A Short Hike

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,970 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • graphics
A Short Hike Game Cover
A Short Hike is a tightly-crafted, charming, and heart-warming game that comes in a bite-sized package for a delightfully low price.
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"A Short Hike" is a charming, open-world adventure game where you play as a bird soaring through the air and exploring a series of beautiful islands. With a variety of characters to meet, secrets to uncover, and diverse environments to traverse, it's a delightful exploration game that encourages relaxation and mindfulness. The game features a unique art style and an uplifting soundtrack that complements the gameplay, making it a satisfying and memorable experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,970 reviews
music897 positive mentions
grinding36 negative mentions
  • Charming and well-written characters that enhance the exploration experience.
  • Relaxing gameplay with satisfying movement mechanics, allowing for enjoyable exploration.
  • Beautiful pixel art style and a soothing soundtrack that create a cozy atmosphere.
  • The game is very short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Camera angles can be disorienting at times, making navigation challenging.
  • Lack of a map can lead to confusion when trying to find specific locations or complete quests.
  • music1,397 mentions

    The music in "A Short Hike" has been widely praised for its relaxing and dynamic qualities, perfectly complementing the game's charming visuals and exploration mechanics. Reviewers highlight the seamless transitions between tracks as players move through different areas, enhancing the immersive experience. The soundtrack evokes a nostalgic, whimsical feel reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films and is considered a standout feature that elevates the overall gameplay.

    • “The island you explore is shockingly dense with items, power-ups, and things to do that I occasionally pop back in to play them again, made easier by the phenomenal soundtrack that suits the vibe of the game perfectly.”
    • “The soothing soundtrack perfectly matches the game's relaxed pace, with gentle melodies that ebb and flow as you explore.”
    • “The soundtrack is dynamic, shifting smoothly from track to track and in intensity depending on the area of the mountain you're on and your actions and movement.”
    • “I wish I could comment on the music, but try as I might, I had no sound during my playthrough.”
    • “The music is rather forgettable, and the dialogue is clever/cutesy.”
    • “The music is calming, the dialogue feels very natural, and the aesthetics are beautiful.”
  • story1,280 mentions

    The story in "A Short Hike" is characterized as simple yet heartwarming, focusing on the protagonist's journey to reach the summit of a mountain while interacting with charming NPCs and completing various side quests. Players appreciate the game's light narrative, which allows for exploration and personal connection with the characters, often leading to emotional moments, especially towards the end. While the main storyline can be completed in about an hour, the abundance of side quests and engaging dialogue enriches the experience, making it feel more substantial despite its brevity.

    • “With its cute art style, warm plot, and relaxing soundtrack, it's a truly lovely game.”
    • “The story is very sweet, and I loved how the game ended.”
    • “Despite its short runtime, the game is packed with charm, humor, and a delightful story that quickly draws you in.”
    • “The story is very simple, and you could play the game without paying attention to it, but it is something to behold, and will hit you hard if you do pay attention to it.”
    • “The main storyline is quite short, but there’s much more to explore.”
    • “The story is short, but there is so much more to do in the game, you can fish, find the secret passages, race, and other little odd jobs.”
  • graphics1,225 mentions

    The graphics of "A Short Hike" are widely praised for their charming pixelated art style, which evokes nostalgia reminiscent of Nintendo DS games. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and the ability to adjust the pixelation settings to suit personal preferences, enhancing the overall experience. The visuals, combined with a soothing soundtrack and engaging character interactions, create a delightful and immersive atmosphere that many find relaxing and enjoyable.

    • “The game’s simple yet beautiful art style, relaxing soundtrack, and easy-to-grasp mechanics make it a soothing experience.”
    • “The pixelated art style is vibrant and colorful, evoking a sense of nostalgia while still feeling fresh and modern.”
    • “The graphics evoke the DS era in a way that is very nostalgic to me and the exploration/item collecting feels rewarding.”
    • “The graphics by default are very pixelated which the game tells you in the options menu are a design choice, but frankly even though I don't mind 16-bit style graphics in some games, I didn't find it at all pleasant here.”
    • “The pixelated graphics meant I couldn't play long without a headache.”
    • “My eyes hurt from the graphics and I wish I'd read the reviews first to find out you can turn that off.”
  • gameplay917 mentions

    The gameplay of *A Short Hike* is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily focused on exploration, climbing, and gliding. Players navigate a charming, open-world environment filled with collectibles and side quests, all while enjoying a soothing atmosphere enhanced by delightful music and character interactions. While the game is relatively short, lasting around 2-5 hours, its intuitive controls and rewarding exploration create a satisfying experience that encourages players to revisit and discover more.

    • “The game’s simple yet beautiful art style, relaxing soundtrack, and easy-to-grasp mechanics make it a soothing experience.”
    • “The gameplay is simple yet incredibly engaging, with fun mechanics and a charming atmosphere that encourages exploration.”
    • “The flying mechanics are very satisfying, and the world is fun and rewarding to explore.”
    • “It's cute, but the gameplay is very basic.”
    • “My only caveat is that it's almost a little too thin; a few more gameplay features wouldn't have hurt, and exploration gets repetitive with chests just containing cash.”
    • “The gameplay itself isn't too cumbersome to understand and is very free-form in terms of fluidity and how you control Claire.”
  • emotional890 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "A Short Hike" is overwhelmingly positive, with players frequently describing it as a heartwarming and wholesome experience. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia, joy, and even tears, particularly during touching interactions and the emotional conclusion. The charming characters, delightful dialogue, and soothing soundtrack contribute to a cozy atmosphere that resonates deeply, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a relaxing and uplifting gaming experience.

    • “The overarching story of reaching the peak mirrors a subtle journey of self-discovery for Claire, which resonates emotionally by the time you reach the summit.”
    • “The ambiance, characters, and scenery all made for a short but sweet experience that, in the end, made me feel something indescribable.”
    • “I really thought it would be a fun distraction, but being at the top of the mountain and calling her mom really emotionally destroyed me.”
    • “The storyline felt incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
    • “The characters were one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with their emotional journeys.”
  • humor435 mentions

    The humor in "A Short Hike" is widely praised for its charm and wit, with many players finding the dialogue both funny and heartwarming. The interactions with quirky NPCs provide a delightful mix of lighthearted jokes and relatable moments, enhancing the overall relaxing experience of the game. Overall, the writing strikes a perfect balance between humor and sincerity, making it a standout feature that keeps players engaged and entertained throughout their journey.

    • “It's all very light and fun, and the dialogues perfectly strike a balance of funny/quirky, not too long, and uplifting without being super corny.”
    • “The dialogue is really funny, the music is soothing, and the character development through world discovery hits.”
    • “The characters are fun and some of the dialogue had me chuckling.”
    • “The humor in this game falls flat, relying on tired clichés and unoriginal punchlines.”
    • “I found the jokes to be forced and lacking any real wit or creativity.”
    • “The attempts at humor often feel awkward and miss the mark completely.”
  • atmosphere272 mentions

    The atmosphere of "A Short Hike" is widely praised for its serene and cozy vibe, enhanced by beautiful pixel art, a soothing soundtrack, and charming character interactions. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a relaxing environment that encourages exploration at one's own pace, reminiscent of beloved titles like Animal Crossing. The dynamic weather and area-specific music further enrich the immersive experience, making it a delightful escape for those seeking a peaceful gaming experience.

    • “Hawk Peak Island is a beautiful place; this game has such a serene and cozy vibe. The music and atmosphere feel tranquil, and you can go at your own pace and explore.”
    • “The dynamic weather and time-of-day changes further enhance the atmosphere, making the world feel alive and inviting.”
    • “The atmosphere is rich and vivid, the music excellent, the graphics incredible with options to change the pixelation of the entire visual style. Exploring the world was interesting, and the story unforgettable and moving.”
    • “The atmosphere is really thick in this game.”
    • “While having a near nonexistent story, the gameplay and level design are so committed to providing a relaxed atmosphere that the only way you could be more comfy is if you played it stoned in a large recliner.”
    • “But underneath the cozy atmosphere, there's also an underlying theme you pick up in conversations, about people really wanting to make something of themselves, of being recognized for creating something meaningful, about finally accomplishing something.”
  • replayability63 mentions

    The replayability of *A Short Hike* is a mixed bag; while the game can be completed in just a few hours, many players appreciate the freedom to explore, engage in mini-games, and pursue achievements, which adds some replay value. However, several reviews note that the overall replayability is limited, with some players feeling it may not warrant multiple playthroughs beyond the initial experience. Despite its brevity, the game's charm and relaxing atmosphere encourage players to return for casual enjoyment.

    • “While *A Short Hike* can be completed in a couple of hours, its replay value lies in the freedom it gives you to explore and experience the game in different ways.”
    • “It has quite a bit of replayability, and really fun achievement hunting.”
    • “Even if you can get through your hike in a couple of hours, you can come back anytime to enjoy the atmosphere, music, and fun replayable mini-games and races.”
    • “There is absolutely no replay value, but if you can handle that, you get probably one of the most wholesome moments you'll ever experience in a video game.”
    • “It's quite short, which is the main downside: you can complete the main storyline in just a few hours and it's not really built for replayability.”
    • “Overall, it's a cute and short game to spend your time on, but it might get boring soon and lacks replay value unless you aim to complete all the achievements.”
  • grinding48 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal and generally enjoyable, with many noting that it avoids the tediousness often associated with collectathons. While some achievements may require a bit of effort, the game allows for completion without extensive grinding, making it a relaxing experience that encourages exploration rather than repetitive tasks. The charming world and engaging mechanics contribute to a sense of satisfaction without overwhelming players with grind-heavy content.

    • “Lots of characters to interact with and a cute general theme, there's lots of exploring to do but not too grindy. I would highly recommend it if you want a relaxing little game where you don't need to think too much or worry about doing something wrong.”
    • “There's no tedious fetch quests, no long stretches of empty landscape with no use.”
    • “There's various minigame activities you can find around the island, shortcuts and secrets, etc. There are also various sets of collectibles, but they're nice to find and aren't grindy or boring.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The 100% achievements are super grindy and tedious.”
    • “These quests are somewhat tedious and ruined the fun for me.”
  • character development24 mentions

    Character development in the game is characterized by charming and distinctive character designs, often inspired by animal traits, which enhance player connections with NPCs through engaging side quests. While the narrative and character development are minimal, the delightful art style, humorous dialogue, and soothing music create a captivating atmosphere that fosters a sense of exploration and enjoyment. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to evoke emotional connections despite its simplicity, making the character interactions memorable and endearing.

    • “I loved this game, wonderful story writing with adorable character design.”
    • “Wonderful storytelling, cute character design, and a unique art style.”
    • “Even though the game keeps story and character development to a bare minimum, you still establish interesting connections with NPCs via simple side quests that are all summarized at the end of your journey.”
    • “This game shows you can make character development in less time than cooking dinner.”
    • “The simplicity of the character designs, the variation from zone to zone, the ambient sound design.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised, with many users reporting smooth performance even on lower-end machines. While a few players experienced occasional stutters when transitioning to new areas, the majority found the game to run well without significant issues, contributing to an enjoyable experience. The low-poly graphics and efficient design allow for a seamless gameplay experience across various hardware configurations.

    • “The music was incredible, the graphics are charming, the performance is all that one could ever realistically ask for given the low-poly nature of the title, and the story is short but engaging.”
    • “It's very affordable, short and sweet, and runs smoothly even on weaker computers so you should definitely check it out :)”
    • “The quest/reward feedback cycle is really well optimized, and putting effort into something always yields a positive result.”
    • “One downside I noticed was some performance issues, with very occasional stutters, especially when moving to new areas on my machine, which should far exceed the requirements for this game.”
    • “The music was incredible, the graphics are charming, but the performance is not what one could realistically expect, given the low-poly nature of the title.”
    • “This camera does not improve performance; it simply gives a stylized look for the game.”
  • stability11 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is positively noted, with users reporting minimal to no bugs or glitches during gameplay. While some minor issues, such as camera bugs, were mentioned, they did not significantly detract from the overall experience, allowing players to enjoy the game smoothly. Regular updates have also contributed to maintaining a stable environment.

    • “Very relaxing and runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “No glitches that I know of.”
    • “🔳 Buggy, but still playable.”
    • “(The camera can be buggy.)”
    • “This game let me do exactly what I like to do in games (just run and jump around, often to the point of producing game-breaking glitches) without ever running into a depressingly blank area that makes me acutely aware that I am in a simulation.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as minimal, with players appreciating the honesty in its advertising, which reflects the game's brief nature. Overall, it is seen as a refreshing experience that prioritizes relaxation over aggressive monetization strategies.

    • “They're more of an advertisement rather than a game.”
    • “It feels like the game is designed more for monetization than for player enjoyment.”
    • “The in-game purchases are overwhelming and detract from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
2hMain story
5hCompletionist
3-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 47 analyzed playthroughs

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