Wholesome Games, a gaming company focused on bringing players the most relaxing and enjoyable gaming experiences, recently hosted its Summer Gaming Marathon series, which featured an exciting hour-long live broadcast showcasing over 70 upcoming cozy games. The event, known as Wholesome Direct, is dedicated to highlighting the world of “wholesome” games, which encompasses a broad range of genres, including farming simulators, puzzle games, and more.
During the broadcast, four new games were surprises launched, with many more games made available as Steam demos. The direct also included updates on previously announced titles, such as Dungeons of Hinterberg. The games featured in the showcase ran the gamut from management simulations to narrative-driven experiences, each designed to provide players with a sense of relaxation and enjoyment.
One of the surprise launches was Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge, a game that allows players to take care of a frog sanctuary. With a wide variety of frogs to collect and breed, as well as item-crafting minigames, Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge promises to be a must-play for fans of management simulations. Another launch announced during the direct was The Palace on the Hill, a game set in India that challenges players to take care of a father’s chai shop. With a strong focus on cultural immersion, The Palace on the Hill promises to be an engaging and educational experience.
For puzzle game enthusiasts, Poool was a new spin on the popular Suika Game. In Poool, players combine colorful balls by shooting them into one another on a pool table, adding a unique twist to the classic puzzle formula. Tracks of Thought, another game featured in the direct, is a narrative-driven title set on a train, where players take on the role of a ladybug trying to help passengers find lost items. The game features a card game system that drives the conversation, adding a new level of depth to the narrative.
In addition to the new games, the Wholesome Direct showcase also highlighted a number of other upcoming titles, including Tiny Lands 2, a sequel to a solid spot-the-difference game that features photorealistic 3D environments and two-player co-op. Été, a painting adventure game, received a July 23 release date, and picross game Squeakross: Home Squeak Home, a strategy side-scroller starring crustaceans titled Crab God, and Rooster, a gorgeous narrative title with gameplay inspired by each animal of the Chinese zodiac, were also showcased.
The eclectic mix of games featured in the Wholesome Direct showcase is sure to provide something for every type of player. Whether you’re a fan of management simulations, puzzle games, or narrative-driven experiences, there’s something for everyone in wholesome games. To catch up on the hour-long showcase, players can head to the Wholesome Games YouTube channel and check out the full broadcast.