Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This video will be exploring the emergence of the "wholesome" video game first seen in games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, now becoming a genre onto itself with the success of games like Stardew Valley. What is the draw of these sorts of games? Can this truly be considered a genre? What should be the platonic ideal that future wholesome games should strive for?
Spoiler Warning: the following video contains some light spoilers on elements of the game Wylde Flowers, so if you are interested in going into this game blind, consider playing it on PC, Switch, or Apple Arcade before diving in.
Twitter: twitter.com/kathmanhenry
Tumblr: henrykathman.tumblr.com
Podcast: pinkaisle.podbean.com
Patreon: patreon.com/Henrykathman
Original Music by Molly Noise: mollynoise.bandcamp.com
Script Editing by Argus Swift: twitter.com/ArgusSwift
Recommended Readings & Sources
Danskin, Ian, "Who Shot Guybrush Threepwood? | Genre and the Adventure Game" Innuendo Studios, YouTube, July 8, 2019, youtube.com/watch?v=tMVl5U3SlS0
Grayson, Nathan, "The Past, Present And Future Of Stardew Valley" Kotaku Austrailia, Pedestrain Group, March 23, 2016, https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/the-past-present-and-future-of-stardew-valley/
Marks, Tom, "The creators of Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon talk to us about farm games" PC Gamer, Future US Inc, Dec 1, 2016, youtube.com/watch?v=ceFR8--6Obo
Nicholas, Heidi. "The rise of wholesome games: A roundtable interview" TrueAchievements, TrueGaming Network Ltd, April 18, 2022, trueachievements.com/n49021/wholesome-games-interview
Taylor, Matthew, "The Rise of Wholesome Games" Wireframe Magazine, Raspberry Pi LTD, 2020, wireframe.raspberrypi.com/articles/the-rise-of-wholesome-games
Table of Contents
0:00 - What is a Wholesome Game?
4:46 - Intro to 'Wylde Flowers'
12:30 - A Magical Twist
17:15 - Artificial Wholesomeness
22:16 - Making the Real World More Wholesome
This video will be exploring the emergence of the "wholesome" video game first seen in games like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, now becoming a genre onto itself with the success of games like Stardew Valley. What is the draw of these sorts of games? Can this truly be considered a genre? What should be the platonic ideal that future wholesome games should strive for?
Spoiler Warning: the following video contains some light spoilers on elements of the game Wylde Flowers, so if you are interested in going into this game blind, consider playing it on PC, Switch, or Apple Arcade before diving in.
Twitter: twitter.com/kathmanhenry
Tumblr: henrykathman.tumblr.com
Podcast: pinkaisle.podbean.com
Patreon: patreon.com/Henrykathman
Original Music by Molly Noise: mollynoise.bandcamp.com
Script Editing by Argus Swift: twitter.com/ArgusSwift
Recommended Readings & Sources
Danskin, Ian, "Who Shot Guybrush Threepwood? | Genre and the Adventure Game" Innuendo Studios, YouTube, July 8, 2019, youtube.com/watch?v=tMVl5U3SlS0
Grayson, Nathan, "The Past, Present And Future Of Stardew Valley" Kotaku Austrailia, Pedestrain Group, March 23, 2016, https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/03/the-past-present-and-future-of-stardew-valley/
Marks, Tom, "The creators of Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon talk to us about farm games" PC Gamer, Future US Inc, Dec 1, 2016, youtube.com/watch?v=ceFR8--6Obo
Nicholas, Heidi. "The rise of wholesome games: A roundtable interview" TrueAchievements, TrueGaming Network Ltd, April 18, 2022, trueachievements.com/n49021/wholesome-games-interview
Taylor, Matthew, "The Rise of Wholesome Games" Wireframe Magazine, Raspberry Pi LTD, 2020, wireframe.raspberrypi.com/articles/the-rise-of-wholesome-games
Table of Contents
0:00 - What is a Wholesome Game?
4:46 - Intro to 'Wylde Flowers'
12:30 - A Magical Twist
17:15 - Artificial Wholesomeness
22:16 - Making the Real World More Wholesome
