Haven Park certainly fits in with the current trend of wholesome games. Ultimately, discovering everything the island had to offer was the most enjoyable part of my journey, easily eclipsing whatever efforts I put into the campgrounds and the well-intentioned-but-saccharine narrative. The washed-out trails force players to find new paths and it’s a treat to see how the developers managed to connect most of these locations. I think it is a beautiful piece of land with charming art direction and little points of interest that make exploring worthwhile. And ultimately, that is what’s most important when making a game and what’s missing most from Haven Park.Īnd that’s a shame because I really like the design of this island. Their wholesome nature may be at the forefront of what players see, but behind those edifying facades are solid gameplay mechanics that actually drive the experience. However, you have to remember there is more to them than just the warm feelings they feed into your soul. Those two titles are wonderful sources of inspiration for any indie developer looking to ride the current wave of wholesome games. And it wears those inspirations on its sleeve, with an entirely animal cast, a beautiful island to explore, a bird lead character and little campsites where visitors will ask some favors of you á la Pocket Camp. The developer, Bubble Studio, mentions the indie darling as one of the inspirations behind the project, along with Animal Crossing. If you watch the trailer for Haven Park and think to yourself, “Boy, this sure does look like A Short Hike,” that’s intentional.
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