The concept of utilizing video games as a method of “traveling” is nothing new, and plenty of games can scratch that itch if you like comprehensive world structure. My coworker Devindra wrote about A Short Hike earlier this year, and I provided that a shot, due to the fact that it is, at its heart, a travel video game. Familiar websites outside tend to get more significance when you havent looked at them in a while, and the game represents that alienness with unusual moving chalk drawings. One more promising game I took an appearance at was Venice 2089. Even though more places are beginning to open up to visitors and I find myself longingly searching deals on travel sites, I dont believe my love of wholesome video games with a strong sense of location is going away any time soon.
The issue with these examples is that theyre extremely familiar; I developed my Animal Crossing island myself, so there was nothing brand-new to find as soon as I d unlocked whatever. And the Manhattan of Spider-Man is, well, Manhattan.
The idea of utilizing video games as a way of “traveling” is absolutely nothing brand-new, and plenty of video games can scratch that itch if you like in-depth world building. I might spend days in Breath of the Wild alone, and Ive always enjoyed the historical tourist of the Assassins Creed games.
No, what I needed was something more laid-back, something casual. What I eventually desired has been derisively called a “strolling simulator.”.
My coworker Devindra wrote about A Short Hike earlier this year, and I provided that a shot, since it is, at its heart, a travel game. Youre strolling around a small island where theres plenty of little routes to check out, beaches to comb and several islands you can swim to.
Reaching the peak is the end of the game– you might continue to explore, but Ive never been a completionist. And besides, I desired to continue to take a trip, however now with an eye toward recapturing the look and feel of A Short Hike.
Be sure to inspect out our roundup of favorite titles from itch.ios Bundle for Racial Justice! Games like Animal Crossing in that they stimulate warm, pleased feelings with a focus on being adorable or great rather of mean or violent. Theyre also simple to identify because they use a decidedly various color scheme from more mainstream titles, welcoming soft yellows and oranges and plenty of pink.
Olivia Haines The first title that caught my eye was a brief meditative title called Terracotta. As you can think, theres a lot of soft reds and browns stressed with yellow and pink. Its a fairly easy play, youre just walking from your home to the shop. As you walk, discussion exposes that youve suffered from depression, and this brief walk is a bigger deal because of it because you barely leave your home. It was oddly proper in this time of social seclusion, when there were months where I just left my apartment to go to the shop. Familiar websites outside tend to acquire more significance when you have not looked at them in a while, and the video game represents that alienness with unusual moving chalk illustrations. Its a short and really minimalistic title, however it left an effect on my mind.
I then tried to find something a bit more far afield, and discovered Forgotten Fields from Frostwood Interactive. The download available on Itch.io is just a demonstration, but it was enough to catch those sensations I hoped it would: The video game has a strong sense of mood and location, with beautiful shots of fauna and homes, you even get to ride a scooter near the ocean down a road flanked by palm trees. For me it highly evoked my grannys town in Puerto Rico, even if the setting of the video game is on the opposite of the planet. The story is a little less comforting, that of a writer struggling with writers block (ugh). The parts where hes brainstorming are fascinating because the game lets you play that fantasy story as well– at least till he loses his train of thought..
One more appealing video game I had a look at was Venice 2089. Aha, I believed, a video game that lets me explore a city Im unlikely to check out any time quickly! And it does adoringly recreate the structures, tiled streets and canals of the Italian city– I cant talk to its precision, however it feels close enough. And the story encourages expedition of the city, with a main character who rides around on a hoverboard (its the future, after all). There are products to collect, jobs to perform and people to speak with, and I was eager to do so. What ultimately stopped me wasnt the short length of the demo, but the reality that at this phase its extremely janky. When I took a look at the comments a low frame rate appeared to be a typical problem, one that the designers are working to remedy. If you have a higher-spec device it may still be worth a look.
Even though more places are starting to open to visitors and I discover myself longingly searching offers on travel websites, I do not believe my love of wholesome games with a strong sense of place is going away whenever soon. If anything, I require those fast getaways more than ever, especially as the weather cools down once again. Im delighted to support any designers attempting to catch that unique sensation, the one you feel when youve roamed into a sun-dappled glen with just the sounds of birds and a cool breeze as your companion.
