Cozy games mean different things to different people. For some, it’s curling up with a farming sim and watching crops grow. For others, it’s a puzzle game that lets you sink into a rhythm and forget the world for a while. And then, for some of us, a game about stamping passports and making tough moral choices can be the perfect way to unwind.
Papers, Please
That’s where Papers, Please comes in. This game is a brilliant mix of strategy, storytelling, and stress, but in the best way possible. You play as an immigration inspector in the fictional country of Arstotzka, responsible for deciding who gets in and who gets turned away. At first, it’s just about checking paperwork, but soon you’re dealing with bribes, moral dilemmas, and the ever-present worry of keeping your own family alive.
One small mistake can cost you money, and that might mean no food or heat for your family that night. Do you risk your job to help someone in need? Do you follow orders without question? The choices are yours, and they’re never easy. It’s a tense, gripping, and surprisingly emotional experience that sticks with you long after you stop playing.
Now, if you love the feeling of carefully reviewing details, making tough calls, and uncovering deeper stories hidden in everyday tasks and find some cozy feelings and comfort into such games (like i do, lol), then you’ll probably enjoy some other games that offer a similar experience. Let’s dive in and check out some great alternatives to Papers, Please!
Cozy Games Like Papers, Please
Lil Guardsman
This game is what people call a “cozy Papers, Please”. In Lil Guardsman, you’re 12 years old, and somehow, you’ve ended up in charge of guarding the castle gate. No pressure! Decide who gets in (elves, goblins, and all sorts of quirky characters) with sharp deduction skills and a bit of sass. Lil Guardsman blends puzzles, humor, and a delightful fantasy world into a game that’s equal parts charming and clever. The voice acting is extremely good too! It’s definitely worth getting in my opinion.
Papers, Please Similarity: Like Papers, Please’s document checking, you’re examining IDs and making admission decisions, but in a whimsical fantasy setting instead of a grim border crossing. The core loop of “check credentials → make decision → face consequences” is intact, but wrapped in comedy rather than tragedy. You’ll get that same satisfying routine of inspection work, but without the crushing weight of family survival or political oppression. It feels like Papers, Please’s cheerful cousin.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Much cozier – removes the survival stress and moral weight that makes Papers, Please so intense.
Booth, A Dystopian Adventure
It’s 2036, and the world’s gone to hell with a global food crisis. You’re stuck working as a food inspector in this claustrophobic booth, checking every morsel that enters the city. Sounds mundane, right? Wrong. This job is your ticket out of this dystopian nightmare, but every decision you make could be the difference between survival and catastrophe. You’ll meet smugglers, revolutionaries, and desperate people just trying to get by, all while you’re trying to balance doing your job right and helping those who need it most. The pixel art style gives it a retro-future vibe that’s both beautiful and haunting, and trust me, the story hits harder than you’d expect from a game about food inspection.
Papers, Please Similarity: Extremely close – you’re literally doing the same job as Papers, Please but with food instead of people. The core “inspect items → check against rules → make life-altering decisions” loop is nearly identical. You get the same crushing weight of serving an authoritarian system while trying to survive and escape, plus identical moral dilemmas about helping smugglers vs following orders. The dystopian food-scarcity setting creates the same oppressive atmosphere as Arstotzka. It’s essentially Papers, Please’s spiritual successor with a different commodity.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Same level – nearly identical pressure, moral weight, and dystopian bureaucracy, just focused on food inspection.
Ministry of Order (Diapers Please)
This one’s brilliantly twisted – you’re working in a 1920s maternity ward where a fire destroyed all the baby records, and now you have to match newborns to their parents using genetics and visual clues. What starts as a seemingly sweet puzzle game quickly reveals itself as something much darker when you realize you’re essentially playing god with these families’ lives. The totalitarian government backdrop adds this sinister undertone where your modest salary barely covers rent and food, so every mistake costs you dearly. The simple matching mechanics hide a surprisingly deep narrative about eugenics, family, and survival in an oppressive system.
Note: the game is not available yet but you can play the demo on itch.io!
Papers, Please Similarity: Mechanically very close – you’re matching babies to their parents using visual clues like eye color and blood type, similar to checking passports against photos and stamps. The baby-matching creates the same methodical inspection satisfaction, but the whole “deciding which babies belong to which families” thing makes it feel way more intense than Papers, Please. You get identical financial survival pressure and the same impossible choice between following the rules your boss gives you and doing what feels right. The 1920s government-controlled setting perfectly captures Papers, Please’s oppressive atmosphere, just with a disturbing twist on family separation.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Less cozy – baby separation make the moral compromises feel more disturbing than border control, despite the initially cute presentation.
Death and Taxes
Ever wondered what it’s like to be the Grim Reaper… with a desk job? In Death and Taxes, you decide who lives and who dies. No scythe required, just paperwork. Every choice has consequences, shaping the world and unraveling the mystery of your existence. If you loved the tough decisions in Papers, Please, this thought-provoking, slightly dark yet oddly cozy experience will keep you hooked.
Papers, Please Similarity: Nearly identical in structure to Papers, Please – you process files, make binary decisions (live/die vs admit/deny), and deal with quotas from an authoritarian boss. The existential weight is heavy since you’re literally deciding life and death. The dark humor softens it though. The fact that you don’t have to gather money at the end of the day by performing your task well daily also softens the whole thing (in terms of personal stakes).
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Same level – replaces family survival pressure with existential weight of death decisions.
Package Inspector
Being a customs officer in Taxien isn’t as simple as it sounds. Your job? Inspect packages. Your problem? The growing influence of rebels, questionable government policies, and an increasing list of rules. The game starts easy: check for damage, inspect for smuggled goods. But soon, the choices get tougher. No spoil here though, so you’ll have to discover that for yourself! With multiple endings and a mix of satire and strategy, Package Inspector delivers a fun, immersive experience with just the right amount of challenge.
Papers, Please Similarity: Almost a direct clone – you’re checking items against increasingly complex rules in a dystopian state, with similar “follow orders vs personal morality” tension. The package inspection mirrors document inspection, and you face the same dilemma of supporting an authoritarian regime or risking your livelihood. Feels like Papers, Please with a different coat of paint.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Cozier – the cartoon style helps, and the fact that you can remove the timer as well.
Not Tonight
In an alternate Britain where Brexit negotiations have crumbled, a far-right government has taken over. You, a person of European heritage, have been forced into relocation and given one option: work as a bouncer and survive. With a booming gig economy and tough choices at every turn, Not Tonight is a gripping mix of time-management and political storytelling. Will you resist, or will you try to keep your head down and make it through? A challenging, thought-provoking experience with a great graphical art style and immersive music. I really love pixel art, so I might be biased about that! Oh, and if you enjoy it, Not Tonight 2 is also out! I haven’t played it yet, but it looks super interesting as well!
Papers, Please Similarity: Extremely close – you’re checking IDs against rules while serving an oppressive government, but from the victim’s perspective rather than the enforcer’s. The emotional weight is similar to Papers, Please but more personal since YOU are the target of the system. You get the same document-checking satisfaction combined with moral anguish, but with added layers of discrimination and deportation anxiety.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Less cozy – adds personal persecution to the bureaucratic oppression.
Out of the Box
Meet Warren Baker – a guy fresh out of prison who just wants to rebuild his relationship with his daughter and live an honest life. The only problem? The only job he can get is working as a bouncer for his old crime boss at this upscale nightclub called “The Box.” Now you’re dealing with drunk celebrities, undercover cops, potential criminals, and all sorts of sketchy characters while trying to keep the club running smoothly. Every person you let in or turn away could be a decision that drags you back into your criminal past or helps you stay on the straight and narrow. The cartoonish art style contrasts beautifully with the dark, gritty story about redemption and family, making it feel like a modern noir comic come to life.
Papers, Please Similarity: Shares the core “check people against criteria → admit/deny → face consequences” structure, but with a more personal redemption story. You get similar document inspection satisfaction and the same family pressure (seeing your daughter vs Papers, Please’s family survival), but the nightclub setting adds personality and humor that Papers, Please lacks. The criminal background creates different but equally compelling moral tension – past vs future rather than duty vs humanity.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Slightly more cozy – humor and personal redemption story soften the bureaucratic bleakness, though family pressure remains intense.
Yes, Your Grace
Being king isn’t all feasts and fancy robes. Every day, petitioners arrive at your throne, asking for help, resources, or justice. But your supplies are limited, and not everyone has the kingdom’s best interests at heart. Do you help your people, or do you save up for bigger threats? Yes, Your Grace blends deep storytelling, tough decisions, and quirky humor into a kingdom management experience that will have you laughing, stressing, and (if you have a heart) maybe even tearing up a little. (I personally did tear up, but I tear up easily)
Papers, Please Similarity: Shares the “family vs duty” core conflict and resource management pressure, but expanded into broader kingdom management rather than focused desk work. You get similar moral dilemmas – help your people vs follow political necessity – but without the satisfying repetitive task structure. The emotional weight of family responsibility is comparable, but the gameplay feels more strategic than bureaucratic.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: More cozy – medieval setting and varied gameplay reduce the oppressive desk-job monotony.
Return of the Obra Dinn
A merchant ship lost at sea. A crew with a tragic fate. A mystery only you can solve. Step aboard the Obra Dinn with nothing but a magic pocket watch and your sharp mind. As you piece together the ship’s eerie history, you’ll use every clue (from job titles to accents) to reconstruct what happened. Created by the developer of Papers, Please, this game delivers an unforgettable detective experience with a stunning monochrome art style and a story that will stay with you long after you’ve cracked the case. I suggest you go in this game completely blind. Do not look up reviews, or videos about it. You’ll be blown away.
Papers, Please Similarity: Shares the methodical document examination and deductive reasoning aspects, but lacks the moral pressure and survival stakes. You get the satisfaction of careful analysis and connecting clues, similar to spotting forged documents, but without any consequences for failure. It’s like Papers, Please’s puzzle elements isolated from its emotional weight – pure investigative satisfaction without the stress.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Much more cozy – removes all survival pressure and moral dilemmas.
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Welcome to the future, where you’re not just being watched… you’re the one watching. In Orwell, you play as an investigator for a powerful surveillance system, combing through personal data to find those responsible for a series of attacks. But every piece of information you report has consequences. Will you uncover the truth, or will you manipulate it? Thought-provoking and disturbingly relevant, this game puts you in control of privacy and power in a way that feels all too real. The reviews about this one are a bit mixed, but just be curious and give it a try, you might like it.
Papers, Please Similarity: Very close thematically – you’re a government worker processing information about citizens in a surveillance state, facing the same “follow orders vs protect people” moral conflict. The information-gathering and decision-making mirrors Papers, Please’s document inspection, and you experience similar guilt about serving an oppressive system. The emotional weight of watching your choices destroy innocent lives matches Papers, Please’s family separation anguish.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Less cozy – surveillance work feels more invasive and morally compromising than border control.
No Umbrellas Allowed
Running a secondhand shop isn’t just about selling items. It’s about uncovering their secrets. In No Umbrellas Allowed, every object has a history, and it’s up to you to figure out its true value. Customers will haggle, lie, and try to get a deal, but if you sharpen your appraisal skills, you might just make a fortune. The game has a surprising depth, with hidden details and a compelling story that sometimes overshadows the shopkeeping. Despite a few rough edges, this one deserves way more love! Honestly, if you like shopkeeper games, I truly recommend this one for you to try.
Papers, Please Similarity: Combines Papers, Please’s surveillance duties with a much gentler shop management setting. You’re still reporting on customers and facing moral dilemmas about privacy vs authority, but wrapped in cozy second-hand shop interactions. The inspection and decision-making elements are there, but the stakes feel lower and the setting more welcoming. It’s like Papers, Please with a warm cup of tea instead of cold dystopian dread.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Much more cozy – shop setting and lower stakes create comfort despite surveillance elements.
Strange Horticulture
I’ve already written about Strange Horticulture on the blog multiple times. And the game gives off a similar vibe to Papers Please while being quite different. Strange Horticulture is a puzzle game in which you play as the owner of a plant store. The story is intriguing, the puzzles are clever, and while it’s not the longest game, it’s a delightfully eerie experience. A must-play if you love cozy-yet-creepy games with a touch of the occult. It’s a little short (around 5 to 10 hours of gameplay) but I definitely recommend it. The writing is good, and the whole game revolving around this eerie vibe just got me.
Papers, Please Similarity: Shares the careful examination and decision-making elements – you’re analyzing plant specimens and customer requests similar to examining documents and making border decisions. However, it completely lacks the moral pressure and survival stakes. You get the meditative satisfaction of detailed inspection work without any of the emotional weight.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Much more cozy – removes all oppression and survival pressure while keeping analytical satisfaction.
Beholder
Welcome to your new job: spying on your tenants. In Beholder, you play as a government-appointed landlord tasked with installing cameras, searching apartments, and reporting anyone who might be a threat to the regime. Will you uphold the law, or will you bend the rules to protect those in danger? The game is morally challenging, darkly immersive, and full of tough decisions that will keep you questioning your every move. Just don’t get caught, and live with your decisions!
Papers, Please Similarity: Emotionally very similar – you’re trapped between protecting people you care about and serving an oppressive government. The surveillance and reporting mechanics mirror Papers, Please’s document processing, and the family survival pressure is even more intense. You get the same crushing weight of impossible moral choices, plus the added horror of spying on your neighbors.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Less cozy – adds domestic surveillance horror to the bureaucratic oppression.
Do Not Feed the Monkeys
Ever wanted to secretly watch strangers through hidden surveillance cameras? In Do Not Feed the Monkeys, you’re part of an exclusive club that lets you do just that. Your job is simple: observe, collect information, and absolutely, under no circumstances, interact. But curiosity is a dangerous thing… and breaking the rules might lead to unexpected consequences. It’s a unique, addictive experience that makes you question just how much you really want to know. Sooo… Will you feed the monkeys?
Papers, Please Similarity: Similar surveillance and moral decision-making, but from a voyeuristic rather than official government perspective. You’re still processing information about people and making choices that affect their lives, with the same tension between profit/survival and protecting people’s privacy. The quirky presentation masks similar ethical dilemmas to Papers, Please, but with more player agency to intervene or stay passive.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Slightly more cozy – absurd presentation and optional nature of surveillance reduces oppressive feeling.
Organs Please
Welcome to the world’s strangest recycling plant… where people are the raw materials. In Organs Please, you’re in charge of deciding who gets a golden ticket to escape Earth and who, well… contributes to the survival of humanity in a more “biological” way. Despite the grim premise, the game leans more into strategy and resource management than gore, offering a darkly humorous and surprisingly addictive experience. Who knew saving humanity could be such a logistical nightmare? If the idea of recycling humans for the survival doesn’t bother you too much, I suggest you give it a try!
Papers, Please Similarity: Nearly identical emotional structure – you’re processing people and making life-altering decisions under financial pressure in a dystopian setting. The “save the patient vs harvest organs for money” dilemma perfectly mirrors Papers, Please’s “follow rules vs help people” conflict. You get the same crushing weight of bureaucratic evil disguised as necessity, with family survival depending on your moral compromises.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Less cozy – medical setting makes the moral compromises feel more viscerally disturbing.
Galaxy Pass Station
Running a space station isn’t just about keeping the lights on. It’s about creating the ultimate intergalactic hangout. In Galaxy Pass Station, you’ll build everything from karaoke bars to capsule hotels while juggling immigration duties as a human inspector. Should you let this alien in? Are they a threat? Or just here for a cosmic vacation? In my opinion, this game is like a mix of Papers, Please and Oxygen Not Included. It blends document-checking with deep customization. A little buggy but full of charm!
Papers, Please Similarity: Limited similarity – shares some customer service and resource management elements, but lacks the document inspection focus and moral pressure that defines Papers, Please. More about business management than bureaucratic oppression. You might get occasional echoes of the inspection satisfaction, but without the core tension between duty and humanity.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: More cozy – sci-fi setting and business focus remove oppressive government pressure.
Contraband Police
In 1981, deep in the mountains of Karikatka, border security is no joke. As a rookie officer, you’ll be searching cars, checking papers, and keeping an eye out for smugglers. But the job gets messy when corruption and violence enter the mix. Contraband Police expands on the Papers, Please formula with open-world mechanics, driving, and even shootouts. Some elements feel a bit rough around the edges, and a lot of people wouldn’t call this game cozy. But if you love catching shady travelers, this one’s worth checking out.
Papers, Please Similarity: Close – you’re literally doing border control work, checking vehicles and documents, but with added layers of corruption and bribery. The core “inspect → decide → consequences” loop is nearly identical, and the moral dilemmas about helping people vs following orders are the same. The communist setting and family pressure create the same emotional atmosphere as Papers, Please.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Same level – nearly identical pressure and moral weight in a similar setting.
Mind Scanners
In a dystopian city where mental health is monitored like a public utility, you are a Mind Scanner. Your job? Diagnose and “treat” citizens using arcade-style devices. But with a strict time limit and an authoritarian system breathing down your neck, you’ll have to decide: do you follow the rules or question the system? The repetitive minigames might not be for everyone, but the eerie atmosphere and intriguing world make this a psychological ride worth taking.
Papers, Please Similarity: Very similar emotional core – you’re processing people through a system that claims to help but actually harms, with family survival depending on your compliance. The “cure vs conform” decisions mirror Papers, Please’s impossible moral choices. You get the same crushing bureaucratic weight, but focused on mental rather than physical control. The medical setting makes the moral compromises feel even more violating than border control.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Less cozy – psychological manipulation feels more disturbing than border bureaucracy.
That’s Not My Neighbor
The year is 1955, and things are… strange. Doppelgangers are popping up everywhere, and the Department of Doppelganger Detection (D.D.D.) is on high alert. As the doorman of an apartment complex, it’s your job to figure out who’s who. Are they really your neighbor, or is something sinister at play? Scrutinize IDs, pick up on suspicious details, and keep those imposters out. A thrilling mix of deduction and paranoia awaits!
Papers, Please Similarity: Strong mechanical similarity – you’re checking documents and appearances to identify threats, making the same kind of detailed inspections that Papers, Please demands. The routine of examining IDs and comparing photos creates similar satisfaction, but the supernatural threat removes some of the political moral weight. You get the paranoid attention to detail without as much guilt about your role in an oppressive system.
Coziness vs Papers, Please: Slightly more cozy – supernatural threat feels less morally compromising than serving an authoritarian government.
Wrap Up
I hope this list helped you find at least one game that caught your interest! Whether you enjoy puzzle-like decision-making, deep storytelling, or a mix of both, there’s definitely something here for you.
Cozy gaming isn’t always about soft colors and peaceful farms. It can also be about finding comfort in engaging, thought-provoking gameplay. Sometimes, it’s relaxing to slip into a game where you’re in control, making decisions, and seeing the world react to them. As always, it depends on individuals and your opinion might differ from mine, and that’s okay. ♥
Thank you for reading today’s article! If you end up trying any of these games, I’d love to hear what you think. And, of course, if you have any other recommendations for cozy decision-based games, feel free to share!
Other “Cozy Games Like”
- 10 Cozy Farming Games Similar to Fields of Mistria
- 11 Cozy Games Similar to Unpacking
- Best Cozy Games Like Hello Kitty Island Adventure
