Wakamarina Valley, New Zealand
Released May 2020
A short exploration/photography experience set in the idyllic forested landscape of the Wakamarina Valley, located near Queen Charlotte Sound on New Zealand's South Island. Playable in both VR and Desktop modes.
81% positive · 108 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $6.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
Wakamarina Valley, New Zealand is a short exploration and photography experience by solo developer Matt Newell, released on May 11, 2020. The game shipped as a self-contained, finished product with no announced DLC or expansion plans.
On March 3, 2021, the developer posted a [development_status] update confirming that the VR component of the game had received its final update, and that he would be shifting focus to "newer, high fidelity desktop experiences." This effectively marked the end of active development on the game.
On May 1, 2025, the developer posted again — this time to announce the release of Lushfoil Photography Sim via Annapurna Interactive, which he described as the "successor" to Wakamarina Valley and his personal project over the last six years. This confirms that the developer's creative energy moved on to a new title and that Wakamarina Valley is a completed, standalone experience.
No DLC has ever been listed, no future content has been announced, and the developer has explicitly moved on to a successor project. The game is complete.
Evidence
Developer announced the release of Lushfoil Photography Sim, calling it the successor to Wakamarina Valley and his personal project over the last six years, confirming his focus has fully moved on.
Developer stated this would be the last VR update and that he is shifting focus to newer desktop experiences, effectively ending development on Wakamarina Valley.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Matt Newell
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
partial support
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player
About this game
Wakamarina Valley, New Zealand is a short exploration/photography experience set near Queen Charlotte Sound on New Zealand's South Island. Use the game's camera to observe and interact with the world around you while exploring and completing photo-related objectives. The game has in important focus on immersion and not holding your hand, your attentiveness and eagerness to explore will be rewarded with access to hidden areas and new features. The game also includes an immersive curated soundtrack, This is definitley one for turning down the lights and wearing headphones.
This project started out as a showcase of my work in environment design, I wanted to create a realistic, densely forested scene using photoscanned 3d assets that could run smoothly in real-time. The environment was created in Unreal Engine 4 with heavy reference to photos taken at the location, You'll encounter rocky riverbeds, dense forest paths, vast farmland and distant hills, a lot of which resemble the appearance of the real valley in NZ. As I spent more time on this I began to build on some camera mechanics I thought added a unique/personal level of interactivity to the experience. I hope the atmosphere and ambience created by the environment will keep you coming back when you're stressed.
Some Extra Reccomendations:
- Personalise the soundtrack! Feel free to pause the in-game music and play your own in the background.
- The VR version is a great way to be immersed in the world but I'd still recommend the desktop version as the best way to experience the game.
- Please try to avoid looking for online guides if you're feeling impatient. Often what you're looking for will only take a few extra minutes to discover.
Thanks so much for your support! I'll be in the discussions section as much as possible to listen to feedback and talk about potential new features.
- Matt
Try my other exploration games:
This project started out as a showcase of my work in environment design, I wanted to create a realistic, densely forested scene using photoscanned 3d assets that could run smoothly in real-time. The environment was created in Unreal Engine 4 with heavy reference to photos taken at the location, You'll encounter rocky riverbeds, dense forest paths, vast farmland and distant hills, a lot of which resemble the appearance of the real valley in NZ. As I spent more time on this I began to build on some camera mechanics I thought added a unique/personal level of interactivity to the experience. I hope the atmosphere and ambience created by the environment will keep you coming back when you're stressed.
Some Extra Reccomendations:
- Personalise the soundtrack! Feel free to pause the in-game music and play your own in the background.
- The VR version is a great way to be immersed in the world but I'd still recommend the desktop version as the best way to experience the game.
- Please try to avoid looking for online guides if you're feeling impatient. Often what you're looking for will only take a few extra minutes to discover.
Thanks so much for your support! I'll be in the discussions section as much as possible to listen to feedback and talk about potential new features.
- Matt
Try my other exploration games:
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 25, 2026
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