Wholesome Games launched the 2023 Wholesome Direct today. It featured a whopping 76 games focused on delivering a welcoming atmosphere and thoughtful messages. A number of new games were announced throughout the fast-paced showcase, along with more release dates, new trailers, and other updates. Here are 15 of our favorite games featured on Wholesome Direct.
frog song
Frogsong, the adorable action RPG set in a world full of frogs and bugs, is now officially available. The game follows Chorus, a small tree frog who wants to protect the world despite society’s expectations of other frogs of the same size. In the words of Frogsong’s Steam page, it’s a “small but hearty adventure.” During the Wholesome Direct pre-show, Frogsong developer Frogteam Games revealed a surprise release of the game on Nintendo Switch. vapor and itch.io.
Bemba
Venba, a narrative cooking game focused on South Indian cuisine, has finally decided on a release date, vapor Players take the role of an Indian mother who immigrated to Canada in the 1980s and explore family, love and loss through cooking and recovering lost recipes. During the Wholesome Direct, developer Visai Games further showcased Venba’s satisfying cooking and painted art style.
bubblegum galaxy
In the strategy puzzle game Bubblegum Galaxy, players are tasked with rebuilding the universe by designing colorful planets tile by tile. Playing as his adorable low-poly intern Haco, players will encounter a variety of quirky co-workers in between planet designs (and may even discover why the universe was deleted in the first place).No release date yet, but a demo is now available vapor during today’s showcase.
Unpacking
Unpacking is a cozy organizing game where you tell stories using simple household items. Finally mobile his port has appeared. Scheduled for release in 2021 vapor, Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation, players can unpack items into rooms during eight different stages of the central character’s life. Unpacking doesn’t seem to receive any new content or updates, but this is a welcome way to make the games we love more readily available. 8/10 reviewwe called it “moving” (lol) and praised its ability to tell a story without dialogue or visible text.
Gourd
Gourdlets, a cozy city-building sandbox game, lets players build towns and customize buildings to accommodate tiny creatures called gourdlets. Developer AuntyGames has previously shown adorable godlets playing chess, drinking tea, and roasting marshmallows, but this time, by popular demand, the final release of the game also features farming. I will share when I can. Players can choose seeds to plant and watch the gourds plow the fields. No release date yet, but Gourdlets have plans for what’s next. vapor A free demo is available now. Also, there are no scores or goals, so you can choose pretty relaxed.
guardian of nature
In the puzzle-adventure game The Guardian of Nature, players embark on a journey as size-changing botanist Henry to save the enchanted forest where he lives. Throughout this journey, players will be able to solve puzzles for Solarpunk him and explore both the game’s above-ground forests and forests. Observe underground fungus-filled caverns and zoom out to gain new perspectives. Although The Guardian of Nature was not given a release date, all major consoles, mobile and vapor Striking handcrafted art style.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
Continuing the popular Moomin series, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley follows the famous Snufkin on his journey to restore harmony to Moominvalley after a hideous park begins to upset the natural balance of the region. Partly soundtracked by Icelandic band Sigur Rós, Moominvalley is also full of musical puzzles (Snufkin has his own little harmonica). Although there were no major updates, the game’s new trailer showed off more of the game’s storybook art style and its connection to the original Moomin stories and comics created by Tove Jansson. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley will be released on major consoles, vapor.
Loftia
Loftia, a solarpunk MMO that builds sustainable cities with friends, received its first trailer at Wholesome Direct today. In the trailer, developer his Qloud Games showcased earth-friendly features like hydroponics and sustainable crafting. The game also accommodates different play styles, allowing players to play alone or with friends old and new. Loftia’s release date is still far away, but Qloud Games are posting updates frequently. twitter is set to launch the game kickstarter page soon.
Beastie Ball
Wishes Unlimited, the team of Chicory and Wandersong, today announced Beastieball, an action-packed team management game. Vaguely Pokémon-esque creatures play this fast-paced, turn-based, volleyball-like game to forge friendships and work together to boost your team’s reputation. Beastieball is also in its early stages, but is slated to come to Steam (with Steam Deck support!) in 2024, and its Kickstarter page is available now.
Smash, come home
The exploration adventure game Smushi Come Home also made a surprise release during today’s Wholesome Direct and is out now. vapor and a Nintendo switch. Similar in style to ‘A Short Hike’, ‘Smushi Come Home’ follows the famous mushroom ‘Smushi’ on his way home after getting lost in the woods. Players can glide, swim, mine, meet forest dwellers, occasionally platform and solve puzzles, learn about mushrooms in mycological journals, and even ride on the back of a capybara. You are free to proceed on this journey at your own pace, including river crossings. .
small bookstore
Tiny Bookshop, an ambient story management sim, lets players run an adorable little customizable secondhand bookstore right out of the trailer. The decisions you make in running your store seem to affect Bookstonbury, the city of books, and the trailer shows a sold-out concert that takes place after the bookstore owner allows the band members to put up leaflets. there is Tiny Bookshop doesn’t have a release date yet, but it will be released on . vapor With Steam deck support.
adhesive business
The cozy business simulator Sticky Business lets players create stickers and sticker sheets, pack orders (including free goodies), and listen to customers. There are also many upgrades available for purchase, such as more colors and pre-made food and animal designs that players can gather and sell in the Sticker Workshop.i am going vapor and itch.io will go live at some point in 2023, with a demo of it finally unveiled today in Wholesome Direct.
slightly to the left
The Cupboards & Drawers DLC for A Little to the Left, the puzzle-organizing game announced in April, is finally set to release on June 27th. vapor With 25 new puzzles, Switch continues the game’s theme of finding the perfect space for household items, with a focus on cupboards and drawers. And of course, the game’s cute white cat, who loves to mess with puzzles (and be petted), is back for more fun.
pekoe
Players will finally be able to dive into the town of Pekoe, full of teahouses and cats, at the end of June. Shown off in his Wholesome Direct today, with more subdued gameplay and a new release His Window, Pekoe allows players to participate in every step of making tea, from picking leaves to brewing a cup, and watching the kitten You can offer your creations to your customers and build friendships.Peko goes to vapor.
solar punk
Solarpunk, shown with a short trailer at today’s Wholesome Direct, is a survival crafting game that combines natural aesthetics and technological advancements in a floating island world. The trailer showcases traditional farming and beekeeping, along with the ability to build sustainable energy systems using wind, water, and sunlight. Ultimately, this energy system will help automate your farm with the help of some adorable robots.Solarpunk will be released in 2024 vapor Console with multiplayer mode.
For more information on these games, and all others announced during the Wholesome Direct, visit wholesome gaming website. Wholesome Direct is also part of IGN’s Summer of Gaming, featuring quite a few showcases ranging from short indie games like this one to big AAA titles. Check out the news and find out how to watch here.
Amelia Zellner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, she contributes to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find us on Twitter: @Amelia Solner.
