Haven Park (2021)

This looks super cute. I just wish studios that don't have a connection to indigenous cultures wouldn't appropriate indigenous imagery/iconography. I know this studio is based in Germany and is probably not up on discourse surrounding the appropriation of indigenous and First Nations people in North (and even South) America, and I know that they are probably using things like the tipi/teepee because those structures have historically been appropriated through camping and Summer Camp practices, but I do wish devs like these would think about the implications of the images they use and reflect on what it means to include something that has such a long history of appropriation. I know a lot of people will look at a tipi and think nothing of it, or think that it is just another cute structure for their camp in this game, but the systematic incorporation of indigenous imagery and items into North American summer camp culture and structures has long been linked to the erasure of indigenous cultures (and especially to the residential school system in Canada). So I just wish devs would be more critical of the images they use before throwing them in a game.

For those interested in more on the relationship between camp culture, and specifically the role of programs like Girl Guides of Canada and other Scouting organizations played in the residential school system and reeducation of Indigenous youth, a good primer is Prof. Mary Jane McCallum's thesis To Make Good Canadians: Girl Guiding in Indian Residential Schools.

Grabbed this yesterday and played for about an hour this morning.

Definitely understand the comparison to A Short Hike, as it feels quite similar (you're a birb exploring the island), but it doesn't feel as...quaint and heartwarming as ASH. It has aspects of a build-your-town mobile game in a way, as you find campsites around the island and need to build them up using the few types of resources that you pick up. There's not really a time limit or anything though, and you can explore freely, so it's still relaxed.

You do get experience points for picking up resources, fixing lamps/torches, and building the campsites, and then you get skill points when you level to make exploring and finding resources easier. Pretty simple system.