clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

The best games from the $8 itch.io Palestine relief bundle

Coffee Talk, A Short Hike, and hundreds of other titles for just $8

A screenshot from Loco Motive Image: Robust Games
Alice Jovanée (she/her) is a commerce writer, and she has been writing about gaming and tech since 2005. Prior to Polygon, she worked at publications such as The Verge.

Over 300 itch.io creators have come together to offer a bundle of their work to benefit relief efforts for Palestine. The itch.io Palestine Relief Bundle costs just $8 and includes a collection of digital games, tabletop role-playing systems, and other cool stuff. All proceeds from this bundle will be donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), a more than 30-year-old registered non-profit organization that describes itself as “the primary humanitarian organization in Palestine, delivering crucial and life-saving medical relief where it is needed most.”

This massive bundle features an eccentric collection of over 300 titles from indie developers, but we’ve picked out a few that we think more than justify the $8 price tag.

At the top of the list is A Short Hike. This staple of the cozy game genre is exactly what it says on the box. Take an excursion through the woods of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. As you make your way towards the summit at your own pace, you’ll meet other hikers, collect treasure, and enjoy a chill soundtrack by Mark Sparling.

A screenshot from A Short Hike
A Short Hike
Image: adamgryu

Coffee Talk is another fantastic cozy title that offers an interesting experience if you aren’t intimidated by a little reading. Presented in the style of a visual novel, you’ll make idle conversation with your customers, serve them hot beverages, and hotter gossip as you learn more about the drama that permeates their lives.

A screenshot from Coffee Talk
Coffee Talk
Image: Toge Productions

This bundle also features plenty of action-orientated titles like the retro-inspired vertical SHMUP, Zero Ranger, and the ultra-punishing platformer, They Bleed Pixels.

A screenshot from They Bleed Pixels
They Bleed Pixels
Image: Spooky Squid Games

While the Palestine relief bundle is largely composed of an eccentric collection of indie titles, you’ll also find plenty of interesting TTRPG systems, including one of our favorites from 2021, Gubat Banwa. The system is inspired by wuxia fiction, Filipino folklore, strategy games like Fire Emblem.

Key art from Gubat Banwa
Gubat Banwa
Image: Joaquin Kyle Saavedra/Makapatag

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.