Welcome to our Wholesome gaming news! This time, an extra edition as with the Wholesome Direct and the Steam Fest, our news took on gigantic proportions! So, this is the first bit of the roundup; the rest will be published on the site on Friday, as usual.
We have news about a release date for Go-Go Town!, five demos from Hooded Horse and space sandbox game Curiosmos. Critter Café announced as well as Garden of the Sea and Moonstone Island on Switch. Été is announced, a release date for Fruitbus and a demo for Caravan SandWitch at the Steam Next Fest. Sopa, the narrative adventure set in South America, the first-ever demo for Tiny Bookshop, a release date for platformer Kitsune and a demo for Amber Isle.
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GO-GO Town! Release Date and Next Fest Demo
GO-GO Town, made by Prideful Sloth, who you might know from Yonder and Grow, has a release date for Early Access: June 18! Margaret already had the pleasure to take a look and make her review, liked it a lot and wrote in her conclusion:
Although the shift from pure fantasy landscapes to a modern world with some urban fantasy trappings may be disappointing for fans of Yonder and Grow, it’s a shift that works really well for this game. You won’t have to wait long for those familiar bits of fantastical silliness to creep into your game, and the few early learning frustrations are quickly revealed as little mind tricks to help you realize this is a new kind of game for the developer. Your builds are bite-sized at first, and so are your tools. But you won’t feel hampered for long, and the sense of progression stays quick without making you feel overwhelmed.
If you’ve played the bêta test some time ago, you’ll be pleased to find a lot of new things added! You can check out the game here on Steam.
Five Demos for Hooded Horse
Publisher Hooded Horse is gearing up for a major presence at the June 2024 Steam Next Fest, showcasing five demos from its portfolio of tactical and strategic games. As we are generally fans of their games, you can expect a few impression articles of our own on the site, too. These demo’s are up on Steam:
Beyond These Stars (Balancing Monkey Games)
The latest city-building game from Balancing Monkey Games debuts during Next Fest. In Beyond These Stars, rebuild society on the back of Kewa, a sentient space whale. Explore the stars, establish outposts, and interact with alien species while managing complex supply chains and finite resources. Choices made will affect the relationship with Kewa. The game will launch in early access on PC via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.
Blacksmith Master (Untitled Studios)
Following the cosy tavern management game Tavern Master, Untitled Studios presents Blacksmith Master. Run the best blacksmith in town, managing everything from metal extraction to crafting a variety of items. Fulfil Kingdom orders and eventually open a storefront to sell your finest wares. The game will enter early access for PC on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.
Paula has already had a look at the demo, as you can read here.
Fata Deum (42 Bits Entertainment)
Inspired by classic God Games, Fata Deum lets players shape settlements and townsfolk while competing with other Gods for devotion. The demo highlights recent improvements, and the game will be available in early access on PC via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store.
Heart of the Machine (Arcen Games)
Making its gameplay debut, Heart of the Machine is a turn-based 4X RPG where you play as the world’s first sentient AI. Control androids, build hidden bases, and engage in tactical battles in a dystopian society. The game will be available on PC via Steam Early Access.
Super Fantasy Kingdom (Feryaz Beer)
This fantasy roguelike city-builder combines abstract city management with bullet hell-style auto-battles. Rebuild your kingdom, explore a vibrant fantasy world, and defend against monster hordes. Super Fantasy Kingdom will enter early access on PC via Steam.
Space Sandbox Game Curiosmos
At the Wholesome Direct, a new game called Curiosmos was announced. This charming space sandbox game is set to launch early next year on PC & Mac via Steam, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
In Curiosmos, outer space takes on a whimsical twist. Players can design their own solar system, colliding with stardust and asteroids to create planets. Once a planet grows large enough, you can zoom in and shape its surface, creating clouds, rain, thunder, mountains, volcanoes, and even life. The game encourages creativity and exploration, allowing you to fill your solar system with planets and moons while exploring the asteroid belt.
Beware: an insatiable black hole threatens to devour your sun! But with the help of a little lost satellite, you might just save the solar system.
Critter Café Announced
During the Wholesome Direct that was aired on June 8th, Critter Café was announced. Expected on Steam and Switch. Everything with the word Critter in there sounds good to me, so what is the game about?
When a mysterious portal reveals a long-lost Critters, it’s up to you to rescue each unique Critter and create a welcoming café for both townsfolk and Critters. You explore the world to find rifts that open portals to other dimensions, guiding lost Critters to safety and welcoming them into your café. As you strengthen your bonds with these Critters, more portals will naturally appear, bringing even more friends into your life. Using magical tools gifted by your Critter companions you can navigate the strange new locations beyond the rifts.
As your café grows and you master your customers’ requests, you can draw inspiration from your new island home and its residents to refurbish and personalize your café and its magical sanctuary. You can also customize your character’s appearance and style, ensuring your wardrobe reflects your unique taste.
Garden of the Sea Announced at the Wholesome Direct
As part of the June 8th, 2024, Wholesome Direct, Garden of the Sea has been announced for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. Originally a VR game, this version of Neat Corp and Creature’s cosy farming sim brings all the features of the original!
Garden of the Sea invites players to play, craft, and explore at their own pace. Let go of the demands of everyday life and be embraced by a world of creativity and wonder. Whether you’re seeking progression and adventure or meditative relaxation, Garden of the Sea offers an experience tailored to your desires, allowing the world to take its course gently.
Moonstone Island on Switch
During the Wholesome Direct Showcase, Raw Fury announced that Moonstone Island, the creature-collecting life sim, will be launching on the Nintendo Switch on June 19th. Already available on PC via Steam, this new release will bring the game to a broader audience. This is good news, as Mina gave it our highest rating in her review.
In Moonstone Island, players can explore 100 sky islands using balloons, brooms, and gliders, make friends, brew potions, collect Spirits, and engage in card-based encounters. The Nintendo Switch version will feature several exciting updates since its PC launch, including over 70 new Spirits, a challenging never-ending dungeon with thrilling rewards, and a “Decorator’s Pass” for access to all DLC cosmetics, with more to come this year. Additionally, players can look forward to a new marriage component, allowing them to move in with a chosen spouse after a special wedding scene.
Été: The World is Your Painting
Developer Impossible has announced in the Wholesome Direct that their debut game Été will be released on Steam on July 23rd.
In Été, players can roam around Montreal in the summer, painting the world in stunning 3D watercolours. As they explore the city, they collect ideas for their album, an ever-growing compendium of stamps featuring everything from flowers to birds. These collected items can then be mixed and matched to create beautiful 2D watercolour artworks on canvas.
The game offers a unique canvas system where any stamp collected in your album can be resized, recoloured, and spun around in 3D to create original compositions. Players can fulfil commissions from NPCs, paint unrestricted creative artworks, and showcase their talent by hanging their masterpieces in local cafés or even organizing their own exhibitions.
Été also allows players to build their ideal creative space by collecting furniture and decorations for their studio and apartment. With a flexible decoration system, players can place items precisely where they want, combining them into complex set pieces and giving them a new colour.
As players grow as artists, they accumulate droplets of paint as experience, which can be used to level up and upgrade their exploration abilities. They can also find rare pigments hidden throughout the city to mix new dyes for their artworks and decorations. Meeting dozens of colourful locals, some of whom offer paid commissions or tend unique shops, adds another layer of immersion to the game.
I may not be overly creative, but Été sounds like a lovely laid-back experience!
Order up with Fruitbus
Krillbite Studio has announced that Fruitbus will be launching on Steam this October. Revealed at the Wholesome Direct, the flavorful new trailer shows Grandma tasking you with bringing her friends together for a final feast.
Set in the Gustum archipelago, explore an open world where taste is everything, using a fully customizable food truck to experiment with recipes, feed new friends, and unlock unique stories and memories through the power of food. Forage for new ingredients in ancient glades, secret groves and forgotten grottos; whip up your own unique dishes or take on local recipes; and upgrade your Fruitbus kitchen to gain loyal customers and fit your playstyle.
Caravan SandWitch Demo Next Fest
Excitingly, Caravan SandWitch is participating in the Steam Next Fest from June 10th to June 17th. For the first time ever, an exclusive demo is available now, giving you a chance to experience the game firsthand! So, what can you expect from Caravan SandWitch?
A journey in a hopeful post-apocalyptic setting to uncover the mysteries of Cigalo and find your missing sister. As you traverse this captivating world, you’ll interact with various communities, assisting them with their tasks and meeting new people along the way. Whether exploring by van or on foot, you can enjoy the adventure at your own pace, free from the pressures of combat, death, or timers—just you, your van, and the vast world around you.
Narrative Adventure Set in South America: Sopa
StudioBando has announced that Sopa, the magical realist narrative adventure set in South America, is launching in August! Revealed during the Wholesome Direct with a brand-new trailer, the game will be available on PC, Xbox, and Game Pass.
In Sopa, players follow Miho, who, upon stepping into the pantry to fetch a potato for his grandma’s soup, is transported to a fantastical land. As Miho searches for ingredients, he retraces the steps of an ancient explorer, with each return to the kitchen revealing unexpected changes. Sopa is a heartfelt tale about family, adventure, and legacy, comforting like the first sip of hot soup on a cold day and vital as an ancient memory.
The First Ever Demo for Tiny Bookshop
During the Wholesome Direct presentation, viewers were treated to the premiere of the latest trailer for Tiny Bookshop. The trailer, which you can find below, showcases a day in the life of the bookseller, highlighting a new book recommendation mechanic.
Tiny Bookshop is a great blend of management sim and narrative experience set in a picturesque coastal town. With a focus on community, exploration, and the love of books, the game promises a unique and heartwarming experience. The beautiful art style and heartwarming story will probably captivate us when the game launches for PC in 2025.
Also, the first-ever public demo of Tiny Bookshop is now available on Steam. This demo allows players to experience managing their own tiny bookshop, engage with the community, and curate the perfect collection of books for their customers. Check it out and wishlist it when you like what you see!
Release Date for Platformer Kitsune Tails
Kitsune Tails, the latest platformer from Kitsune Games, is bringing the charm of classic platformers to PC via Steam on Thursday, August 1st. Console versions are in development and expected to be released in Q1 2025.
In Kitsune Tails, you play as Yuzu, a young half-fox/half-human messenger to the god Inari. Your journey takes you through worlds filled with mythical Japanese creatures, where you’ll use an array of mystical abilities to rescue your love interest, Akko.
Explore different costumes that change Yuzu’s appearance and abilities. You can hop into a giant boot, dash across water dressed as a shark, or wear an indestructible kasa hat to break the ground. Each costume brings new abilities, making Yuzu’s journey both challenging and exciting.
For those who enjoy creating and sharing content, Kitsune Tails offers the ability to create custom maps using the open-source Tiled Map Editor. Share your creations with the community and explore the creative challenges others have crafted. Whether you’re looking to master difficult kaizo gameplay or delve into a heartfelt narrative, Kitsune Tails provides a unique and engaging experience.
Demo for Amber Isle
Team 17 has brought a demo to the Steam Fest for Amber Isle. Amber Isle is a shop management sim game centred around dinos. The game is expected on Steam and Nintendo Switch (no release date yet), and will whisk you away to a vibrant village inhabited by prehistoric creatures named Paleofolk. You will be the only shopkeeper and will help dinosaur customers, like microraptors requiring microchairs to plesiosaurs in need of waterproof paper.
You will experience customer service that includes haggling and making counter offers, and the goal is, of course, to turn your shop into a success. Plus, prevent Amber Isle from becoming a forgotten relic by befriending the locals and improving the village so Paleofolk will return to live there. You can check out the demo here.
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