Spiritfarer

Thunder Lotus Games made a "cozy management game about dying" — you play as Stella, a ferrymaster who cares for spirits before guiding them through a door to the afterlife. You build their rooms, cook their favorite meals, hug them when they're sad, and then say goodbye forever. It's beautiful, devastating, and the most emotionally mature game on this list. The hand-drawn animation is Studio Ghibli-quality. Spiritfarer won the Games for Impact award at The Game Awards 2021 and has sold over 1 million copies — 70% faster than the average indie management game. Bring tissues.