Wholesome Direct Dishes Up Cat Farms, Old Dogs, and Witches

Wholesome Games, a Twitter account dedicated to promoting feel-good and unique indie games, premiered its first-ever Wholesome Direct today with 50 different games shown off. These ranged from Spiritfarer and the cat-based farm-sim Snacko to hospital simulator Wayward Strand and more. Fifty games is a lot to get through, so we’ve rounded up a few of the highlights below.

Button City

First up was Button City, a bright, colorful game inspired by ’90s kids movies. It’s all about a group of furry friends trying to save their local arcade at whatever the cost. And the cost appears to be a fun mashup of different gameplay styles, from adventure to sh’mup befitting of a quest to save the arcade.

Errand Boy

Errand Boy follows a pure-hearted young child helping those in need by running their errands. It’s part Zelda-inspired adventure game, part puzzler, and completely wholesome because helping those in need might just be the key to saving the world.

Snacko

Snacko is all about big-city kitties moving to a deserted island and starting their very own community. You’ll explore the island, raise animals and crops, and uncover the mysteries around you, but most of all, you’re a cat-farmer. That’s enough for us.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Chicory, made by three roommates, follows an artist called Chicory as she tries to restore color and life to her world. Everything, from interactions and exploration to solving puzzles, revolves around color, and we’re looking forward to learning more about Chicory later this year.

Spiritfarer

Spiritfarer‘s new gameplay trailer premiered during the Wholesome Direct, showing off some of the game’s more involved platforming segments. We see Stella and Buttercup making the most of their abilities as they gather resources and navigate treacherous terrain, all in pursuit of caring for the spirits of their deceased friends. Check out more about Spiritfarer in our deep dive interview into what makes the game tick.

Bird Alone

We got a glimpse of Bird Alone as well, a quirky looking game starring you and your philosophizing parrot. In Bird Alone, you’ll build a garden full of plants and birds, caring for them by interacting with them and possibly making music and other art as well. More news is expected later this year.

Little Witch in the Wood

Little Witch in the Wood from Sunny Side Up finally got some attention in an exclusive gameplay trailer. You play as a new witch embarking on her witch’s apprenticeship. It’s a three-year journey of exploration, learning new magic, and figuring out how the world around you works. Little Witch in the Wood launches in 2021.

Winding Worlds

Winding Worlds from Ko-Op was a bit of an exception in that it’s available now on Apple Arcade. It follows Willow as she explores numerous worlds, solving puzzles, saving souls, and figuring out how to help her friends overcome their troubles and move on.

A Space for the Unbound

A Space for the Unbound is a mix of puzzle, adventure, and RPG where you play as two high school sweethearts in 1990s Indonesia. They’re on a quest to tick off their bucket list, but in the process, they get caught up in solving the mysteries of their town and the supernatural forces threatening it.

Garden Story

Garden Story is a one-person project putting all the developer’s gaming wants in one package. You play as a new village guardian, rebuilding the island, helping people in need, and reading lots of fruit puns because everyone on the island is a fruit. There’s no release window for Garden Story yet, but we’re happy to wait and see how it grows.

Calico

Calico is a mix of magical girls, cat cafes, and gorgeous style. It’s a slice-of-life community simulator where you’re tasked with rebuilding the town’s cat cafe and filling it with cats, all rendered in lovely watercolor style. Calico launches on PC this October.

Wayward Strand

Before the Direct closed with a sizzle reel, Wayward Strand was unveiled. It’s a different kind of interactive title where you’re on board an airship hospital. Everything’s done based on the ship’s clock — doctor’s rounds, patient routines, and so on. Expect some heartfelt stories and probably a few tears when Wayward Strand launches later this year.

Hoa

In Nintendo Direct fashion, the Wholesome Direct ended with a surprise announcement: Hoa. It’s an absolutely lovely looking (and sounding) sidescrolling platformer. It’s fully handcrafted and headed to PC and Switch later this year.

That’s it for the first Wholesome Direct. Be sure to stay tuned to GameSkinny for more on these indie titles and others in the coming months.