Five cozy games built for a short commute

The best commute game can be paused mid-thought and picked up again without penalty. No timers punishing you for looking out the window, no energy systems nagging you to come back.

Simulation games tend to nail this. Something like a small factory builder has no failure state, so you can poke at a layout for two stops and then lock your phone with a clear conscience.

Adventure games work too, as long as they autosave well and don't bury you in menus. I love a hand-drawn world I can explore at my own pace while the train rattles along.

My one tip: turn off notifications before you start. Half the appeal of a cozy game is that it's a little quiet room, and a buzzing phone drags you right back out of it.