All posts tagged in wholesome
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!
- Dec 28, 2023
I truly don’t know where the year went. It’s been an interesting year, and it’s certainly been full of a ton of top-tier games. We’ve seen the release of Palia, a lovely cozy MMORPG that lets you gather friends and strangers alike to farm, mine, and more. The Moonlight Peaks demo dropped recently, too! Then there’s Spells & Secrets, a great roguelite wizarding adventure. dotAGE is the perfect survival city builder. And Roots of Pacha takes top spot for my favorite farming game this year. Some other notable games are Spirit City: Lofi Sessions and Smushi Come Home. But what’s in store for next year? Well, time will tell, but here are nine games to look forward to in 2024!
Little Kitty, Big City
First on the list is Little Kitty, Big City! You play as a kitty who’s lost in a big city. You can hurry on your way and find home, or you can take time to explore this brand new place. Cause a little chaos as you explore, too.Dive into trash cans, knock potted plants off their ledges, and walk through some fresh paint to leave behind your paw prints. Meet stray animals on the streets and become friends with them. Find different adorable hats to wear. Plus, so much more!
Bloomtown
Next up is Bloomtown: A Different Story. You play as Emily and her younger brother Chester as they spend their summer holiday in their grandpa’s cozy and quiet town. Underneath this sleepy little town, however, a demon world is growing and children are going missing. Embark on a grand adventure to save the towns from this mysterious demon world. The demons are the fears and vices of the townspeople that have come to life. As Emily, figure out the mysteries and the disappearances and save the souls of everyone! Face off against giant demons and dungeon bosses in the Underside using a turn-based combat system. Fight alongside your friends, who each have their own sets of abilities, as well as summon your own inner demons. Even capture new creatures to use in other battles by weakening them during combat.
Coming to Steam and PlayStation!
Chilltown
Third on the list is Chill Town! This game promises to be a soothing blend of idle game and life sim. You run around collecting resources on a beautiful island. Catch bugs, visit the shops or town hall, fish, farm, and tame cute creatures. Unleash your creativity in build mode and create your perfect home using a variety of different decor items. Even add your personal touch to the outside of your home with benches, light posts, and more. Plus, take care of your very own furry friend!
Coming to Steam!
Horticular
Horticular is a relaxing garden-builder with a little magical twist. You’ve been summoned by mysterious gnomes to restore an abandoned garden. Immerse yourself in a magical world with a day-night cycle, weather patterns, and adorable animals. Meanwhile, build your dream garden with hundreds of unlockable items. Create lush flower gardens and flourishing crop plots. Attract creatures by fulfilling their requirements and taking care of them. You’ll need to fight off decay and corruption by using the magic within your garden. You’ll also get to rename inhabitants to personalize your gardening experience. And if you want to prove your abilities, enter the in-world competition, plus much more!
Coming to Steam!
Critter Cove
Next on the list is Critter Cove, an open-world life sim set in a post-apocalyptic world. You’ll restore an old town, and sail across a gorgeous archipelago. Collect relics and treasures as you explore. Fish for a variety of sea life. Craft everything you might need from tools to decor. You’ll even get to find new residents to invite to your town. And so much more! There’s tons to do in this game, and it’s all up to you to restore it to its former glory.
Coming to Steam!
Chef RPG
Next up is Chef RPG! The beautiful little seaside town of White Ash harbor is your new home, and once was a thriving tourist destination. Now, it’s up to you to help revive the town using your experience as a traveling chef. In Chef RPG, you’ll run your very own restaurant to serve up delicious dishes in order to attract tourists back to town. Hunt, harvest, and shop for the ingredients you’ll use in your cooking. Build a thriving restaurant and become a successful chef!
Coming to Steam!
Tavern Talk
Sixth on the list is Tavern Talk, where you find yourself to be the owner of Wayfarer’s Inn. It appears to be a normal inn in the middle of the world, but looks can be deceiving. And you can infuse beverages with magic that can influence someone’s fate. You’re known for helping the people of the realm via these magical drinks. Listen to the stories of the unique cast of beautifully designed adventurers that come in. From boasting about their glory or commiserating about failures, you’ll experience a variety of different personalities and tales. Help them find a place that feels like home by building relationships and creating an inviting environment inside the inn. Craft different interesting drinks, while you’re at it, but be careful what you serve. Your drink choices will alter their fate and the path their quests will take. Your choices shape the story of Tavern Talk!
Coming to Steam!
SunnySide
Welcome to SunnySide. You’ve just purchased your first plot of land located in an aging town in Japan’s countryside. Your goal is to create a homestead you can be proud of. You’ll learn to collect your own water, generate power, grow crops, craft food, care for your animals, and much more in order to help your local economy. You’ll get to ferment soy sauce, grow and grind your own flour, and even make cheese. Then, you can take it all a step further and cook recipes using your homemade ingredients. SunnySide also features a colorful cast of characters for you to interact with. Life in the small town is peaceful, but not without its problems. What sets this game apart from the other farm sim games is that it seeks to combine modernism with the old.
Coming to Steam!
Meetlight and the Secrets of the Universe
In the last game on the list you play as Anna. Anna has faced a terrible tragedy and lost her spouse. Now, she has taken over her great-uncle’s forge and become the new blacksmith. You’ll build your house from scratch (and decorate it too!), customize your character’s appearance, and befriend animals, nature, and your neighbors (some are even romanceable!). You’ll even be able to complete quests for the villagers or trade with them. With the loss of your spouse, you’ve gained the ability of clairvoyance, which you’ll slowly develop and perfect as you play. Enter the magical world of energy where you’ll meet new inhabitants, explore lost places, and discover the secrets of the universe. In this 3D open-world, with 19 places to visit on the map (so far), there’s just SO much to do and see. Plus, there’s farming, animal companions, cooking, and alchemy for you to enjoy!
Coming to Steam, with plans for Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation!
- Dec 20, 2023
We’re another week closer to Christmas and I can’t wait! I love going around the neighborhood looking at people’s decorations. I think that’s part of why ACNH having lights in trees feels so satisfying to me. What else is super exciting about the Christmas season, is the new gaming systems and games you get! And with Steam Decks being fairly popular, what better way to celebrate the approach of the holiday with some gift ideas for that system?
The following list only features games that have been Steam Deck verified, to save the gamer in your life some troubles and heartache!
My Time at Sandrock
My Time at Sandrock is the long awaited sequel to My Time at Portia. And just like the prequel, this one takes place in a post-apocalyptic world 330 years after the Day of Calamity destroyed a lot of modern technology. You accept the role as a builder of Sandrock, a desert community. Gather resources to build machines, befriend locals, fight enemies, and lead the town to economic prosperity! Uncover the backstories for over 30 NPCs while you forge friendships with them. Complete side quests, play fun minigames, and even team up with a friend to play the game together!
APICO
APICO is a lovely game where you leave your boring city job and return to Port APICO, where you grew up, and return to your beekeeping roots. The APICO islands feature a set of lush, beautiful environments for you to explore. Each biome has its own breed of bees for you to discover. Gather resources to use in your studies or crafting. Make and sell Apicola (honey) and other beekeeping items you will discover. Play fun beekeeping minigames, without the stings! More importantly, breed different cross breeds of bees and discover 30 new species to help repopulate the APICO islands with. Plus, uncover the secrets of the islands while you explore.
I even have a review of APICO here, if you want more information!
Cornucopia
Cornucopia offers the same comfortable features players have grown to love from the farming game genre, but in a lovely 2.5D pixel art style. You plant 52 types of fruit trees, 15 types of berry bushes, and grow 52 different crops, including their different artisan varieties. Sell crops or cook them up in one of 200 different recipes! There’s also logging, fishing, mining, and pet breeding to occupy your days. Also enter the pets into competitive races or use them to help you fight monsters. Then, kick back and relax with some crafting and decorating. Unlock furniture and decorations to turn your farm into your favorite getaway. Make friends with Cornucopia’s NPCs, too. Who knows, maybe one of the over 47 NPCs will catch your fancy! Romance them, go on dates, and unlock their romantic cut scenes. Even marry one, start a family, and decorate their room in your house.
While the Iron’s Hot
Play as a simple journeyman blacksmith in While the Iron’s Hot. You’re looking to become a master blacksmith. This game features an exciting combat-free experience. Journey to the mystical lands of Ellian where you’ll meet a cast of quirky characters. Explore tunnels full of puzzles and resources. Master every step of the blacksmithing process. Smelt ore, turn metal into ingots, and shape them into useful items. Use your skills to repair machinery to open up new areas to explore. Craft equipment that helps you explore new regions. Even work hard to restore the defunct blacksmithing town of Stal. Revitalizing the village just might prove to Eillian’s artisans that you’re worthy of being a master blacksmith!
Loddlenaut
In Loddlenaut, you play as an interstellar custodian who has been hired by the spacefaring mega corporation GUPPI to clean up their mess. They’ve inundated GUP-14 with pollution, and want you to restore the planet. This is an open-world ocean adventure where you’ll get to explore this beautiful alien planet, along with the corporate ruins of GUPPI. You’ll find remnants of their buildings, ships, and machinery that have all sunken to the bottom of the game’s ocean. Use your bubble gun, clean up the trash, remove oil spills, and uncover clues about the past inhabitants. Unlock better gadgets to help you clean up different types of ocean pollution. Recycle the trash you collect and use it to craft items. Even befriend cute little axolotl-looking creatures called loddles!
Did you get a new Switch instead? Or perhaps you got one for someone and want some games to go with it. Either way, check out my list of 5 Farming Games for Your New Switch!
- Nov 22, 2023
You can check out my previous article introducing Spirit City: Lofi Sessions here, but it’s essentially a gamified productivity tool. The whole game takes place in your room, where you can sprawl out on the bed, sit by the cozy fire, relax at the bay window, or use the desk. There’s relaxing lofi music tracks to play in the background and other tools to keep on task and track your productivity. There’s also little creatures and decorations you can unlock and use as you level up through playing.
The Demo
I recently played the demo of Spirit City and it was great! The features were limited, of course, but what I did was sold me on this game. You start by customizing your own character, which is fun. There’s different hair styles, hair color options, and clothing choices. You can get comfy and cozy right from the start! Then there’s the music. The tracks are relaxing and chill. They’re perfect for having some sound in the background without being distracting. You can even add background noises like crackling fireplace or rainfall.
What I really liked was that you have control of the ambiance of the room. Spirit City lets you control what time of day it is, so the overall lighting can be changed to suit your mood. Sitting at the large bay window in the evening to watch the rain is highly cathartic. Then there’s the other tools that are perfect for productivity. The to-do list lets you input your own entries, so you can craft a list perfect for doing homework right now, or make one for a large project. Then, use the built-in pomodoro timer to lock yourself in to working for a specific amount of time with built-in breaks. It’s perfect for studying or completing other tasks within a time limit.
The other tools weren’t available during the demo, but I can absolutely see their usefulness without having tried them. Spirit City offers a journal option so you can log whatever it is you want to log. Perhaps a run down of your day, or a log of a project you’re working on. The History option is great for analyzing your productivity to see where you could improve for better results.
Final Thoughts
Spirit City: Lofi Sessions provides a really pretty, distraction-free, gamified productivity tool. Set yourself up for a good working session and power through it with the help of some great music. Plus, you’re never alone with a cute spirit creature to accompany you, and more for you to discover. Even decorate the room to suit you!
I think everyone should try this demo out. It was a worthwhile experience!
The Spirit City: Lofi Sessions demo is on Steam! The full release is projected to be Q2 of 2024.
