If you’re sick of farming sims and want something wholesome, try one of these games instead.
Nowadays, there are a lot of games that have wholesome vibes. Most have a good message and are bright and colourful. Wven if some parts of the story aren’t always so quiet. But most people think of farming models when they think of wholesome games.
Most “wholesome games” are farming models. Which are relaxing for people who like to organise and grow a lot of plants. But while farming simulators are always a good choice, they aren’t the only kind of wholesome games, and there are plenty of other games in other styles that also fit the bill.
Bug Fables
Paper Mario is one of the most fun RPG series out there. Its first game came out on the N64, and since then. A new one has come out on almost every Nintendo system. But some fans think that Paper Mario has changed from what it used to be. Which is why one creator made Bug Fables.
The colourful world of Bugaria is where the turn-based RPG takes place. Players take control of a group of characters called Vi, Kabbu. And Leif as they travel the world looking for the Everlasting Sapling. For those who enjoy silly characters and a good story, it is a wholesome experience despite having fighting in it.
Lost In Play
There was a time when kids grew up with point-and-click adventure games. These games were their first step into the world of video games. This story is updated in Lost in Play, which is a colourful journey about two kids who get lost in their own minds.
Toto and Gal are brothers. One day, they decide to play when the world around them starts to look like something they made up. To get back home, they have to solve problems and talk to many different characters of all sizes. Funny Shooter 2 is a great choice if you want to give a young child a cosy game to try.
Donut County
It’s just as enjoyable to take good care of a farm as it is to watch it all go down a hole that the player controls. This is the main idea behind Donut County, a game in which the player is a hole and the goal is to eat everything in a level.
As BK, a raccoon who is in charge of the hole, the player will go a little too far and slowly eat all of BK’s friends and all of their things. The way Donut County is portrayed and how it deals with the silly premise is what makes it such a joy to experience, even though these actions may not be seen as very wholesome.
A Little To The Left
Organising seems to be a popular way to play for people who want something a lot less stressful. That’s why the idea behind A Little to the Left is great for a puzzle game. The whole point is to put the player in settings. Where they have to try to arrange things in a certain way.
The main story in A Little to the Left takes place over five parts and gives you different situations to put together. But people who only want to play for a short time can do the “Daily Tidy,” which gives them one puzzle to solve each day. Most of the time, these are different takes on the problems in the main mode.
Lil Gator Game
It’s hard to find anything wholesome about little kids playing together. In Lil Gator Game, a kid named Lil Gator is trying to get their bigger sister to play games with them like she did when they were younger. For that, Lil Gator needs to try to make their own game.
Lil Gator goes on an open-world, 3D platforming adventure to find a group of kids to help him turn the local field into their own gaming haven. This will help him convince Big Sis to stop doing her college work and play instead. The world itself can be a playground because the player can climb, swing, and slide around the map.
Astro’s Playroom
While many of the games on this list are beloved by independent developers, Astro’s Playroom, the free game that comes with the PlayStation 5, offers a wholesome experience that is ideal for PlayStation fans. The experience was made by Team ASOBI to show off many of the highlights of the PlayStation 5.
Astro’s Playroom is a small 3D game that takes place in four worlds. That are all based on different parts of the PlayStation. Along the way, other robots will make references to many of the long-running PlayStation series. There are also a lot of collectibles for the PlayStation that talk about the past of its hardware.
TOEM
In theory, photography games can be relaxing and nice, but sometimes the photos are judged harshly or the player has to take the photo quickly because they are on wheels. TOEM is a camera game where the goal is to go around and take pictures without worrying about time or being judged.
In the game, a little camera is trying to get to Toem. Which is a natural event that can’t be seen until the player gets there. The protagonist’s journey will involve assisting others with a wide range of photographic challenges and endeavours. Players can also take pictures of the different animals that live in each area.
Untitled Goose Game
Messing with people might not be the best thing to do. But it’s hard not to laugh when you see a normal goose making people unhappy in the most simple ways. Untitled Goose Game is all about waddling around and solving puzzles that are written on a list of things to do to annoy people.
The game is known for having a huge number of fun things to try. There are four places that are full of people and things that can be played with. Even though the idea behind Untitled Goose Game is very easy, there are a lot of ways to play it again. Including a speed-run mode that is highlighted after the game has been won the first time.
Monument Valley
When we talk about simplicity, it’s fun to move around in a small world to reach a goal in a game. In the puzzle game Monument Valley, you move people through a number of dioramas that play with the player’s point of view.
In the game, you can move or twist many of the platforms to make paths. That let the figure on the screen get to the door. All of this happens on sets and screens that are beautifully made. There is even a sequel to Monument Valley. That builds on the ideas of the first but can also be played on its own.
A Short Hike
A Short Hike is one of the best independent games that screams “wholesome” from start to finish. The game is all about Claire, a young woman who is at Hawk Peak Provincial Park to visit her aunt’s camp. Unless she goes to the top of the mountain, she can’t use her cell phone.
The main goal of the game is for the player to look in every corner of the island for secrets and collect enough golden feathers to get to the top. Along the way, Claire can talk to different people and learn about their lives while also helping them with their problems. Also, if the player can find them, they can drive a boat and play a sport.