Looking for games that feel like a summer adventure

Comments

• Malix@sopuli.xyz ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  A Short Hike. Essentially a short, cute animal-characters “collectathon” walking-sim/3d-platformer with some low-stakes “arcade” bits here and there. The low-res pixel-effect can be turned off.

  AER: Memories of old. Quite a bit in same vein as Rime/Sable, travel between floating islands and participate in low-stakes puzzles/platforming. Pretty charming, imo… and short. Can be finished under 2 hours.

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• xavier666@lemm.ee ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Stardew Valley but you have to keep your inner micro-manager under check

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I don’t know how many hours I already put into stardew valley haha. The latest update/free DLC was amazing as well

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• dwindling7373@feddit.it ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  “A Short Hike” for sure, “What Remains of Edith Finch” could fit and nobody mentioned it.

  Superflight is great and quite different from most of the suggestions you are getting.

  (The Stanley Parable I don’t think fits but if you want to try it out I suggest you do not take the “Deluxe” version and sitck to the original one)

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  • miseducator@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Came to say A Short Hike. First thing that springs to mind when I think summer adventure.

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    • dwindling7373@feddit.it ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      The first thing that came to my mind was “Before the Storm”, but it was already listed…

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  • A_Very_Big_Fan@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I suggest you do not take the “Deluxe” version and sitck to the original one

    Why?

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    • dwindling7373@feddit.it ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      As I mentioned below, I feel like the expansion is less inspired and makes for an overall decline in quality.

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  • MarcomachtKuchen@feddit.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    What’s a downside I. The Stanley parable deluxe edition? Isn’t it just the original game but with additional content?

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    • dwindling7373@feddit.it ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I don’t want to spoil anything but I feel like it makes the experience less dense and focused. I loved the original one, read great things about the expansion and found it leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

      But in a way I guess you can’t get the cat back in the box or something… Still a great game overall, I feel it just goes from a 10 to an 8.5.

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I’ll definitely put short hike on the list. Superflight looks amazing as well! I already played the Stanley parable and the other famous game from that developer. Totally forgot about that. I also played Edith Finch but didn’t like it

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• SleepyWheel@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Dave the diver!

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  • monsdar@feddit.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Was looking through the replies for this. This is my favorite vacation game so far!

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  • jballs@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    That was my first thought as well! It is a perfect summer game to play over a week or two. Feels like it has a good, tight story.

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• Maestro@fedia.io ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I'd recommend:

  • The Outer Wilds
  • Graveyard Keeper
  • Subnautica

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• Okami_No_Rei@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Psychonauts (the original, not the sequel, though the sequel is also good) is a Summer Camp themed 3D platformer. It doesn’t quite meet your “low stakes/chill gameplay” criteria as it does have combat and mildly challenging boss fights and platforming, but it nails the rest. It’s easier than Tunic. Maybe worth checking out.

  Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons strictly meets all the criteria listed, but it’s ultimately a tragic story. If “some kind of impact” includes leaving you in tears, check it out.

  Okami is a Zelda style adventure set in feudal Japan with immaculate vibes. You play as the sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a wolf bringing light and life to a land ravaged by demons. The world is cold and dark at first, but you bring spring and summer on your heels.

  Finally, two favorites from my childhood are the Spyro series and the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger series. These are 3D Platformer collectathons and neither of these series are even close to any of the examples you provided, but they are bright and colorful and in my heart they have feelings of Summer Vacation and staying home all day to play video games.

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  • Zahille7@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    This post is months old now, but I fucking love Psychonauts. It shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve replayed it so many times I’ve lost count, and I can tell you at what point in the game each song of the soundtrack plays. Also the sequel takes place only days after the first, so it could still technically be called a summer game. Also the sequel is honestly a damn masterpiece imo.

    Also, Ty is absolutely fantastic. Any of the water levels are absolute summer vibes imo. And the soundtrack is fantastic as well. I 100% the first three on steam.

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Oh spyro brings back very distant memories of my childhood. I think I played all the Playstation and Gameboy games. I will always remember the sound of collecting gems.

    I’ll check out the other games you mentioned, thanks a lot. The sad one will probably go on my list for depression season haha

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    • Okami_No_Rei@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I specifically mentioned both Spyro and Ty because both series have remasters available on Steam. The Spyro: Reignited Trilogy in particular is phenomenal. They did a really good job making the updated graphics look just like my nostalgic memories of the game.

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  • nanoUFO@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is peak summer game. It’s basically set in a setting inspired by the Australian outback.

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• celeste@kbin.earth ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  "Alba: A Wildlife Adventure" jumped to mind. I don't remember it being long or difficult, but I had a nice time.

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• reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  Have you enjoyed any of the recommendations OP? I like your original list/taste and am wondering what else fit the aesthetic

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Just saw your message. I ended up replaying the old spyro games in the remastered version and loved the nostalgia trip.

    Tried to get into Outer Wilds again, stopped almost instantly because I just can’t figure out the movement.

    Then I saw that Oxenfree 2 had released at some point, played that but wouldn’t recommend ( if you played the first game you already know the big “mystery” and the new smaller mystery isn’t that interesting)

    I played chants of sennaar, loved it, fit the vibe perfectly. Would absolutely recommend!

    I played planet of lana, it was somewhere between okay and good. Visually perfect gameplay a bit boring. Even for a short game it felt too long at the end.

    Then I made the mistake of opening rimworld again and this became my (gaming) life again.

    I don’t know if I played it before my post or after but Talos Principle 2 was perfect just like the first one.

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    • reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net ⁨5⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Thanks for the breakdown!

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• cron@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Firewatch. A summer-themed walking simulator with an interesting story.

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  • MarcomachtKuchen@feddit.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Firewatch is great, but OP said he already played it

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    • cron@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Ah, I missed that, thank you.

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• simple@lemm.ee ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Lil Gator Game sounds right up your alley.

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  • jacksilver@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    It’s a great game and fun to 100%.

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• PyroNeurosis@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I’d say Night in the Woods, but that may be a very late summer / fall kinda vibe.

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    It won’t be long till fall so it can go on the list. Might be perfect for summer-is-almost-over-sadness

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• PlasticExistence@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The Uncharted series?

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Oh I didn’t realize it got released on PC!

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• fckreddit@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Dungeons of Hinterburg might fit the bill. Just released. Looks and plays well. It is an action rpg with social sim elements set in the Alps.

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Looks great! The Alps is where I spend a lot of my vacation days, why not add some nights as well haha

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  • Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Thanks, this looks great!

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• traches@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  If you haven’t played outer wilds yet, do it. Go in blind, read/watch nothing unless you are absolutely stuck. It truly is one of the best video games ever made, and it’s definitely a cozy adventure (for the most part).

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  • Archelon@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Also it very much as a summer camping vibe, what with the banjos and marshmallows and rickety wooden cabin-spaceships

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I just can’t get into outer wilds, the ship controls drive me insane.

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    • Thassodar@lemm.ee ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I’m in the same camp, didn’t like it.

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    • traches@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Yeah, I bounced off it once for the same reason. If you can get past that it’s worth it

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• Shah_of_Iran@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  My Summer Car is pretty cool. I’ve been playing Dredge this summer and it’s been pretty pretty chill and low-stakes.

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  • MarcomachtKuchen@feddit.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Dredge is definitely not a chill game

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I’m super afraid of the ocean dredge looks like a horror game to me

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    • Shah_of_Iran@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Dang, sorry to hear that. It relaxes me when I play it

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• starfennec@fedia.io ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  A Short Hike
  Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
  Wide Ocean Big Jacket
  FEZ
  Before Your Eyes

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• NaibofTabr@infosec.pub ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Outer Wilds

  The Oregon Trail or the recent remake or Organ Trail

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  • Thassodar@lemm.ee ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Definitely Spititfarer, ultra chill.

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  • ggtdbz@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Manifold Garden is a game I felt like I have always wanted, even before it was made when I was a child fucking around online and discovering the concept of fractals online. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced the concept of such an infinite-feeling infinity the way I have in this game. idea is kind of timeless, and I think a lot of people who don’t really play games can at least enjoy watching someone play it.

    I finished the main game and can really recommend it, although there’s more to the game than just the main levels apparently. There’s a whole bunch of achievements I didn’t get. Should probably go back in and try to get them sometime, traversal and problem solving in that game were so cool.

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• brrk@lemmynsfw.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  My summer car

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• Kolanaki@yiffit.net ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The Long Drive is literally everything you describe wanting.

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  • SolOrion@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Even if you don’t like horror movies, imo The Quarry is worth a try.

    I don’t like horror movies, personally, and I really enjoyed The Quarry quite a lot. I like most of Supermassive’s games, but The Quarry is probably the best one, barring the newest Dark Pictures and Until Dawn as I’ve played neither.

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  • Vaginal_blood_fart@feddit.uk ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    My summer car is hilarious. Its basically a finnish mechanic with alcoholism simulator for me

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• RidgeDweller@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  The gameplay might be a little more tense than you’re looking for at times, but Kena: Bridge of Spirits gives me summertime vibes.

  For something with chiller gameplay, maybe Yakuza Like a Dragon? (I haven’t played Infinite Wealth yet, but the setting also seems promising.)

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I think yakuza might fit. I have to check if the steamdeck can handle it. If not it’ll go on my list for when I am okay with my pc heating up my living room

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    • RidgeDweller@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I recommend a play through either way! The story is a rollercoaster that balances its silliness with heart pretty well.

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• Donut@leminal.space ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Tchia just oozes summer vibes, and is inspired by the culture of New Caledonia. No failing, tons of extra accessibility options, skip gameplay segments if you feel like it, autoplay QTA’s, and so on.

  Personally I like a little bit of a challenge even in my cozy games, but Tchia has so much character that I didn’t mind.

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I’ll take a closer look at Tchia. I don’t necessarily search only for no-pressure-at-all cozy games. I just don’t want a game that barely let’s you breathe and/or requires extreme precision. Like, I don’t want to be playing elden ring (right now and for the next few weeks).

    The most important thing is the warm atmosphere and some moments that create lasting impressions

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    • Donut@leminal.space ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Yeah I got that vibe but I wanted to include all the accessibility stuff because 1) it’s awesome and 2) it can be used as a custom difficulty slider, which fits into the “I don’t want to work hard on this” on a very personalised level. Either enable something, everything, or nothing at all. Your choice!

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• filister@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  • Slay the princess
  • Until then
  • Coffee talk
  • Detroit Become human

  The last one is more like an interactive movie than a visual novel, but it is still pretty cool

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I played slay the princess earlier this year, amazing game! Detroit become human has been on my wishlist forever. Maybe now is a good time to finally buy it. Not sure about coffee talk but until then looks promising. I’ll check out the demo

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• CancerMancer@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I think you might like Superliminal or Hardspace Shipbreaker.

  I’m less sure about the following but still wanted to suggest them:

  • Dinkum (it’s like Animal Crossing but in Australia)
  • Astroneer (pretty chill exploration and mining game)
  • Roots of Pacha (a more story-focused Harvest Moon like game)

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  • MarcomachtKuchen@feddit.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    What an incredible description of Dinkum

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    • CancerMancer@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      The vombats even poop cubes man.

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• OmegaMouse@pawb.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  I’m not sure if this is the best recommendation looking at your criteria, but Slime Rancher (1 and 2) are chilled games that have beautiful and colourful visuals. To me it feels like a summer vacation - one where you’re staying at a farm and catching adorable slimes.

  Another recommendation I’d have is Tearaway unfolded. It’s a super charming adventure in a papercraft work. It really stuck with me and felt like an adventure. It’s only on PS4/5 as far as I’m aware though, but if you happen to have one of those I guess you could cast it to your Steam Deck using Chiaki. Or on the off-chance that you have a PS Vita, the original version of the game was on there.

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• Phoenix3875@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  What Remains of Edith Finch, and The Unfinished Swan

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  • SolOrion@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Well, they’re gonna make you feel things if nothing else.

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• drasglaf@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  If you don’t mind emulation, I think Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale fits your criteria quite well.

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• timo_timboo_@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Maybe the Yo-Kai Watch games? They are RPGs probably inspired by Pokemon, but better in basically every way.

  You play as a kid befriending Yo-Kai (creatures taken from japanese folklore), while exploring a pretty cool city. Has a nice soundtrack as well. The story of the first game is kinda meh, but I think it still has that summer vibe.

  The second game is a lot better, with an actual story, more stuff to do and more to explore. Definitely the better game, but playing it first might make the first one less enjoyable afterwards.

  Both of these games have that childhood summer adventure vibe, even though I myself didn’t spent my childhood befriending Yo-Kai.

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• ryo@lemmy.eco.br ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Funny that you mention Life of Strange because it’s actually set in Autumn, but it does kinda have the vibes you describe. What does have way more summer vibes though is the prequel, Before the Storm, totally worth it if you’ve haven’t played it.

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  • Paradigm_shift@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    My opinion of life is strange is kinda complicated I liked it as a “Summer Game” because it had the right vibes while I played it but after I was done I was disappointed. The game hypes it’s “your action have consequences” system up constantly but it’s usually just a different dialogue or short scene which doesn’t affect the story in a major way. Which is fine for a game in general but not when it pretends it’s different.

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• kurcatovium@lemm.ee ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Try Eastshade, should check all the boxes IMO. store.steampowered.com/app/715560/Eastshade/

  Any game from Amanita Design might fit the bill too (Machinarium, Botanicula, etc.).

  If you don’t mind reading a lot, there’s Roadwarden store.steampowered.com/app/1155970/Roadwarden/

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• palebluethought@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  Psychonauts 1/2. The first game literally takes place at a summer camp. Second one has basically the same vibe.

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