Healthful Direct 2024: the cutest video games

Regardless of its cozy look, Healthful Direct 2024 is definitely shaping as much as be probably the most packed occasion of Summer time Recreation Fest. The hour-long presentation featured greater than 70 completely different video games. Some have been brand-new bulletins, some have been beforehand identified video games that acquired a contemporary trailer or launch date, and a handful of titles even launched throughout the occasion.

Now, 70 is a big quantity, so to assist, I’ve curated the video games that stood out to me probably the most. You may as well watch the complete presentation proper right here to soak in each element. Even higher: lots of the video games have demos on Steam which you can take a look at. Anyway, listed below are my picks, in no explicit order.

Kamaeru seems like a extra interactive tackle Neko Atsume, solely with frogs as an alternative of cats and a gorgeous painterly artwork type. The purpose is to not solely construct a sanctuary to boost these frogs in but additionally restore their wetland habitat. Better of all: it’s out right this moment.

That is what would occur if you happen to mashed Animal Crossing with Picross. The sport is all about fixing nonograms, which then create objects (out of cheese, naturally) that you should use to embellish a comfy house. It additionally seems to be jam-packed with mouse puns.

Calling Stardew Valley followers. Discounty seems prefer it has a equally charming vibe, solely with much less farming and extra enterprise. As a substitute of increase a farmstead, you’re tasked with operating a grocery retailer in a small city, which naturally means getting deeply concerned in the neighborhood.

A side-scrolling platformer that appears a bit like Tremendous Mario Bros. 2, if solely it was coated in Japanese folklore and mythology. It additionally comes from the identical developer behind the oddball political platformer Tremendous Bernie World.

Moonstone Island is already out on PC, however its mixture of life sim and creature assortment looks like an ideal match for the Change. There’s so much happening on this sport: farming, potion brewing, card-based battles, and spirits to tame. Plus, you may trip round on a brush.

The top of the world is often darkish and dire, however Caravan SandWitch takes issues in a barely extra healthful path. It’s an exploration sport about venturing by a wasteland in your trusty van, and it has no fight or loss of life, so you may drive round at your personal tempo.

That is trying like probably the most charming The place’s Waldo?-style sport since Hidden People. However whereas that was a black-and-white world, Misplaced and Discovered Co. is bursting with shade. It even has a cute little dragon.

From the creators of Espresso Speak, Afterlove EP is described as “a colourful mixtape of genres” that’s half courting sim, half rhythm sport, and half story-driven journey. No matter it’s, it each seems and sounds nice, with hand-drawn artwork from Soyatu and a soundtrack of Indonesian pop-rock from L’alphalpha.