Hermit and Pig

Hermit and Pig launched on February 5, 2026 from developer Heavy Lunch Studio LLC and immediately became a critical darling. AV Club gave it a 91, calling it "a cosy RPG about life off the grid that blew me away." PCMag, Loot Level Chill, and Quest Daily all echoed that sentiment — this is one of the most warmly received indie RPGs in years.

The Polygon feature describing it as "an RPG with a one-line pitch that immediately makes you want to play it" sparked a viral surge on Reddit and social media. The game now sits comfortably on Steam with strong word-of-mouth momentum, particularly among fans of Undertale, Stardew Valley, and other narrative-first indie RPGs. Its unique premise — you're a hermit with social anxiety, foraging in the woods with a pig — resonated with players hungry for something more personal and weird.

Hermit and Pig is a story-rich, turn-based RPG where you play a hermit who has retreated from modern life to live off the land — with a pig as your only companion. You forage mushrooms, fend off wild assailants, navigate the crippling social anxiety of human interaction, and stumble into a corporate conspiracy that threatens your quiet corner of the woods.

The battle system takes clear inspiration from Undertale, with attacks entered as short command sequences under a ticking timer that keeps every encounter tense but fair. The slower narrative pacing allows the humour and characters to breathe in ways that most action RPGs can't. The corporate conspiracy subplot grows from a gentle absurdist premise into something genuinely moving — several reviewers noted they were surprised to find themselves emotionally invested by the end. Runs wonderfully on Steam Deck.