If you told me the highlight of this year’s Xbox Games Showcase would be an indie game about cleaning dusty hotel rooms with a sentient cat sidekick, I’d have laughed. Yet, Friday Sundae’s “There Are No Ghosts at the Grand” instantly grabbed my attention-not just for the premise, but for how smoothly it mixes cozy renovation sim vibes with supernatural mystery and tongue-in-cheek humor. Honestly, it’s the kind of oddball genre mashup we don’t get enough of these days, and its reveal is already stirring up curiosity in my circle of cozy and indie fans alike.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Friday Sundae |
| Release Date | 2026 |
| Genres | Cozy Sim, Mystery, Puzzle, Adventure |
| Platforms | PC, Xbox Series X|S (Day One Game Pass) |
Let’s be real: we’re in an era where “cozy” games are everywhere. Since Animal Crossing blew up in 2020 (plus the surging popularity of PowerWash Simulator and Unpacking), every publisher wants a slice of the laid-back, low-stress market. It’s not hard to feel jaded when a new cozy/life sim shows up—especially when it riffs so clearly on PowerWash’s satisfying loop of grime-busting and transformation. That’s why Grand’s swerve caught me off-guard. It starts as expected: clear cartoon visuals, a run-down hotel inherited after a family death, wacky locals, and the promise of relaxing, repeatable “make things pretty again” gameplay. Cute, but not earth-shattering…until the reveal goes off the rails.
Midway through the trailer, Friday Sundae tips its hand: beneath the cozy surface is a surreal underbelly packed with cryptic puzzles, magical portals to secret worlds, and monstrous creatures that look like they wandered out of a Lovecraft fever dream (at least, a cartoon one). Suddenly, “clean up and redecorate” melts into “explore hidden dimensions” and “face tentacled horrors,” without dropping the whimsical tone. The stray cat you meet at the start transforms from “adorable mascot” to full-on bantering partner—clever, since games like Stray proved recently that quirky animal friendships can be as memorable as any lore dump.
Is this just marketing hype? Maybe, but Friday Sundae’s playful trailer seems aware of the genre blending, poking fun at cozy game tropes and then gleefully smashing them. I’m genuinely curious if they can keep the balance—delivering both a serotonin-hit of renovation and a compelling supernatural mystery. And while early footage always flatters with smart editing, the actual gameplay premise (multi-function tool, hotel and town progression, puzzle-solving, branching secrets) looks promisingly solid. As a Game Pass launch title, it’ll easily get trial by fire—if those Lovecraftian twists are too shallow, players won’t hesitate to bounce out. But the low barrier to entry means plenty will give it a shot, especially if the writing (cat and all) stays sharp.
We’re seeing this genre-mash trend everywhere: cozy systems hiding deeper narrative hooks, from Spiritfarer’s emotional journey to Dredge’s fishing/horror mix. It makes sense in 2024, when indie devs know just “being cozy” isn’t enough—players want their comfort food with a dash of suspense or surprise. If anything, There Are No Ghosts at the Grand rides that wave better than most, giving us both the meditative “make things better” gameplay loop and a sense of creeping, mysterious unease. Plus, if that cleaning gun feels half as good as PowerWash’s, I’ll be happy to repaint weird portals all night.
Of course, questions remain. Will the game’s mysteries and monster elements tug hard enough to keep us invested past the first hour of happy scrubbing? Can writing bridge the gap between silly and spooky without missing the mark? And is the renovation loop deep enough to stand on its own, or just a vehicle for the plot? The 2026 window gives Friday Sundae time to deliver, but in a crowded market, only real innovation (not just stacking genres) will keep this hotel open for business.
If you’re burned out on formulaic sim games but still want that low-stress satisfaction, this is one to keep an eye on. There Are No Ghosts at the Grand promises both comfort and curiosity—a place for chill cleaning and decorating, but also genuine “wait, what’s around the next corner?” energy. For Game Pass subscribers, its Day One inclusion makes it a risk-free experiment. And for the cozy crowd hungry for inspiration beyond the usual, this cross-pollination of genres might scratch that itch we didn’t know we had.
There Are No Ghosts at the Grand could be the next great cozy x weird crossover—or just another quirky premise that fizzles after reveal hype. But the blend of PowerWash-style renovation, noir mystery, and talking cat snark pushes all the right buttons for genre fans tired of safe bets. Whether you’re a renovation junkie, indie mystery chaser, or Game Pass sampler, this one’s worth marking for 2026. Let’s hope it’s more than just smoke and (mysterious portal) mirrors.