Updated on May 6th, 2026
Over the past couple of years, I have enjoyed watching the Wholesome Direct and sharing my wish list on my blog. On June 7th, the Wholesome Direct for 2025 aired, and I would love to share my wish list for this year.
What is the Wholesome Direct?
The Wholesome Direct is an annual showcase all about cozy games. For 2025, the Wholesome Direct premiered on June 7th and featured over 60 games. Additionally, the Wholesome Direct is hosted by Jenny Windom, with various YouTubers and Twitch streamers serving as guest hosts. Without further ado, here is my wish list of 10 cozy games I want to play from the 2025 Wholesome Direct.
Wholesome Direct 2025 Wish List
The Berlin Apartment
In The Berlin Apartment, you follow the stories of the previous tenants of an apartment in Berlin over the course of a century.
I played The Berlin Apartment demo as part of LudoNarraCon, and I liked getting to see what the lives of the previous tenants were like. I imagine the stories can be emotional, given Berlin’s history, and I would like to play the full game.
The Berlin Apartment released in November 2025 for Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Haunted Paws
Haunted Paws is a cozy coop game where you play as two puppies trying to rescue their human friend in a haunted mansion. In the game, you will be able to create your puppy, explore spooky environments, and defeat evil creatures.
I played Luigi’s Mansion 3 with my daughter, and Haunted Paws gives me similar vibes, but instead of playing as Luigi and Gooigi in a haunted hotel, you play as cute puppies in a haunted mansion! Also, I watched the trailer with my daughter, and she would like to play Haunted Paws with me. I do think Haunted Paws will be a fun coop game!
The release date for Haunted Paws is to be announced on Steam.
Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling
In the game, you play as Adèle, a young woman who escapes city life to find peace in the mountains. You will care for goats, craft mountain goods, explore the mountains, and help villagers rebuild their lives in the small alpine village.
The Wholesome Direct was the first time I heard about Heidi’s Legacy, and it looks so fun and cozy. There are so many games where you play as a character who moves to a small town to run a farm, but Heidi’s Legacy is different because instead of running a farm, you care for goats!
Heidi’s Legacy: Mountains Calling is coming soon to Steam.
Is This Seat Taken?
In the logic puzzle game Is This Seat Taken? you find the perfect spot for each person.
I played the demo of Is This Seat Taken? earlier this year, and I liked the variety of levels, from finding the right seat for each character on a bus to a wedding reception. I am looking forward to playing the full game and seeing what other levels there are!
Is This Seat Taken? released in August 2025 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, Google Play, and App Store. I have played Is This Seat Taken?, and you can read my review now.
KuloNiku: Bowl Up!
In KuloNiku, you take over your grandma’s meatball restaurant, where you meet quirky locals and cook their orders. You also customize the restaurant and battle rival chefs in the Meatball Brawls to become the town’s top eatery.
I am a huge fan of cozy cooking games, and KuloNiku looks so fun and right up my alley. I will be keeping an eye on this game!
KuloNiku released in April 2026 on Steam.
One Move Away
One Move Away is a puzzle game where you pack your belongings. There are three unique storylines to explore in over 20 different levels. You can also be strategic, chaotic, or somewhere in between when loading your items.
One Move Away reminds me a bit of Unpacking, but instead of unpacking boxes, you pack your belongings. I also like that you follow three different characters and that you will have the freedom to pack items as you want. I do think One Move Away will be worth checking out!
The release date for One Move Away is to be announced for Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Out and About
Out and About is a foraging adventure game where you identify and gather over 100 real wild plants and fungi, cook delicious recipes, brew herbal remedies, and help rebuild the town of Portobello after a devastating storm.
The game looks so cozy, and I love that it features real plants and recipes. I would love to play Out and About and try some of the recipes from the video game in real life!
Out and About is coming soon to Steam. You can read my review of Out and About now.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a remake of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar, which released in 2008. In the game, you raise animals, grow crops, craft delicacies, and sell wares at your stall to restore Zephyr Town’s bazaar back to glory.
I am a big fan of the classic Harvest Moon games, and I would love to play the remake. In Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, the world is bigger, new characters are added, the story is expanded, voice acting is added to story events, and players can use a glider to get around the world. The game looks like it will be a lot of fun to play, and I am excited for the release!
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar released in August 2025 for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Tales of the Shire
In Tales of the Shire, you take on the cozy life of a Hobbit in the Shire. You can explore the town of Bywater, fish, garden, forage, harvest crops and flowers, cook, and share meals with fellow Hobbits.
Tales of the Shire was supposed to be released in March 2025, but it has been delayed to July. Last September, I saw some gamers play the demo, and Tales of the Shire looks like such a cute game. I would want to check it out when it releases.
Tales of the Shire releases in July 2025 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe
The last game on my Wholesome Direct wish list is A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe. The adventure game is about a giraffe trying to live his life without talking to anyone.
I also played the demo of A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe as part of LudoNarraCon, and I liked the puzzle element of trying to figure out how to avoid interacting with everyone. The full game will take place over the course of a week, and I am curious what other situations the giraffe will be in.
A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe is coming soon on Steam.
I love the sound of The Berlin Apartment! I need to look into how I can start playing cozy games, these all look fantastic!
The Berlin Apartment looks so interesting, and I enjoyed playing the demo! I recommend downloading Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/about/) as that is the platform most PC games are on!
I was just thinking that I’ve reached some game fatigue with the games I’ve currently got! This wishlist will tide me over for a while, I think. Thanks for posting!
You’re welcome! I think it’s always nice to see what new games are coming out
Haunted paws looks fun. Thanks for sharing.
Annie,
https://www.anniesfooddiary.com/
I agree it looks a lot of fun!
While I’m not much of a gamer myself, some of these do look like fun! My daughter would probably like a few of them, especially Haunted Paws!
Haunted Paws looks so fun and cute! I can’t wait for the release so me and my daughter can play!
Ohh definately interrested in that SoS game! I came pretty late to the HM franchise, so I haven’t played that one yet
I haven’t played the original Grand Bazaar game either, but I would love to play the remake!
HA! Count me in on the Haunted Paws game too!
Haunted Paws looks like it is going to be a lot of fun!
Heidi’s Legacy sounds awesome. I want to check it out. I want to check out other games as well. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! Heidi’s Legacy does look like a fun and cute game!
These look like some cute games!
They do! I can’t wait for them to release!
Nice
Thanks!
I feel like such an old fogey, I have no idea about any of these games. The only one I have on my phone is Candy Crush but my daughter is a huge fan of Minecraft, which she often plays with her friends. Gaming really is a whole other world!
There are a ton of games coming out each year!
My daughter loves playing Minecraft with her friends too!
There are so many fun games in this collection! Thanks for sharing.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
You’re welcome! They were a lot of great games in the year’s Wholesome Direct
Ooh these sound like such interesting games – I’m not a gamer at all but a few have even caught my eye, like Tales of the Shire. So cutesy!
Tales of the Shire looks adorable and I can’t wait for the release!
Haunted Paws and One Move Away sound like the games I’d like to play! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Haunted Paws looks so cute and fun, and One Move Away looks great too!
Haunted Paws sounds like something I would absolutely love to play and get involved in. Love this list, there are quite a few games I’d love to try out. Thanks for this!
No problem! Haunted Paws looks like such a fun and cute game!