In Heidi’s Legacy, you play as Adèle, a young woman leaving city life for the peaceful Swiss Alps, seeking a simpler purpose. Each day starts with morning light and your goats, ready for your care. You’ll guide them through meadows, and in return, their milk and wool become resources for crafting goods like cheese, wool clothing, herbal remedies, and wooden carvings.

These creations can be traded or shared with villagers, strengthening your bonds and helping rebuild their homes and lives. Every choice shapes your relationships and the village’s future, with branching dialogue. Additionally, you’ll forage for herbs and mushrooms and fish in calm waters. As you aid the village, new abilities unlock, making it easier to climb rugged cliffs or leap across gaps, opening up hidden areas.

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Wholesome Direct 2025 promises to feature over 70 indie games, including exclusive trailers, new reveals, and surprise launches. The event will be streamed live on Wholesome Games’ YouTube and Twitch channels, continuing its tradition of highlighting “wholesome” and uplifting games that contrast with the blockbuster-heavy lineup of Summer Game Fest.

Wholesome Games was founded by Matthew Taylor, growing into a community of nearly 500,000 followers across platforms since the first Wholesome Direct in 2020, which was created in response to the cancellation of various gaming events during the pandemic. Holding the event in June aligns it with Summer Game Fest, with partners like IGN and Guerrilla Collective helping to expand its reach. 

Additionally, for the first time in the showcase’s history, open applications for guest hosts have been announced. Developers can also submit their projects for consideration through a submission form on the Wholesome Games website.

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This puzzle game is known for its unique "find the difference" approach with stunning 3D dioramas. You can explore beautifully handcrafted scenes from any angle, immersing yourself in what the developers describe as a "relaxing, photorealistic experience." Additionally, you'll explore miniature worlds, discover hidden collectible items, and enjoy peaceful gameplay without time limits or penalties.

In addition to its visually appealing design, Tiny Lands 2 offers a range of features that enhance the gaming experience. The game includes a local co-op mode for joint play, as well as a hint system to assist you in solving more challenging puzzles.

The post The puzzle adventure Tiny Lands 2 is coming to PC and Nintendo Switch next year first appeared on IndieGames.

Freeride is a game centered around the player’s journey. In this oddball RPG, you board a Fate Train to the Spirit World, where you will make friends, use Telekinesis, uncover secrets, enjoy ice cream, and navigate your own path. Each character in Freeride is uniquely troubled, and by helping them find their way, you might discover something about themselves as well.

Freeride is a game centered around the player’s journey. In this oddball RPG, you board a Fate Train to the Spirit World, where you will make friends, use Telekinesis, uncover secrets, enjoy ice cream, and navigate your own path. Each character in Freeride is uniquely troubled, and by helping them find their way, you might discover something about themselves as well.

Whether you seek out fights, desire drama, or simply want to explore, your choices will impact the game’s narrative. Additionally, Freeride includes a Personality Test element – the interactions with the game are monitored and tallied into a Personality Outcome. If you are dissatisfied with their results, you have the option to go back and try again, emphasizing the game’s theme of personal discovery and growth.

The post Oddball RPG Adventure Freeride is Coming to Nintendo Switch and Steam next year first appeared on IndieGames.

Garden of the Sea is more than just a game; it’s a chance to escape daily stress and enter a world of creativity and wonder. The idea of playing, crafting, and exploring at my own pace is very appealing. In a world that often demands constant productivity, having a space where I can relax and just be myself is something I’m looking forward to in this game. What makes Garden of the Sea special for me is its dual nature. The game also has quests, upgrades, and new creatures to find, so there’s always something to do.

The idea of making plant beds, fences, trellises, and decorations for my virtual garden sounds like any other farming sim, but taking care of local creatures and learning their favorite foods adds certain challenge to it. Fishing for new pond friends adds a peaceful activity, while building and upgrading my house, and decorating it, means I can make a space that’s truly mine. Additionally, cooking with home-grown vegetables and exploring with my boat at night are charming details that make the game more enjoyable.

One of my favorite parts is taking care of the animals and helping them start families, while the meditative spots in the game and the in-game camera to capture favorite moments are nice touches that will probably make the experience better.

The post The farming simulation Garden of the Sea is moving to Switch and PC after its success on VR first appeared on IndieGames.

SOPA is a heartwarming tale about family, adventure, and the traditions we pass down through generations. You follow Miho, who, upon stepping into the pantry to fetch a potato for his grandma’s soup, is suddenly pulled into a distant, fantastical land. As Miho embarks on a quest to find ingredients for their meal, he retraces the steps of an ancient and great explorer. However, each time he returns to the kitchen with a new ingredient, he finds that things have changed in unexpected ways.

The game features a lush, animated world of magic realism inspired by Spirited Away, The Little Prince, and Coco. The goal is to overcome obstacles as you explore 3D environments set in the mysterious depths of South America and befriending an unforgettable cast of characters along the way. The adventure includes paddling down rivers, solving puzzles, climbing mountains, soaring through the air, and unlocking Latin American songs composed by the finest contemporary underground artists.

The game will be available on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass.

The post Avanturistička igra SOPA – Tale of the Stolen Potato izlazi ovog kolovoza za PC i Xbox first appeared on IndieGames.

You will step into the shoes of a budding painter who travels to Montreal for the summer. With a paintbrush in hand, you can freely explore the city, capturing its everyday wonders on canvas. The game also allows you to befriend locals by fulfilling their inspiring commissions or prepare an original expo in your very own art studio.

Everything you discover during your exploration, from flowers to birds, is added to an album that becomes a growing collection of stamps. These stamps can be combined into artworks. The unique gameplay mechanic with the canvas allows you to add any stamp from the album into your composition, and you can move, resize, repaint, and rotate them in 3D.

This game also lets you decorate your studio and apartment, building your ideal creative space by collecting furniture and arranging it with a flexible decorating system. You can place decorations exactly where you want, combine them into complex sets, and even repaint them.

Été is designed as a deeply relaxing game with no failure and no pressure. There are no time limits, no wrong way to paint, and no specific order in which you need to explore or complete tasks.

The post Relaxing painting game Été is set to release next month, as announced during the Wholesome Direct first appeared on IndieGames.

In this game, you will step into the unusual port town of Blomkest and manage your own supermarket. It is a cozy RPG management simulation with a satirical twist, where you will get to know the close-knit community of residents, build friendships with them, and uncover the town's secrets, all while balancing the demands of running a business.

You will rearrange shelves and products to create an efficient and appealing store, design attractive aisles for easy navigation, and use decorations to potentially boost sales. However, the townsfolk are wary of newcomers, so gaining their trust is essential. Additionally, selling local specialties can increase your store's profit and help you integrate more deeply into the community.

As your earnings grow, you'll have the opportunity to reinvest and expand your supermarket. This includes stocking more goods, advertising around town, and watching your business grow into a true empire. It's also worth mentioning that personalizing your trader adds a personal touch to the game, allowing you to choose your appearance, outfit, and name.

The post The store management simulation game, Discounty, announced its release date during the Wholesome Direct first appeared on IndieGames.

Crab God made its debut at Wholesome Direct, Games For Waves, and IGN Live, and its inspiration from the Kingdom series is immediately evident. In this charming game, you take on the role of a deity for adorable Crablings who look up to you. Your mission? To nurture them into the next generation of ocean caretakers.

This indie strategy game is not just about growing your colony. You’ll need to guide them across dangerous ocean depths, reintroducing vibrant biodiversity by assigning tasks like foraging, farming, and worshiping. But beware, the ocean is full of dangers, and defending the egg of your successor is crucial to ensure the colony’s survival.

Crab God goes beyond virtual gameplay. Thanks to its integration with dots.eco, your in-game actions will directly contribute to cleaning our oceans and protecting aquatic life. This unique feature ensures that while you’re enjoying the game, you’re also making a positive impact on the planet.

Executive Creative Director Nico King shares the excitement: “We’re absolutely thrilled about the launch of Crab God and seeing players immerse themselves in our game. It’s been an amazing journey, especially with events like Steam Next Fest, Wholesome Direct, and IGN Live. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished and deeply moved by the positive reception from players, especially regarding our conservation efforts. Dive in and experience the magic of Crab God for yourself – we can’t wait to hear what you think!”

Crab God is now available on PC via Steam for €19.99 / $19.99 / £16.75, with a 10% launch discount.

The post Why you should not sleep on wholesome strategy game Crab God first appeared on IndieGames.

Wholesome Games, the team behind the mentioned event, has a monthly newsletter and a lively community of fans who love indie games, which has allowed them to become recognized in this genre of games. It was Taylor and Windom who built this community, creating a safe space for players who find comfort and joy in their cozy games. This year’s Wholesome Direct showcased many exciting games from small indie studios. Highlights included new trailers for Tiny Bookshop, Dungeons of Hinterberg, and Été, which will be released in July. New games like Mythmatch, Caravan SandWitch, and Littlelands also caught the audience’s attention.

A special moment was the showcase of Optillusion’s While Waiting, a game that perfectly reflects the event’s creative and fun spirit. The event also featured culturally rich games like Niku Games’ The Palace on the Hill, set in 90s rural India, and Sticky Brain Studios’ Rooster, celebrating ancient Chinese culture.

Wholesome Direct always supports underrepresented creators, genres, and cultures. Taylor stresses the need to give a voice to marginalized groups, aiming to make a lasting positive impact. This year, they supported Gaza and donated merch sales to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Taylor was especially proud to support Visai Games’ Venba, a narrative cooking game that has won several awards. The success of Venba shows how cozy games can make a big impact and be recognized in the gaming world.

For Windom, wholesomeness is about appreciating the details in games and the experiences of developers. This is seen in their game selection, which focuses on the emotions they create, not strict rules. Taylor and Windom trust their instincts to choose games, ensuring each showcase is diverse and exciting.

Wholesome Games also supports indie developers through Wholesome Games Presents, a publishing label that offers funding, QA, marketing, and publishing help. They’ve launched games like Doot & Blibloop’s Minami Lane and Jess Yu’s Usagi Shima. Looking forward, Taylor and Windom want to grow meaningfully. They plan to keep supporting developers and expanding the Wholesome Games community. While they will continue with digital events, they are also open to hosting physical events, inspired by their experiences at conventions like PAX East.

The post How Wholesome Direct Became a Haven for Indie Games first appeared on IndieGames.