The cozy games' genre has exploded in the past decade with some truly adorable titles. These are the types of games that make you feel all cuddly inside. Stardew Valley, for instance, captivated gamers with its charming pixelated art style and chill vibes. It is nice to sit back, walk around, enjoy the relaxing music, tend to your crops, and soak in the atmosphere. There is something to be said for games of the cozy genre. They provide a break from the ever-increasing hustle and bustle of the 21st century. A breath of fresh air from fast-paced games that demand quick reflexes with a constant battle for your attention.

This isn’t to say that those games don’t have their place or are bad, far from it. If you are looking for games to decompress with, look no further than The Wholesome Direct. The Wholesome Direct, which aired earlier this month as part of Summer Game Fest, featured a plethora of upcoming cozy games enough to make any gamer exclaim “aw”. Smushi Come Home is one such title that stood out among the others. Immediately, MegaWobble’s 2022 hit no-pressure adventure, Lil Gator Game, comes to mind. If Smushi Come Home is anything like it, developer SomeHumbleOnion is sure to have a winner on their hands.

Smushi Come Home is the debut title from SomeHumbleOnion, and not much else is known about them. They are off to a good start with this casual indie title. I couldn’t help but smile ear to ear just from the reveal trailer. You play as Smushi, a cutesy mushroom creature with a fairly basic but charming appearance. Smushi is out playing with his family when, suddenly, a bird attacks them. Smushi’s sibling is about to be abducted before it intervenes and is instead taken away from its home. Smushi must find a way to get back to its family as it is thrust into an unfamiliar environment. He can walk, run, jump, and glide around the game world.

Along the way, Smushi will meet characters that aid him in his quest to find his family. Story is not a major focus of Smushi Come Home, but the banter between characters adds an extra layer of charm to supplement the gameplay. Smushi is a brave little mushroom that loves to help out fellow characters that are struggling internally. The way he interacts with NPCs is loving. There is a reason Smushi Come Home was featured in The Wholesome Direct because that's what the conversations are like. Some conversations are enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eye. The characters empathize with Smushi as they help him make its way back home, and vice versa.

The gameplay is heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Unlike Breath of the Wild, Smushi cannot climb surfaces with the stamina wheel. Instead, you find hooks on your journey that allow you to hoist yourself to greater heights. You are given a stamina wheel through upgrades, which can increase how long you run and how long the glider lasts. Unlike Zelda, the stamina gauge and glider gauge are separated. There are collectibles called wind essence, which reward you with extended glide time. You can find spores of energy to extend the amount of time Smushi can run without becoming winded. There are also challenges you find on your journey that unlock upgrades for it as well.

The platforming is some of the most fun I have ever had in such a small-budget title. Using the combination of the hooks and leaf glider to traverse the game world felt so satisfying. One particular portion of the game rewards you with an upgrade that will amplify the platforming experience. Make sure to complete any optional challenges you find along the way. You may just find yourself with a handy upgrade. *Hint, hint.*

You can see lighters, flip-flops, and empty food products scattered throughout your environment, alluding to the fact that humans once inhabited these areas. This is a trope that has popped up for years in video games. The influence of Pikmin can be felt heavily in Smushi Come Home, down to the atmosphere. You are a tiny person in unfamiliar territory, gathering tools along the way to make the trek back home. There aren’t any enemies around, so you can play the game at your own pace and take your time exploring. There are three different areas in total, with plenty of collectibles to find in every nook and cranny.

You get a pick-ax in the form of an Allen wrench, which Smushi can use to mine for green and purple rocks that serve as currency. You will be using these to purchase things like upgrades for your gear, and other items you will need to progress. The further you are in your upgrades, the more fun the game becomes. Upgrading your gear and stamina wheel allows for deeper traversal of the forest. There are a few dark caves for Smushi to explore as well. Smushi will then put on a little lightbulb as it scurries about, and it is the most adorable thing you could imagine.

Smushi can even go diving underwater to discover what lies below. You may just find the currency you need for upgrades down there! Take a ride on the back of a capybara to visit different islands and seek out some treasures. You can play however you want and tackle anything at your leisure. You do not need to complete every objective to progress, but you can always backtrack to tie up loose ends for the completionist in you.

There are many species of mushrooms to be found in Smushi Come Home for the aspiring mycologists of the world! Go exploring and fill up your mycology reports with all the different types of fungi. This is a nice addition to the game and gives players a bit more to chew on. I was genuinely intrigued by how much information was packed into the mycology reports. After completing Smushi Come Home, you will come out of the experience with a wealth of knowledge about mushrooms. Go on, go impress your friends with your newfound fungal expertise.

Smushi Come Home is an entire vibe. It is easy to get lost in its ambiance with its soothing tunes. Smushi Come Home’s soundtrack was composed by failpositive, who has scored multiple games since 2019, when he began his journey in the gaming industry. The soundtrack can best be described as jovial, relaxing, and atmospheric, filling the player with a childlike sense of wonder. When roaming the caves, the chill music that plays even has an echo effect to increase immersion. The music takes you away to a pleasant place, one where there are no worries about how you will traverse the lush environment.

The cutesy art direction meshes well with Smushi Come Home’s atmosphere. There are better graphics for games like this, but what is here is executed well. There is even an option in the graphics setting for the retro-gaming enthusiast, allowing you to make the visuals as pixelated or smooth as you want. SomeHumbleOnion shows such affection for gaming titles of yesterday in every facet of Smushi Come Home’s DNA. Not only does the gameplay feel like a reference to Breath of the Wild, but The Wind Waker seems to have an influence here as well. From gusts of wind taking you from point A to point B, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere, it will wrap you up in a cozy blanket of nostalgia.

While Smushi Come Home is a mostly solid experience, there are a few cons that could be a deterrent for any suspecting player. With a completion time of three and a half hours, the game is obviously on the short side of things. For $19.99 USD, it is a rather large ask for a game so incredibly small, as well crafted as it may be. For anyone interested in picking this up, it would be wise to wait for a sale. In addition, Smushi Come Home has a low replay value. I did not 100% the game at three and a half hours of gameplay time, but one could easily do so in under five hours. My gameplay time also includes the fact that I roamed around for a while, just absorbing the world for all it's worth.

Smushi Come Home has tight gameplay that feels buttery smooth, graphics that are pleasing to the eye, and a cute little story filled with innocence and childlike wonder. As aforementioned, Smushi Come Home is best reserved for purchase during a sale, as it is a bit light on content for the asking price of $19.99 USD. The soundtrack is easily one you could throw on in the middle of relaxation, studying, meditating or any sort of leisurely activity. Smushi Come Home features a fungus that will be sure to capture your heart. SomeHumbleOnion should be applauded for a solid entry title in their catalog. Take out your climbing hooks, glide around with your leaf, and get ready for a bite-sized adventure with king-sized love poured in.
 

Michael Nicolosi (@ChipmunksMikey)
Editor, NoobFeed