What a delightful game!

I didn't know what to expect, and frankly I would have settled for far less, but A short hike took me by surprise with how every small quest is meaningful AND optional at the same time, so the game never twists your arm to force and go through all of it. You're glad when you do, but it's all in the spirit of a nice stroll, and I think I needed that kind of serenity and freedom, that kind of curiosity one finds when one goes for a walk with nothing too urgent to do.

For a game with that many animals, it's a deeply human one, and I am a happier man for it.