When some of the biggest developers in gaming decide that a single-player experience should consist of 5 hours of content being copied and pasted into a vast empty map, It can be irritating. I mean, I get why they do it. AAA games should have enough surface-level content to (at least) keep players under the illusion that there is a lot to do. But what if an indie game embraced that short amount of content and was priced under 6 quid to match the amount of playtime? Well, then you get A Short Hike.

The game is a joy to play and, with a gorgeous soundtrack from Mark Sparling, evokes both a playful and relaxing atmosphere. With other laid-back experiences, such as Abzu, it’s the visual presentation that satisfies, with this game, it’s the nonchalant expressions of the game’s characters and story that presents that easy-going vibe. You play as Claire the Bird, casually exploring and ascending Hawk Peak in an attempt to get a phone signal. As you journey to the top, you’re offered the chance to complete several objectives, such as finding a lost watch, taking part in a race, or playing volleyball with some kids. All things that give the player a chance to interact with the highly entertaining array of unique personalities scattered around the national park. The dialogue in this game is genuinely great, with a very humorous, sometimes sarky, tone cast over every encounter Claire has.

The game can probably be “completed” in half an hour if you were rushing to the peak, however with the aforementioned extras on top of hidden collectibles and achievements, any player can enjoy a few hours of a cute, well-crafted indie game, that certainly has a lot of heart. I’d hope that players know this going in, with how the game is so clearly presented, and not look at the word hike expecting the challenge and experience that Celeste brings to the table. These are two very, very different games that just happen to revolve around scaling a mountain.

To keep this review as short as the game is, I’ll say that A Short Hike is more than worth its price, and is as honest as an indie game can get. It has enough wit and charm to make me wish there was a longer hike on the horizon, and I’m glad it’s garnered the praise and attention it so rightly deserves.