I don’t know about you, but I find a lot of games are over-complicated. They either give you too much information at the start and make your head spin or not enough info and make you bounce off.
A Short Hike keeps it simple – walk to the top of a mountain.
Along the way, you learn the skills and acquire the resources you need to get you there.
If you’re looking for a game that doesn’t ask much of you, then A Short Hike could be just for you. It’s like a mini holiday that you can take in the palm of your hand.
THE STORY OF A SHORT HIKE
Meet Claire. She lives in the city and is off to visit her aunt, who’s also known as Ranger May, on Hawk Peak Island.
Claire is waiting on a phone call and the reception is only good at the top of Hawk Peak. If she wants to take that call, she will have to go on a hike up to the top.
A Short Hike was released back in 2019, but I didn’t get the opportunity to play it until earlier this year. I’ve crafted whole islands on Animal Crossing, unwrapped memories in Unpacking, and cried buckets over ghosts in Spiritfairer but never walked up Hawk Peak.
Until I took my first holiday since lockdown.
My fiance, his family, and I went to Betws-y-coed recently. A beautiful valley in the Snowdonia Forest Park. A break from the bustle of my home city here in Norwich.
The air was cleaner, and it made me feel good taking little walks, sometimes on my own. Everywhere I turned there was something to discover, and I did so mostly without a map.
The developer was inspired by his own joy of hiking around Canada and the United States National Parks.
A Short Hike is a story about conquering the trials of nature with an act as simple and basic as walking. In a way, it’s a love letter to getting outside, putting down your phone, and looking up.
There’s nothing better to lift your mood than escaping to the woods, picking a trail, and just putting one foot in front of the other.
A Short Hike was selected by the folks at Humble Bundle and first released as the Humble Original. As a Humble Partner myself I highly recommend them for discovering new games you’d never have thought to pick up and play!
AMBIANCE AND AESTHETICS
The overall vibe of this game is really comforting. From the dynamic music and low-res graphics to the scenery and colors, every detail has been well thought out.
A Short Hike’s atmospheric music comes in like waves, gently lulling you into a state of relaxation. This peaceful world can feel incredibly inviting.
You can change the levels of ambiance, music, and sound effects to your own personal tastes in the options menu. I personally loved an even balance but it was fun to do a run that was heavy on ambiance, it gave a real-world feel.
If you’re not a fan of low-res graphics the developer also included a couple of options on the Nintendo Switch – big and crunchy pixels or small and tasty. On PS4 and PS5 you can even play in 4K!
However, the charm of A Short Hike really comings from its art style. I encourage you to have an authentic playthrough first before playing around with the settings.
Personally, I preferred smoother graphics as it was easier on the eye, but I respect that the pixelation gives A Short Hike the feel of movement.
DOES A SHORT HIKE HAVE REPLAYABILITY?
Absolutely! If you’re anything like my fiance, you can’t help but steam straight through a storyline to the end in 1hr! Then you’re definitely going to want to go back and explore.
There’s so much to see in A Short Hike.
Did you get all the feathers? Play volleyball on the beach? Take a trip on the boat?
I took my time playing, about 3 hours in all and I STILL missed out on a few areas and had to go back to see them.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
A Short Hike helped me reconnect with my love of walking.
The story in this game was probably over-simplistic, but it did give me a reason to explore.
It felt like it could have been a lot more developed. But what the story lacked, the aesthetic made up for in ambiance and coziness.
If you want a similar game to play after A Short Hike you’ll adore Haven Park!
I think I may have been spoiled by playing Haven Park first. There’s much more customization and exploration on a bigger map.
Though A Short Hike may not be heavy on story elements, it is charming and endearing. A game I’ll want to pick up again for the nostalgia feels in the future.
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