Available PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck, Switch 1/2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One)
Sometimes, all a game has to do is help you remember to take it easy and breathe deep. That’s exactly how A Short Hike made me feel when I played it.
Despite being a game released in 2019, A Short Hike strikes a nostalgic chord in the hearts of players. Maybe it’s because of the saturated art style, the feeling of a close community, the soft, hopeful music, or the 3D low-poly art style they decided to use, that even for someone like me, who has never gone on a single hike in their life, it felt like I was reminiscing about the good ol’ days.
It’s a nice, calm exploration game with puzzles and simple mechanics. You help the NPCs you meet, and they might give you an item that’ll help you on your climb to the top! There’s so much personality fitted in the glimpse of this world we get to see.
You play as Claire, a bird going to Hawk Peak Provincial Park with your Aunt May. Claire is waiting on a call and is then informed that there’s no cell reception for most of the park, but that she could try her luck at the peak. We’re then made aware that Claire’s never gone up there before, much to the surprise of her aunt. It’s a rite-of-passage, almost, one that Claire has never undertaken because she’s just never gotten around to it. But there’s no other option now. She has to make her way up there so she can get the call she’s been waiting for!
Throughout this journey, you’ll collect a variety of items and find some activities you can do. You can even collect a fishing rod so you can start fishing! And who doesn’t love a little fishing mini-game? And if that’s not really your vibe, then there’s also another mini-game called beachstickball, which I think is self-explanatory. You’re at the beach, you have a stick, you have a ball. Have at it.
You also collect feathers to help you fly higher and soar through the skies, as well as different accessories!
It took me 5-6 hours to finish playing this game, but that’s also mostly because I’m a scatterbrain and I kept getting distracted by all sorts of things. Some people have finished it in less time, and some folks even do speedruns! But I think the best way to enjoy this game is to just take it slow. Step away from all the hubbub and noise of the cities and just enjoy nature. If you’re only playing for the plot, then maybe you could finish the game in less than 2 hours, but again, where’s the joy in that? You could do the story and then be free to explore the rest of the island after, since the game won’t end just because you reached the peak.
The controls are comfortable, and the puzzles sort of lead you from one to the next, which I really liked.
I think if there’s a takeaway from this game, it’s just to reconnect with the world around you, whether it’s the people or the environment. We lose ourselves in how busy life can get, especially with technology, and perhaps we forget to just take a walk or look around. A Short Hike is such a good stress reliever, and a good way to center yourself again when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s all about the journey here, the experiences we’ve gained and will gain in the future, and life is not at all a race to the top.
This wholesome, whimsical, serene game 100% deserves a spot in your games library. It regularly goes on sale, and even without a discount, it’s cheap enough and well worth its price!
