Try Eastshade, should check all the boxes IMO. https://store.steampowered.com/app/715560/Eastshade/
Any game from Amanita Design might fit the bill too (Machinarium, Botanicula, etc.).
If you don't mind reading a lot, there's Roadwarden https://store.steampowered.com/app/1155970/Roadwarden/
Wow eastshade looks amazing! The Amanita Design games might suit my Fall-mood better. Roadwardwen looks interesting too. I'll look at the preview slides on my steamdeck and see if it's still readable
Funny that you mention Life of Strange because it’s actually set in Autumn, but it does kinda have the vibes you describe. What does have way more summer vibes though is the prequel, Before the Storm, totally worth it if you’ve haven’t played it.
Likely in the ok-ish section but Celeste has that vibe going for it
Maybe the Yo-Kai Watch games? They are RPGs probably inspired by Pokemon, but better in basically every way.
You play as a kid befriending Yo-Kai (creatures taken from japanese folklore), while exploring a pretty cool city. Has a nice soundtrack as well. The story of the first game is kinda meh, but I think it still has that summer vibe.
The second game is a lot better, with an actual story, more stuff to do and more to explore. Definitely the better game, but playing it first might make the first one less enjoyable afterwards.
Both of these games have that childhood summer adventure vibe, even though I myself didn't spent my childhood befriending Yo-Kai.
I haven’t played it myself, but Boku no Natsuyasumi is a game that recently entered my radar, which fits your description quite well. It’s a game I want to play sometime, but I have had other priorities. It’s for PSX.
It’s about a boy in a summer vacation with his family.
Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be any official English versions of the game, but hopefully you might find a solution if you think the game looks interesting enough to play it.
Sadly no Playstation
It's for PSP/PS1. I'm not sure which you mean by PSX, because the only thing I've ever heard called a PSX is the weird Japanese only DVR/PS2 hybrid thing.
The sequel apparently has an english patch, but I can't find one for the original.
PSX was a common abbreviation for the original PlayStation at the time. It has just stuck with me.
I'm not sure if it quite fits but the first game that came to mind was Minami Lane
Maybe the Atelier games would fit the bill? The recent entries, mostly the Ryza trilogy ("Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout", yeah, the title is a bit clunky) don't have the time limit that used to be a staple of the series. Instead, it is incredibly chill, a JRPG in a relaxed, colorful environment with an actually really fun, puzzle-like crafting system (called synthesis, their take on alchemy), which feeds masterfully into combat and resource collecting. It is very fun, and the game feels like going on a summer holiday with friends as a kid. :)
Ryza could be perfect!
Surprised TOEM isn't on your list, given the premise is pretty much exactly what you describe. Last I checked it comes up on the first page or something if you sort steam by highest rated.
Lunacid might also be a good game. I think it fits your criteria for me, but that might just be for me.
I don't remember coming across TOEM, maybe I immediately ruled it out for being black and white. Lunacid looks a bit to dark and cold for me, judging by the screenshots. But I'll take a closer look at both, short previews might not transport the vibes perfectly
The first thing that comes to my mind is Summer in Mara. It's a chill, relatively shallow farming sim with fetch quests and exploration.
Some more based on other games you liked:
I'll check them out, thanks. I've heard positive things about manifold garden already. Mystery stuff might be perfect for fall
A lot of nice suggestions already, I'd like to add the Sorcery! games if you don't mind reading and enjoy exploring.
I personally really loved the world it portrayed and the tried so many different ways to finish the story.
Also, it has great maps, and I love maps :)
Never heard of it, looks amazing, I'll check it out, thanks
"What Remains of Edith Finch" could work. And "Man eater." What's more summer than a a shark?
Have you enjoyed any of the recommendations OP? I like your original list/taste and am wondering what else fit the aesthetic
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
It's perhaps a bit child-oriented, but is pretty fun, chill, and you can't do more "summer vacation" than that.
Castle Crashers
Try Stranded Sails. It's a tight little adventure game.
Brothers a Tale of Two Sons
Seasons After Fall
A Story About my Uncle
Subnautica
Raft
Ori 1 and 2 maybe
Here Comes Niko, "the cozy 3D platformer for tired people." You play an adorable sprite leaping around a tropical island chain. I don't think it has failure modes, in general.
Stanley parable ultra deluxe there was a bit in the desert so it fits.
The looker as you played the witness I really recommend this parody
E: +1 to a short hike
I'll 100% play the looker
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