Further than the blue sky, at the peak of the world, two girls cheered aloud, and only they heard.

I've played my fair share of roguelikes. I've slain the spires, I've risked the rains - hell, I've even crawled with demons. Despite that, there's no real shortage of roguelikes, especially on Steam. They've all kind of started to melt together into a congealed mass of common mechanics and showy twists that - while admittedly adding depth for the first few runs - quickly become tired and only attract apathy.

And then Yamafuda! came around on my Discovery Queue. It looked refreshingly simple.
Premise? Girls wanna hike. Gameplay? Play cards in whatever order you choose - ending with a Hike. Art? Cute and adorable. Well, it couldn't hurt to try.

Yamafuda!'s main strength lies in its simplicity. It's a very easy game to pick up. You don't have any restrictions in playing cards. Your turn ends when you play a card with Hike, then the sole enemy acts on its intent. Additionally, once per Station, you can swap out your hand, discarding it for a redraw. The decision making here is equally as important as in Slay the Spire (and its contemporaries), but I think the mental power needed to make those in Yamafuda! is significantly less. You don't need to plan several steps ahead. Just take it one step at a time, just like hiking. It makes it very easy to take breaks in between, or to get a quick run out between work or classes.

It also helps that Yamafuda! is incredibly adorable. Koharu and Hiyori's character designs are cute. The trail spirits are strong and bear down on our duo, but they don't feel intimidating. After all, nobody fears a hike. It's a test of willpower to get to the summit. After a few hikes, you'll probably find yourself cheering alongside Koharu as she marches up, victorious, but also feel like a monster if you mess up the climb and force a retreat. It's almost heartbreaking.

Of course, like our contemporaries, there's an "Ascension" system (dubbed Try/Challenge levels) here. They do put up a significant challenge as you rise up the ranks and as the modifiers get ever more deadly. I swear, most of the time, it feels like the RNG is actively against you. Anything that can go wrong, will most likely go wrong. You won't draw that card you need on time. You will be prevented from playing it. It can get pretty rough.

And yet, when you finally summit that final peak, it's an incomprehensibly good feeling. They did it - you did it. Yamafuda! doesn't ask much of you. You aren't going on a grand adventure, or slaying monsters, or entering gungeons. What it does offer you is a friendly hike with some good friends by your side. And if it ever offers another hike again (maybe at a 3rd station?), I'd accept it in a heartbeat. Can anyone truly complain about cute girls doing cool things?

Gameplay: Enjoyable - Not complicated or terribly deep, but still challenging.
Ambience and Aesthetic: Top Notch - Go buy the "Yamamook" if able. This game is adorable. The soundtrack, while not being Original, is still really nice to listen to.
Story: N/A - You climb mountains. Now go.
Competence: Functional - Translation in EN is a bit rough and some card effects aren't very well worded, though that can be subject to change. Plus the odd bug here or there.

Overall: Highly Recommended - You don't always need high stakes. It's nice to take a break once in a while.
Moving On: Yamafuda!, for me, has been an unforgettable experience. After five months of hiking, I think Koharu and Hiyori can finally rest easy. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with this game, and I'd highly recommend it to you, too. It's available on iOS/Android as well if you feel like hiking while hiking in-game. This is one of my favorite games on Steam.