PPG Game Of The Year 2024 - 39 - Time For Some Relaxploration
Sometimes you don't necessarily want to hit stress inducing combat or roadblocks in your digital wandering; instead you might make a friend or two, help out a few random townsfolk for a few hours, or simply interact with the systems of the game without the threat of death or loss of progress. Just explore, and relax. A Short Hike was the original inspiration for this category.
William and Sly
Cozy 3D Open World
A lovely space to explore based on the classic 2D flash games of the same name, embodying the more relaxing nature of those original adventures.
Pine Hearts
Cozy Joyous Exploration
Explore the park to your hearts content, making friends, finding fun tools and experiencing a wholesome story all in one.
Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip
Bundle Of Joy Platforming
Terry wants to go to space using his new car and it's up to you to explore the town and help him achieve that goal. Talk to some quite odd denizens, get into shenanigans, enjoy being a resident of this town.
Into the Emberlands (EA)
Cozy Town Rebuilding
Venture out into a slightly terrifying miasma to get into random encounters, find missing villagers to return home, gather resources and return home to build up and push out the edges of the creepy unknown.
The Last Alchemist
Puzzle Focused Alchemy
Explore the world to gather resources, grow weird and wonderful plants, brew all sorts of concoctions to solve puzzles and progress. Delightful aesthetic.
Valley Peaks
First Person Climbing Adventure
Be a frog and climb mountains, gaining froggy abilities to climb better in different ways. Requires some platforming skill, particularly for those going for 100%.
Creatures of Ava
No Killing Open World
A rare open world / open zone game where despite there being a full combat system, exploration, overarching storyline and pretty high stakes, you do not fight and kill your enemies - instead you pacify and befriend them.
Just Crow Things
Mischievous Bird Shenanigans
Be a little crow out explore a sandbox, poop on unsuspecting pedestrians, make new animal friends and of course steal all the shiny things.
Mika and the Witches Mountain (EA)
Postal Delivery Witch
Extreme cozy vibes light exploration game where you run around doing errands for people. Explore the island and discover secrets on your magic broom.
Critter Cove (EA)
All The Cozy Genres
A cozy town builder with a bunch of other mechanics such as sailing, fishing, fossil collecting and farming added in for good measure. Kind of a 3D Animal Crossing.
REKA (EA)
Forest Witch Simulator
Be a young witch with your very own house on chicken legs, exploring the forest and completing small requests from the locals. Neat cozy idea with a pleasant art style.
Calm Skies: The Wingsuit Flying Experience
Chill Wingsuit Gliding
A neat low poly gliding sim with just enough goal orientation to keep you engaged while still being a zen experience as you navigate faster and faster on downhill slopes.
Lore of the Frog
Frog Archaeology Exploration
Wander an island, solve some puzzles, put hats on Frogs. Seems obvious, but very frog focused.
ColdRidge
Only The First X of 4X Strategy But Wild West
Hex based game where you do only the first (best) parts of a 4X and explore the wild west. Plan expeditions, uncover secrets and do your best on the new frontier.
Night Stones
Bubbly Short Adventure
Make your way home across a magical land with a glider and a sailboat, making discoveries and befriending localfolk, with a bit of puzzly combat squeezed in for good measure.
And The Best Relaxing Exploration Based Game Of 2024 Is…
Caravan SandWitch
Open World Puzzle + Narrative
A gorgeous and fun open world adventure with a multi purpose caravan at the center of its traversal and puzzle solving. Has a somewhat heavy and emotionally charged story. The game (and the studio) are fiercely progressive and very French.