I’ve had the Out and About demo in my library since it landed in February, and while I nearly decided to forgo it, I’m super glad I didn’t. After finishing the demo, I’ve wishlisted the game and will be eagerly watching for a release date (this year? hopefully?). It’s the debut title from Yaldi Games, which originally launched the project via Kickstarter with a June 2024 target. Still no confirmed release, but fingers crossed we’ll be rebuilding Portobello by the end of the year.
You play as a budding forager arriving in the storm-battered town of Portobello — home to your very wholesome Granny Mae — and set out to learn the ropes of foraging, cooking, and helping the community get back on its feet. And yes, it’s called Portobello, which I’m assuming must be a clever mushroom pun. I respect it.
First off, props to Yaldi for including a clear disclaimer at the start: don’t take the foraging info as gospel. We don’t want another deathcap mushroom situation on our hands (too soon?). It’s a smart move, especially for a game this grounded in real-world plants.
READ MORE: Review | Pup Champs (PC)
The character customisation is surprisingly detailed, and while I always end up creating an avatar that looks vaguely like me (sue me), I appreciated the variety! Always a win for representation. It’s easy to get sucked in here for a bit and carried away with what you can do.
The town itself has a vibrant, Fortnite-adjacent art style — bright colours, slightly cartoony characters — but it’s all wrapped in a warm, gentle vibe that definitely leans cosy. I especially liked the subtle animations, like my character using her arms for balance when walking downhill.
Very accurate. Although let’s be real, I’d be slow-squatting my way down using my hands.
READ MORE: Preview | Kejora: ‘Ghibli Vibes, Ghostly Lore, and One Cursed Forest’
As Granny Mae’s grandchild, you’ve survived an overnight storm which has battered Mushroom Town (I mean Portobello), and need to help the locals rebuild.
Your foraging journey starts with two plants and a field guide, which lists how they look, taste, where they grow, and what they’re used for. It’s simple, educational, and (from what I know about chamomile and dandelions) surprisingly accurate. Disclaimer aside, I’m treating it as a bonus botany lesson.
You’ll click through sparkly plant patches, choose the right guide, and identify traits to confirm each species. Each patch has two, and you need to ID both before harvesting. There’s even a little system to make sure you don’t over-harvest. Smiley faces tell you if you’ve taken too much, which is a sweet and thoughtful touch.
After your first forage, you’re given a camera for snapping new plants and introduced to a sorting task to categorise what you’ve collected. Get it wrong and you lose points, so best to leave them out if you’re unsure. Much like real life, really. Except you might be actually poisoned.
READ MORE: Rue Valley Turns Inner Turmoil Into A Time-Looping RPG Mystery
That said, I did start to tire of the foraging loop. Once you’ve snipped a few plants, you’ve snipped them all. There are a lot of patches, and they can feel a bit samey. I found myself ignoring the sparkles after a while and focusing on the other parts of the demo, which turned out to be a good move.
Soon enough, you’re roped into helping with a town fundraiser (classic cosy game energy) and join Granny Mae in the kitchen — my favourite type of activity. You can recruit local villagers to help, each bringing their own bonuses and skills to the cooking table. You also become a salesperson and need to sell the right items to locals. Each item has features which light up accordingly if they address the NPC’s needs, making the whole process smooth and easy to follow.
Sadly, the demo ends not long after — though I did try to complete an optional foraging task before the credits rolled. I couldn’t find the last plant in the marked area, which might’ve been a bug, but it didn’t impact the experience beyond my stubborn need to 100% everything.
READ MORE: Petal Runner: ‘A love letter to Game Boy Color JRPGs’
With its relaxed pace, cosy visuals, and variety of tasks, Out and About feels like a natural fit for the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch.
If you’re in the mood for some wholesome gathering, cooking, and town-rebuilding, the demo is live on Steam now — and well worth a stroll through the wilds. I look forward to playing the full game, whenever that may be.
