Wholesome Direct 2024

[Selbaek]

Wholesome Direct 2024
Watch the show | 76 games shown

A celebration of wholesome games; an indie showcase celebrating emotionally resonant video games that inspire optimism, joy, and introspection.

Mythmatch Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Mythmatch is a community-building sim set in Greek Mythology. Match items to transform them. Match people to unite them. Rebuild Ithaca, create cute creatures, and defy the gods.

Caravan SandWitch Watch the trailer | PlayStation 5 / Nintendo Switch / Steam | Release: 2024

In Caravan SandWitch, embark on a journey across a Sci-Fi Provence-like world, driven by a mystery through your missing sister that unfolds with each step you take.

Tiny Book Shop Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2025

Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea in this ambient narrative management game.

Été Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024-07-23

A unique painting game.

Discounty Watch the trailer | All platforms | Release: 2025-01-15

Manage your own supermarket, explore the tight-knit community of Blomkest, build friendships or make enemies as you uncover the town's secrets in this cozy management sim RPG!

Roster Watch the trailer | PC | Release: Q1 2025

A heartfelt, story-rich casual puzzle adventure celebrating the best of ancient Chinese culture.

Playdate Watch the trailer | It's its own platform | Release: Out now, available online at Playdate

Playdate is familiar, but unlike anything you've ever seen. It has a very special black and white screen – not backlit, but super reflective – that looks way more amazing than you're probably imagining. I couldn't find the trailer on its own from this show, but the show showcased 6 new games for the platform. "Spellcorked," "Reel-istic Fishing," "Faraway Fairway," "Bloom," "Escape the Arcade" and "Rowbot Rally."

Into the Emberlands Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Early access 2024-06-19

A cozy exploration game with a rogue-lite twist that is all about rebuilding the home of the charming Knacks in a world threatened by a mysterious glooming Miasma.

Squeakross: Home Squeak Home Watch the trailer | Steam | 2025

Solve and transform puzzles into furniture to decorate the perfect home for your rodent friend.

Critter Café Watch the trailer | Nintendo Switch / Steam | Release: 2024

Critter Café lets you manage very own cozy café alongside fantastical creatures.

Garden of the Sea Watch the trailer | Nintendo Switch / Steam | Release: 2024

The non-VR version of the game is coming! Garden of the Sea is a chilled-out life sim where you play, craft, and explore at your own pace.

Fantastic Haven Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Q3 2024

Save fantasy creatures and protect them until releasing them into their natural habitat.

Crab God Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024-06-20

Crab God is an atmospheric underwater strategy game. Guide your Crabling colony through wild ocean depths, and defend the egg of the next Crab God.

ILA: A Frosty Glide Watch the trailer | Steam / itch.io | Release: Kickstarter Soon

Set foot on a magical island and immerse yourself in a whimsical small open world as ILA, a spirited young witch-in-training.

Sally Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Early access Q4 2025

Craft, cook, farm, build and explore to your heart's content in this magical journey of self-discovery aboard a giant flying ship.

Great God Grove Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Fall 2024

It’s the end of da whole dang world, and the best-est god has gone crazy! As the mail carrier in a world of humans, deities, and freaks, only you have the power of communication to save the day!

Times & Galaxy Watch the trailer | All platforms | Release: 2024-06-21

Times & Galaxy is a funny, heartfelt game about space aliens and the richness of the stories that make up their everyday lives.

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo Watch the trailer | Steam | 2025

A dead snake with a heart of gold embarks on a journey to find his purpose in a world where the same day plays on loop.

Pine: A Story of Loss Watch the trailer | Steam | 2024

Alone in the forest glade he shared with his wife, a woodworker struggles to accept her passing. Help him hold on to cherished memories of their life together as he struggles to care for himself and his now empty home. Pine is a single-serving game focused on telling a beautiful, emotional tale.

After Love EP Watch the trailer | Xbox Series X|S / Steam | October 2024

From the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After, comes a slice-of-life adventure set in modern Jakarta about love, loss and finding your own way forward.

Dungeons of Hinterberg Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024-07-18

Armed with a sword and a tourist guide, explore the beautiful alpine village of Hinterberg and uncover the magic hidden within its dungeons!

Fruitbus Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: October 2024

A journey of flavours and friendships await players in Fruitbus.

Freeride Watch the trailer | Nintendo Switch / Steam | Release: Q1 2025

FREERIDE is an Action-RPG that's (not so) secretly a personality test. You'll never know when you're making decisions. You'll never be judged in terms of good or evil. You'll simply have to face the consequences of your actions.

Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge Watch the trailer | Xbox Series X|S / Nintendo Switch \ PC | Release: Out now

Collect, breed, and photograph over 500 froggy friends in this cozy farming simulato.

Lost and Found Co. Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

Lost and Found Co. is a hidden object adventure in a cozy world.

Littlelands Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

Embark on the biggest little cozy quest of a lifetime.

Usagi Shima Bunny Paradise Update Watch the trailer | Mobile | Release: Available now!

Players can now access the new Bunny Paradise Update for the game bringing 5 new bunnies, build a new bunny paradise with the island expansion, and utilize new content such as hats, toys, and more.

Minami Lane Watch the trailer | Nintendo Switch / PC | Release: Out now on PC; Coming 2024 for Swtich

Make yourself a cozy little street where people hang out and enjoy their time.

POOOOL Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Out now

POOOOL is a small, pool-inspired physics puzzler where you combine balls of similar sizes to create even bigger ones, all while trying to save room for more. Chase your hi-score, share scores with friends, and master your flinging skills!

Tiny Lands 2 Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2025

Dioramas mix photorealistic daily objects in 3D, explore from any angle stunning visual scenes with a real sense of handcrafting, enjoy beautiful experiences with a refreshing visual aesthetic to relax and chill.

Moonstone Island Watch the trailer | Nintendo Switch / Steam | Release: Out now on PC; Switch 2024-06-19

Spend a year on Moonstone Island tending to your farm, crafting potions, and exploring over 100 islands in the sky. Tame spirits, unearth hidden temples, make friends, or have a sweet romance.

Rolling Hills Watch the trailer | Xbox One/Series X|S / Steam | Release: Out now

As a state-of-the-art Sushi Bot, you’ve always dreamed of becoming a world-renowned chef and making your creators proud.

On Your Tail Watch the trailer | Nintendo Switch / Steam | Release: 2024

Embark on an intriguing seaside getaway you’ll never forget in On Your Tail, a sleuthy story-driven 3D life sim of relaxation, investigation, and knowing how to play your cards right.

Spilled! Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

Clean up ocean waste in this relaxing & satisfying cozy game! Recycle, earn coins, upgrade your boat, repeat! Explore and clean up new areas with more waste and new challenges!

The Palace on the Hill Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Out Now

A heartfelt story of ambition, struggle, and friendship told from the perspective of a young boy in 90s rural India.

Travellers Rest City & Story Update Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: July 2024

Travellers Rest is a farming life simulation game developed by Isolated Games. Players will use all the available tools to become the best tavern keeper in the realm

Petit Island Watch the trailer | All platforms | Release: 2024

Welcome to the beautiful and tropical Petit Island! Relive your grandpaw's youthful adventures by exploring the island and meeting all the unique islanders in this heartwarming open-world narrative exploration game. Preserve his memories before they fade away.

Albatroz Watch the trailer | PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X|S / PC | Release: 2024

Leave your dull urban life behind and set out on a journey to find your lost brother, who disappeared while looking to reach a mythical mountain called Albatroz.

Magical Bakery Watch the trailer | All platforms | Release: 2024

Bake your way into a world of magic and culinary with this single-player, cooking and management game.

While Waiting Watch the trailer | Steam / Mobile | Release: TBD

This is a transformative adventure exploring the art of waiting. Clear the game by doing nothing, but discover the power of acceptance and patience in numerous situations from birth to death. Learn to embrace life as you wait.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato Watch the trailer | Xbox Series X|S / Steam | Release: August 2024

When Miho steps into the pantry to get a potato for his grandmothers’ soup, he’s pulled into a distant fantastical land where he must retrace the steps of a mysterious great traveler before him.

Tracks of Thought Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024-06-08

Embark on a journey shaped by your own personality in this wholesome talk-'em-up RPG!

Tukoni: Forest Keepers Watch the trailer | PC | Release: 2025

Tukoni: Forest Keepers is a cute & cozy puzzle adventure. Play as the forest spirit Tukoni as you meet unique characters, solve captivating puzzles, brew fragrant tea and explore a magical world filled with kindness.

Nom Nom: Cozy Forest Café Watch the trailer | All platforms + Mobile | Release: Coming soon

A cozy and relaxing decoration and rhythm game where you manage a café and befriend cute animals.

Curiosmos Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

A charming space adventure where you create your own solar system. Make cute planets from stardust, add gravity, atmosphere, moons, and even life.

Hermit and Pig Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

Hermit and Pig set out one morning to forage mushrooms and avoid human interaction. When a girl from a nearby village shows up asking for help, they are plunged into a conspiracy well above their pay grade, which is zero dollars.

Letter Bunny Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

Letter Bunny is a cozy delivery game with a unique story behind every letter! "After a big storm, many letters and packages have been lost. Help deliver parcels to the right recipients while exploring the island and making new friends!"

Music Power Up Watch the trailer | PC / itch.io | Release: 2024

As a musician in the 1980s, create music for early video games. Make your own sounds and melodies from scratch, or use pre-composed patterns. Play games, upgrade the music app, meet programmers, editors and musicians, find your next music job, in the crazy decade that started the digital revolution!

Dragon Shelter Announcement reddit thread | Official X account | Steam | Release: TBD

No trailer for this one, so I left some accounts to learn more. Dragon Shelter is a magical farm-life sim where you rekindle the bond between humans and dragons!

Goodlands Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

A 3D pixel art game about dinos digging up dinos.

Boreas Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Boreas is a relaxing trade simulator with sea voyages.

Monterona Watch the trailer | Steam | Coming soon

Build and decorate cute little streets from your Italian grandma's stories. Colorful houses, inventive decorations, and little citizens are waiting for you! Share your creations and explore how others build the same stories. No score, no pressure.

The August Before Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

A meditative narrative 3D puzzle about cleaning up, sorting out and packing up your life before moving on.

OPUS: Prism Peak Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

OPUS: Prism Peak is an upcoming narrative adventure with branching endings. Play as a photographer lost in an unknown realm, and unveil its mysteries with your camera, so that you may find your way home.

Space Sprouts Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Embark on a journey filled with cozy cosmic chaos and dive deeper into the mysteries of your solar punk spaceship with each replay. Get entangled in the ship's unique physics and make this place your new home.

Broken Lens Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024-07-22

With Broken Lens, renew the experience of a classic game of your childhood by spotting the differences between two scenes in a cute and cozy universe.

Ringo's Roundup Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming soon

Collect and deliver mail in this cute pathfinding puzzle game featuring Postbunny Ringo.

The Star Named Eos Watch the trailer | Release: 2024-07-23

A story-rich puzzle adventure built around photography. Recreate compositions of past photos to uncover the truth of a family mystery.

Tiny Tires Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Race around coffee cups and jump off notepads in Tiny Tires - a simple, fast-paced miniature racing game.

Dawnfolk Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming Soon

A charmingly dark minimalist survival city-builder. Collect resources and rebuild your realm one tile at a time as you protect your settlers from oppressive shadows. Can you unveil the secrets of the monoliths to bring light back to the world?

Umami Grove Watch the trailer | Steam VR | Release: 2024

Umami Grove is a relaxing physics-based VR adventure game with a variety of creatures to meet and places to explore.

Kitsune Tails Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024-08-01

Run, jump and dash across a land inspired by Japanese mythology and explore the complicated relationships between kitsune and humans in this follow up to Super Bernie World.

Building Relationships Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

An adventure game where you play as a building on a date!

Tidy Cauldron Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2024

Help 3 messy witches tidy up their chaos! Arrange mystical ingredients through 100 handcrafted puzzles in this relaxing organization adventure.

Pup Champs Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

A tiny tactical puzzle game where you guide an underdog team through a series of football matches!

Map Map - A Game About Maps Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Embark on a cozy treasure hunt as cartographer of an adventure crew. Use your sense of direction to make maps, help your companions and explore idyllic islands.

Omochapon Watch the trailer | Platforms TBD | Release: TBD

Omochapon is a little packet of fun! Drive, Jump, Roll, Glide & Unlock all your little capsule toy companions in this wholesome 3D puzzle adventure!

Catto's Post Office Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Deliver mail as Catto, the town's dedicated Postcat, while meeting unique friends in a vibrant cozy town filled with kitty residents.

Wax Heads Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Wax Heads is a cozy-punk slice-of-life narrative sim about managing a struggling record store.

Screenbound Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: TBD

Screenbound is a platformer unlike any other. You move in first person view at the same time while playing in 2d on the screen of your Qboy.

Ebitapes Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Q1 2025

EbiTapes is a wholesome musical adventure game. Make your own delicious beats from the sounds you collect around the world.

KATSL Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: Coming Soon

A cozy game where you build cute towns for cats, to help them reach their hopes and dreams.

Pretty Coo' Watch the trailer | itch.io | Release: Demo out now

Lost and alone in an unfamiliar town square, I guess it's time to make friends with the local wildlife! By feeding and guiding your feathered friends, you'll overcome various obstacles to make your way back home, and maybe even cause some mischief along the way!

Hirocato - The Delivery Hero Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: July 2024

Hirocato is an adventure-platformer game where you control a cat and have to parkour over platforms to deliver food. The game is loaded with hard-to-beat levels, great music, hand-made pixel art, and an emotional story.

Hello Again Watch the trailer | Steam | Release: 2025

Welcome to the world's coziest time loop! Hello Again is a puzzling adventure game set on an island filled with ancient ruins.

Undusted: Letters from the Past Steam page | Steam | Release: TBD

No trailer for this game, but here is a no-commentary playthrough of the demo. A casual game in which you clean and restore dirty items. What is her story as she returns to a long-neglected house?

[Selbaek]

I'm going to be honest - I did not expect 76 games out of this show. Holy cow! There are too many games, for real.

The biggest standout for me is Hirocato - it's up my alley, but moreso is that it's a game that does not meet the cozy vibe. I don't think the cozy parts of the game really warrant making it into a cozy games show when the meat of the game is stress and pain, akin to games like Super Meat Boy or Celeste.

Caravan SandWitch and Albatroz stand out as cool exploration type games.

I love Nanogram games, so Squeakross is right up my alley. The Star Named EOS looks to be a good puzzler, to boot.

Moonstone Island looks like the most interesting farm sim shown here.

Map Map is a cartography game? Count me in!

I've mentioned Building Relationships and Screenbound from shows previous to this one. I'm keeping my eye on them for sure.

What about you all?

[Random Encounter]

The premise behind Screenbound is interesting. I hope it's more fun than disorienting in practice!

[Althena]

Thanks for this! The games I'll be keeping my eye on are:

Kamaeru
Roster
On Your Tail
Music Power Up
Ebitapes
Mythmatch

[Selbaek]

I forgot about Spilled! I really like the vibe of that one.

[Althena]

Map Map looks right up my alley too!