All posts tagged in wholesome
Apr 24, 2025
Thanks to Mudita Games and RedDeer.Games for a copy!
Pilo and the Holobook is a colorful adventure game that takes place in a far-away galaxy. You play as Pilo, the adorable fox. You’re an apprentice explorer teamed up with a scientist who dreams big, and together you set out to document the wonders and mysteries of the universe. Your teacher, Professor Chiron, has fashioned a handy notebook called the Holobook where you can record your adventures and useful items by turning them into stickers!
Explore gorgeous hand-painted planets as you document the cool, the incredible, and the weird things you come across. Turn just about everything you come across into a sticker and see what all you can collect. Even solve some mysteries along the way, but most important of all, you need to figure out how to defeat the Tar! It threatens life in this galaxy and has driven away the inhabitants already.
Can you defeat the Tar and collect all the stickers?
Sticker Collecting Fun
Unfortunately, Pilo and the Holobook is a short game. I spent around 5 hours wandering through the lovely worlds collecting everything I could get my hands on. Those short few hours were some of the best, most relaxing hours I’ve spent in a game in a long time. Not once was I bored and ready to move on, either. I was totally consumed by this cute game, and wish I had more!
There aren’t many characters in this game, but each one has such a unique and fun personality. The dialogue between Pilo and Prof is witty and hilarious. The overall storyline is absolutely heartwarming, too. The galaxy was once inhabited by people, but the Tar’s terrible presence has made each planet dangerous, so they fled. Those who stayed paint such a lovely picture of what once was that you can’t help but feel sympathy and jump in to help.
Of course, the stickers are the best thing. There’s no combat or fail states in Pilo and the Holobook. It’s just easy, relaxing sticker collecting and mystery solving. Even better, is that you could use your brain and reason out what ought to be a sticker and what may not be. Or, you could play like I did, and mindlessly shoot the Holobook at everything! Either way, gameplay was so laid-back and easy to get into. That’s part of what made the game so enjoyable. It’s easy to pick up whenever. Plus, the ending is so satisfying!
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a short game to dive right into, this is it. There’s a time and place for the longer, more all-consuming games out there, and sometimes short little 5 hour games are the perfect palette cleanser. I can’t recommend this game enough. Plus, there’s a free demo on Steam so you can try before you buy! Absolutely go pick up Pilo and the Holobook, though. It’s worth it!
I give it:
- Apr 18, 2025
Pilo and the Holobook sets you on a cosmic journey in the XOP-642 star system where you’ll guide Pilo through vibrant worlds. An ominous substance called the Tar has spread across the galaxy. It threatens the beautiful ecosystems and creatures you’ll encounter. As you traverse through different ecosystems and encounter fun puzzles to solve, you’ll discover the origins of the Tar and how to defeat it. You also have a powerful, and exciting, tool to use on your journey!
Pilo and the Holobook focuses on a combatless gameplay that emphasizes a player’s creativity, kindness, and curiosity. To do that, you’re armed with the Holobook. This book lets you interact with creatures, the environment around you, and then solve problems you may encounter. You even turn things you find into useful stickers that track your progress, unlock new skills, and solve environmental puzzles. So dive into this heartwarming story about friendship, mentorship, and saving the environment to see what fun solutions you come up with!
Release Date
You can pick up this wonderfully wholesome and cozy little game on Steam and Nintendo Switch now! You can also check out the Pilo and the Holobook demo on Steam.
- Oct 29, 2024
Tidy Backpack is the perfect game for those of you who like to get cozy with some organizing and inventory management. In fact, that’s the entirety of the game! You have a little backpack that has limited carrying capacity. You need to arrange items to fit within the backpack’s given space. As you progress, you’ll uncover forgotten artifacts and learn fun information about the old world.
Play through 96 cozy, casual levels discovering 33 unique items in a fantasy realm in Tidy Backpack. The items were once used thousands of years ago, and are now just pieces of the past for you to unearth. Experience a cute little story as you learn about each item you find. They tell a tale of the past, and you can only begin to guess at what that tale is! Relax with a chill soundtrack and simple controls, too. This game is perfect for the casual gaming session!
Release Date
You can find Tidy Backpack on Steam now! There’s even a demo for you to try first.
- Aug 28, 2024
Into the Emberlands is a quirky storybook-like adventure game where you uncover an ever-changing world. Your job is to rebuild your decimated village and save the villagers who’ve been lost to the Miasma. You’re the chosen Lightbearer, and you’re the only one capable of navigating the Miasma. Equipped with a lantern fueled by a light-bringing ember, you can venture forth to find the villagers. Just be sure your light doesn’t fade while you’re in the Miasma or you’ll be lost too, and need to wait on the next Lightbearer to find you!
Explore different biomes in a procedurally generated world as you discover scenery hidden behind the Miasma. There’s tons of life and secrets to find during your journey. Encounter small adventures and big surprises, too. Like quirky and mystical creatures that come in all shapes, sizes, and fantastic colors! Help out the creatures of Into the Emberlands and they’ll aid you in your journey to restore the village by providing you with necessary resources and helpful equipment upgrades. Use the resources you gather to rebuild the village, taking it from nothing to the thriving safe haven your people deserve. Different buildings and vendors within your town can help kickstart your next adventure, too. So, rebuild and find those villagers!
Release Date
You can pick up Into the Emberlands on Steam now!
Want some more exploration games, but perhaps something a little less world saving? Try Endless Ocean Luminous, Seasons of Rocco, or Alba: A Wildlife Adventure!
- Aug 8, 2024
Embark on a wholesome and cozy mail delivery adventure in Letter Bunny, developed by Dramatic Iceberg! You play as Anne, an adorable and small bunny who has been tasked with delivering the mail on a big island. A nasty storm recently hit the island leaving many letters and packages lost. Your job is to not only deliver the lost mail, but to do so much more around the island, too!
Explore the island and deliver the mail in creative ways. Use different tools to get the job done, too. Like the tool that lets you grab a package from down below and reel it up to you! Even glide and slide around the island to get from one place to the next. Just be sure to look around for some hidden secrets.
Delivering the mail in Letter Bunny is your top priority, but there’s no reason not to get to know the folks you deliver too, though. Help them out with some tasks or just listen to their stories and make friends. But that’s not all there is to do on the island. Go fishing, catch bugs, or even prove your skills in sled races!
Release Date
The adorable Letter Bunny is coming to Steam soon! Add it to your Wishlist to be notified when it releases.
- Jun 26, 2024
A Little to the Left is a relaxing game all about organizing. Play through 100 unique logic puzzles featuring charming illustrations and satisfying gameplay. Play through levels at your pace and in whoever order you choose. Each puzzle has multiple solutions, so you aren’t forced to figure out the singular way to solve. The puzzles are all hidden among common household items, too. Organize books, the kitchen junk drawer, chess pieces, and so much more. You can even utilize the Let It Be function to skip puzzles that have you stumped. Or use a hint to help you along!
Now, developer Max Inferno and publisher Secret Mode, have announced a brand new DLC to add even more cozy puzzle fun to A Little to the Left! This new DLC, called Seeing Stars, adds 33 new levels for you to enjoy. These new levels are a mixture of multiple solutions type puzzles and traditional organizational puzzles. There are also 5 new bonus levels to complete. Fold, flap, crush, join, stick, bounce, stack, strum and smash your way through each of these pleasant puzzles. Each level has up to five different possible solutions, with 100 total different intriguing solutions to uncover. As you play the levels, keep an eye out for collectible stars. There are 100 in total to collect. You’ll even get to see some cute kitties as you tidy up!
Release Date
You can pick up the fabulously relaxing A Little to the Left: Seeing Stars on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch now!
- May 29, 2024
Interact with nature through music in Echo of the Waves, a beautifully hand-drawn watercolor exploration game. Play as Zephyr, a young cartographer and musician who hails from a distant ocean. Zephyr has set out on a journey to discover and preserve the ancestral bond to nature. Play music while you work your way through the colorful islands of the archipelago to uncover the secrets hidden within nature!
When you immerse yourself in the breathtaking world of Echo of the Waves, watch as the environment comes alive. Use Zephyr’s musical instrument to interact with your surroundings, unveiling magic and awakening dormant creatures. Then, shift through different layers of the world to discover hidden secrets like portals and symbols. Even document your journey using Zephyr’s notebook, and relax to a lovely soundtrack as you take in the beautiful scenery.
Release Date
Echo of the Waves is coming to Steam sometime. You can add it to your Wishlist now while you wait for the release date to be announced!
- May 8, 2024
Koro Neko is a relaxing, wholesome, puzzle game with delightfully cute graphics. Play as sweet little Koro, a poor black cat trapped in a jar by the Strawberry the witch. Plus, Strawberry tries every trick in the book to lock away Koro’s family, so Koro is responsible for freeing everyone from the jars they’ve been trapped in!
Begin your tiny, vibrant adventure solving over 100 puzzles in Koro Neko. There is no timer, no limited number of moves you need to solve a puzzle in, and no pressure! This game will tickle your brain while letting you totally relax. You’ll explore different worlds like a playground in the forest and desert filled with flowers as you work to free your family from their jars. Each world has a new mechanic for you to learn, too, keeping the game fresh and fun. Solve puzzles and thwart Strawberry the witch from the comfort of your home!
Release Date
Koro Neko is coming to Steam sometime soon. There is no available release date.
I also recommend taking a look at Neko Odyssey and Meowjiro if you love cat games!
