Sainthood: Cozy Strategy

Sainthood: Cozy Strategy is a small strategy game about living a holy life. You build up a little island community and try to grow in virtue.

You spend your days serving the community, putting up buildings, and choosing between prayer and good deeds, each of which earns you points along the way. As you play you unlock the stories of twenty-five real saints from around the world. The seasons change, there is Gregorian chant in the background, and at night a threat called the Shetani tests how you have been living.

I went in expecting a thin theme on top of a builder game, and it is a bit more than that. Tying your progress to prayer and charity, and using real saints rather than made-up ones, gives it some substance. The Gregorian chant is a nice touch and sets a calm mood.

Good for teens and adults who like gentle strategy games and would not mind learning a few saints' stories along the way. Good for a wind-down at the end of the day. It is cozy by design, so do not expect a challenge that keeps you up at night.

It is still a game, not a prayer or study app. The saint material is light, a story here and there rather than real catechesis. And it is made by an independent developer, not a Catholic publisher, so treat the theology as flavoring, not formation.

Free, made by Bisong Taiwo. Available on the App Store: Sainthood: Cozy Strategy. If you want something quiet and faith-themed to unwind with, it is worth a look.