Wholesome Direct 2026, a showcase event held as part of Summer Game Fest, announced more than 50 video games. The event presented various upcoming titles, including sequels, new independent games, and expansions.
Among the announced titles was Hidden Folks 2, a sequel to the original game released in 2017. Hidden Folks 2 will feature hand-drawn interactive miniature landscapes across different themes and is scheduled for release on mobile devices and personal computers in 2027. Also announced was In the Drift, a narrative adventure game. This title is under development by a new studio led by Daniel Fineberg, co-creator of the video game Sable. In the Drift follows the story of Luna, a telecoms engineer working in space.
Moomin: Midsummer Madness, another featured title, is set in a fictional environment derived from a Finnish storybook series. The game showcases a painterly art style and includes a floating theater level with puzzles and mysteries. Moomin: Midsummer Madness is slated for launch on personal computers and the Nintendo Switch in 2026. A puzzle game titled Patience Is a Virtue was also announced, placing players in the role of a recent college graduate returning to their childhood home. This game focuses on communicating with characters who are initially difficult to understand. A playable demo for Patience Is a Virtue is available on Steam.
Waterful, a game requiring players to dig riverbeds to guide water into dry desert valleys, was also part of the showcase. As players make environmental changes in Waterful, wildlife is attracted to the restored valleys. The game features procedurally generated locations. Otterly Lost, an open-world adventure game, was announced to launch on Steam in September 2026. Players in Otterly Lost control a lost otter and navigate 3D environments that contain elements of puzzle-solving and light platforming. Additionally, The Wandering Village is receiving a major expansion called The Last Leviathan. This expansion introduces an aquatic creature that serves as a new environment for city construction and adds gameplay mechanics related to the creature's body temperature and mood. The Last Leviathan also includes an arctic ocean region for players to explore. A dedicated Steam page lists the titles showcased at Wholesome Direct 2026, along with playable demos.
No independent assessment was available for this report.