The 2023 Wholesome Direct is an indie game showcase highlighting upcoming cozy games. It streamed today, showing off nearly 80 games, dev announcements and exclusive footage. We’ve narrowed this list down to games we think you will absolutely love.
All the games in the showcase are indie games, meaning small, passionate teams make them. Besides buying the game, one of the best ways you can support them is by wish-listing them. That tells the community and platform that you are excited about their release.
If you would like to support the stream, a few options are also being sold as a fundraiser. For example, a limited-time shirt celebrates Wholesome Direct 2023 and benefits AbleGamers. This charity organization aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities through the power of video games. You can find the fundraiser here.
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Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
A musical adventure game in which Snufkin needs to restore the harmony of Moominvalley. The game is an ambient and wholesome experience for kids and nostalgic adults and combines puzzles and stealth with melodic elements. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is coming to Steam for PC and consoles sometime in 2023.
Sticky Business
Experience the joy of running your own cozy small business: Create stickers, pack orders and hear your customers’ stories. Time to build the cutest shop on the internet. This game has been on our radar for quite some time, and now Sticky Business is finally releasing to Steam later in 2023.
Tiny Bookshop
Leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop by the sea in this ambient narrative management game. Stock your tiny bookshop with different books and items, set up shop in scenic locations, and run your cozy second-hand bookshop while getting to know the locals. There is no solid release date or console announcement for Tiny Bookshop yet.
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Baladins
Embark on a whimsical journey and bring joy to a bright fantasy world in this roleplaying adventure for 1-4 players, featuring approachable hour-long sessions. Baladins is slated for 2024 and has only been confirmed for PC at this time.
Townseek
Take a tour of the colorful world of Townseek, see trading elements, meet your companions and embark on an adventure to discover new towns and more in this latest trailer for the upcoming exploration-trading game. Townseek will be available on PC in early 2024.
Bubblegum Galaxy
Bubblegum Galaxy is a cute building strategy game about rebuilding the galaxy tile by tile. Discover and design new planets, complete missions, explore your office and befriend your co-workers, all while trying to discover who deleted the galaxy. The demo for Bubblegum Galaxy is available on Steam today here.
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Kibu
From the creator of Omno, Kibu is a tranquil adventure in the heart of the wilderness. As a solitary monk, you must build a temple, brew delicious teas and journey into the wilds seeking out ancient spirits. Carve out your own special corner in a beautiful, mysterious land. Kibu does not have a definite release date yet, but it will be available on PC through Steam.
Flutter Away
Enjoy the serenity of the Amazon rainforest in this cozy short nature exploration game. As a butterfly researcher on a five-day camping trip, explore nearby tracks, take photos, meet animal friends and journal the discoveries found along the way. While fans of games like Pokemon Snap will be excited to hear Flutter Away is coming soon to Steam, there is no official release date yet.
Manitas Kitchen
Welcome to Manitas Kitchen, a casual cooking game with a dressing of arcade and mini-games, where you’ll meet Trexito, a T-Rex with short arms that has one dream: to become the best pizza maker. I think fans of games like Overcooked will enjoy Manitas Kitchen, which will be released on Steam on October 23 of this year.
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Magical Delicacy
Our next pick is a wholesome pixel art platformer that gives us major Spiritfarer vibes. Cook magical delicacies from a vast collection of ingredients in your own shop. Explore an unfamiliar town and deliver tasty treats to the townsfolk. Learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique witchy world. Magical Delicacy is coming to all consoles sometime in 2024.
Venba
Venba is a short narrative cooking game where you play as an Indian mom who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Players will cook various dishes, restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations, and explore this story about family, love, loss and more. We won’t be waiting long for Venba as it hits Nintendo Switch and PC through Steam on July 31 this year.
A Highland Song
Fans of games like Celeste will be excited to see A Highland Song, which follows the story of a girl called Moira McKinnon who runs away from her home in the Scottish Highlands after receiving a letter from her Uncle Hamish. Explore the highlands and unearth secrets as you travel to the coast, searching for his lighthouse. A Highland Song is coming to PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, but no date has been released yet.
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I Am A Caterpillar
Did your favorite wholesome game from the stream make our list? Which title are you the most excited for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/summer-game-fest-2023-video-game-announcements/
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