Wholesome Gaming Round-Up 2025-28

Welcome to our Wholesome gaming news!

This week, we have news about the 10th Anniversary for Witch Spring, Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World on PC, PS & Xbox and a local co-op update for Mirthwood. A release date for Bee Simulator: The Hive and for Illusion of Itehari, and you get to meet a Baby Boar in Adorable Adventures. New DLCs drop for Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU, Morgan: Metal Detective takes place on the Cornish island of Glasden and Farm Together 2 is dropping on Switch.

10th Anniversary for Witch Spring

KIWIWALKS is celebrating a magical milestone: 10 years of WitchSpring! To mark the occasion, they’ve launched a 10th Anniversary Special Website filled with goodies for fans. You’ll find a beautiful new anniversary illustration, touching messages from the WitchSpring R voice cast and partners, and even a global fan art contest that’s open for entries. Fans can also browse a collection of heartfelt messages from around the world.

To sweeten the celebration, WitchSpring R is now available at its biggest discount yet: 35% off the game and all DLCs on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PS5 (with promo dates varying by platform). And there’s more magic on the horizon: a brand-new free DLC, The Follower’s Fall, is arriving in August 2025, continuing Pieberry’s enchanting journey with fresh post-ending content.

Maybe this is the perfect time to dive into the spellbinding world of WitchSpring.

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World On PC, PS and Xbox

Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Microsoft Store) as of 3 July 2025, joining its earlier releases on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Steam. This lovingly remade action-adventure brings the 90s classic Monster World IV to life with vibrant visuals, charming animations, and a few modern touches. Players step into the boots of Asha, a spirited young warrior, and team up with her adorable blue companion, Pepelogoo, to rescue four elemental spirits and save Monster World from peril.

With its fluid side-scrolling action, clever puzzles, and a world brimming with secrets, Asha in Monster World is a delightful blend of nostalgia and accessibility. Whether you’re gliding through icy caverns or battling towering bosses, the game offers a heartfelt journey that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down.

As James mentioned in his review: “Asha in Monster World is a good remake that maintains the heart and soul of the original whilst adding a few quality of life improvements for good measure.”

Local Co-Op Update for Mirthwood

Bad Ridge Games and V Publishing have announced that the long-awaited local Co-Op Update for Mirthwood lands on July 10th. You’ll be able to dive into local split-screen or Steam Remote Play with a friend, enjoying drop-in/drop-out multiplayer that keeps your own gear, skills, and inventory intact.

The update brings a host of new features: from farming and crafting to combat and mount riding, Player 2 gets full access to the world. You can even marry your co-op partner and raise a child together. Your little one will grow up, inherit traits, and eventually become an adult NPC. Combat’s also been sharpened with directional attack indicators, enemy lock-on, and a new revive mechanic to keep your adventures going strong.

Online co-op is still on the horizon, but this update already adds plenty of depth to the experience. For more on the game itself, check out our Mirthwood review on LadiesGamers.com, where Kalina said in conclusion:
“Mirthwood has the makings of a very good life sim game. It heavily reminds me in the best possible way of Echoes of Plum Grove, another fantasy life sim RPG that I reviewed this year. If you love crafting and adventuring, the freedom to choose your own path, a beautiful and unique art style, great music, and attention to detail, I think you’ll love Mirthwood.”

Release Date: Bee Simulator: The Hive

Bee Simulator: The Hive is buzzing its way onto PC this August 4th, 2025, thanks to Untold Tales and VARSAV Game Studios. The console release on PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox is set for later this year.

This updated edition combines the original 2019 Bee Simulator with a major expansion called The Hive, offering a fresh experience especially for newcomers. The big draw? You’ll now get to build and customise your very own bee hive colony. From gathering resources and setting up outposts to unlocking buildings and zipping through wind tunnels, there’s plenty to keep your wings busy.

Other new features include:

Bee vision to help you spot resources and outposts
Weather randomisation in free flight mode
Two new mini-game challenges
Additional co-op maps now playable solo

Release Date for Illusion of Itehari

Aksys has announced that Illusion of Itehari, a brand-new otome game, will launch on Nintendo Switch on September 18th, 2025. In Itehari, the renowned and prosperous floating utopia, Hinagiku longs for the world beyond. One day, Hinagiku, having just turned 18 years old, encounters an amnesiac man. Their chance meeting drags her into a series of events involving the secrets and various truths hidden beneath the surface of Itehari… for this garden in the sky is a false utopia.

This is the debut title from LicoBiTs, a new collaboration between Broccoli and TIS Creation. With a talented team of artists and creators behind it, Illusion of Itehari promises a rich, emotional story wrapped in stunning visuals. An exclusive edition featuring the game’s original soundtrack is also available through the Aksys Online Store.

Meet a Baby Boar in Adorable Adventures

Ever wanted to play as a boar? In Adorable Adventures, we follow Boris, a curious baby boar, on a cosy journey through a handcrafted forest. After a wildfire, Boris must learn to use his nose to reunite with his family. Adorable Adventures is a third-person exploration game with a deep scent-tracking mechanic, ambient soundscapes, and a heartfelt story told by a Forest Guard.

Developed by a small indie team, Wild Sheep Studio in the south of France, Adorable Adventures promises a playful yet touching journey that’s all about reconnecting with family and nature. You can wishlist it now on Steam ahead of its release, and check out the trailer here (the way Boris plops down is just too adorable!)

New DLCs Drop for Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU

Aksys Games has expanded its rhythm-based workout universe with the release of three new DLC packs for Fitness Boxing feat. HATSUNE MIKU, infusing fresh beats, nostalgic flair, and high-energy exercise options into the popular training game.

Musical Boosts for Exercise Mode Two new BGM packs hit the scene, each priced at $4.99.

Exercise BGM Pack Vol.3 delivers classical and folk favourites—including “Orphée aux Enfers” and “Ievan Polkka”—remixed into punch-perfect instrumental arrangements.
Exercise BGM Pack Vol.4 caters to fans of Piapro Characters, with revamped hits like “Senbonzakura” and “Rabbit Hole” to liven up routines.

Retro Look, Revved Up Energy Also released: “Tracksuit Miku,” a throwback athletic outfit bringing playful retro vibes to your fitness journey. Usable in both Stretching and Exercise modes, this new costume packs a punch of motivation.

More Music, More Moves The latest update introduces the brand-new “Miku Exercise” mode alongside the classic Fitness Boxing experience, combining over 50 tracks—including fan-loved staples “Melt” and “The Vampire,” plus a new main theme “Let’s Mikusercise!!” by cosMo@Bousou-P.

As Hatsune Miku joins regular trainers Lin and Evan, Fitness Boxing maintains its full suite of health support features: daily stamps, goal tracking, and customisable workouts. Check out our review for the base game!

Morgan: Metal Detective On The Cornish Island of Glasden

Morgan: Metal Detective, a cosy first-person mystery adventure, is set to launch on 30 July 2025 across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Developed by Studio Morgan, the game invites players to explore the Cornish island of Glasden through the eyes of Morgan, a teenage girl mourning her grandfather’s passing.

Entrusted with her grandpa’s beloved metal detector, Morgan embarks on a journey to uncover the island’s legendary hidden treasure. Players will help Glasden’s residents recover lost items, each discovery unlocking cassette tapes to accompany exploration. Even discarded junk has value, as it can be traded for stickers and film to personalise Morgan’s in-game journal.

The game blends gentle puzzle-solving with expressive creativity, offering a relaxing experience filled with treasure hunting, photography, and storytelling. As Morgan reconnects with her grandfather’s legacy, players will find magic in the mundane and meaning in every buried object.

You can get a first glimpse of the game in this trailer.

Farm Together 2 Dropping On Switch

Farm Together 2, which has been out for a while on Steam, is dropping on the Switch today. Compatible with Switch 2 as well, this second instalment improves over the original game in every way. It offers a better, more polished experience and is the best way to enjoy your own farm, while adding a city to sell your crops as well!

Of course, you can once again build your farmhouse and decorate it, and this time you can also change the layout of your farm with a simple terraforming system, and add or remove hills and mountains to your liking. Plus, multiplayer is possible.

We reviewed Farm Together 2 when it was just out and liked it (read the review here), In the year since then a lot of content is added.