Every year at Summer Game Fest, nestled in between the splashy blockbuster showcases, the Wholesome Direct provides a nice change of pace. It’s similarly packed with games — this year’s edition had more than 50 — but the vibe is more chill and, well, wholesome. As in years past, I’ve pulled out some of the more intriguing reveals and announcements, though you can watch the whole thing for yourself right here. And if you’re interested in checking out some of the games — a few are available now, and a bunch have demos — there’s a dedicated Steam page.
Way back in 2017, Hidden Folks helped usher in a new genre of seek-and-find games — and now it’s getting a sequel. There aren’t a lot of details yet, but Hidden Folks 2 will feature “hand-drawn, interactive, miniature landscapes in various new themes, together with more silly jokes, more mouth sounds, and various quality of life improvements.” It’s launching in 2027 on both mobile and PC.
This narrative adventure comes from a new studio helmed by Sable co-creator Daniel Fineberg. And the premise is certainly intriguing:
We already know the Finnish storybook realm of the Moomins translates well to games set in winter, and now we’ll have something a little warmer to enjoy. Midsummer Madness changes things up with a painterly visual style, along with a more fantastical premise involving “a floating abandoned theatre filled with puzzles and mysteries.” It’s launching sometime in 2026 on both PC and the Switch.
Described as “a mystery puzzle game about communicating with people you don’t understand,” Patience Is a Virtue puts you in the role of a recent college grad who has returned to his childhood home only to learn that things are very different. Things get even worse when he’s attacked by a sentient cassette player. You can check it out for yourself with the Steam demo.
A cozy twist on city builders, Waterful has you digging riverbeds in order to guide water and rejuvenate desert valleys and attract wildlife. And since the locations are procedurally generated, it should offer plenty of replayability for when you need to chill out.
Did I select this game because of its adorable title? Sure, but the game also looks great. It’s described as an open-world adventure where you play as a lost otter who will “meet quirky animal friends, solve gentle puzzles, and enjoy light platforming.” It’s giving me Ecco the Dolphin vibes, only in 3D, and it’s launching on Steam in September.
The Wandering Village was a great spin on city builders in which your city was on the back of a giant, walking creature. Now the game is getting a big expansion called The Last Leviathan, which, you guessed it, gives you a new aquatic being to build on top of. The update also adds new mechanics built around the creature’s body temperature and mood, as well as an arctic ocean to explore.
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Curated by Dr. Elena Rodriguez
