Upcoming video game opens on flood and devastation, but you play as an otter who rescues stranded animals and watches nature reclaiming itself: 'Everybody wants to play as a cute otter!'

Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor

Jun 22, 2026 6:45 PM EDT

With the current state of events, we all need a little hope restored right now - and we really aren't surprised it comes in the form of cute animals and nature reclamation.

Who's to say what brings you hope, anyway? Hope comes in many shapes and forms, but it sometimes takes up the mantle of a digitized experience full of cute animals, where you're actively navigating the world as one. That's the power of video games - they let you experience a narrative through the eyes of someone else, a character. So it's really no wonder that such a hopeful experience comes in the shape of an animal-led wholesome video game. Just as @IndieGameJoe on X puts it: everybody wants to play as a cute otter.

Personally, we can't wait to get our hands on this game. There's no debut date yet, but we've already whislisted My Otter Friends on Steam, and are waiting patiently until we can dive into this wholesome experience. First of all, we're very dedicated gamers, of games of all genres, sizes, and polish levels. Secondly, we absolutely adore otters (like, what's not to like about a squeaky water pupper that holds paws with their peers?). And lastly, we're legit excited about the concept of nature reclamation in the face of calamity, and great nature video games are our jam.

We hope this little video game announcement gets you excited just as we are. As fellow animal lovers, we know you'll appreciate an otterly adorable addition to this world - especially when it seems we need hope the most right now.

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To be honest, we're low-key excited for this specific presented mission of returning the ducklings back to their mama duck - while they follow you in a waddling row. That's got to be the cutest thing we've seen all week. Besides, the entire concept of helping other animals in need is right up our alley - these are the stories we love, and when they're presented as a wholesome experience in a video game, we can't ignore them. It melts our hearts in the best way possible.
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Just to further explain, if you're not versed in video game lingo - what actually is a hopecore game? "Hopecore" is actually not a formal gaming genre, but rather a thematic aesthetic applied to video games. It features narratives or gameplay centered on radical optimism, resilience, and finding beauty in the face of darkness. Games in this category emphasize perseverance, personal growth, and emotional reassurance. So, naturally, games with a very adorable aesthetic that focuses on animals and the restoration of nature get slapped with the hopecore brand, no questions asked.
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