10 More Great Open-World Games You Didn’t Play

A Short Hike

Take the cutesy yet relatable Villagers of Animal Crossing, mix in some retro-esque 3D visuals and relaxing gameplay, and you get A Short Hike. Think of it as a much comfier version of Celeste – as a young bird named Claire, your task is to travel through the parks and winding trails to reach Hawk Peak. An adaptive soundtrack that changes based on the weather, various side quests and activities like fishing and beachstickball, collectables, and much more all liven up the experience in different, fresh ways. It’s short, and not a massive open world that demands sinking hours upon hours of your time but the experience will stay with you.