Cozy Grove is a relaxing little game in which you're tasked with helping out friendly ghosts on an abandoned island. There's a definite hint of Animal Crossing about it, but the game's generally less involved than Nintendo's life sim juggernaut. You'll spend most of your time running rather simple errands for the aforementioned ghosts; by collecting specific materials and crafting requested items, you progress through the story of each undead inhabitant.

But here's the twist: Cozy Grove is designed to be played in short bursts over the course of (real world) weeks and months. As such, you'll find yourself hitting roadblocks if you play for extended periods of time. For example, a ghost might tell you that you'll have to wait until tomorrow for a certain event to happen, and you have no choice but to do as they say. It can be a bit frustrating if you're really getting into the swing of developing and decorating your new island home, but that's just how the game's structured.

And to be fair, things do become a lot more freeform later on. As your island grows and you discover more ghosts, you're given access to a greater range of quests and resources. Bit by bit, your play sessions get bigger, and before long, you'll have plenty of tasks to keep you occupied. But even if you're tired of doing favours for your spectral chums, you can always try your hand at addictive side activities, like fishing or digging for treasure. Cozy Grove is just a pleasant place to be.

However, the game does have a few annoyances that chip away at your enjoyment. For starters, performance on PlayStation 4 can be surprisingly shoddy. There are times when the frame-rate will take a noticeable dip, or the whole screen will hang for a few seconds. Cozy Grove is a pretty game, but it's not what you'd call graphically demanding, so it's a real shame that performance can be so spotty.

On top of that, the island is so cluttered with trees, rocks, and other objects that it can be difficult to see things on the ground. The game employs a clever visual technique where objects become transparent, allowing for a better view, but this only happens when you get close to said objects. As such, you'll find yourself stop-starting around the entire island when you're looking for specific bits and pieces. It's not a huge issue, but it does make the game feel finicky to play.