Review: Cozy Game Restoration
A game about restoration, coziness, and many memories.
Game
Cozy Game Restoration is a game about restoring vintage titles, developed by Parasol Corp. In it, the player receives a letter from their grandfather stating that the house may soon become theirs—provided they restore his collection of 108 games.
The player begins by restoring a game cartridge (which resembles a SNES cartridge; the original titles are not used, so the names have been slightly altered).
To begin the restoration process, the player opens a box containing the game itself and uses a heat gun to clear away any Styrofoam debris from the workbench. The player is provided with a set of restoration tools—with more becoming available as the game progresses—such as a cotton swab, a toothbrush, a heat gun, and a pair of tweezers.
The player must remove all dirt and address any issues; for instance, using tweezers to peel off stickers, or a cotton swab to clean away surface-level grime (or, with the help of a solvent, to remove any adhesive residue left behind). A toothbrush is used to scrub away tougher, more stubborn dirt. The heat gun is employed to evaporate any excess solvent applied to the game. There is also an ultraviolet light, which helps reveal leftover adhesive residue or scratches on CDs.
Additional items are unlocked later on, such as a polishing paste used to remove scratches and scuffs from both game cartridges and CDs.
Other objects are unlocked as you progress through the game—for instance, items for your home, such as vases, paintings, controllers, and more—all designed to make the space more pleasant and better reflect each player's personal style.
My Impressions
The game itself is very relaxing and enjoyable to play. With its cozy atmosphere—set before a window with rain falling (and the sound of rain to match!)—the player savors every moment spent restoring each item, paying close attention to every possible detail to achieve 100% completion.
Of course, there are plenty of challenges; for instance, removing stickers can be tricky—depending on the sticker and its size, you might need to zoom out and try multiple times (it’s as if the sticker had become a permanent part of the object!).
There are other restoration games out there, but this one is particularly engaging—it’s all about the restoration process itself. While the game lets you consider a repair "finished" once you’ve reached about 70% completion, it is entirely possible to carry out a full restoration (and you can even return to an item later, if you wish).
Conclusions
Cozy Game Restoration is a fantastic game, appealing both to those who enjoy reminiscing about classic titles and to those simply looking for a relaxing experience with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Furthermore, as players progress, they can personalize their environment—adding items they’ve earned and incorporating the various games they’ve restored.
Achievements
As of now, at least, the game does not have any achievement system (at least not on Steam).
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