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:
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Low-stakes/chill gameplay. I’m already sweating, I don’t need sweaty gameplay right now
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a warm aesthetic/color palette and/or setting. My outside experience shouldn’t feel too different to the games inside experience aesthetic-wise.
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It feels like a road trip, adventure or vacation. I want to get a summery memory out of this.
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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.
The Uncharted series? It’s okay to play on an easy difficulty level, and they’re not too hard anyway.
Oh I didn’t realize it got released on PC!
My Summer Car is pretty cool. I’ve been playing Dredge this summer and it’s been pretty chill and low-stakes.
I’m super afraid of the ocean dredge looks like a horror game to me
Dang, sorry to hear that. It relaxes me when I play it
That was my first thought as well! It is a perfect summer game to play over a week or two. Feels like it has a good, tight story.
Stardew Valley but you have to keep your inner micro-manager under check
I don’t know how many hours I already put into stardew valley haha. The latest update/free DLC was amazing as well
Psychonauts (the original, not the sequel, though the sequel is also good) is a Summer Camp themed 3D platformer. It doesn’t quite meet your “low stakes/chill gameplay” criteria as it does have combat and mildly challenging boss fights and platforming, but it nails the rest. It’s easier than Tunic. Maybe worth checking out.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons strictly meets all the criteria listed, but it’s ultimately a tragic story. If “some kind of impact” includes leaving you in tears, check it out.
Okami is a Zelda style adventure set in feudal Japan with immaculate vibes. You play as the sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a wolf bringing light and life to a land ravaged by demons. The world is cold and dark at first, but you bring spring and summer on your heels.
Finally, two favorites from my childhood are the Spyro series and the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger series. These are 3D Platformer collectathons and neither of these series are even close to any of the examples you provided, but they are bright and colorful and in my heart they have feelings of Summer Vacation and staying home all day to play video games.
This post is months old now, but I fucking love Psychonauts. It shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve replayed it so many times I’ve lost count, and I can tell you at what point in the game each song of the soundtrack plays. Also the sequel takes place only days after the first, so it could still technically be called a summer game. Also the sequel is honestly a damn masterpiece imo.
Also, Ty is absolutely fantastic. Any of the water levels are absolute summer vibes imo. And the soundtrack is fantastic as well. I 100% the first three on steam.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is peak summer game. It’s basically set in a setting inspired by the Australian outback.
Oh spyro brings back very distant memories of my childhood. I think I played all the Playstation and Gameboy games. I will always remember the sound of collecting gems.
I’ll check out the other games you mentioned, thanks a lot. The sad one will probably go on my list for depression season haha
I specifically mentioned both Spyro and Ty because both series have remasters available on Steam. The Spyro: Reignited Trilogy in particular is phenomenal. They did a really good job making the updated graphics look just like my nostalgic memories of the game.
My summer car
I’m not sure if it quite fits but the first game that came to mind was Minami Lane
You could check Full Throttle from Lucas art. It’s old but it feel like hot weather 🌡️
I remember playing Full Throttle as a kid, but never beat it. Kind of tempted to go back through and see if I can figure it out as an adult.
It looks vaguely familiar. I think I watched one of the kids in my neighborhood play it
Likely in the ok-ish section but Celeste has that vibe going for it
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)
I just can’t get into outer wilds, the ship controls drive me insane.
Yeah, I bounced off it once for the same reason. If you can get past that it’s worth it
I’m in the same camp, didn’t like it.
Also it very much as a summer camping vibe, what with the banjos and marshmallows and rickety wooden cabin-spaceships
Try Eastshade, should check all the boxes IMO. https://store.steampowered.com/app/715560/Eastshade/
Any game from Amanita Design might fit the bill too (Machinarium, Botanicula, etc.).
If you don’t mind reading a lot, there’s Roadwarden https://store.steampowered.com/app/1155970/Roadwarden/
Wow eastshade looks amazing! The Amanita Design games might suit my Fall-mood better. Roadwardwen looks interesting too. I’ll look at the preview slides on my steamdeck and see if it’s still readable
Surprised TOEM isn’t on your list, given the premise is pretty much exactly what you describe. Last I checked it comes up on the first page or something if you sort steam by highest rated.
Lunacid might also be a good game. I think it fits your criteria for me, but that might just be for me.
I don’t remember coming across TOEM, maybe I immediately ruled it out for being black and white. Lunacid looks a bit to dark and cold for me, judging by the screenshots. But I’ll take a closer look at both, short previews might not transport the vibes perfectly
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.
Looks super cute
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
It’s perhaps a bit child-oriented, but is pretty fun, chill, and you can’t do more “summer vacation” than that.
“What Remains of Edith Finch” could work. And “Man eater.” What’s more summer than a a shark?
