Ever since I played A Short Hike, I’ve been looking for a game that can recapture the bliss of strolling through nature. (Without actually, you know, having to stroll through nature with my physical body. Ugh!) Haven Park is explicit about having been inspired by A Short Hike, and presents a pretty island full of customizable campgrounds. You play as Flint, a cute yellow bird who is essentially a camping concierge. Visitors arrive on your island with various requests, and it’s up to you to spruce things up so they have a nice time. (You can also just wander the forest if you prefer.) The art is a real pleasure here; in contrast to the bright colors and flat shading of Here Comes Niko, this one has a more muted palette and lovely day/night lighting. A quarantine project, the game was created by a single person, and although I am now feeling rather tense about not having been similarly productive over the last year, at least I have this game to calm me back down.
Available August 5 on Steam and Itch.io.
