A Virtual Walk in New Zealand
Back in 2020, I bought the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality on itch.io, and I'm still trying to make my way through some of the games. With over 1,000 in total, there's more than I'll ever be able to play in my lifetime, but I'm glad I have so many to choose from!
Today, I checked out Wakamarina Valley, NZ by Matt Newell, whose studio is known as Lushfoil.
It's a beautiful virtual photography game where you walk around a photo-realistic version of a forested hiking trail on the banks of a river in New Zealand. Relaxing ambient music plays as you explore with camera in hand. You're given a set of photos to try to replicate, kind of like collectibles, but it's also a great way to practice photography and get an eye for interesting details from the comfort of your home. The camera settings are robust and realistic, allowing you to adjust them to your heart's content before snapping a photo.
There's a bigger version of the game on Steam with a bunch more locations to explore, and I'm planning on picking it up soon because Wakamarina Valley was such a nice experience. As a fan of hiking/exploring in nature and ambient music, this was kind of a dream game for me that I'm sure I'll be returning to for relaxation in the future.