Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
New games for 2026 featured image showing Leon Kennedy from Resident Requiem, Lucia from GTA 6, Hugh and Diana from Pragmata, and Coen from The Blood of Dawnwalker
Games New games 2026 and beyond: The biggest video game release dates for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Switch, and more
Upcoming PS5 games for 2026 showing Lucia from GTA 6, Wolverine from Marvel's Wolverine, Arjun from Saros, and Grace from Resident Evil Requiem
Adventure Games Upcoming PS5 games: New PS5 games for 2026 and beyond
Upcoming Switch 2 games banner image showing a figure holding out their hand from Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Yoshi from Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Ditto in human form with Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Scyther, Timburr in Pokopia, and Mario from Mario Tennis Fever
Nintendo Switch 2 Upcoming Switch 2 games: New Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026 and beyond
Upcoming Xbox Series Games banner image showing Jason from GTA 6, Marcus from Gears of War E-Day, a steampunk robotic figure in Clockwork Revolution, and Fable's protagonist speaking with a man who has a sword
FPS Games Upcoming Xbox Series X games for 2026 and beyond
A close-up shot of Pinhead from Hellraiser
Horror Games Upcoming horror games for 2026 and beyond
Upcoming PC games for 2026 showing Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil Requiem, marines in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, Coen in The Blood of Dawnwalker, and a woman's face in Control Resonant
PC Gaming Upcoming PC games: New PC games for 2026 and beyond
Upcoming Switch games for 2026 banner showing Mega Man from the All Star Force Collection, Witches in Witchbrook, a large woman in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and Fiona in Neverway
Action Games Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond
Upcoming indie games for 2026 showing images from Mixtape, Toem 2, Find your Words, and Grave Seasons
Games Upcoming indie games for 2026 and beyond
Windrose
Open World Games Windrose dev isn't holding back a release date to "tease your anticipation" - it just wants "to ship the game on time"
Witchbrook screenshot of a library in the magical college with witches flying on brooms
Simulation Games Witchbrook: Everything we know so far about Chucklefish's magical new life sim
Directive 8020 preview August 2024
Horror Games Directive 8020 devs Supermassive Games drops a multiplayer tease ahead of the Future Games Show Spring Showcase
A screenshot of two robots during the upcoming PSVR 2 game AUTOMA
Games Upcoming PSVR 2 Games: New PlayStation VR2 games for 2026 and beyond
Steam Next Fest 2026 banner for February 23 - March 2 at 10am Pacific
Games Steam Next Fest 2026 and beyond: all the dates, details, and everything else you need to know
Best games like Animal Crossing: A group of villagers on a stone bridge during New Horizons.
Animal Crossing 15 Best games like Animal Crossing that are so wholesome it hurts
Tiny Bookshop screenshot showing the small mobile bookshop decorated with lights and plants set up on the beach as a customer walks inside. A dog can be seen sitting on a couch outside of it
Games The 20 best Switch indie games you should play right now
  1. Games

Wholesome Direct is coming back with more of the "cute and cozy indie games" we crave

News
By Jordan Gerblick published 1 March 2021

Another year of soul-soothing indie games

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A Short Hike
(Image credit: Adam Gryu)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Wholesome Direct, the show that's all about adorable indie games to soothe the soul, is coming back in 2021.

The showcase made its timely debut in May of 2020, just as the world was coming to grips with the fairly new coronavirus pandemic. A year later, our hunger for the sort-of "cute and cozy indie games" on display is as insatiable as ever.

"Wholesome Direct will return this year!" reads the announcement from organizer Wholesome Games. "A full-length showcase packed with exclusive footage, developer interviews, and announcements from cute and cozy indie games. Just like last year, anyone can submit their game for consideration!"

You may like
  • Upcoming indie games for 2026 showing images from Mixtape, Toem 2, Find your Words, and Grave Seasons Upcoming indie games for 2026 and beyond
  • Peak screenshot showing four climbers scaling a mountain. GamesRadar+'s best of 2025 logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner From Dispatch to Spilled and Peak, covering indie games every week in 2025 has been packed full of welcome surprise
  • Deltarune Nintendo Indie World Showcase announced for tomorrow with "15 minutes of news and updates"

Wholesome Games hasn't revealed a date for the event, but it's likely to take place sometime in the next couple of months. If you've got a game you think could steady our trembling hands in the second year of the After Times, you can submit it for consideration here.

Wholesome Direct will return this year! A full-length showcase packed with exclusive footage, developer interviews, and announcements from cute and cozy indie games. Just like last year, anyone can submit their game for consideration! RTs ❤️ pic.twitter.com/P7Eam7FgquMarch 1, 2021

Following the success of last year's event, Wholesome Games teamed up with a number of indie game developers for Slice of Life, a vinyl compilation of supremely chill soundtrack music benefiting BIPOC, women, and LGBT+ led game studios through the Galaxy Fund grant. Check out the trailer previewing some of the tracks on the vinyl album here, and snag a pre-order through Black Screen Records, Ship to Shore PhonoCo, or The Yetee.

We assembled a list of new indie games coming in 2021 to keep on your radar - hopefully we'll see a few of them at this year's Wholesome Direct.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Upcoming indie games for 2026 showing images from Mixtape, Toem 2, Find your Words, and Grave Seasons
Upcoming indie games for 2026 and beyond
 
 
Peak screenshot showing four climbers scaling a mountain. GamesRadar+'s best of 2025 logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner
From Dispatch to Spilled and Peak, covering indie games every week in 2025 has been packed full of welcome surprise
 
 
Deltarune
Nintendo Indie World Showcase announced for tomorrow with "15 minutes of news and updates"
 
 
In Inkonbini: One Store. Many Stories, protagonist Makoto stands in front of the convivence store she's working at for her auntie. GamesRadar+ Indie Spotlight logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner of the image.
I've been writing about new indie games for years, and these are the 10 best Steam Next Fest demos to play this weekend
 
 
Upcoming Switch games for 2026 banner showing Mega Man from the All Star Force Collection, Witches in Witchbrook, a large woman in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and Fiona in Neverway
Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond
 
 
Henry Halfhead screenshot with GamesRadar+ Best of 2025 branding on upper right
From creepy folklore to a human with half a head, the best hidden gems of 2025 are worth your attention
 
 
Latest in Games
Pickmon
Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs"
 
 
Bizarre Lineage codes
Bizarre Lineage codes (March 2026) for free Stat Point Essence, Rare Chests, and more
 
 
Cropped Helldivers 2 art from the official 'Save Cyberstan' poster.
Helldivers 2 devs "underinvested" in the game's engine, Arrowhead CEO admits, who pledges "things can/will get better"
 
 
Gideon talks to a tied up Leon in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem is getting story DLC, as well as photo mode and a new minigame that had better be Mercenaries
 
 
Fallout 3 screenshot of someone in power armor standing in front of a rundown version of the Washington Monument
More hopium for Fallout 3 Remastered emerges as the unannounced RPG is named in a product listing for an upcoming figure
 
 
Counter-Strike 2 release trailer screenshot showing an old-style white desktop PC running the Counter-Strike menu atop a wooden desk
Valve hit with new lawsuit over Steam market, with claims loot boxes "satisfy every element" of gambling by definition
 
 
Latest in News
Mortal Kombat movie
Mortal Kombat 2 star joins in with Street Fighter movie beef after Game Awards dig because he "loves a good rivalry"
 
 
Mackenyu as Zoro in One Piece season 2
One Piece season 2 actor Mackenyu says he learned Roronoa Zoro's 15-minute 1 vs 100 fight in just 6 hours
 
 
Fujino and Kyomoto eating in Look Back
Live-action adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator's Look Back will escape Japanese cinemas and come to the west
 
 
Luigi and Mario slot cars on a racetrack
I never played with Scalextric as a kid, so I'm making up for it with this Mario Kart set
 
 
How to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion in order
Evangelion studio leaks its own 30th anniversary short after "insufficient understanding of X’s takedown request system"
 
 
A model of a goblin-like Grot against a yellow flare background
I think this might be our first look at Warhammer 40K 11th Edition
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Photo of a Mario nendoroid figure holding a microSD Express card with a Turtle Beach Switch 2 case in the background.
    1
    These Mario Day-inspired Switch 2 accessories will power up your console more than a super star
  2. 2
    Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs"
  3. 3
    Mortal Kombat 2 star joins in with Street Fighter movie beef after Game Awards dig because he "loves a good rivalry"
  4. 4
    Project Hail Mary review: "Large scale sci-fi with tons of heart"
  5. 5
    My favorite budget Switch 2 headset just got a makeover for Mario Day, and it's pretty super

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...