Wholesome Games coming in 2021

Get yourself (another) Wholesome Game This Year.

We all need a wholesome game to either make us smile a little, cry a little, feel a little…TOO MUCH. I am guilty of doing all three, I submit to games that send either a life lesson through amazing storytelling or a game made to send fun and thoughtful gameplay. Here are 5 Wholesome games coming this 2021.

1. Garden Story

First up, we have Garden Story. Developed by Picogram Art, this adorable pixelated game starts off with the protagonist named Concord, a young grape, the youngest grape who becomes a guardian and is their duty to protect and restore the island. It’s a lot for a little grape who’s just about ripe. Many inhabitants doubt Concord’s ability but luckily they have friends like Rana, Elderberry and Fuji there to help. With them on your side, it’ll be a breeze to take on the dangerous Rot…hopefully. You can read about it more on Steam. With a trailer below.

We're proud to debut a brand new trailer AND announce a ~release window~ for Garden Story during #DayoftheDevs!🍇

Get ready to help the delightful denizens of the Grove in Summer 2021 on Nintendo Switch and Steam.

Wishlist it now! https://t.co/zsCaVZ2jZZ pic.twitter.com/f5zVnGLO5R

— Garden Story (@gardenstorygame) June 10, 2021

2. Book of Travels

Coming on the 9th of August, the Book Of Travels, developed by Might and Delight. As described it’s the type of game that ‘doesn’t hold your hand’. It’s a social RPG, that allows room for exploration and personality. There is no specific goal in mind, it is up to the player to create that themselves. Similar to Sky: Children of light, there isn’t a specific plot to focus on, maybe a few things here and there but for the most part you create your own story. The plot follows the player as they begin their journey in a place called Braided Shore, the players are the ones to create their characters with the aspects such as the star sign, the backstory and the personality traits. The players can set off to explore the land on their own terms of they can find people to travel with. The players can also gather resources, learn special abilities and craft items and certain combat as well.

3. Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery

Releasing in September 2021 and developed by Silver Lining Studio. “Guide brush strokes and solve a variety of puzzles to help an aspiring artist complete her masterpiece amid her brusque neighbor’s gaze and his pesky cat. As her painting starts to take shape, uncover an emotional tale of chance and artistry revealed behind unrelated yet familiar moments.” This game follows the story of an aspiring Artist trying to pursue her dream, it is a click and drag type puzzle game that’s supposed to make the player feel like they are watching an anime film unfold.

4. Here Comes Niko

This certainly has a Paper Mario aesthetic to it, but Here comes Niko, developed by Frog Vibes, offers a completely different experience. Here Comes Niko is a cosy 3D platformer with 2D characters, you play as the main protagonist Niko, who travels across many islands to make new friends, solve puzzles and catch fish with other exciting activities involved. Your boss is a frog and you must do what you can to please them while enjoying the island life.

5. Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective (For the Nintendo Switch)

Labyrinth City, developed by Darjeeling “Adapted from the bestselling children’s book series Pierre The Maze Detective, play as Pierre in this adventure/puzzle game and recover the stolen Maze Stone. Journey through breathtakingly hand-drawn illustrations, meet eccentric characters, and solve puzzles to save Opera City!” I have been waiting months for this release, it gives me that where’s wally vibes and certainly will give me that satisfaction I’ve been looking for when I want a game that has riddles, puzzles that follow a narrative.