Wholesome: Out and About

Wholesome: Out and About is a TPP life sim with an educational twist, relating to healthy, "green" living in harmony with nature. It was developed by Yaldi Games, a small indie studio from Scotland, which also handled its release.

Plot

We come to the small coastal village of Wholesome just after a terrible storm that destroyed our grandmother's cottage and many other things in the village. Now we have to find a way to rebuild the cottage and help the local residents, and make friends over time. By spending time in nature, we strengthen our bond with it, and help others strive to do the same.

Game mechanics

At the beginning of the game, we create our own character. We can use the grandmother's cottage, which can be decorated as we wish, as well as a home garden for growing vegetables and fruits. Exploring the surroundings in TPP view, we can collect wild plants and mushrooms, learning their actual names and identifying features. We use the ingredients we grow and find to prepare dishes (also according to our own recipes, which we can share with other players), or sell them at the local market. By undertaking these various activities, we also help our grandmother restore her fading memories.

An important part of the gameplay is interacting with local residents - performing tasks for them, repairing and building relationships, learning their stories. After making friends, each of them has something to offer - their skills or knowledge of the surrounding nature or unknown corners of the map. In the course of the game, we also help the local community strive for sustainable development.

The game focuses on "living in harmony with nature" and includes educational touches - during the game we learn about real plants and mushrooms, their names and identifying features. Also, the recipes in it are real, and when taking care of the garden we get tips useful in real life. An important element scrolling throughout the game is the discovery of smaller and larger tips for sustainable living in harmony with nature, which is the idea behind the game.

Last updated on 28 February 2024