up playing games on plug-and-play consoles like the Wii or Xbox, they might prefer that experience more.
While I grew up playing on both plug-in and handheld consoles, I have found myself playing more comforting games like Animal Crossing or Pokémon on my handheld devices. I could set the console in my lap, take it on family road trips, and stash it in my school bag, taking my favorite video games everywhere I went. For me, handheld consoles offer a blend of nostalgia and coziness. They remind me of those days when I snuck my console into class or in the car, allowing me to transport myself to a world of my choosing whenever and wherever I wanted.
- Released
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September 23, 2025
- ESRB
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E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Monomi Park
- Publisher(s)
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Monomi Park
