Gameplay is simple, taking the form of click-and-drag puzzles as you work your way through Venba’s recipe book.

You play as Venba, an immigrant from India managing (and feeding) her small family of three. It’s not often that such a short game can hit you in the feels, but that’s exactly what Venba accomplishes in its easily digestible runtime.

But making it last just a little bit longer is what the game’s about. A Short Hike is just as its title describes, incredibly short. And giving that kid who bought all the Feathers enough money for college is not a requirement to finish the game, but it was downright satisfying to be kind to him. Following the painter as he goes from one spot to another doesn’t reward you much aside from listening to him talk about his paintings, but finding him is more about learning his struggles than it is the Golden Feather you get for it. Playing beachstickball ultimately gives you nothing, but it’s a fun diversion from your journey. How many times have you ignored a main questline in order to explore a new area or talk to an interesting character or collect just one more ability upgrade? A Short Hike is the sweetest love letter to this style of playing a video game. Though its visuals are exceedingly simple, and the premise is straightforward, A Short Hike does a fantastic job of highlighting the enjoyment we derive from going off the beaten path. But to do so would do the game a great disservice. A Short Hike is one of the shortest games you can play on Xbox Game Pass, clocking in at about two hours, and that’s being generous if you decide to beeline toward the top of Hawk Peak (the overall objective of the game).

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