Slumbering Woods, a cosy mushroom game from Brisbane-based indie studio Chunky Quail, will be launching on Steam in 2027 with backing from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland.

The indie exploration game, which debuted at BitSummit 2026 in Kyoto, Japan on May 22, is not just another relaxing forest sim, but a carefully crafted ecological puzzle experience where every obstacle has exactly one solution: plant a mushroom.

“We started developing Slumbering Woods two years ago, inspired by our love of rainforest walks and the incredible ecosystems they support,” The Chunky Quail team told KoreaGameDesk.

What Makes This Game Different

In most games, you typically find yourself wielding a sword, a gun, or casting spells. But in Chunky Quail, you’re handed a spore instead.

In Slumbering Woods, mushrooms play a central role in everything you do. You have the ability to plant different types of fungi that reshape the very terrain around you. This lets you open new routes, block dangerous paths, create safe passages through treacherous swampland, and turn barren soil into land you can traverse. Each mushroom species behaves uniquely, with its own specific soil and moisture needs.

As you explore this mysterious fungal forest and marshland, you’ll need to learn these requirements and use them creatively to solve intricate environmental puzzles. The game also adds a layer of complexity by incorporating time into its design.

Since plants need time to mature, you’ll find yourself planning days in advance instead of relying on quick fixes. This blend of temporal strategy wrapped in a charming aesthetic gives Slumbering Woods a surprising depth that goes beyond its gentle visuals.

“We wanted to create a world that captures the wonder of discovering strange fungi in nature,” the Chunky Quail team said, “while also reflecting how fragile these ecosystems can be and how easily they can be disrupted.

“Turning that inspiration into exploration and puzzle-solving has been an exciting challenge, and we’re happy to finally share the game publicly and bring it to BitSummit for players to experience for the first time,” the team added.

The Story: A Storm, a Village, and a Fungal Mystery

The setup of the story is surprisingly straightforward. A fierce storm separates the player character from their companions, leaving them to wake up in a secluded village that’s slowly being consumed by an unusual fungal growth. To progress in the game, players must help the villagers rebuild their settlement.

This village-rebuilding loop truly embodies the cozy aspect of Slumbering Woods. As players restore buildings and complete tasks for a variety of residents, like insects and frog-like people, they unlock new tools, crafting recipes, and hidden paths that venture deeper into the fungal wilderness. Each act of community care not only brings the village back to life but also reveals new areas to explore.

The game features a flexible day-night cycle that enhances the experience. During the day, players can focus on exploration and environmental tasks, while at night, conversations, story development, and social interactions with the villagers take center stage. This structure allows players to set their own pace, aligning perfectly with the cozy-game tradition.

A World Built on Climate Grief

What separates Slumbering Woods from the crowded cosy-game market, however, is the weight beneath its warmth.

The game’s world is not simply charming, it is broken. The setting is a marshland recovering from a long-past climate catastrophe. Rising swamp waters threaten the village. Strange fungal growth destabilizes the ecosystem. The player is not just a tourist in a beautiful forest; they are a restorer operating inside a fragile, damaged world.

This environmental subtext gives the indie exploration game a genuine thematic purpose. Rather than using nature as pretty wallpaper, Slumbering Woods turns ecological systems into mechanical ones.

Players who understand how soil, moisture, and fungal behavior interact will succeed. Those who ignore those relationships will stall. In short, the game teaches systems thinking through play.

BitSummit 2026, The Global Stage

Chunky Quail will showcase their game, Slumbering Woods, at the Screen Australia booth during BitSummit, 2026, which runs from May 22 to 24 in Kyoto. The team is joining this event with support from Screen Australia’s Future Leaders Delegation, a program that helps promising Australian developers connect with international markets.

BitSummit is one of Asia’s most respected indie gaming festivals, and having a spot there gives Slumbering Woods a fantastic opportunity to attract the attention of Japanese publishers, global press, and a player community that appreciates unique and artistically ambitious work.

Plus, the game already has a Steam page where players can wishlist it, and an early preview demo is available for download now.

The showcase aligns perfectly with Steam’s BitSummit PUNCH! promotional event, giving the game increased visibility on the platform just when interest is at its peak.

Why This Matters for Indie Gaming

In the cozy gaming scene, “Slumbering Woods” is set to make a splash as the genre undergoes a quality reckoning. After the success of “Stardew Valley,” the market became flooded with similar games. Now, players are craving more than just soothing visuals; they want meaningful mechanics and themes.

Chunky Quail, the studio behind the game, is taking a unique approach by basing its puzzles on ecological behavior. This focus not only adds depth but also elevates the cozy genre to a more intellectually engaging level, all while remaining accessible.

Plus, with backing from Screen Australia and Screen Queensland, it’s clear that these funding bodies recognize the cultural and commercial potential of environmental-themed indie games.

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