Wholesome Direct 2026
Kid and I caught up on last week’s Wholesome Direct.
https://youtu.be/SZ-TixImWWs?is=Td1ApVS9LkfoWgBS
As in previous years, a lot of cozy farming/town type games. I like that kind of simulation broadly but these days generally do not want to put the time into a more endless game like that.
A few games did seem like they were dangerously headed into “anything is possible” territory, with too many mechanics mashed together. Still it’s neat to see how many different games are being made, even if few of them are for me.
Games that jumped out at us from the full list (for some combination of theme, art style, and gameplay) were:
- Tinkernest
- Little Totoro-like pixel creatures building villages. Cute!
- In the Drift
- Chill sci-fi maintenance tech vibes
- Capy Castaway
- Capybaras and crows. What more do you need to know?
- Lou’s Lagoon
- I got TaleSpin vibes from this one
- Momento
- Seems like an Unpacking-inspired choose your own adventure
- Planet Zoo 2
- The graphics and simulation look amazing
- Moomin Midsummer Madness
- Apparently an adaptation of the 1954 novel
- Waterful
- A little waterhole oasis sandbox
I think of these Momento and Waterful seem the most interesting to me. We’ll see which one or two kid wants to spend allowance on!
#cozy #indieGames #videoGames