A little play. A little fresh air. For Aotearoa New Zealand
Kiwi Game GardenGOOD GAMES. FRESH AIR.
A turquoise lake, native-coloured forest and snow-dusted mountains in New Zealand

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND · GAME DISCOVERY

A little play.
A world of discovery.

Find a game worth slowing down for. Eight thoughtful guides, a curious little kiwi and a fresh path to your next adventure.

Find your next game ↗Follow the kiwi ↓

No adverts. No paid rankings. Just a place to explore.

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Big landscapes. Small moments. Your own pace.

Koru, an illustrated brown kiwi, running along the garden path
Meet Koru. Always curious. Never in a hurry.

01 / TAKE THE SCENIC ROUTE

A good game is
just around the bend.

Pick a stop on the garden trail.
Let Koru show you something new.

Koru at the selected garden stop

01 / EXPLORATION

Sable

Leave the familiar behind. A hoverbike, a vast desert and the freedom to follow your own curiosity.

↗

01 / 08

02 / THE GAME GARDEN

Room for every
kind of player.

Choose a mood, find a trail and see what makes each game worth a closer look.

Decorative exploration landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 01Dune trackEXPLORATION · UNHURRIED DISCOVERY

Exploration · 2021

Sable

Leave the familiar behind. A hoverbike, a vast desert and the freedom to follow your own curiosity.

PC · PlayStation · Xbox
Open the field notes +

Travel through a desert of dunes, settlements and enormous wrecks. Climbing, conversations and collecting masks shape a coming-of-age journey without combat. The pleasure is in choosing your own direction rather than following a busy checklist.

A good fit for

Explorers who enjoy finding their own way and do not need combat to keep a journey interesting.

A good place to pause

Park at a settlement after finishing a conversation or a small quest.

Before you buy

A paid base game. Check the official store for current New Zealand prices and editions.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Shedworks. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative action landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 02Colour clearingACTION · COLOURFUL COMPETITION

Action · 2022

Splatoon 3

Paint the map, move through your ink and make every three-minute match a little brighter.

Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

In Turf War, two teams compete to cover the most ground in their own colour. Swimming through ink is as important as aiming. Story challenges and co-operative Salmon Run offer different ways to play beyond the main competitive mode.

A good fit for

Friends who enjoy quick team matches, lively movement and a playful visual style.

A good place to pause

Finish a match before deciding whether to queue again. Agree a number of matches first.

Before you buy

A paid game. Online play generally requires Nintendo Switch Online; paid expansion content is also available.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Nintendo. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative puzzles landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 03Lookout loopPUZZLES · A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Puzzles · 2023

Viewfinder

What if a photograph became a place you could walk into? Change the picture. Change the world.

PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

Place photographs into the environment and watch flat images become three-dimensional spaces. Bridges, doors and paths appear from pictures. A rewind mechanic encourages experimentation when a clever idea does not quite work.

A good fit for

Puzzle fans who like visual surprises and compact spaces built around one strong idea.

A good place to pause

Reach a teleporter and finish the current puzzle before taking a break.

Before you buy

A paid base game. Check your platform’s New Zealand store for the current edition and price.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Sad Owl Studios. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative exploration landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 04Island trailEXPLORATION · ISLAND DAYDREAMS

Exploration · 2023

Tchia

Sail towards the horizon, play a little music and borrow the wings of a passing bird.

PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

This open-world adventure takes inspiration from New Caledonia. Tchia can climb, glide, sail and take control of animals and objects through soul-jumping. Exploration and music sit alongside a story about rescuing her father.

A good fit for

Players who enjoy open-ended travel, playful movement and discovering a distinctive setting.

A good place to pause

Finish a story objective, then find a comfortable place to leave your journey.

Before you buy

A paid game; editions and optional content vary by platform. Check the official listing.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Awaceb. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative puzzles landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 05Camera creekPUZZLES · SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS

Puzzles · 2021

TOEM

Pack your camera. There are strangers to help and lovely little details everywhere you look.

PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

Explore a hand-drawn world and solve requests by taking photographs. Each area is a small space full of visual jokes, hidden details and people who need a hand. Helping them earns the stamps needed to travel onwards.

A good fit for

Observant players, shared sofa sessions and anyone looking for a gentle, compact adventure.

A good place to pause

Finish the requests in an area and stop before taking the next bus.

Before you buy

A paid game. Availability, offers and additional content should be checked in your New Zealand store.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Something We Made. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative action landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 06Eagle ridgeACTION · MOVEMENT WITH MOMENTUM

Action · 2020

The Pathless

An archer, an eagle and a whole island to cross. Let the next arrow carry you further.

PC · PlayStation · Xbox · Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

Build speed by shooting floating talismans, glide with an eagle companion and solve puzzles in ancient ruins. The journey alternates free exploration with encounters against corrupted spirits. Stylised action is part of the experience.

A good fit for

Players who value fluid movement, atmospheric landscapes and puzzles between action sequences.

A good place to pause

Complete a ruin puzzle or a major encounter before ending the session.

Before you buy

A paid game. Check the official platform listing for current New Zealand pricing and requirements.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Giant Squid. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative exploration landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 07City gardenEXPLORATION · A LITTLE EVERYDAY MISCHIEF

Exploration · 2024

Little Kitty, Big City

The city is very big. You are very small. Fortunately, there is always something to knock over.

PC · Xbox · Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

A curious cat explores a city while trying to get home. Climb, collect hats, investigate side streets and help an assortment of animals. The focus is on playful discovery and small tasks rather than pressure or punishment.

A good fit for

Cat lovers and players who prefer light-hearted exploration to demanding challenges.

A good place to pause

Finish a favour for another animal, then leave the next street for later.

Before you buy

A paid base game. Store prices and subscription availability can change.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Double Dagger Studio. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

Decorative puzzles landscape, not official game artworkGARDEN GUIDE / 08Sprout patchLIFE SIM · GROW SOMETHING PECULIAR

Life sim · 2022

Ooblets

Grow a garden, befriend odd little creatures and settle disagreements on the dance floor.

PC · Xbox · Nintendo Switch
Open the field notes +

Farming and town life meet a turn-based dance system. Plant crops, collect creatures, help neighbours and build a routine at your own pace. Dance moves use cards, but this is a life simulation, not a casino game.

A good fit for

Players who like gentle routines, collecting creatures and cheerful, eccentric writing.

A good place to pause

Finish an in-game day and save before starting another morning.

Before you buy

A paid game. Check the official store for prices, editions and any optional content.

Check the official New Zealand classification, accessibility information and system requirements for your chosen platform.

Official game website ↗

Developer: Glumberland. This is a discovery guide, not a scored hands-on review.

03 / LEAVE ROOM FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY

Good times.
Good stopping points.

Make a little room for play, then leave a little room for everything else. Your timer stays in this tab — no account, no saved history.

  • Pick a natural stopping point.
  • Look away from the screen regularly.
  • Leave yourself time to wind down.
A small guide to playing well ↗
YOUR PLAY-TIME PLANReady when you are
60:00

Choose a duration, then start your session.

A reminder, not a device-wide time limit. Keep this tab open.

04 / BEFORE YOU WANDER OFF

A few things
worth knowing.

Can I play games on this website?+

No. The garden trail is a way to explore our game guides, not hosted games. Official links take you to developers or publishers. We offer no downloads, wagering or prizes.

Are these independent reviews?+

These are unscored discovery guides based on publicly available game information, not claims that we have played or completed each title. There are no paid placements or affiliate links in this build. Read our approach for the distinction.

What should I check before buying?+

Check the current New Zealand store price in NZD, your platform, the age classification and any subscription or optional-content costs. Classification information can differ by country and edition.

Does the planner remember my sessions?+

No. The timer runs only in this open tab and resets on reload. It does not track play on other websites or devices. Use your device’s family or screen-time settings for stronger limits.

Who is the little kiwi?+

Koru is our original illustrated kiwi companion. Follow the garden trail to discover game guides. The bird is decorative navigation, not a game with scores or prizes; you can pause the animation at any time.

Good games grow
from a little curiosity.

Back to the garden ↑