All posts tagged in wholesome
Dec 29, 2022
Farm, Tame, and Ride
Paleo Pines is an upcoming game that definitely has an Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley-like feel to it, but with dinosaurs!
Customize your character, and embark on a journey to a peaceful little island where pioneers live peacefully with affectionate dinosaurs. On the island, evolution went a different direction – “survival of the kindest” – and resulted in a world where humans and dinosaurs live together in harmony. Much to the delight of the residents of the island, you’re the last known descendant of the Flute Whisperer. Together with your Parasaurolophus, Lucky, you’ll build a ranch, make friends with residents, and discover the history of your lost ancestors.
Explore the various biomes of Paleo Pines. From the flowery fields of Veridian Valley, to the canyons of the desert, there’s no lack of space to roam around. There are a number of cute wild dinosaurs that roam the biomes, too. Gain their trust through building pens for them to frolic in, feeding them their favorite foods, and giving them nose pats! If you build enough trust with them, they may even help you with your farm chores, like digging rows and harvesting crops.
You’ll also be able to change your clothing via your wardrobe. Plus, your ranch is fully customizable. Create the perfect paradise for you and your dinosaur friends. Decorate your yard, or fill it full of planting rows. Your ranch is yours to make how you wish!
No Release Date
Unfortunately, there is no planned release date available at the moment. However, you can Wishlist it on Steam. You can also follow Paleo Pines on Twitter, where they frequently post little development updates. The Dev Blog for the game is a great place to look at updates too.
For more dinosaur fun, check out this list.
- Dec 22, 2022
Calico Receives a New Free Content Update Today!
In case you’ve missed it, Calico is an adorable community sim game where you’re tasked with restoring the town’s cat cafe. Fill the cafe with cute kitties, fun decorations, and delicious pastries. Don’t worry though, this isn’t your typical fast-paced cafe. Calico is a laid-back, low stress game.
Today, Calico received a new, free content update. It not only adds new animals and mini games, but addresses some bugs too. Plus, there’s some updates to the graphics.
Calico is currently available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Epic Games, Humble Store, Itch.io, and Game Jolt.
Pawesome Edition Patch Notes
Feature Updates
- Added over 25 new cooking minigames!
- Added sales bonuses based on minigame speed and score
- Added new animals! (Owl, Cow, Goat, Opossum, Chicken, Alpaca, Sheep)
- Added ability to customize wallpaper and floor of café
- Added new “Outline Potion” rewarded by Prism Break Quest (if you previously finished this quest it will appear in your inventory)
Bug Fixes
- Fixed player getting stuck in swimming animation
- Fixed falling through the ground while dismounting birds
- Fixed inventory preview of some garden furniture
- Fixed some animals appearing to sink into the ground
- Fixed some cases where animal physics and petting were configured wrong
- Fixed issues with teleporting or entering furniture mode while player was in a chair or bed
Miscellaneous
- Improved graphics and new outlines
- Added setting for automatic camera rotation
- New improved UI for character creator
- Improved furniture mover selection, and the ability to place furniture on top of other furniture
- Improved player movement and jumping
- New, improved sound effects, and rebalanced sound effect volume
- Character creator now closes faster if you don’t change skin or face texture
- Renaming animals no longer reloads entire animal journal
- New redesigned café kitchen
- Added new grass
- Animals now run faster
- Improved textures for some animals
- Made all menus compatible with mouse clicking
- Improved button prompt images when playing with an Xbox controller
- Improved performance
For more cat-based fun, checkout other adorable kitty games like Kitaria Fables, Little Kitty, Big City, and Cat Quest II.
- Dec 4, 2022
Farm, Craft, Explore
We introduced Meetlight and the Secrets of the Universe back in April, but now there’s so much more gameplay information to gush over. Currently located on Kickstarter, this gorgeous game has taken the word “wholesome” and run away with it. Inspired by Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Ori and the Blind Forest, Stardew Valley, My Time at Portia, and My Neighbor Totoro, Meetlight looks to be a beautiful game with a comfy, cozy atmosphere.
You will play as Anna. Anna has faced a terrible tragedy and lost her spouse. Now, Anna 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 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.
That’s not all, however. 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.
Featuring Customization, Farming, Blacksmithing, and More
If you’re not feeling like exploring, don’t worry. Meetlight and the Secrets of the Universe also has farming. Plant and care for your own set of crops, and perhaps even a fairy will drop by to help you out with them. You’ll be able to create your own farm layout and decorate your fields how you wish. Also available for your farm are animals! You will choose a companion (a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a goat, or something else!) when you start, but you’ll also be able to tame wild animals like foxes and crows. It will take time to get close to wild animals, but eventually they’ll learn to trust you. Breed your animals and collect things like wool from them to use in crafting. It appears there’s at least one horse, too, that you’ll be able to explore the map on.
You’ve also taken over as the local blacksmith, so naturally you’ll be able to create things in the forge. Your uncle left his trade secrets behind. Of course, you’re new to blacksmithing, so you’ll have to practice the skill to get better and make greater quality items! You’ll also be able to discover new blueprints as you play the game.
Cooking and alchemy will be in game, too. Cook over 50 different dishes, each one giving its own buff to help you. When cooking isn’t enough, though, there’s alchemy! You’ll learn how to make potions that can also help you. For example, you can learn to make a potion that increases the duration of your clairvoyance.
With all of the crafting and cooking that can be done in Meetlight, it is only natural resource harvesting is a feature. Much like everything else, you’ll have to work on your gathering skills too in order to gather a higher number of resources and higher quality resources. You’ll have to craft tools to help you harvest, too.
Kickstarter Stretch Goals
Meetlight and the Secrets of the Universe is currently only for Steam. However, should the Kickstarter meet certain stretch goals, the game will become available for Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and Playstation. What’s perhaps even more exciting, are the other stretch goals. One goal is for MORE map areas, expanding the already big map. There’s also a goal for total character design control where you’ll be able to choose gender, the name, and the shape of the character’s face and body. And the one I’m most excited about is the goal for co-op. If that stretch goal is met, Meetlight will have co-op for up to 4 players AND cross-platform play. How cool is that?
Coming 2023
The game is successfuly funded on Kickstarter with multiple stretch goals met, which also means it’s not yet available. Unfortunately, we’ll have a while to wait as Meetlight and the Secrets of the Universe only lists 2023 as the release date. You can also wishlist it on Steam. Meetlight will come to Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and Playstation.
Chek out Kitaria Fables for another beautiful farming sim, or even Aka, where you play as an adorable red panda.
- Nov 30, 2022
Uncover the Mysteries of Bermuda
Down in Bermuda is a pleasant and colorful little puzzle game featuring Milton, the adventurous airplane pilot. A bizarre and abnormal storm has swept through Milton’s path and has left him stranded on the infamous islands of Bermuda for decades. Milton will have to work to overcome a number of different obstacles in his search for a way home.
Milton has discovered he’s trapped inside a baffling time bubble, and needs your help to escape and get home. He’ll have to overcome creatures of the deep, as well as crack various codes. Collect mysterious orbs, and also solve a number of puzzles on 6 of the islands of the notorious archipelago. Can you help Milton find his way home and escape the beautiful, but mystifying island?
Available Now!
Down in Bermuda is available now on numerous platforms. You can find it on Steam, Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Epic Games, Humble Bundle, and GOG.
Here’s a throwback to the 15 Most Wholesome Games on 3DS.
- Nov 9, 2022
Save the Animals on an Idyllic Mediterranean Island
In Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, you play as Alba. Join her as she visits her grandparents for the summer on a beautiful Mediterranean island. She is looking forward to spending her vacation peacefully exploring and discovering the wildlife with her friend Ines. However, when Alba sees an animal in danger, she knows she has to do something.
Discover pretty beaches and castle ruins as you wander around the island. And as you explore, begin a movement to save the island and its animals from the litter that covers it. Help Alba create the AIWRL, the organization aimed at helping the animals on the island. Meet the townsfolk and help them out. You’ll need lots of volunteers to make AIWRL successful, and who better to convince to help out than your neighbors?
The island is full of different animal species for you to discover, but that doesn’t mean there’s any rush! Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a chill game that can be played and completed at your own pace. This is a feel-good game meant to highlight good deeds, while you sit back and relax.
Free for a Limited Time!
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure will be free on Epic Games from Thursday, November 10th, 2022 to Thursday, November 17th, 2022! Alba is also available for purchase on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation, Apple Arcade, and Steam.
For more fun saving animals, check out To The Rescue, and Quench.
- Oct 17, 2022
Play Matchmaker as an Adorable Ghost
In this sweet little dating sim, you don’t play as someone looking for your love interest. Instead, you play as the ghost who’s acting as matchmaker for the residents of the mansion! There are over 10 residents in the mansion for you to get to know. You will read their diaries to learn about them. Also gift them items to discover what they like best.
In Love, Ghostie, every resident can be shipped with another resident. No one is off limits! And with over 45 pairing possibilities, your options are nearly endless. So far, developer Janbeh Games has revealed only a few of the 10+ possible residents. There is Gerard the emo giraffe, Calathea the…. well, the calathea plant, Noir the goth, who is the literal black sheep of the family, and Mina, a short-tempered little calico cat. Also pictured are a frog character and a dragon character. So, who belongs together? Who knows! The choice is yours!
Set up the residents on dates and give them tasks to complete that affect their happiness. As they learn about and get closer to each other, you will unlock cute relationship scenes and unique storylines. Discover the different story lines for each couple. Which of the delightful residents will you ship together in Love, Ghostie?
Release Date TBD
Sadly there is no release date confirmed for this cute little game. It will be released on Steam, however, where you can currently add it to your wishlist. Meanwhile, you can follow the developer on her Twitter and enjoy the charming trailer video for Love, Ghostie.
For more dating sims, check out this article featuring Dream Daddy, Monster Prom 2: Holiday Season, and Half Past Fate.
- Jun 10, 2020
Garden Story is an upcoming social simulation/adventure RPG where you play as a grape called Concord. The game is in development by Picogram and will be published by Rose City Games and VIZ Media for PC via Steam. Whilst a Spring 2020 release for Garden Story was hoped for, Picogram are still finetuning the game. They have however, released a demo version of the game entitled Garden Story: Autumn Town, which you can play here.
About:
Players assume the role of Concord, who is a recently appointed village guardian. However, you will definitely be kept on your toes. Whether it be neighbours requiring assistance, or the sudden appearance of a strange rot that has seeped into the foundations of the once thriving island, Concord has his work cut out. Fortunately, he is not alone.
If you help friends with their problems, they’ll help you with yours. Care for the environment, explore new regions, solve puzzles, make new friends, and ultimately, help restore the grove to its former glory.
Features:
- Whilst restoring a run down island, players are also able to explore and cultivate the islands four regions as ‘Concord the Grape’.
- By fulfilling residents’ requests, fostering relationships with others, and making friends with fruity people, you may find that these people will help you out in return.
- Take care of garden plots, gather resources, and ensure to upgrade your tools to allow you to take good care of your home.
- Whilst solving puzzles and defending yourself against the insidious rot, you may slowly unral the mystery behind the island’s broken past
- By depositing and cataloguing resources you can create a library featuring the island’s lore.
- At your own pace, you are able to care for garden plots each day, choose to take a walk in the evening, or you can concentrate on completing favors. The choice is yours!
- Experience new things and fill your scrapbook with usable perks and traits.
You can visit the game’s website here. Alternatively, you can check out their Twitter account here.
May update:
The people behind Garden Story recently gave an update on how the game is progressing. This is what’s new to Garden Story:
- Labels have been added to jars so players know what type of dew a jar stores.
- The in-game map, which shows the name and coordinates of each area, now has a handy Concord pin to show you where they are.
- The game’s combat has been updated to be more satisfying. The pick art has more detail and the animation ‘packs a little bit more punch’.
- The request board now has a floating bubble to alert you of new quests. In addition to the request board, there are general indicators above areas of interest as well. This helps players know where to explore if stuck.
- Whilst harder to show, the team have been hard at work finetuneing the game’s storyline and ‘squashing bugs’.
- And finally, Garden Story featured in the first ever Wholesome Direct. They described this as “an event that celebrated cozy vibes and kindness”. If you missed the Direct, don’t worry! You can watch the whole video here.
For regular updates, you can join the Garden Story Discord or follow them on Twitter.
- Feb 8, 2020
Developed by Peachy Keen Games and published by Whitethorn Digital. Calico is a magical, relaxed and family-friendly simulation game where players are given an opportunity to run their very own cat cafe.
The game is expected to be released on Steam at some point during Summer 2020. The game will most likely release on the following platforms shortly afterwards:
- Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox One
- macOS
- Macintosh operating systems
About Calico
Calico came about due to the game developer’s obsession with cats, magical girls and fluffy animals. However, wanting to create a game that would appeal to everyone, she also included creatures such as lizards, birds, deer, raccoons, dogs, turtles, red pandas, foxes, etc.
She then shares about how she wanted to publish a game that would make players feel ‘soft, happy, cuddly and cozy’. If that wasn’t wholesome enough, she has said in an interview that she just wanted to create a game where the only goal is to have the best time possble.
However, simply running the cat cafe is not the only things that players can do. The game also incorporates enjoyable aspects from other popular gaming franchises such as Animal Crossing. Similarities between Calico and Animal Crossing include the simulation aspects of both games, and the ability to place furnitire and decorations in your buildings. A perk about Calico however, is that the animals will not leave, the shop never closes, and crops never die.
Calico Key Features
- As all animals are interactive, players can explore the village to find cats and other animals, including raccoons, deer, dogs, turtles, red pandas, foxes, lizards, etc. The animals can be befriended, petted and played with
- Players can ride on giant cats ( as you do? ?)
- Run your café by filling it with animals, furniture and yummy café eats!
- Use magic potions to change your animals and environment
- Meet magical girls, witches and other townspeople who you can help and befriend
According to the Steam Website, Calico won’t playable until at least Summer 2020. However, there’s no need to be disappointed, as you can play these cat-themed games in the meantime to tide you over 🙂
For more updates on how the game is progressing, check their Twitter here.
More Magic Games!
Checkout Witchbrook the Stardew Valley of magic as well as Little Witch in the Woods and adorable magic and life simulation game!
If you love life simulation games, take a looksie at this game about Japanese Rural Life!
