The best games from Wholesome Direct 2026

Every year at Summer Game Fest, sandwiched between the blockbuster shows, Wholesome Direct provides a nice change of pace. It’s similarly packed with games – this year’s edition had more than 50 – but the atmosphere is much cooler and healthier. As in past yearsI’ve pulled out some of the most interesting finds and announcements, although you can see the whole thing for yourself here. And if you’re interested in checking out some of the games – some available now, some with demos – there they are Custom Steam page.

Going back to 2017, Hidden people Help get in A new kind of seek and find game -And now it’s getting a sequel. There aren’t many details yet, however Hidden people 2 It will feature “hand-drawn, interactive miniature landscapes in various new themes, along with more silly jokes, more mouth sounds, and various quality of life improvements.” It will be released in 2027 on both mobile and PC.

This narrative adventure comes from a new studio he runs Sable Co-author Daniel Feinberg. The hypothesis is certainly interesting:

In drifting The film revolves around Luna, a young woman starting her new job as a space communications engineer. Solve business problems during the day, then spend the evening hanging out with the crew on the ship. In drifting It is a story about trying to be a good person, and finding hope and meaning in a world that seems to be drifting away.

Moomin: Midsummer Madness

We already know the Finnish short story world of the Moomins It translates well to games set in winterAnd now we’ll have something warmer to enjoy. Midsummer madness It changes things up with a graphic visual style, along with a more fantastical premise involving a “floating abandoned theater filled with mysteries and mysteries.” It will release sometime in 2026 on both PC and Switch.

Described as a “mysterious puzzle game about communicating with people you don’t understand”, Patience is a virtue It puts you in the role of a recent college graduate who returns to his childhood home to discover that things are very different. Things get worse when he is attacked by a sentient cassette player. You can check it yourself with Steam show.

A comforting touch on the city builders, water Are you digging riverbeds to channel water, replenishing desert valleys and attracting wildlife. Since the locations are procedurally generated, they should provide plenty of replayability when you need to relax.

Did you choose this game because of its great title? Sure, but the game looks great too. It is described as an open-world adventure where you play as a lost otter who “meets quirky animal friends, solves cute puzzles, and enjoys light platforming gameplay.” She gives me Eco dolphin Emoticons, 3D only, will be released on Steam in September.

Wandering Village: The Last Juggernaut

The wandering village It was a great experience for city builders as your city was on the back of a giant walking creature. Now the game is getting a big expansion called The last juggernautwhich, you guessed it, gives you a new water creature you can build on. The update also adds new mechanics based on a creature’s body temperature and mood, as well as the Arctic Ocean to explore.