A Corgi's Cozy Hike Preview

Platformers have become one of my favourite genres these last few years because they embody everything the adventure genre is about — exploration, fast-paced action, fun, and — IS THAT A SQUIRREL?!

Jokes aside, I think I would try any cute platformer, especially if it involves a dog or a frog, so it was a no-brainer for me to download A Corgi's Cozy Hike when I found it among the demos on Steam Next Fest. In this charming title, we play as a little corgi who sets off on an adventure to find all the ancient corgi statues that grant wishes, but that's hardly the most magical part about the experience! The vibrant world has all sorts of activities to keep us distracted from our main goal, such as hidden toys, collectible outfits, and a lot of incredibly nice NPCs!

While I am a big fan of games with a retro style because nostalgia has such a grip on my heart, one of the things that most touched me was that the game is created by people who obviously really love and care for dogs, so a percentage of the revenue will go to finding canines of all ages a "furever home". This love is evident in every aspect of the game's demo, and as a dog owner and adorer, it was an overall heartwarming experience.

As you run around the world exploring, aside from getting some quests from NPCs here and there, you can also find lost dogs. As you do, you can boop 'em on their little head and send them off to your sanctuary! While in the demo we don't get to upgrade or advance it a lot, there was mention of it unlocking more perks as you get more puppers and volunteers. And while you're running rampant across the colourful areas, you'll also find some bones that work as currency to unlock all sorts of adorable cosmetics! Yet another huge plus for me.

My biggest worry going in had been that the controls might be a bit cumbersome (admittedly, this might've been because of the retro style of the game), but I was very wrong. The corgi moves smoothly whether he's gliding, running, or jumping! In fact, I was ecstatic to learn that you can choose to use the triggers or the other buttons to do things like run or hold toys in your mouth, as triggers don't end up hurting my thumbs' tendinitis!

Another issue I've found in other platformers like these is that the collectibles are a bit boring to find, but in A Corgi's Cozy Hike, I thought they were excellent! Even in the small area we get to explore in the demo, I had a lot of fun looking for the bones and cosmetics!

Overall, A Corgi's Cozy Hike has officially become one of the games I am most looking forward to! I literally cannot recommend it more; Scalisco has created an incredible experience already! Make sure to wishlist it on Steam if you're interested! The game comes out in Q1 2025.