A Short Hike

 Switch
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 201 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 175 out of 201
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 201
  3. Negative: 10 out of 201

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Redfeather
    Aug 23, 2020
    10
    I can't recomend this game enough. Everything about it is beautiful and charming. Obviously not very long and a price tag matching the amount of time it took me to complete it, but I would have gladly paid double for the experience. An absolute jem, I look forward to anything else coming from the developer's.
  2. G_Ram
    Aug 22, 2020
    10
    This game is simply incredible. Such a beautiful experience. The visual style is lovely, the characters and writing are full of humour and personality. The island is varied and interesting. Its a short experience but worth the small price. I have just 100% completed it and loved every minute of it. I can’t recommend this game highly enough.
  3. Onioncreature
    Aug 20, 2020
    8
    The unique visual style is what first drew me in, but the charming writing, soothing music, and sense of exploration cemented this as an extremely worthwhile game.
  4. Brnlv
    Aug 21, 2020
    10
    A Short Hike is a charming comfort-food game in which you play a teenaged bird who must climb Hawk Peak in search of phone signal. Along the way you'll meet a hilarious cast of wisecracking animals who will teach you to climb, race, glide and fish, ask you to find lost property, share rumours and secrets, and more. It can be completed in 2-3 hours, but the game invites you to slow down andA Short Hike is a charming comfort-food game in which you play a teenaged bird who must climb Hawk Peak in search of phone signal. Along the way you'll meet a hilarious cast of wisecracking animals who will teach you to climb, race, glide and fish, ask you to find lost property, share rumours and secrets, and more. It can be completed in 2-3 hours, but the game invites you to slow down and enjoy this game world. Finding every collectible, catching every fish and uncovering every secret could fill ten hours or more, and the summer day atmosphere is so enjoyable that replaying it is a pleasure. A perfect feel-good indie game.… Expand
  5. Oscote
    Aug 25, 2020
    9
    A shockingly entertaining and rewarding game where I rarely went the correct way and was never punished for it.

    Pros: Entertaining, good controls, much more in-depth than I realized that there were 20+ feathers to find and get. The dialogue honestly was making me laugh. Great pick up for less than 10 Dollars. Cons: My only gripe is the camera angles switching on you can really mess    A shockingly entertaining and rewarding game where I rarely went the correct way and was never punished for it.

    Pros: Entertaining, good controls, much more in-depth than I realized that there were 20+ feathers to find and get. The dialogue honestly was making me laugh. Great pick up for less than 10 Dollars.

    Cons: My only gripe is the camera angles switching on you can really mess with the direction you are going in and you can, in one spot, clip the camera into the island and all you see is water where there should be land.    … Expand
  6. Bwnez0
    Aug 22, 2020
    10
    A relaxing piece of art with no real flaws other than I just wish it was a bigger game. Still not bored after many hours of just traversing this serene island.
  7. CoolestCritic
    Nov 26, 2020
    10
    The game's pixel graphics really add to the game, creating a 3D experience that I could never recreate. The story is amazing and the beautiful view from places like the top of Mount Hawk are absolutely stunning. The gliding really puts the icing on the cake by giving you the ability to fly and explore. I would recommend this to ALL my friends.
  8. utrzenaklika
    Jan 8, 2021
    10
    This is game - while you play u relax, no stres just you and open world island with characters.
  9. OpinionsOfJinx
    Jan 24, 2021
    10
    My first impression of A Short Hike is that it was incredibly heartwarming. With so much to do in the world, it encourages multiple playthroughs, or for the player to take their time. I loved finding secrets and interacting with the numerous characters throughout the land. The story is short and sweet, with lots of side plots to dive into. If you want a game that will melt your worriesMy first impression of A Short Hike is that it was incredibly heartwarming. With so much to do in the world, it encourages multiple playthroughs, or for the player to take their time. I loved finding secrets and interacting with the numerous characters throughout the land. The story is short and sweet, with lots of side plots to dive into. If you want a game that will melt your worries away, A Short Hike is it.… Expand
  10. JoeyPL5
    Nov 16, 2021
    10
    2 hours of absolute perfection. It's like the Great Plateau from Breath of the Wild but with the relaxed peaceful nature of Animal Crossing.
  11. Caetano1501
    Aug 20, 2020
    10
    A magical journey in a world that mixes Animal Crossing and Breath of the Wild. The experience is extremely relaxing and rewarding. I was expecting an ok game and was surprised with a hidden gem.
  12. EmCza
    Aug 26, 2020
    10
    10 out of 10 is a too low. One of the greatest adventures available on Switch
  13. JRice
    Jan 3, 2021
    8
    Extremely short and simple, and i was painfully missing an ingame map, but still, made with love and passion, and a nice and reaxing experience...
    Also, +1 score for being completely free of violence, and for allowing the player an extreme amount of freedom and exploration.
  14. SuperkenGaming
    Nov 21, 2020
    8
    A Short Hike
    Short But sweet
    A Short Hike is a tiny adventure game where you play as Clair, a bird that sets out to reach the top of Hawks Peak so that she can make a phone call to her mom… as the name suggests short hike can be quite the short game, you can easily beat thi game in less than an hr and a half.. but a short hike isn’t about beating it, its about experiencing its world… A    A Short Hike
    Short But sweet
    A Short Hike is a tiny adventure game where you play as Clair, a bird that sets out to reach the top of Hawks Peak so that she can make a phone call to her mom… as the name suggests short hike can be quite the short game, you can easily beat thi game in less than an hr and a half.. but a short hike isn’t about beating it, its about experiencing its world…
    A short hike is so full of charm and things to do, from collecting shells, finding secrets treasures, obtaining new items..fishing.. finding lost items… all to do one thing.. obtain more golden feathers o you can climb and fly your way to the top of the mountain, and I loved every minute of it…
    hile its visuals aren’t the best, they will grow on you… If youre into adventure games, where the goal is to just explore and take in the view, I highly recommend a short hike
    I give A Short Hike
    a 7.5/10    … Expand
  15. xellos81
    Jan 23, 2023
    9
    awww I loved this game so much!
    Is one of my favourite in the last 10 years
    A magical/friendly journey
    Take your time, and enjoy this lovely walk
  16. CharlieGray
    Aug 26, 2020
    10
    This game is absolutely stunning, relaxing and allows you to play at your own pace. Tho pretty short, it's a wonderful experience and would recommend it to anyone!
  17. nusco
    Oct 2, 2020
    8
    Many games sell themselves as "chilled" or "relaxing", but A Short Hike is the game that I wish I could play again and again when I'm looking to ease my mind. Unfortunately, it doesn't lend itself to repeated play–and like its name says, it's extremely short. I'm a very slow player, but even I could see the ending of this game in about two hours.

    That short playtime, however, is not a    Many games sell themselves as "chilled" or "relaxing", but A Short Hike is the game that I wish I could play again and again when I'm looking to ease my mind. Unfortunately, it doesn't lend itself to repeated play–and like its name says, it's extremely short. I'm a very slow player, but even I could see the ending of this game in about two hours.

    That short playtime, however, is not a shortcoming. On the contrary, this game is made even better by its limited length. For those two hours, A Short Hike tells a heartwarming little story, set in a nice miniature open world, full of paths to explore and side quests to complete. None of those side quests feels boring–you won't see any pointless collect-a-thons in this game. Everything has a place, and contributes to make A Short Hike a beautiful, if quick, escapade.    … Expand
  18. thecasualgaymer
    Feb 16, 2021
    9
    A personal favorite of mine and a perfect example of why gameplay time is not and should not be King.
    What starts as a fairly cute little quest to climb a mountain leads to a shockingly full island of fun and adorable activities, all of which seem designed specially to get you relaxed and happy.

    For anyone looking for a game to lift their spirits, there's nothing better.
  19. aukalender
    Oct 11, 2021
    8
    What about that! A lovely, charming game. I really enjoyed it. I felt drawn to the world. The controls and flying around, jumping all felt nice. The characters are very sympathetic, the dialogue is funny, the colors and the art style are cute. Simply loved it and will go back to re-play after a while. This is a delightful game, showing us what games can be with a bit of vision.
  20. Bradaloop
    Jul 29, 2021
    8
    An enjoyable but incredibly short experience as the title suggests. Quite a quaint little journey.
  21. Kacek1996
    Nov 14, 2020
    8
    I've got pretty late on a "A Short Hike" hype train, but I'm here! It's an indie adventure game that may seem like nothing special, but in reality it's different. Starting from graphics, it has a low resolution, but it gives an option to choose between smooth edges and chunky pixelated ones (I chose the smooth ones xD). Exploration in this game is what makes it truly great. In every partI've got pretty late on a "A Short Hike" hype train, but I'm here! It's an indie adventure game that may seem like nothing special, but in reality it's different. Starting from graphics, it has a low resolution, but it gives an option to choose between smooth edges and chunky pixelated ones (I chose the smooth ones xD). Exploration in this game is what makes it truly great. In every part of the island camera is set in a way so the player cannot take a peek at some stuff. It makes the exploration experience more intriguing. There are some quests to do, but mostly it's the pure exploration. Obviously, you can rush to the peak of the island to finish the game. However, I cannot relate to people who rush games xd
    It's a short game even without the rush, I think it took me 4 or 5 hours to finish it at 100%. To be honest, I collected my last 2 golden and 2 silver feathers after reaching the peak of the mountain... Soundtrack was comfortable, visuals were vibrant and colorful, controls were easy to understand and the overall experience was satisfying. I really adore the aspect of climbing as well as gliding in the exploration games and here both of these mechanics were phenomenal. Short and Sweet, comfy game for a one sitting!    … Expand
  22. Mbp_
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A 10 doesn't describe how magical this game really is. The artstyle is great, but the focus lays on that journey you're going through. When you start the game, you have no idea where to go, what to do, or where everything is. You slowly understand what your goal is, climbing that beeg mountain, but you have no ideahow to get to the top. The time between between beginning the game and being on top of the mountain is one of the nicest experiences I had playing a video game. Even though you're playing someone elses journey, it feels like its your journey. Sure, the game isn't too long and the camera can be a threat sometimes, but thats about all the critic I can give this game. If there isn't some banger at the end of this year, this is easily my personal game of the year.… Expand
  23. Meeleepit
    Sep 2, 2020
    8
    A short hike is one of those feel good games.

    The environment and game play is relaxing ,the characters is quirky and sweet.

    The artwork is amazing.

    Played it at a very slow pace to experience the whole world, took about 4 hours to complete.

    Well done to the creators of this title.

    Well worth the play.
  24. Nakajima
    Sep 20, 2020
    9
    Great game, loved to play it. Could be bigger, hope they launch another one in the near future it’s a must buy, great sound, design and feel. Very relaxing to play.
  25. BrownKnight
    Jul 15, 2021
    9
    Don't expect the game of the year, but it is truly a very relaxing experience and, considering the cost, it's a must buy if you like this kind of games.
    The whole world has been cared for and you feel it throughout the journey. The plot is very simplistic but not in a bad way: it lets you focus on little details so that you can enjoy every inch of the island.
    This game can be shortly    Don't expect the game of the year, but it is truly a very relaxing experience and, considering the cost, it's a must buy if you like this kind of games.
    The whole world has been cared for and you feel it throughout the journey. The plot is very simplistic but not in a bad way: it lets you focus on little details so that you can enjoy every inch of the island.
    This game can be shortly described with "a breath of fresh air".    … Expand
  26. tokkisplat
    Feb 16, 2021
    10
    One of the most pleasant experiences I've ever had playing a game. If anyone worries about the length, you really shouldn't, for what this is it's the perfect length. Made an account just to post this review. Brought me back to when I was a kid, and you'd just spend a lazy weekend afternoon exploring in a game, in a time before progression, before youtube walkthroughs.
  27. fanmadeendings
    Jun 19, 2022
    8
    Two of the comfiest hours I've ever had. Artstyle and music are absolutely lovely. Also, the feather collecting is very satisfying. This game knows what it wants to do and succeeds at it greatly! If you like chill out games, this one is for you!
  28. EnigmaXtreme
    Aug 25, 2020
    8
    You play as Claire, a young bird who is visiting Hawk Peak Provincial Park. She’s brought here for an unknown reason with another unknown bird whose relationship you can only guess. For now, you know Claire isn’t happy to be here and is awaiting a phone call. The bird who brought you here suggests hiking up to the summit of Hawk Peak. It’s a climb that the bird says: “We’ve all made theYou play as Claire, a young bird who is visiting Hawk Peak Provincial Park. She’s brought here for an unknown reason with another unknown bird whose relationship you can only guess. For now, you know Claire isn’t happy to be here and is awaiting a phone call. The bird who brought you here suggests hiking up to the summit of Hawk Peak. It’s a climb that the bird says: “We’ve all made the trek before”. And you go off to do just that.

    In the beginning you’re doing this to get that sweet sweet phone call. You find characters along the way and stop to interact with them. You learn how to play the game, climb the mountain, and discover the trades to be made. But you also learn Claire is familiar with Hawk Peak as she knows some of the residents by name. So why was she so unhappy to return?

    Imagine if you will a more quaint and wholesome Breath Of The Wild. Sure you can bumrush it into the castle and good luck to you if you beat Gannon in your underwear. But are you sure you want to do that on the first try? Would you rather do that or climb this tree and that mountain just because you can? How about talking to NPCs and taking sidequests, just because you can. After all, it wasn’t the price tag that made Breath Of The Wild so amazing. But the content found inside that made you love every moment of your experience.

    Along the way I meet a colorful cast of characters who made my journey up the mountain all the more delightful and entertaining. I stomped around in rage because I couldn’t find the struggling painter to tell him I love his work. I dug every spot I laid eyes on to find a man’s treasured watch. Oh, you believe in me friendly kids? Then sure I’ll play a couple more rounds of BeachStickBall with you! Oh man, tuition huh? Yeah that’s a mood, I’ll help you out then.

    Every character you encounter is pleasant. Even the ones who rub you the wrong way, you know they have their reasons for being a little sour. Claire herself is a wonderful character to play as. You’re not given a choice to reject some of these requests like finding the watch. Instead she says she’ll help you because she understands how important this is to you. You are able to opt out of a race, a round of BeachStickBall, and finding the painter again. But she always says the right thing and the response from those around her is “oh hey man don’t worry about it.”

    As I continued onward I couldn’t help but notice the game’s sense of humor. Sometimes the dev just said **** it” in the bst of ways. He saved the heavy real world moments for the right times and right characters. But there’s times where you can break away and read a sign or encounter a character that contains a shameless snark that I can’t help but admire.

    I think the cute and simple pixelated graphics are what allows the map to be bigger than what it is. I had this constant reminder of how it was easier to fall and glide down the mountain than it is climbing up. When I looked down and saw the smooth waves rise and fall against the coast, and trees and flowers sway in the wind, the world was all the more alive to me.

    A Short Hike wouldn’t have been complete without its soundtrack. Mark Sparling has uploaded his OST onto YouTube for your listening pleasure and I will do just that. The transition between tracks flows smooth as silk. Each song gives way for one another as you enter different areas Hawk Peak. From the sunny, populated beaches, to quiet forest and rainy coves. As you climb higher and higher the OST lifts your spirits by cheering you onwards to the top.

    As you near the peak, the most challenging segment of Claire’s climb, the OST becomes more somber. It’s a transitional song. No longer cheering you onwards but whispering to you to not give up as you’re almost at the top. It’s a song about Claire and her journey so far. You can hear this song as you want. To you it may be about what brought her to Hawk Peak. Her entering adulthood or finding her own person at the top of this mountain. I think that the song is about her climb, forgetting what’s below her and looking ahead at her goal.

    And when you reach the summit, you forget what brought you here in the first place.

    A Short Hike is a game that you HAVE to savor. If you really want to get the most out of this game take your sweet time with it. Talk to everyone you meet, dick around a bit, help those around you, find, explore, collect. It’s easily a game you can pour upwards of five hours into if you insist on doing as much as you can before reaching the top of Hawk Peak. And I feel like if you do just that, the soar back down will be much more rewarding.    … Expand
  29. Hazman
    May 26, 2021
    10
    I love A Short Hike. It's one of my favourite games of all time. With charming characters and fun, engaging gameplay, i would recommend this game to everyone
  30. swampthings
    Dec 30, 2020
    10
    This is an amazing game. The game itself is very short. I think you can finish it in about an hour easily. It's very relaxing...this game actually follows through on the promise of being a relaxing game.

    It's basically you climbing up a mountain, and then finding and earning feathers so that you can fly around, and flying is crucial for reaching the very top of the mountain.    This is an amazing game. The game itself is very short. I think you can finish it in about an hour easily. It's very relaxing...this game actually follows through on the promise of being a relaxing game.

    It's basically you climbing up a mountain, and then finding and earning feathers so that you can fly around, and flying is crucial for reaching the very top of the mountain.

    Initially the graphics are really bad, but you can fix it in the settings. Some people may like the weird, low rez graphics. I've already played through twice, and I'll probably play through it again a time or two.    … Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Switch Game of 2020
14
#14 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 28, 2021
    90
    A Short Hike is a heartwarming journey that doesn't last long, but will stick with you long after it's done. [Issue #49 – November/December 2020, p. 23]
  2. Ninty Fresh Magazine
    Dec 21, 2020
    95
    A Short Hike is a small but fully realised world: packed with great characters and emotional moments. There’s no better way to spend an afternoon. [Issue #2, p.56]
  3. Nintendojo
    Dec 2, 2020
    83
    Though A Short Hike doesn’t bring much new to the table (many elements will feel similar to Journey, Celeste, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Animal Crossing, or Stardew Valley), the game combines familiar mechanics so well that A Short Hike, despite a few small drawbacks, is a well put together, relaxing game you shouldn’t miss out on.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »