Indie darling A Short Hike has come to Nintendo Switch and if you have a spare couple of hours it’s a must-buy game to add to your library.
From developer adamgryu, A Short Hike has you walk, run, climb and glide your way to the very top of the Hawk Peak Provincial Park and…that’s it. There’s no combat, no dying, no must-find collectibles, no boss battles and no graft, grind or grief. A Short Hike is a game about peace and happiness, and I’m fairly certain it’s impossible to play without it instantly untangling all your brain knots.
Completable in just a few short hours, A Short Hike really is short and sweet, but it’s the sweet part that’s going to stick with you for longer than the total play time. As you journey through the game you’ll meet many different animal friends with whom you can play stickball, climb with, race, fish with and more.
Collect shells and coins if you want to, or just head on up the mountain peak and enjoy the scenery on the way. A Short Hike is a playground and you’re in charge.
It’s a wonderfully freeing experience to play a game which completely scraps the rat race of completion and progression, and instead encourages you to explore, take your time and just be in the moment. The story itself isn’t a tear-jerker, but it might just make you want to call up your family and friends, y’know, just for a chat.
A Short Hike rewrites the expectations of what a video game should be, presenting you with a beautiful and simple world in which you can easily lose yourself for a few hours or even just a few minutes.
Originally releasing on Steam in 2019, the game has now amassed over three thousand “Overwhelmingly Positive” reviews in its time. Its addition to the Nintendo Switch family makes it even more accessible than ever before, and it truly is perfect as an on-the-go game.
If you’re looking for a relaxing and life-affirming game, A Short Hike should be your next purchase.
Featured Image Credit: adamgryu