Wholesome Direct 2022 has more heartfelt games to share on June 11

“Nearly 100 amazing indie games” lined up for this year’s Wholesome Direct showcase

There’s not enough time to hear about (much less play) all of the worthwhile video games in the collective cooker, and even if we narrow down our scope to certain genres or moods, our brains can only hang onto so much information at once. But we can try! So while June is going to be another busy month for live-streamed game showcases, I’ve once again got my eye on the Wholesome Direct, a celebration of cute and cozy upcoming indie games.

The Wholesome Direct is back for 2022, and the event is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Pacific on June 11. Here’s a teaser trailer with a preview of some of the curated games.

On the docket so far, we’ve got:

• Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly, a visual novel about listening (and being a barista) in a fantasy version of Seattle.
• Mail Time, a “cottagecore” delivery adventure game with a glider.
• PuffPals: Island Skies, a farming life sim that looks too pure for this world.
• SCHiM, an eye-catching platformer about jumping between shadows.
• Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, a storybook adventure with musical puzzles.
• Terra Nil, a serene building game about revitalizing ecosystems in wastelands.
• And a few more, as teased in this video.

Some of these might’ve been on your radar, but most of them are probably new to you.

The showcase will air on YouTube on Saturday, June 11, and you can expect to see “new game reveals, exclusive footage, and even games that will launch during the show.”

According to the organizers of Wholesome Direct 2022, there will be “nearly 100 amazing indie games in total.” Odds are, you’ll see something that clicks with you.

For me, just based on the teaser trailer, I know I’m down for Frogun. I continue to be a mark for colorful 3D platforms that throw back to the PS1 era, and this one’s a cutie.

As much as we’ve learned to keep our guards up during these past two summers with too many tedious streams, I think spreading the good word about “uplifting, compassionate, cozy video games” is a noble task, and it’s one that’s worth tuning in for again this year.