Every year at Summer Game Fest, nestled in between the splashy blockbuster showcases, the Wholesome Direct provides a nice change of pace. It’s similarly packed with games — this year’s edition had more than 50 — but the vibe is more chill and, well, wholesome. As in years past, I’ve pulled out some of the more intriguing reveals and announcements, though you can watch the whole thing for yourself right here. And if you’re interested in checking out some of the games — a few are available now, and a bunch have demos — there’s a dedicated Steam page.
Way back in 2017, Hidden Folks helped usher in a new genre of seek-and-find games — and now it’s getting a sequel. There aren’t a lot of details yet, but Hidden Folks 2 will feature “hand-drawn, interactive, miniature landscapes in various new themes, together with more silly jokes, more mouth sounds, and various quality of life improvements.” It’s launching in 2027 on both mobile and PC.