Haven Park

Haven Park is a lovely game that suffers a bit from strange movement choices and a partially underbaked camp construction system. These cons aren't dealbreakers by any stretch, but they do somewhat sour what could've been a truly stand-out example of a bite-sized, wholesome little game. We're still glad to recommend it, but don't expect the same level of polish as other bird-based island exploration jaunts you can find on Switch.Oh, and if you press 'A' with nothing to interact with in front of you, Flint says 'Pew'.

Haven Park is an easy recommendation for anyone who likes relaxing and adventurous indie titles! You just need to stick to it past the beginning and into the flow.

Whether you’re jumping into the game for a few hours of a campground romp, or you’re craving a new ambient game that you can return to when you want to turn your brain off, Haven Park fits the bill.

If you enjoyed the escapism of Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley or Spiritfarer but want something a little lighter; something short and sweet yet not too saccharine, you could certainly do worse than a short break to Haven Park. The game is a very reasonably priced for its size and scope, and while unlikely to make anyone’s Game-of-the-Year list, is nonetheless a nice palate cleanser between meatier titles.

Walking through the colorful island with a young chicken is a treat for the soul. Turn off the stress for a few hours with Haven Park and help it follow in Grandma's footsteps.

Some technical issues related to fluidity and control do not prevent Haven Park from being a pleasant enough experience if you are looking for a short and light game to disconnect with. It does not propose anything new but overall the result is satisfactory.

Honestly, I struggle to find criticism for Haven Park. Is it the most stunning, groundbreaking game you’ll ever play? No, but it doesn’t need to be. While it feels like it draws some inspiration from the Animal Crossing series, it remains its own separate entity with its own identity. For a game about walking and fixing up campsites, it’s short, sweet, beautiful, and even at times, moving. It left me wishing for more, but in the best way possible.

As you play Haven Park you can see that a lot of love has gone into the game from developer Fabien Weibel. This being the first game from Fabien, he should be pretty proud of what he has achieved. Haven Park is a great example of wholesome gaming to while away a few hours with.

If you haven't played A Short Hike yet, you might get into Haven Park for a little bit. But it's a game that seriously needs more original ideas and better implementation of ideas in general.

As much of an action and shooting game junkie as I am, looking for games that challenge me and provide thrills, a great game that moves in the precisely opposite direction can very much grab me...