Okay folks, Wholesome Direct just wrapped up its 2026 edition — and let me tell you, it might be my absolute favourite gaming event of the year! Andrew Webster from The Verge dropped a fantastic round-up on June 6th showing how this thing has firmly established itself as Summer Game Fest's most beloved counterpart. While everyone else is screaming about $70 blockbusters with microtransactions, Wholesome Direct delivers pure chill vibes — and this year was no exception with over 50 titles showcased! If you want to dive straight into the full showcase video or peek at demos (because a bunch are available right now), there's even a dedicated Steam page set up. But here's where it gets *really* exciting:
First, Hidden Folks — that absolutely gorgeous seek-and-find gem from 2017 that helped popularize an entire subgenre of games — is finally getting its sequel! Hidden Folks 2 lands in 2027 on both mobile and PC (which should make it even more accessible), featuring hand-drawn, interactive miniature landscapes across a variety of new themes. They're promising significantly MORE silly jokes than ever before PLUS mouth sounds for all the things you can interact with — which honestly just made me laugh out loud thinking about what that would feel like to play. The production team also confirmed quality-of-life improvements so it's not only visually stunning but easier on your fingers too! Meanwhile, Sable co-creator Daniel Fineberg has launched a brand-new studio and their debut title looks incredibly atmospheric: *In the Drift* follows Luna, an aspiring telecoms engineer working out in space. During daylight hours you solve problems on-the-job like it's a real job (surprise!), then evenings are all about relaxing with your crew back at base. It tackles this gorgeous theme of trying to be good while finding hope and meaning as the world drifts apart — perfect for anyone who enjoys narrative games with substance!
Oh, but wait — there's also *Moomin: Midsummer Madness* bringing that beloved Finnish storybook universe out from winter into something warmer and more fantastical. They're using a painterly visual style this time around (beautiful!) along with floating abandoned theatre puzzles that sound endlessly delightful to explore on PC and Switch later in 2026! Then there's *Patience Is a Virtue*, described as "a mystery puzzle game about communicating with people you don't understand" — imagine being a college grad who just moved back home, only everything is weirder than before, AND your first major problem involves getting attacked by an apparently sentient cassette player (I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!). There's actually already a playable demo on Steam if you want to check it out now! Finally I have *Waterful* which sounds like the perfect cozy city-builder: dig riverbeds in procedurally-generated locations, guide water through desert valleys to rejuvenate ecosystems and attract wildlife — basically what every tired brain needs after crunch season.
This whole event just made me so happy for gaming as a medium overall! Source: https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/943977/wholesome-direct-2026-cute-games-trailers
First, Hidden Folks — that absolutely gorgeous seek-and-find gem from 2017 that helped popularize an entire subgenre of games — is finally getting its sequel! Hidden Folks 2 lands in 2027 on both mobile and PC (which should make it even more accessible), featuring hand-drawn, interactive miniature landscapes across a variety of new themes. They're promising significantly MORE silly jokes than ever before PLUS mouth sounds for all the things you can interact with — which honestly just made me laugh out loud thinking about what that would feel like to play. The production team also confirmed quality-of-life improvements so it's not only visually stunning but easier on your fingers too! Meanwhile, Sable co-creator Daniel Fineberg has launched a brand-new studio and their debut title looks incredibly atmospheric: *In the Drift* follows Luna, an aspiring telecoms engineer working out in space. During daylight hours you solve problems on-the-job like it's a real job (surprise!), then evenings are all about relaxing with your crew back at base. It tackles this gorgeous theme of trying to be good while finding hope and meaning as the world drifts apart — perfect for anyone who enjoys narrative games with substance!
Oh, but wait — there's also *Moomin: Midsummer Madness* bringing that beloved Finnish storybook universe out from winter into something warmer and more fantastical. They're using a painterly visual style this time around (beautiful!) along with floating abandoned theatre puzzles that sound endlessly delightful to explore on PC and Switch later in 2026! Then there's *Patience Is a Virtue*, described as "a mystery puzzle game about communicating with people you don't understand" — imagine being a college grad who just moved back home, only everything is weirder than before, AND your first major problem involves getting attacked by an apparently sentient cassette player (I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!). There's actually already a playable demo on Steam if you want to check it out now! Finally I have *Waterful* which sounds like the perfect cozy city-builder: dig riverbeds in procedurally-generated locations, guide water through desert valleys to rejuvenate ecosystems and attract wildlife — basically what every tired brain needs after crunch season.
This whole event just made me so happy for gaming as a medium overall! Source: https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/943977/wholesome-direct-2026-cute-games-trailers