A Short Hike by Adam Robinson-Yu

A word from the publisher: “Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit.”

What Worked For Me:

The game’s lo-fi aesthetic was like injecting nostalgia directly into my lizard brain. As with my experience with Toree 3D, the game evoked memories of my gaming past (including Spyro and Klonoa).
A game cannot succeed on nostalgia-bait alone. With that said, I’m happy to report that A Short Hike was more than just a pretty face and succeeded in engaging me for the entirety of its run time. This included a variety of mechanics to play with (from traversal to treasure hunting) and an engaging, if sparse, story.
The game included a number of lovable, if broadly-drawn characters. My favorite of the supporting cast was “Painting Kid,” a racoon artist who’s experience had me nodding my head and saying: “same, my dude.” The fact that most of the folks I encountered were not named also evoked memories of being on summer vacation. I was taken back to a time when friendships were fleeting and book-ended by a particular place and time but no less meaningful.
I enjoyed the game’s music. Composed by Mark Sparling, it expertly matched and enhanced the mood of each of the game’s areas and “scenes.” I’m not sure if it was quite as dynamic as the Steam page would suggest (“Listen to a lush original soundtrack by Mark Sparling that progresses dynamically as you explore the wilderness.“), but that complaint is a nit-pick at most.
The game isn’t afraid to touch on difficult topics like class and financial struggles, art and mental health, and the complexity of familial relationships. The game’s scope means these topics aren’t explored in great depth, but the fact that they are included in a way that feels natural speaks to the quality of the writing.

What Didn’t:

I experienced a small number of graphical hick-ups while playing the game. Basically, the game very occasionally looked even more washed out / pixelated than usual. I can’t really complain about this given the game’s visual design, but it was still an odd thing to encounter.
I was unbothered by how easy the game was, from its comfy atmosphere to its lack of a fail-state. It’s also well-documented that I prefer shorter games that are fun for their entire run-time (or at least have something to say) over bloated “AAA” game design. With that being said, if you want a forever game that you can sink tens or hundreds of hours into, A Short Hike might not be the game for you.
The game is arguably a worse value-for-money than other 3D platformers like Toree 3D at $8 USD. With that being said, the game also has more mechanical depth, a more cohesive story and visual design, and many more characters to interact with. I don’t think that more mechanics equals more fun; if I did, I’d be frothing at the mouth for yet another bland everything-and-the-kitchen-sink AAA experience. I can see how the added complexity of A Short Hike could add to production costs, though. Also, the game is still wildly affordable when compared to larger, more mainstream gaming experiences. Given that A Short Hike can often be purchased for $5 or less on sale, the “value proposition” is less of an issue in my mind.

Conclusion:

If I had to describe A Short Hike in a word or two they’d be “charming” and “cozy.” Everything the game lacks in visual fidelity it more than makes up for in story, music, and vibes. Happily, the gameplay is no slouch either. Ultimately, while the game isn’t especially long (short is in the title!), it’s sure to evoke memories of lazy summers and comfortable afternoons. If that sounds like an adventure you’d like to go on, definitely give this game a try.

Check it out here.