Cozy Stickerville is a legacy city-building game for 1 to 6 players. In this game, you start with a barebones piece of land (the main game board) and begin building on it by placing various stickers. The game gives you the ultimate freedom to choose how to develop and expand your village.

Gameplay

This game is the definition of cozy! There is no winning or losing. You play through 10 years, which translates into 10 sessions of around 40 to 50 minutes each, and gradually build a village. There are some long-term goals, but you do not even have to pursue them. The choices are entirely yours. If you have played the video game Townsmen, this experience will feel very familiar. I was addicted to that game years ago, and Cozy Stickerville taps into exactly the same feeling. That is a style of game I enjoy a lot, and it definitely played a role in why I fell in love with this one.

The rulebook is only 4 pages, and it is very easy to get started. The game gives you puzzles and riddles from time to time, but they are easy to solve, and there are hints if you need them. You are also faced with choices in every session, and some have consequences down the road, but you are free to choose whatever you want. There was only one thing I did not like: the events kept offering roads and fences, and I had no idea what their purpose was. As a result, I did not build a single road.

This game can be played solo or multiplayer. The experience is identical whether you play solo or with a group. I played it solo and enjoyed it immensely. One thing to note is that I obsessed over optimizing sticker placement from the very beginning, but that was unnecessary. Unless you deliberately try to waste space, you won’t run out of room.

You can also do two playthroughs with every box without needing a recharge pack. However, not all cards, stickers, and storylines have a second copy. That means that in your second playthrough, some choices are already made for you, and you cannot have the exact same experience as the first time. While this might not appeal to everyone, it does not bother me at all. I am actually excited to explore different storylines and choices in a second playthrough.

Artwork and Components

The artwork is brilliant and matches the theme perfectly, making the entire game look fantastic. This is one of the main contributing factors to the coziness of the game. The stickers are done well, too. Their background color guides you as to where you can place them, and the board has printed squares to help you align them. Some of the stickers are clear and can be placed anywhere, including over already-placed buildings and structures. Overall, the sticker design is excellent, and the production quality leaves little to be desired. The only issue I had with the components was minor damage to a few cards, simply because the decks were not wrapped and were kept together with paper bands instead.

Final Thoughts

Heavy games are my usual preference, but I cannot say enough good things about this one. My nostalgia for video games of this type may have played a role, but I enjoyed every minute of it. The sense of progression, seeing your village grow, the freedom to do whatever you want, the short length of the campaign, and the beautiful artwork created one of the best gaming experiences I have had. It truly lives up to its name. If you are ever looking for a relaxed tabletop experience, you cannot go wrong with this game.

Disclosure: We received a review copy of this game. Also, there may be an affiliate link in the links included at the end of this article.