I played this game for Pay or Play 4th Cycle of 2024 and it was picked for me by Riku. Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park as you make your way to the summit. In A Short Hike you play as Claire, a young anthropomorphic black bird, who lives in the city. She has come to visit her Aunt May at the Hawk Peak Provincial Park where she works as a park ranger. It's a very chill and lovely little game where you go on a hike up the mountain! To get to the top, you need to gather some golden feathers to be able to climb and fly higher. The main story ends after you've reached the peak and talked with Aunt May about it, but you can explore the game after it just fine. I did almost everything before went up the mountain though, which is possible. It wasn't too difficult to play and to 100%. One of the achievements was time specific, so I changed the time on my pc to get it, as I would have otherwise forgotten it anyway. Other achievements were very straight forward, though I used an interactive map on google to find some of the collectibles. In the end though, the game is very lovely and I think it's worth to play, such a lovely little game.

I played this game for Pay or Play 3rd Cycle of 2024 and it was picked for me by VinroyIsViral. A delightfully challenging physics-based puzzle game that stands out with its quirky charm, intriguing narrative, and excellent soundtrack. The game tasks you with building structures out of goo balls to reach a goal, but don’t let its deceptively simple premise fool you—getting 100% completion is seriously hard and can leave you feeling overwhelmed at times. The story itself is surprisingly compelling for a puzzle game. It’s quirky, mysterious, and manages to keep you hooked throughout its various chapters. The narrative explores themes of corporate greed, technology, and environmentalism, all wrapped in an oddball yet thought-provoking package. One of the standout features is the soundtrack. The music is beautifully atmospheric, enhancing the game's emotional depth and drawing you into its bizarre world. It ranges from whimsical to haunting, perfectly fitting the mood of each level and making the overall experience much more immersive. If you're looking for a puzzle game that offers a unique experience with some real brain-bending challenges, it's absolutely worth checking out. Just be prepared to not get 100% easily unless you're up for a real test of patience and precision!