It’s been a week since the Wholesome Direct 2023 showcase blessed us with almost 80 cozy indie games! Like last year I participated as one of the showcases content creator partners, co-streaming the event on my Twitch channel, BlerdyOtome.
There were so many amazing games shown during the presentation, but there were a few special gems that caught my eye! So, let’s take a look at some of the titles from Wholesome Direct 2023 that I’m most excited to play!
Field of Mistria
Start your new life! Build the farm of your dreams as you discover a world brimming with possibilities. Magic, romance, and adventure all await you in this nostalgic farming / life sim RPG!
Even before the Direct I had my eye on Fields of Mistria–90’s RPG vibes alone is enough to get the nostalgia stirring. Fans of farming games will find a lot to love here. Build your own farm all while interacting with the unique residents of the idyllic, Mistria village. But, what gives Fields of Mistria a leg up on some of the other farming games is your ability to learn magic to help you with day to day farming duties. And for the romance lovers out there, make a love connection with a whole lineup of bachelors and bachelorettes!
Lakeburg Legacies
Take fate into your own hands in Lakeburg Legacies, a social-based village management sim where love is your favourite resource. Play matchmaker to create the most effective, and most loved up, couples and help your kingdom thrive. How long will it take you to crown a sovereign?
This is the perfect game for all the matchmakers out there! Smoosh together residents of your kingdom to spread the love and for the betterment of all. Then follow the families from generation to generation to see if your matches stand the test of time. But, of course that’s not all there is to Lakeburg Legacies. You’ll also need to build up your kingdom, create housing, foster trade, and more. This game feels like a cross between Stardew Valley and Sims, which sounds equal parts chaotic and fun~
Spirit Swap
Cast spells, be queer, & crash the biggest concert of the year! Spirit Swap is an action-puzzle game set in a lush, narrative-driven world of witchy demons.
This is not the first time I’ve mentioned Spirit Swap, so to avoid repeating myself here’s a what I wrote from my 2021 Wholesome Direct post!
This isn’t the first time I’ve talked about this game and trust, it won’t be the last, because lo-fi beats, melanin, and puzzles always hit juuust right! If you are looking for chill vibes and a heaping helping of melanin in your match-3 games, look no further than Soft Not Weak’s upcoming game, Spirit Swap, which blends together fun matching gameplay mechanics with some light visual novel (possibly romantic) vibes and I am here for it! The soundtrack is perfect, when I played the demo I kind just let it run so I could bask in the chill music! For updates on production definitely check out the team’s Twitter and their official site, also give the demo a playthrough!
So, long story short: Go. Support. This. Game. Thanks!
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 and restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations and explore in this story about family, love, loss and more.
Venba is another game I’ve been anticipating and with the release date set for the end of July, my wait is almost at an end. This is a heartfelt game about cooking, family, and all the moments in between. I had the chance to try out the short demo after the Direct and while I fumbled a bit making Idlis, this game is a lot of fun and definitely packs in a lot of emotion.
Usagi Shima
Usagi Shima is a relaxing, idle bunny collecting game.
You’ve been tasked as caretaker of an abandoned island — as you decorate it over time, curious (but adorable!) bunnies start to appear…₍ ᐢ.ˬ.ᐢ₎❀
Entice cute bunny tourists to pay your island a visit! Decorate and personalize your own island with all sorts of toys, plants, and buildings. Relax and enjoy the calm and cozy island ambience, synced to your time of day〜✧･ﾟ: *
If you loved Neko Atsume, then you’re gonna love Usagi Shima! Pet and make friends with all sorts of cute, lovable bunnies that visit based on how you’ve decorated and arranged the island. You can dress them up with all sorts of adorable hats too! They may even give you a special gift if you become best friends with them! This game is absolutely adorable and a must add to your wishlist!
Wholesome Games to Add to Your Wishlist!
These are just a few of the almost 80 cozy games showcased during this year’s Wholesome Direct! There are so many amazing games just waiting to be discovered, so definitely check out all of the 2023 games on the Wholesome Games site! What are some of the games you are most looking forward to from the Direct? Share your faves in the comments below!
The only thing better than the Direct itself is seeing which games caught people’s attention!
My #1 most anticipated release from the stream is Beastieball. I immediately backed it on kickstarter. Pokemon was my first video game and I’ve been keeping close attention to indie creature collectors for the last couple of years. It’s Pokemon volleyball! By the team who made Wandersong! I could not get any more hype about this game.
Speaking of creature collecting, I’ve been more interested in Moonstone Island as time has gone on. I normally don’t like card mechanics, but the art style and farming elements have won me over and I’ll probably buy it on release. I also played a demo of Townseek a year ago and found it to be charming!
The last two brand-new games added to the Direct that have my attention are Everdeep Aurora (what a great art style) and Manitas Kitchen (dinosaurs!!!!). I love the Wholesome Direct and I can’t wait for more of the games it features to be released! ❤