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Looking for games that feel like a summer adventure

I have this loosely defined made-up genre I call “Summer Games”.

It started a long time ago subconsciously. At some point I realized that during the hottest time of the year I gravitate to certain games that I mostly play on a small device (laptop/switch/steamdeck), laying in bed, late at night, when I have trouble sleeping because it’s too hot. A friend of mine once said that the reason she loves super high temperatures so much, is that what you experience leaves more vivid, burned in, memories. I think she has a point.

The criteria aren’t super rigid but I hope you get the “vibe” and might know some games that fit:

  • Low-stakes/chill gameplay. I’m already sweating, I don’t need sweaty gameplay right now
  • a warm aesthetic/color palette and/or setting. My outside experience shouldn’t feel too different to the games inside experience aesthetic-wise.
  • It feels like a road trip, adventure or vacation. I want to get a summery memory out of this.
  • the game leaves some kind of impact.

Games I played in the past that evoked that vibe perfectly:

  • Kentucky road zero
  • oxenfree
  • road 96
  • firewatch
  • sable
  • rime
  • steins: gate
  • life is strange

Games that have fit okay-ish

  • tunic
  • journey
  • citizen sleeper
  • nightcall
  • no umbrellas allowed
  • the talos principle
  • the solus project
  • the witness
  • the vanishing of Ethan Carter

If anyone has a recommendation, I’d be thankful. This year I have started to play chants of Sennaar and it seems to fit the criteria so far.

Donut ,

Tchia just oozes summer vibes, and is inspired by the culture of New Caledonia. No failing, tons of extra accessibility options, skip gameplay segments if you feel like it, autoplay QTA’s, and so on.

Personally I like a little bit of a challenge even in my cozy games, but Tchia has so much character that I didn’t mind.

magic_lobster_party ,

I haven’t played it myself, but Boku no Natsuyasumi is a game that recently entered my radar, which fits your description quite well. It’s a game I want to play sometime, but I have had other priorities. It’s for PSX.

It’s about a boy in a summer vacation with his family.

Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any official English versions of the game, but hopefully you might find a solution if you think the game looks interesting enough to play it.

SolOrion ,

It’s for PSP/PS1. I’m not sure which you mean by PSX, because the only thing I’ve ever heard called a PSX is the weird Japanese only DVR/PS2 hybrid thing.

The sequel apparently has an english patch, but I can’t find one for the original.

magic_lobster_party ,

PSX was a common abbreviation for the original PlayStation at the time. It has just stuck with me.

Paradigm_shift OP ,

Sadly no Playstation

Lollerskater ,
@Lollerskater@feddit.nl avatar

There have been some (spiritual) sequels which have been or soon will be localized. Perhaps those can be an entry for anyone to see if the genre floats your boat!

…steampowered.com/…/Shin_chan_Me_and_the_Professo……steampowered.com/…/NatsuMon_20th_Century_Summer_…

dwindling7373 ,

“A Short Hike” for sure, “What Remains of Edith Finch” could fit and nobody mentioned it.

Superflight is great and quite different from most of the suggestions you are getting.

(The Stanley Parable I don’t think fits but if you want to try it out I suggest you do not take the “Deluxe” version and sitck to the original one)

miseducator ,

Came to say A Short Hike. First thing that springs to mind when I think summer adventure.

dwindling7373 ,

The first thing that came to my mind was “Before the Storm”, but it was already listed…

MarcomachtKuchen ,

What’s a downside I. The Stanley parable deluxe edition? Isn’t it just the original game but with additional content?

dwindling7373 ,

I don’t want to spoil anything but I feel like it makes the experience less dense and focused. I loved the original one, read great things about the expansion and found it leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

But in a way I guess you can’t get the cat back in the box or something… Still a great game overall, I feel it just goes from a 10 to an 8.5.

Paradigm_shift OP ,

I’ll definitely put short hike on the list. Superflight looks amazing as well! I already played the Stanley parable and the other famous game from that developer. Totally forgot about that. I also played Edith Finch but didn’t like it

A_Very_Big_Fan ,

I suggest you do not take the “Deluxe” version and sitck to the original one

Why?

xavier666 ,

Stardew Valley but you have to keep your inner micro-manager under check

Paradigm_shift OP ,

I don’t know how many hours I already put into stardew valley haha. The latest update/free DLC was amazing as well

Elevator7009 ,

This has been my primary summer game, although I admit what with the seasons changing in game I am now in winter while being hot indoors. Was going through responses to see if anyone brought up Stardew.

PyroNeurosis ,

I’d say Night in the Woods, but that may be a very late summer / fall kinda vibe.

filister ,
  • Slay the princess
  • Until then
  • Coffee talk
  • Detroit Become human

The last one is more like an interactive movie than a visual novel, but it is still pretty cool

traches , (edited )

If you haven’t played outer wilds yet, do it. Go in blind, read/watch nothing unless you are absolutely stuck. It truly is one of the best video games ever made, and it’s definitely a cozy adventure (for the most part).

Edit: the reason you need to go in blind is because all progress happens in your own head. Once you know something you can’t un-know it. Replayability is pretty much zero.

Also, controller is 100% mandatory. Not keyboard and mouse, not even HOTAS. Controller, preferably with axes for the triggers (not buttons like the switch)

Archelon ,

Also it very much as a summer camping vibe, what with the banjos and marshmallows and rickety wooden cabin-spaceships

Paradigm_shift OP ,

I just can’t get into outer wilds, the ship controls drive me insane.

Thassodar ,

I’m in the same camp, didn’t like it.

NaibofTabr , (edited )

Far: Lone Sails and Far: Changing Tides

Hyperbolica

Spiritfarer

Jazzpunk

Dreamfall Chapters

Manifold Garden

Fract OSC

Outer Wilds

The Oregon Trail or the recent remake or Organ Trail

Thassodar , (edited )

Definitely Spiritfarer, ultra chill.

sugar_in_your_tea ,

The first thing that comes to my mind is Summer in Mara. It’s a chill, relatively shallow farming sim with fetch quests and exploration.

Some more based on other games you liked:

  • Arida - short-ish adventure game with a bigger emotional impact
  • Nuts - probably most similar to Firewatch; core gameplay loop is taking pictures of squirrels, but there’s some plot development
  • A Juggler’s Tale - side scroller adventure with some feels
  • Deponia - funny point and click adventure series; if you like the genre, try The Darkside Detective (less “summer adventure” more “weird mysteries”)
  • Manifold Garden - more chill than The Talos Principle or The Witness, with less feels than the first; decent, trippy puzzle game
Paradigm_shift OP ,

I’ll check them out, thanks. I’ve heard positive things about manifold garden already. Mystery stuff might be perfect for fall

sugar_in_your_tea ,

Yup, Darkside Detective is fantastic for a non-spooky, but spooky-themed point and click adventure. If you like point and clicks, it’s a bit older, but I really like Grim Fandango, which is a bit more classic point and click with a Halloween theme.

ID411 ,

The game you are looking for is called Everyone’s Gone to The Rapture.

Paradigm_shift OP ,

Perfect, thanks!

ID411 ,

Based on the games you’ve mentioned, you’ll love it .

A slow walking sim in an English village. Super atmosphere, interesting story, good voice acting. An authentic stroll around an English village. I know the area where it’s set, and the vibe is spot on.

simple ,

Lil Gator Game sounds right up your alley.

jacksilver ,

It’s a great game and fun to 100%.

orca ,
@orca@orcas.enjoying.yachts avatar

The Big Con

Toejam & Earl: Back in the Groove!

Paradigm_shift OP ,

The big con looks promising

Shah_of_Iran ,

My Summer Car is pretty cool. I’ve been playing Dredge this summer and it’s been pretty chill and low-stakes.

MarcomachtKuchen ,

Dredge is definitely not a chill game

Paradigm_shift OP ,

I’m super afraid of the ocean dredge looks like a horror game to me

Shah_of_Iran ,

Dang, sorry to hear that. It relaxes me when I play it

mindbleach ,

Here Comes Niko, “the cozy 3D platformer for tired people.” You play an adorable sprite leaping around a tropical island chain. I don’t think it has failure modes, in general.

Paradigm_shift OP ,

Looks super cute

Kaput ,

You could check Full Throttle from Lucas art. It’s old but it feel like hot weather 🌡️

Paradigm_shift OP ,

It looks vaguely familiar. I think I watched one of the kids in my neighborhood play it

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