The Game Awards partnered with Wholesome Games to deliver a 30-minute showcase of upcoming indie titles, “Wholesome Snack: The Game Awards Edition.” Over 20 games were highlighted, including a surprise sequel to the acclaimed photography game Toem and updates on anticipated releases like Winter Burrow. Several games and updates launched during or shortly after the broadcast.
The biggest reveal was Toem 2, a sequel to the charming black-and-white photography adventure Toem: A Photo Adventure. While details are scarce, the logo reveal confirms the project’s development. Another sequel announced was Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping, following up on this year’s Duck Detective: The Secret Salami.
A character poses in a town in Toem 2. A sneak peek at the upcoming Toem 2, showcasing the game’s signature black and white art style.
Several games received release date announcements. The serene river exploration game Naiad launched as a surprise release during the showcase. Rusty’s Retirement, a relaxing idle game, received a free update introducing new crops and a winter biome. Meanwhile, Pine: A Story of Loss, a hand-drawn narrative adventure exploring themes of grief, is slated for release this Friday.
Cozy Games Take Center Stage
Beyond the announcements, the Wholesome Snack showcase highlighted a diverse range of upcoming indie titles. Winter Burrow, previously revealed during the Xbox 2024 summer showcase, received a new trailer detailing its winter survival mechanics, including a glimpse at the cooking system. Despelote also received a new trailer confirming its release on the Nintendo Switch, alongside previously announced platforms. Another intriguing title, Piece by Piece, a game centered around repairing broken objects, is anticipated to launch in 2025.
A Full Menu of Indie Delights
The Wholesome Snack presentation offered a plethora of games for indie enthusiasts to anticipate. Many of the showcased titles are now available to wishlist on Steam, and some even have new demos available. The full list of games featured includes:
- Capy Castaway
- Tales of Seikyu
- Piece by Piece
- Rusty’s Retirement
- Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping
- Lou’s Lagoon
- Pine: A Story of Loss
- River Towns
- Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To
- Winter Burrow
- Snufkin: Memories of Moomin Valley — Fuddler’s Courtship
- Aikyam
- Loftia
- Star Birds
- Locomoto
- Naiad
- A Waddleful Life
- Pinbleton Park
- Despelote
- Sugardew Island
- Wylde Society
- Toem 2
The Wholesome Snack showcase at The Game Awards offered a heartwarming glimpse into the future of cozy indie games, with a variety of titles offering unique gameplay experiences and charming aesthetics.
