Gaming: You Might Think Hidden Object Games Aren't Cool, But That's Only...

Frog buttcrack: If those two words don't convince you to at least try the Steam Next Fest demo for Find My Frogs: Branches, then I don't even know what I'm doing here.

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Find My Frogs was one of my favorite games of 2025, a late-year discovery that absolutely charmed me with what I firmly believe is the most chill, hypnotically relaxing gaming experience I've ever had. The sequel, Find My Frogs: Branches, is basically more of the same—a "cozy hidden object game" with hundreds of frogs living their best lives in a hand-drawn woodland village—and that's perfect, because there is literally nothing I would change about the first game except add more.

"Cozy" is an overused term, I think, but I would also say it's not really applicable here, because it's just not adequate. Find My Frogs is more like a slow, deep brain-stem massage: You see the frogs, you feel the frogs, you become the frogs.

And I know, I know, hidden object games aren't especially hip with real gamers, but just like Find My Frogs: Branches transcends cozy—it is the ubercozy—it's also not really a hidden object game.

Most of the frogs in the game aren't really hidden at all, you see: There's a magical village in a great, magical tree, home to hundreds of frogs and other such creatures—toads, mice, bugs, ghosts, pastries (which are not really creatures, but hey, gotta eat), a big non-predatory owl—most of whom are just hanging out, doing whatever. So you expect everything to be cleverly stashed away, but instead, it's a wetland tableau: There's a couple frogs sitting at a bistro table waving at you, there's one parachuting in from somewhere, and there's a bunch of them having a swim: Some frogs are deviously hidden, but the majority are just hanging out and quite a few are literally waving at you.

The other creatures and objects tend to be better camouflaged: Bugs are often found in containers, for instance, and the pastries are quite small and thus tricky to pick out. So there's a bit of challenge to be had, but there are no time limits or penalties for misclicks, and you can use the hint feature as much as you like. Where a lot of hidden object stuff tries to present as more serious adventure games, Find My Frogs: Branches is more akin to the I Commissioned series: Relax, chill out, click on some little animals.

Find My Frogs: Branches does a great job with the little details. It's all so go

Source: PC Gamer