A Tiny Wander is cute, cozy, and hiding something strange in the woods

Point-and-click games were my introduction to gaming way back in the early 90s, and I’ve had a soft spot for them my entire life. I have so many fond memories of weekends spent adventuring, solving puzzles, and uncovering crazy stories, and I’m always on the lookout for a new point-and-click adventure to steal my attention. 

It’s even better when the pointing and clicking isn’t entirely expected, as is the case with A Tiny Wander. This gorgeous hand-drawn cozy adventure is not described as a point-and-click game, but it does have many of the mechanics and more than a little of the charm that makes the genre so appealing. 

Cute graphics hide a strange tale

A Tiny Wander introduces you to its main character, an adorable hand-drawn delivery pig called Buie, when they pick up a package to be delivered to the furthest reaches of the Awry Forest. It’s an undeniably cute and charming introduction to the world, but it hides a darker and more confusing reality found within the forest itself. 

At first, despite passing some warning signs and having to break down a barricade on your way in, the Awry Forest doesn’t seem so bad. Everything is lovely; you’re just a delivery pig taking a stroll through the undergrowth. Then you get to a fork in the road that isn’t supposed to be there. No matter which direction you take, you end up back at the fork, where a statue tells you to turn back. 

If you ignore the warning, you will keep going forever, no matter which path you take, always ending up back at the fork. If you turn back, you encounter something otherworldly, pass out, and end up back at the barricade you broke down to get into the forest. There is something completely bizarre going on, and the story has barely begun. 

Side note: If you play the demo, please don’t do what I did and venture back into the forest a few times to test whether it’s different. It isn’t. I tested this theory so you don’t have to; please go the other way and experience the joy of A Tiny Wander as it was intended to be enjoyed. 

The friends we meet along the way

The point-and-click elements of A Tiny Wander come into play once you’ve distanced yourself from the Awry Forest, travelling with Buie to a more open and scenic area. Here, you’ll start collecting items in your inventory that can be used or combined to solve problems for Buie and the characters you meet along the way.

As you explore your surroundings in the demo, you’ll encounter other characters who need your help. One is stuck on an outcrop with no ramp to get down, leaving Buie to figure out how to build a new one. The puzzles aren’t too complex, helping the game retain its cozy atmosphere, while interactions with the characters you meet add to its charm in a way that is entirely wholesome despite the weirdness you’ve already experienced.

Once you’ve helped a character, they return to Buie’s camp, where you can talk to them and show them items from your inventory. Sometimes they’ll offer you something new that could prove useful in the future, but they’re always willing to offer advice. When the conversation is done, you can enjoy some coffee together before parting ways as friends in this strange world.

Detective Buie is on the case

Okay, so we’re not literally a detective. But Buie is a delivery pig with a notebook that automatically stores information about the world around them. Whenever you encounter something or someone new, you can open up your Memories journal and remind yourself of things you’ve already seen and may have forgotten. 

These memories don’t seem to play a huge part in the demo, but I suspect they’ll become indispensable in the full game, especially as you venture further into the world and try to figure out what’s really going on in the Awry Forest. 

The more people you meet, the more information you’ll end up juggling, so those memories could prove invaluable for keeping everything straight and solving riddles further down the line. 

An appetizer, perfectly cooked

According to the message at the end of the demo, what you’ve just experienced represents only 10% of the full game. That 10% is rich with lore and packed with teasers. The demo is perfectly done because while it leaves you with a ton of questions you’ll want answered in the full game, it also leaves you feeling somehow warmer inside. 

A Tiny Wander is more than just a tiny cozy adventure; it also feels like a lesson in kindness and perseverance. Buie never hesitates to help others when they’re in need, even when it means putting his own task on hold. I mean, sure, the Awry Forest is impossible to navigate and decidedly creepy, but Buie seems like the type of pig who would go out of his way to help others even if that wasn’t the case.

The demo of A Tiny Wander is available now on Steam, where you can also wishlist the full game. There isn’t a set release date yet, but you can follow developers Doukutsu Penguin Club on X for future updates.