The world is lacking in truly restful experiences; everything has to be full of suspense and heart-pounding tension or brimming with action and violence. Heck, even some of the best stories incite strong emotional responses, which, though admirable, are not even aiming to be restful. To be clear, I love exciting stories that focus on intrigue, twists, and all the things we love from the most memorable stories in our lives.
But, dang it, sometimes we just need a little nugget of joy with no stress, no violence, no hair-raising, blood-racing, mind-blowing aspects, and A Short Hike is exactly the kind of experience that pulls a player forward through the journey while maintaining an extremely low level of pressure and an atmosphere of helpfulness instead of conquest.
A Short Hike follows the afternoon walk of a tween bird from a beach-side cabin to the tippy top of a nearby mountain. The motivation for this trip?: CELL SERVICE! We are expecting a call from Mom, but the remote campsite is mostly off the cell grid.
We explore, do favors for others, become a drop in the bucket of the largest and most elite rock climbing association (!!), or a valuable member of a local chapter - however you like to think about it. Doing favors and thorough exploration are rewarded with golden feathers, which allow players an extra flap when flying and extra time when climbing. Feathers can also be bought, but that’s no fun.
The entire island is a natural platforming puzzle with no one right answer. Glide, climb, fall, jump, and even dig your way to a variety of items for trade, feathers, and loose change. On top of the satisfying gameplay, the soundtrack is relaxing and catchy - personally I think it’d make a great addition to a work playlist or even a solo road trip mix. Full disclosure: I pre-ordered the vinyl.
Maybe this is all you need to know and you’ve already scrambled to add A Short Hike to your library. If not, let me leave you with this:
We all need a little bit of restfulness in our lives, a place to land, and have a moment, take a breath. Whether your favorite genre is adorable puzzle games or fast-paced shooters, A Short Hike is a great place to land for a rest.