The best games like Tchia are Summer in Mara (an island home and a boat), Sail Forth (a bright sea to sail) and A Short Hike (a small island to climb and glide). For a short trip over the water, play Wavetale. Below are 10 games, grouped by the part of Tchia you loved most, with honest notes.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer in Mara | Players who want an island home and a boat to explore with | About 20.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| 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 | Players who want a smaller, gentler island sail with one sailboat | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
| A Short Hike | Players who want Tchia's freedom in one short afternoon | About 1.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Lil Gator Game | Players who loved Tchia's playful, funny side | About 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Smushi Come Home | Players who want a tiny hero in a big, soft world | About 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch |
| Wavetale | Players who want a short, bright sea story | About 4 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Loddlenaut | Players who want to spend time in and under the water | About 4 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Switch |
| Alba: A Wildlife Adventure | Players who like nature, photos, and small acts of kindness | About 2.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC |
| Sable | Players who want a big, quiet world and no fighting at all | About 7.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Xbox, PS5 |
What Tchia fans want
Tchia gives you a tropical archipelago inspired by New Caledonia, a small boat, and the freedom to climb, glide, swim and sail wherever you like. You can jump into animals and objects, and you can play a real ukulele. Most players who search for games like it want one of four things: islands and a boat, climbing and gliding, the sea itself, or a big world to roam in peace. We grouped the picks the same way.
Our picks
- Closest overall: Summer in Mara
- Most sailing: Sail Forth
- Best short climb: A Short Hike
- Best on the water, no boat: Wavetale
- Gentlest: Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
- Our own game: A Short Sail (a cat, a sailboat and the island post)
If you loved the islands and the boat
Summer in Mara
Who it is for: players who want an island home and a boat to explore with.
You are Koa, a girl who lives on a small island. You grow crops, craft tools, and sail your boat to other islands for quests and trade. There are many islands and odd characters to meet, and the art is soft and colorful.
The downside: the quests can feel like long fetch lists, and Steam lists it as not supported on Steam Deck. More in games like Summer in Mara.
Developer: Chibig | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 20.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Unsupported | Steam page
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: it is not combat-free. You fight pirate ships with cannons, and you never leave the boat to walk an island the way you do in Tchia.
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
A Short Sail
Who it is for: players who want a smaller, gentler island sail with one sailboat.
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.
What is different: there is no climbing or gliding, and you cannot jump into animals. The heart of it is the sea and the post. 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
If you loved the climbing and gliding
A Short Hike
Who it is for: players who want Tchia’s freedom in one short afternoon.
You are Claire, a young bird on a small island park. You climb, glide and swim your way to the top of a mountain, and you stop to fish, dig and help the people you meet. You can go anywhere from the start.
The downside: it is very short, about 1.5 hours, so it ends just as you settle in.
Developer: adamgryu | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 1.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Lil Gator Game
Who it is for: players who loved Tchia’s playful, funny side.
You are a little gator who wants to play pretend with a big sister who is too busy. You climb, glide and run around an island, and you recruit other kids to your game. The fights are make-believe, with cardboard foes.
The downside: it is short, about 3 hours, and some players want more to do after the end.
Developer: MegaWobble | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Smushi Come Home
Who it is for: players who want a tiny hero in a big, soft world.
You are Smushi, a small mushroom lost far from home. You climb, glide on a leaf and help the forest’s critters as you find the way back.
The downside: it is short, and the climbing can feel a little floaty. There is no sea here, only a forest and its lakes.
Developer: SomeHumbleOnion | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch | Length: about 3 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
If you loved the sea
Wavetale
Who it is for: players who want a short, bright sea story.
You play Sigrid, who can run and surf across the water of a flooded island town. It is quick to play and lovely to look at, and skimming over the waves feels great.
The downside: there is no boat, it is short, and there are light fights with sea creatures.
Developer: Thunderful Development | Year: 2022 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 4 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Loddlenaut
Who it is for: players who want to spend time in and under the water.
You clean up a polluted alien ocean, piece by piece, and look after small, cute creatures called loddles. The water gets clearer as you work, which is very satisfying.
The downside: it is short, about 4 hours, and it is about cleaning, not exploring new islands.
Developer: Moon Lagoon | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch | Length: about 4 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
If you loved roaming in peace
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Who it is for: players who like nature, photos, and small acts of kindness.
Alba is a girl who photographs the wildlife on her island and sets out to protect it. The goals are small and kind, the island is bright and sunny, and there is no fail state.
The downside: the main loop of finding and photographing animals does not change much.
Developer: ustwo games | Year: 2020 | Platforms: PC | Length: about 2.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam: Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam page
Sable
Who it is for: players who want a big, quiet world and no fighting at all.
You are Sable, a young girl who leaves home on a coming-of-age journey. You ride a hoverbike across a huge desert, climb old ships and ruins, and meet the people who live out there. You choose when the journey ends.
The downside: it is a desert, not a sea, and the world can feel empty between places. Some players hit rough frame rates and small bugs.
Developer: Shedworks | Year: 2021 | Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS5 | Length: about 7.5 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Watch out
- Fights: Tchia, Sail Forth and Wavetale all have some combat. A Short Hike, Alba, Smushi Come Home and Sable have none.
- Steam Deck: Summer in Mara is marked Unsupported. Every other pick is Verified or Playable.
- Length: most of these are shorter than Tchia. Summer in Mara and Sail Forth are the long ones.
How we picked
Each pick shares at least one big part of Tchia: islands and a boat, climbing and gliding, the sea, or a calm world to roam. 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
- Best cozy beach games
- Cozy island games
- Best cozy sailing games
- Games like Sail Forth
- Games like A Short Hike
- Best cozy exploration games
Questions
What is the closest game to Tchia?
Summer in Mara is the closest. You live on a small tropical island, sail your own boat to other islands and meet odd characters, all in bright, soft colors. It is longer than Tchia, at about 20.5 hours, and it adds farming and crafting. Tchia has more climbing and gliding.
Is there a game like Tchia with more sailing?
Yes. Sail Forth puts sailing at the center: you command a fleet across a big, colorful ocean and chart many island regions. A Short Sail, which we make, is smaller: you sail between islands as a tabby cat, delivering the post and fishing.
Are there short games like Tchia?
Yes. A Short Hike takes about 1.5 hours, and Lil Gator Game and Smushi Come Home take about 3 hours each, according to HowLongToBeat. All three have the climbing and gliding of Tchia on a smaller island or forest, and none of them has real fights.
Is Tchia a cozy game?
Mostly. Tchia is warm, funny and full of music, and you can roam the islands at your own pace. But it has some fights with fabric soldiers, and its story takes darker turns. For something gentler, try A Short Hike, Alba or Lil Gator Game.
How long is Tchia?
Tchia takes about 7.5 hours for the main story, according to HowLongToBeat. If you want a longer island game after it, Summer in Mara takes about 20.5 hours and Sail Forth takes about 16 hours, so either one gives you many more evenings at sea.
Are games like Tchia on Steam Deck?
Most are. Tchia, Sail Forth, A Short Hike, Lil Gator Game, Smushi Come Home, Sable and Loddlenaut are Steam Deck Verified. Wavetale is Playable. Summer in Mara is marked Unsupported, so it is the one pick to try on a PC first.
