Updated on May 6th, 2026
This past Saturday was the Wholesome Direct, which was an hour-long stream on YouTube and Twitch with over 70 trailers of indie games that are releasing this year and next year in 2024. The stream was hosted by Jenny Windom (@kimchica25), Gab Smolders, and Kennedy (@CozyK). I love playing cozy games, so I tuned into the stream, and I wanted to share which games from the Wholesome Direct are on my wish list.
There was a total of 78 cozy indie games in the Wholesome Direct, and you can see all of them on Wholesome Games website. However, there were only a handful of games (12 to be exact) that I already had on my Steam wish list, or they caught my eye during the stream and I am now adding them to my wish list!
Wholesome Direct Wish List
#1 Mineko’s Night Market
In Mineko’s Night Market, you explore Mt. Fugu island, craft items with resources you find around the world, befriend townsfolk at the weekly Night Market, and help your neighbors restore the struggling village. Mineko’s Night Market has been on my Steam wish list, and I am excited to play the game later this year.
Mineko’s Night Market released in September 2023 for Steam and Nintendo Switch. For PlayStation and Xbox, the game came out a month later in October 2023. I have now completed the storyline of Mineko’s Night Market, and you can read my review.
#2 Pekoe
Pekoe is a cozy cat-filled tea-making simulator. In the game, you manage a teahouse, decorate your space, discover new recipes, and harvest, prepare, and serve tea while building relationships with 16 unique cats. Pekoe has been on my Steam wish list, and it does look like a cute, cozy game where you make tea for cats!
Pekoe released in June 2023 on Steam for early access.
#3 Sticky Business
In Sticky Business, you run a sticker shop where you design your own stickers, pack orders, and hear your customers’ stories. Sticky Business has been on my Steam wish list, and it looks like an adorable cozy game where you can be creative.
Sticky Business released in July 2023 for Steam and in April 2024 for Nintendo Switch. I have since played Sticky Business, and you can now read my review.
#4 A Little to the Left: Cupboards and Drawers DLC
A Little to the Left is a cozy puzzle game where you sort, stack, and organize household items into pleasing arrangements. The Cupboards and Drawers DLC adds 25 more puzzles to the game. I have been wanting to play A Little to the Left, and I would definitely get the DLC to play as well.
The DLC released in June 2023 for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
#5 Smushi Come Home
In Smushi Come Home, you play as a little mushroom who is lost in the forest and cannot find their way home. You explore the world, chat with inhabitants, and go on different adventures. The Wholesome Direct was the first time I heard about this game, and it does look like an adorable cozy mushroom adventure game.
Smushi Come Home is out now on Steam and Nintendo Switch, and it released in June 2023. I have played through the game, and you can read my review.
#6 Venba
In Venba, you play as an Indian mom who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Throughout the game, you cook various dishes, restore lost recipes, and explore the family’s story. The game looks really interesting, and I downloaded the demo to try it out.
The release date for Venba was in July 2023 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. I have played through Venba, and you can read my review.
#7 Little Friends: Puppy Island
Little Friends: Puppy Island is all about puppies! In the game, you befriend puppies, bathe, feed, walk, and play with them as well as train them in obedience, agility, friendliness, and more. There are also 350+ clothes and accessories to dress the puppies in. Furthermore, you can hunt for treasure, hike, and explore the island with the puppies and customize the island resort. When I saw this game in the Wholesome Direct, it looked perfect for my daughter. She loves dogs, and I will most likely be getting the game on the Nintendo Switch for her to play.
Little Friends: Puppy Island released in June 2023 for Steam and Nintendo Switch, and you can read my review of the game.
#8 A Highland Song
A Highland Song is an adventure game set in the Scottish Highlands. You play as Moira who has never seen the sea and she receives a letter from her uncle urging her to come to the coast. Moira runs away from home and explores the hills, climbs peaks, and spelunks caves. The Wholesome Direct is the first time I heard about this game, and I definitely want to play it now and add it to my wish list.
A Highland Song released un December 2023 for Steam and Nintendo Switch. I have now played A Highland Song, and you can read my review.
#9 Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a musical adventure game where you play as Snufkin and rescue Moomintroll and restore harmony and balance in Moominvalley. While exploring the valley, you solve puzzles, and the game is wholesome for both kids and adults. My partner grew up watching the Moomin tv series, and Snufkin is his favorite character. The game looks perfect for him and also our daughter to play.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley released in March 2024 on Steam. You can read my review of Snufkin now.
#10 Fall of Porcupine
Fall of Porcupine is a story adventure where you play as Finley who is about to become a doctor. You experience the story of him and his friends, explore the world, get to know the residents, and uncover the dark secrets of Porcupine. You also investigate what is wrong with the patients and treat them in minigames. Fall of Porcupine was already on my Steam wish list before the Wholesome Direct stream.
Fall of Porcupine is out now, and it released in June 2023 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. I have played through the game, and you can read my review.
#11 Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a remake of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. Harvest Moon is one of my favorite cozy game series, so I definitely want to play this game. In the game, you bring life to the land of Forgotten Valley by cultivating crops and raising animals, finding love, and making lasting memories. The game also has updated character customization, added pronouns, introduced a better movement system, upgraded tools, and added hybrid crops.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life released in June 2023 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
#12 Tiny Bookshop
The last game on my wish list is Tiny Bookshop. In Tiny Bookshop, you leave everything behind and open a tiny bookshop on wheels by the sea. Tiny Bookshop is a narrative management game where you stock the bookshop with different books and items, set up shop in scenic locations, and get to know the locals. The Wholesome Direct was the first time I heard about the game, and it looks so fun and cozy.
Tiny Bookshop released in August 2025 on Steam.
These games look great, love the cute graphics on them!
Corinne x
Same here!
Mineko Night Market and Snufkin are definitely on my wishlist. They give me the vibe that I can binge-play.
I agree! I’m so excited for Mineko’s Night Market, and Snufkin would be a great game for my partner and our daughter to play!
Great list, it was fun watching them, and will recommend this to my family. Thank you for sharing them with us!
You’re welcome!
these games definitely seem wholesome! i love escaping through fun cozy games like these. thanks for the recommendations.
Same here and you’re welcome!
I love all of these games, but I especially am curious about Pekoe, Tiny Book Shop, and Sticky Business. Love a good cozy game every once in a while x
I really want to play Tiny Book Shop too! There’s a demo of Sticky Business out now that you can try!
Fantastic list, thank you for sharing! I’ve been getting bored of my Sims lately so would love to add some new chill games to my library. I love the sound of Pekoe and Tiny Bookshop!
You’re welcome! I understand about the Sims, and it is nice to play something new every now and then! Pekoe is coming out at the end of this month, so you won’t have to wait long if you want to try it out
I want so many of these, especially the cat-tea game! Pekoe? I hope it’s Steamdeck compatible!
Thanks so much for this list. I would LOVE to write you a post about gaming sometimes, be it Sims 4-related, Steamdeck-related or cosy games.
Pekoe looks like it’s going to be a cute game, and I hope it’ll be Steamdeck compatible!
You’re welcome!
That would be awesome! I’m going to publish your guest post in a few days, and you’re welcome to write a gaming-related one!
Thank you so much for this list! These games look so cozy and fun. I’m always on the lookout for indie games to support, but my work schedule means I can’t make streams very often.
You’re welcome! That’s great you support indie games! If you still want to check out the stream, it’s still up on YouTube, and all the games in the video are on the Wholesome Games website
https://wholesomegames.com/
I haven’t heard of any of these games before, but there are so many interesting games to experience. Thank you for sharing this list. I am sure this will be really helpful for gamers!
Lauren x
I agree they’re interesting and you’re welcome!
These games sound cool. I shall check them out. Thank you for your recommendations.
You’re welcome!
Story of Seasons a Wonderful life looks like an exact remake of the Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life for the Gamecube. It was the first Harvest Moon game I played when I was a kid. This is SO exciting! This game is one I will for sure get. The original was great, so the fact that they’re updating and adding extra stuff is going to be amazing. Great post!
Melina | http://www.melinaelisa.com
That’s awesome Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life was the first Harvest Moon game you played! Hopefully you’ll love the Story of Seasons remake!
We’ve never heard of these games before, but they look fun!
The games do look fun!
This looks like a really fun and cosy game to play! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I agree!
Awesome picks! I can see why you’re excited for these games. I love the sound of Mineko’s Night Market and Tiny Book Shop! Thanks for sharing, I’ve always wanted to play cozy games!
You’re welcome! Mineko’s Night Market looks like such a fun game, and my birthday is in September so I can maybe treat myself to the game haha
Also, I LOVE the look of Tiny Book Shop!
I’ve not played anything like these games listed here; they all sound so great and I could see myself really getting into quite a few of them. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! The games do look great, and I’m excited to play them one day!
Thank you so much for this post.
I was looking for good, wholesome games I could play to de-stress and is child friendly (just in case my infant comes into the room).
Mineko’s Night Market and Pekoe look great because I like cats. A Little to the Left is interesting, because I like arranging stuff. And Tiny Bookshop seems like it can hit my spot, because I like books.
If I hadn’t read this, I would not have known of those games!
You’re welcome! I originally added Pekoe to my Steam wishlist because of the cats haha and Mineko’s Night Market looks like it’s going to be such a fun game!
I saw that A Little to the Left is currently 20% off on the Switch ($12 instead of $15) so I was considering getting it and trying it out before the DLC is released.
Also, Tiny Bookshop seems like it would be a great game for you!
Tiny Bookshop looks like such a cute game! Honestly, when it comes to games, I lean more towards Red Dead Redemption and The Last of Us but these look so cute and wholesome and perfect games to invest in when you need some down time!
I agree Tiny Bookshop looks so cute!
It is fun to play more intense games, but sometimes you do just want to relax, and these games are perfect for that.