--- title: "Games like Summer in Mara: island picks (2026) | A Short Sail" description: "Games like Summer in Mara, for its island home, its little boat and its sunny sea: Mika and The Witch's Mountain, Tchia, Coral Island, Luma Island and more." url: https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/ published: 2026-12-01 updated: 2026-12-01 author: "Yos Riady" image: https://ashortsail.com/og/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara.jpg --- # Games like Summer in Mara: island picks (2026) Games like Summer in Mara, for its island home, its little boat and its sunny sea: Mika and The Witch's Mountain, Tchia, Coral Island, Luma Island and more. By [Yos Riady](https://ashortsail.com/authors/yos-riady/) · Published 1 December 2026 · **Last checked: 1 November 2026** The best games like Summer in Mara are **Mika and The Witch's Mountain** (from the same studio, Chibig), **Tchia** (tropical islands to sail and climb) and **Coral Island** (a bigger island farm by the sea). For an island farm with friends, play **Luma Island**. Below are 10 games, grouped by the part of Summer in Mara you loved most, with honest notes. ![The cat sails the little boat at dawn, past tall sea stacks and a rock arch under a pink sky.](https://ashortsail.com/_astro/34-sail-dawn.DB6H-LL0_1T71bk.jpg) Featured · our own game ## Our pick: A Short Sail (we made it) We make this one. It is in the list below too, marked as ours, so you can weigh it next to the others. It is a cozy sailing game: you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat, delivering mail, fishing and making friends, alone or online with friends. There are no timers, and the only battles are gentle ones at sea. Coming in Q1 2027. Free demo in your browser at play.ashortsail.com. Windows, Mac, Web and Steam Deck. [See the game](https://ashortsail.com/) [Play the free demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) ## At a glance | Game | Best for | Length | Platforms | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Mika and The Witch's Mountain](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#mika-and-the-witchs-mountain) | Players who loved Summer in Mara's soft colors and kind island folk | About 3 hours | PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox | | [Tchia](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#tchia) | Players who want a sunny island world to roam, with a boat | About 7.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X | | [Sail Forth](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#sail-forth) | Players who want sailing to be the whole game | About 16 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | | [A Short Sail](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#a-short-sail) | Players who loved Koa's boat trips and the people on each island | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | | [Coral Island](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#coral-island) | Players who want a bigger, sunnier island farm with the sea close by | About 56.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X | | [Luma Island](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#luma-island) | Players who want an island farm and puzzles with friends | About 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC | | [Stardew Valley](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#stardew-valley) | Players who want a long, gentle life to return to | About 53 hours for the main goals (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux | | [Dinkum](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#dinkum) | Players who want to build up a whole island town | About 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch | | [Spiritfarer](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#spiritfarer) | Players who want a boat that is also a home | About 25.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android | | [Moonglow Bay](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#moonglow-bay) | Players who like fishing, cooking and small-town stories | About 19 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Lengths are main-story times from HowLongToBeat or player estimates, checked 1 November 2026. ## What Summer in Mara fans want In Summer in Mara, you are Koa, a girl who lives on a small tropical island. You grow crops, craft tools, and sail your boat to other islands for quests and trade, with no fighting. Players who loved it usually want more of one of three things: the Chibig look and heart, sailing between islands, or an island home to grow. We grouped the picks that way. ## Our picks - **Same studio:** Mika and The Witch’s Mountain - **Best islands to roam:** Tchia - **Most sailing:** Sail Forth - **Best island farm:** Coral Island - **With friends:** Luma Island - **Our own game:** [A Short Sail](https://ashortsail.com/) (a cat, a sailboat and friends across the islands) ## If you loved the Chibig look ### Mika and The Witch’s Mountain **Who it is for:** players who loved Summer in Mara’s soft colors and kind island folk. Mika is a young witch who lands in a small island town at the foot of a mountain. To earn her keep, she delivers parcels by broom. Each job takes you to a new corner of the island, and as you earn upgrades you can fly higher up the mountain. There is no combat. The downside: it is short, about an afternoon or two, and the broom takes time to master. Parcels can break if you crash. *Developer: Chibig, Nukefist | Year: 2025 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox | Length: about 3 hours | Steam: Very Positive* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1819460/) ## If you loved sailing between islands ### Tchia **Who it is for:** players who want a sunny island world to roam, with a boat. You climb, glide, swim and sail around an archipelago inspired by New Caledonia. You can jump into animals and objects, and play a real ukulele. It is warm, funny and full of color. More picks in [games like Tchia](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-tchia/). The downside: it has some fights with fabric soldiers, and the story turns serious. There is no farm. *Developer: Awaceb | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 7.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1496590/) ### Sail Forth **Who it is for:** players who want sailing to be the whole game. You command a small fleet across a big, colorful ocean, meet fish-folk crews, and chart dozens of island regions. The wind and sail system feels real but stays easy to learn. There is a free-sail mode for pure cruising. The downside: you fight pirate ships with cannons, and there is no island home to look after. *Developer: Festive Vector | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 16 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1031460/) ### A Short Sail **Who it is for:** players who loved Koa’s boat trips and the people on each island. You are a little tabby cat with a sailboat, and the islands need your help. You pick up letters and parcels, pack them into your hold, and deliver them to folks. You fish by day and by night, chat with the islanders and make new friends, and build your home island, one plank at a time. There are no timers, and there is no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves. You can play alone or online with friends. What is different: there is no farming and no crafting. The sailing, the post and the friends are the whole game. There is no fighting on foot, only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves, and you can play alone or online with friends. It comes out in Q1 2027, and a free demo plays in your browser now. *Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com* | [Play the demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) ## If you loved your island home ### Coral Island **Who it is for:** players who want a bigger, sunnier island farm with the sea close by. You move to a tropical island to farm, fish, raise animals and help clean up a damaged coral reef, which you can dive on. The town is large and diverse, with lots of festivals. The downside: it is a heavy game for older PCs, and the mines have creatures to fight. It is much longer than Summer in Mara. *Developer: Stairway Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 56.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158160/) ### Luma Island **Who it is for:** players who want an island farm and puzzles with friends. You buy an old farm on Luma Island. Then you explore the island, find hidden temples and caves, solve their puzzles, and collect small magical creatures called Lumas. You pick professions like cook, fisher, or treasure hunter. Up to four players can play together online. More in [games like Luma Island](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-luma-island/). The downside: it has a lot of crafting, mining and farming, and it is on PC only for now. *Developer: Feel Free Games | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC | Length: about 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2408820/) ### Stardew Valley **Who it is for:** players who want a long, gentle life to return to. You take over an old farm, grow crops, make friends, and help a small town. There is a beach to fish from and a calendar of festivals. The downside: there is no boat to sail, and the in-game clock and the long to-do list can feel like pressure. *Developer: ConcernedApe | Year: 2016 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux | Length: about 53 hours for the main goals (HowLongToBeat) | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/413150/) ### Dinkum **Who it is for:** players who want to build up a whole island town. You move to an island inspired by the Australian outback and build up a town. You farm, fish and catch bugs at your own pace, and a museum opens once the town has grown a little. The downside: Dinkum calls itself a survival life sim. You hunt, there are some dangerous animals, and it is less gentle than Summer in Mara. *Developer: James Bendon | Year: 2025 | Platforms: PC, Switch | Length: about 31 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062520/) ## If you loved life by the sea ### Spiritfarer **Who it is for:** players who want a boat that is also a home. You run a ferry for spirits. You grow food, cook, fish and build rooms on your boat, and you sail between islands to meet new spirits and gather what you need. The downside: it is about saying goodbye, so it can be sad. The middle has a lot of chores. *Developer: Thunder Lotus | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android | Length: about 25.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/972660/) ### Moonglow Bay **Who it is for:** players who like fishing, cooking and small-town stories. You play a person in their sixties who takes up fishing after losing their partner. You fish from a boat, cook your catch, and help a sleepy town recover. More in [games like Moonglow Bay](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-moonglow-bay/). The downside: Steam reviews are Mixed, so read a few before you buy. *Developer: Bunnyhug | Year: 2021 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 19 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable* | [Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1361400/) ## Watch out - **Fights:** Tchia, Sail Forth, Coral Island’s mines and Dinkum’s wild animals bring some combat that Summer in Mara does not have. - **Busy farms:** Coral Island, Luma Island and Stardew Valley have far longer to-do lists than Summer in Mara. - **Steam Deck:** Summer in Mara is Unsupported. Most picks here are Verified or Playable. ## How we picked Each pick shares at least one big part of Summer in Mara: the Chibig look, a boat between islands, an island home, or a gentle life by the sea. We took platforms, lengths and Steam Deck ratings from the facts other guides on this site use, checked in October and November 2026. ## Related guides - [Cozy island games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/cozy-island-games/) - [Best cozy beach games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/best-cozy-beach-games/) - [Best cozy sailing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/best-cozy-sailing-games/) - [Games like Tchia](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-tchia/) - [Games like Luma Island](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-luma-island/) - [Games like Stardew Valley](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-stardew-valley/) ## Questions ### What is the closest game to Summer in Mara? Mika and The Witch's Mountain is the closest in look and heart, because Chibig made both. It swaps the boat for a broom: Mika delivers parcels around a small island town. For an island home with farming and the sea, Coral Island is the closest in play. ### Is there a game like Summer in Mara with more sailing? Yes. Sail Forth puts sailing at the center, with a fleet and a big ocean to chart. Tchia has a small boat and tropical islands to climb. A Short Sail, which we make, has you sail between islands as a tabby cat, delivering the post. ### Are there games like Summer in Mara with farming? Yes. Coral Island and Stardew Valley are full farm games with towns to help, and Coral Island adds a reef to dive on. Luma Island is a farm and adventure game you can play with friends. Each one is longer and busier than Summer in Mara. ### Is Summer in Mara on Steam Deck? Steam marks Summer in Mara as Unsupported on Steam Deck, so try it on a Windows PC or a Switch first. Most picks here are Verified, including Tchia, Coral Island, Luma Island and Spiritfarer. Moonglow Bay and Dinkum are Playable. ### How long is Summer in Mara? Summer in Mara takes about 20.5 hours for the main story, according to HowLongToBeat. Tchia is shorter, at about 7.5 hours. Luma Island takes about 31 hours, and Coral Island about 56.5 hours, so those two give you many more weeks on an island. ### Does Summer in Mara have combat? No. Summer in Mara has no fighting, and that is part of its charm. Mika and The Witch's Mountain and Spiritfarer are also free of combat. Tchia, Sail Forth and Dinkum have some, so we note it in each entry below. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [island games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/island-games/) - [sailing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/sailing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) **Written by [Yos Riady](https://ashortsail.com/authors/yos-riady/)** Yos Riady is the solo developer making A Short Sail, a cozy sailing game. ## Related guides - 29 Nov 2026 ### [Games like Tchia: 10 sunny island picks (2026)](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-tchia/) Games like Tchia, for its tropical islands, its little boat and its climbing: Summer in Mara, Sail Forth, A Short Hike, Wavetale and more, with honest notes. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [island games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/island-games/) - [sailing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/sailing-games/) - [exploration games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/exploration-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - 9 Dec 2026 ### [A Short Sail vs Tchia: which to play?](https://ashortsail.com/blog/a-short-sail-vs-tchia/) A Short Sail and Tchia are both bright island games with boats and music. An honest comparison: what is alike, what is different and who should pick which. - [a short sail](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/a-short-sail/) - [sailing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/sailing-games/) - [island games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/island-games/) - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - 9 Nov 2026 ### [Best cozy beach games (2026): 10 sunny games by the sea](https://ashortsail.com/blog/best-cozy-beach-games/) The best cozy beach games: sunny islands, warm water and summer towns by the sea. 10 picks with lengths, platforms, Steam Deck notes and honest downsides. - [cozy games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/cozy-games/) - [relaxing games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/relaxing-games/) - [indie games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/indie-games/) - [game lists](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/game-lists/) - [island games](https://ashortsail.com/blog/tags/island-games/) ## A Short Sail The cozy sailing game with a cat. Coming soon to Steam and [itch.io](https://yosriady.itch.io/a-short-sail) [Play the free demo](https://play.ashortsail.com/) [Get updates](https://ashortsail.com/blog/games-like-summer-in-mara/#newsletter)