A Gamer Dad’s Review: A Short Hike

Sometimes, the shortest hikes lead to the biggest adventures.

Jul 05, 2025

Hello everybody! I’m ROP, your resident gamer dad, reviewing yet another indie gem. This time it’s about taking a charming and unexpected virtual journey with my Junior.

But I need to confess… at first, I ignored this game. Too soft, too pixelated, too … casual—“not for me.” Or so I thought. Luckily, a heartfelt video from another Gamer Dad nudged me to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did. What followed was a journey into…

A Short Hike. Full of laughs, lessons, and lakeside sun—side by side, we went from the lowest tide to the highest peak.

Steps Toward Something More

In A Short Hike you play as Claire, 🕊️ a young bird visiting her aunt and waiting for an important phone call—but the reception?! Seems to only be available at the very top of the tallest mountain, Hawk Peak. So, we began our hike—slow and steady... talking, laughing, discovering as we went.

What began as a simple goal turned into a wholesome adventure. 🥾 We hiked, jumped and climbed, occasionally even taking to the air through a small, but alive, open-world filled with quirky animal characters. But what really got us weren’t the mechanics—it was the vibe. Like the chill music, the safe pace, the island never pressures you, but it invites you to explore at your own rhythm. 🎒

Island Memories in the Making

Junior took to the game immediately. 😊 Soft visuals, funny animal‑folk, gentle gliding—it all clicked. Soon he was choosing the riskier paths, striking up conversations, and tackling side quests with a determined grin.

We dug treasures, raced the town kids, fished, played beach-stick volley-ball, 🌅 and sometimes just sat at a campfire chatting with the locals.

Claire caught a fish. I caught the realization that our boat captain might be on loan from Disneyland.

By the time we reached the peak, neither of us cared about that phone call. We were already planning the glide back down to sweep every corner we’d missed. I think that’s when the game truly began.

So Many Small Surprises

This game may be short, but it’s overflowing with hidden charm. Together we uncovered buried treasures, hunted golden feathers, collected silly hats 🎩, and parkour-ed across the island to find every shortcut. The locals each had their own odd little dreams and kind hearts, and every encounter felt like a pocket‑sized story.

I came for a cozy story. Junior stayed for the marshmellows.

We kept returning even after the credits rolled. Nine hours in, Junior still asked to visit the island on weekends—and, honestly, so did I.

Why It Worked for Us

Exploration Without Stress – No dangers or time limits, just curiosity rewarded, and never punished.
Gorgeous Audio & Visuals – The music melts into the landscape, and the art style won over even the skeptical old me.
Rich in Kindness – Whether we were helping, chatting, or just wandering, everything felt designed to make you feel good inside.
Short Game, Long Memory – A couple of hours turned into a summer’s worth of stories.

Father Thoughts

I once dismissed A Short Hike as “too cutesy” for my grown‑up gamer taste. Playing it with Junior reminded me why that first impression was so wrong. Yes, it’s gentle and pixel‑bright, but beneath the softness is an invitation—to slow down, to explore without fear of failure, and to share discoveries rather than chase achievements.

Watching my son gauge his climbs, celebrate tiny victories, and invent detours turned a simple indie title into a shared memory I couldn’t have scripted. It wasn’t the phone call at the peak that mattered; it was every small pause along the way—every “Dad, look!” 👨‍👦 that pulled me out of my busy‑brain and into the present with Junior.

So, if you need a breather from sprawling epics or competitive grinds, grab a copy, find someone you love, and take this short hike. You may find the summit nice—but the steps you share getting there are the real reward.

Did A Short Hike charm you like it did us? Or maybe you’ve got your own tiny treasure of a game? 👇 Drop it in the comments—I’m ready to add to my weekend playlist.