Wholesome Games to Publish Nature Puzzle Game WATERFUL

Wholesome Games has announced a publishing partnership with solo developer Lenja Kaufmann for WATERFUL, a relaxing puzzle game centered around restoring dry landscapes and discovering the wildlife that returns as ecosystems develop.

Previously featured during Wholesome Direct 2026, WATERFUL challenges players to dig riverbeds and redirect water through desert valleys. As water reaches new areas, players can grow different types of plants and gradually transform the environment into a more productive habitat.

The game’s puzzle mechanics are built around understanding how water moves through the landscape. Players can unlock new contraptions that allow them to guide water uphill and reach previously inaccessible terrain, expanding the areas they can restore.

Wildlife is another key part of the experience. As new habitats develop, different animals will be attracted to the player’s creations. Some are easier to find than others, while certain animals only appear when specific environmental conditions are met.

Players can zoom in on the restored areas to search for these hidden animals. Each discovery unlocks a sticker that is added to an in-game scrapbook, gradually turning it into a personal field guide documenting the wildlife encountered throughout the game.

Progression will therefore combine environmental restoration with exploration and discovery. Players will need to use water and increasingly sophisticated contraptions while developing a better understanding of how the game’s ecosystem works.

For Kaufmann, the partnership also reunites the developer with Wholesome Games after the publisher previously featured WATERFUL during Wholesome Direct. Wholesome Games co-founder Matthew Taylor said the project stood out for combining nature restoration, puzzle-solving, and hidden-object mechanics.

Wholesome Games and Lenja Kaufmann have not yet announced a release date or platforms for WATERFUL. More details about the game are expected as development continues. For now, you can head over to the game’s official Steam page and add it to your wishlist.

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