Joelle
May 15, 2022
Full Version Includes New Areas, Wildlands, Shopping, Card Battles, Friendly Neighbours, Mini-Games, Farming, Dancing, Rollerskating and More!
During Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase (May 2022), we were treated with a never-before-seen Ooblets trailer. Announcing, version 1.0 coming to the Switch this Summer! That means that the adorable creature-collecting dance-partying adventure simulation game will be leaving Early Access and releasing in full!
A lot of updates have been added since Ooblets launched in 2020. Most recently the additional feature of running your own store. In case you have been waiting for the full version of the game and haven’t kept up with news, Ooblets will now have new levels and a complete campaign. For example, Port Foward includes a boardwalk where you buy tokens to play arcade games/mini-games. Furthermore, Pantsabear Hill is an area which is covered in snow, puzzles, and Pantsabears. You’ll also have many more accessories, clothing, furniture, and over 45 Ooblets to clutter and decorate your farm with.
Ooblets 1.0 Coming to PC, Xbox, Switch This Summer
You can find Ooblets’ official Nintendo Switch listing right here. There isn’t a more specific date other than Summer 2022, however the developers, Glumberland, assure players that “unless something goes really wrong” they will have one soon.
- May 6, 2022
This month you can put on your witch’s hat, gather ingredients, and craft potions and spells!
Little Witch in the Woods is an adorable pixel adventure RPG created by small indie studio SUNNY SIDE UP. We’ve been keeping a close eye on their progress, and now we finally have an official Steam Early Access launch date! Don’t worry if you don’t have a PC, last year Microsoft announced that Little Witch in the Woods will be coming to Xbox Game Pass as a “Day One” release!
Play as an apprentice witch named Ellie and settle down in an enchanted forest! In Little Witch in the Woods, you can cast spells, craft potions, befriend creatures, fish, explore new areas, and find magical items! Seriously, anyone else super excited to look like Hermoine Granger and go catching some mandrakes?
Steam Early Access Date is May 16th, 2022, and Xbox Game Pass in 2023
The Steam Early Access Date is just around the corner so if you don’t want to miss it, you can Wishlist the game here. SUNNY SIDE UP have said that their intention is to have the full version of the game ready for release sometime in 2023. Presumably, that is when we’ll see the game on Xbox.
- May 5, 2022
Build Your Own Town and Garden with WALL-E, Cook with Remy, Fish with Goofy, and so Much More!
Disney Dreamlight Valley is an upcoming free-to-play multi-platform life-simulation adventure game. Although the words “free-to-play” may have given you pause, the Gameloft assures players that there will be no main-campaign “pay-walls”. However, players will have the option to buy expansions to enhance their gameplay. With that out of the way, what is Disney Dreamlight Valley all about?
Play as your own unique, customizable character in a place called Dreamlight Valley where Disney and Pixar characters lived in harmony, that is, until the Forgetting. Night Thorns have grown everywhere now, destroying wonderful magical memories and displacing its inhabitants. In every realm, there’s a Disney or Pixar character that needs your help to go back home. The realms all have their own challenges, puzzles to solve, and villains to encounter.
How is the game compared to Animal Crossing and The Sims? Well in Dreamlight Valley, you can build your own fully customizable neighbourhood with creative landscaping and thousands of decorative items (all Disney/Pixar-themed, of course). Once you bring new characters to town, have them settle down, become their friends, and restore the valley to its former glory. This means you can do things like garden with WALL-E, cook with Remy, and fish with Goofy. The game has a real-time day and night cycle, but the shops will remain open 24/7!
Early Access Launch this Summer, Full Release in 2023 on All Platforms
Disney Dreamlight Valley will launch as a free-to-play game in 2023 on all available platforms. This includes PC and Mac on Steam and the Epic Games Store, mobile (iOS and Android), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and the Nintendo Switch.
Later this year (Summer 2022), fans who purchase the Founder’s Pack or have an Xbox Game Pass subscription will get Early Access to the game, along with exclusive rewards and limited-edition items that can be carried over to the full version (exclusive goodies such as in-game currency, cosmetic items, etc). For now, you can click on the links provided above to Wishlist the game on your platform of choice.
- Apr 22, 2022
Build a Tiny Home, Grow Crops, and Help the Locals
I’ve been a fan of Rod Tyson and his PC game Hive Quest for some time now. Although it’s gone through many changes, at its core this adventure exploration game is set in a mythical woodland full of magic and fantasy creatures. In the same vein, the developer is now working on another project, Beyond the Grove (formerly known as Oortle’s Haven).
Play as May as she journeys through the land of Fey with her trusty snail steed. Discover tiny villages with tiny inhabitants that have many mysteries for you to uncover! Learn about May’s past and the secrets behind this hidden forest kingdom.
In Development for Consoles and PC
Beyond the Grove is still in early development for Xbox, PS, and PC, with the possibility of a Switch version. You can help contribute on Rod’s Patreon Page here and his new studio Cotton Drift Studio.
- Apr 22, 2022
Run a Forge, Farm, Trade with and Befriend Villagers, Discover the Spirit Realm
In MeetLight, a 3D open-world simulation RPG, you play as Anna who has just suffered a personal tragedy. You go to Alaya’s Valley to heal both physically and spiritually, and become the town’s blacksmith in your uncle’s stead. When you’re not building or crafting, you can also farm, cook, and trade.
There are many animals and villagers to befriend during the day, and even more locals to meet at night! At night, meet the inhabitants in the spirit world and discover the secrets of the universe. Moreover, undertake a spiritual journey that will have you reflecting on present-day out-of-body experiences.
Coming to PC in 2023
MeetLight and the Secrets of the Universe is created by two people, Kevin and Coralie. The game has a planned release date for the year 2023 with an upcoming Kickstarter Campaign. If you want to know when you can help support MeetLight, go here for notifications. To Wishlist the game on Steam, go here.
For another relaxing game in a quiet landscape, check out SunnySide here.
- Apr 21, 2022
Photography Game with Cute Animals and Scenic Island Landscapes
Can you even handle this much cuteness? Petit Island is a 3D open-world photography adventure game. You play as Lily, an adorable anthropomorphic cat, following in their “grandpaw’s” footsteps as a great adventurer! Customize Lily with different clothes, bags, and even fur colors and markings.
Explore a beautiful island, fish, find treasure, meet tourists and locals, and take photos! You’ll find lots of scenic areas and wild animals you can snapshot with your camera while making wonderful memories! You can even take photos with the NPCs, whom are just as cute as the ones in Hokko Life.
Wishlist Petit Island on Steam Now
Petit Island is being developed by Xelo Games and published by SOEDESCO (Lemon Cake). It’s in early development but you can Wishlist the game now on Steam here. Petit Island will also be coming to Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One although there are no set release dates.
- Apr 20, 2022
Craft Potions, Use Spells, Grow Critter Companions, Meet Ghostly Locals, and Explore a Mysterious Island
Much like our beloved Potions Paws and Little Witch in the Woods, Critter Crops: Mystery of Mullery Mansion is a game where you happen upon an abandoned magical place where you can cultivate the land.
You play as a young banished witch named Sylvie and grow crops that become critter companions, as well as explore and gather resources for potion-making. While uncovering the mysteries of Mutter Island, you’ll meet outcasts looking to find refuge from the Otherworld and you can offer them a place to stay. Befriend the ghostly inhabitants there and help them revitalize Mur Mur Town.
As for the aforementioned creature companions, all of them are Halloween-themed crops. For example, there’s a blueberry bat, a pumpkin cat, a mummified mushroom, and more! However, like Drake Hollow, you’ll have to be ready to defend your children from nasty Weeaters with spells.
Available in Q4 2022 on Steam and Q3 2023 on Epic Games and Switch
Critter Crops: Mystery of Mullery Mansion is developed by Skyreach Studio and published by Freedom Games. You can Wishlist this adorably spooky farming simulation RPG on Steam here or Epic Games here. If you want to back it on Kickstarter go here. The game is already funded but there’s still time to reach that Nintendo Switch port Stretch Goal! Don’t forget to try the demo while you’re there! *UPDATE: Switch confirmed 2023*
- Apr 19, 2022
My Time at Portia’s Sequel Will Take You to a New Desert Community
The developers have been hard at work since announcing My Time at Sandrock in 2020 with a new town, new characters, new construction options, new combat system, and even a multiplayer mode!
Before launching into Early Access, many updates have been recently added such as new quests, new monsters, and new NPCs. The biggest one that caught my eye is the advanced workshop customization. Unlike its predecessor, when building your workshop in this game you can place doors and windows, and even the roof yourself! Furthermore, add lights and many other decorations to the interior and exterior.
Available in Early Access May 26th, 2022
My Time at Sandrock, developed by Pathea Games, will officially release on May 26th, 2022 in Early Access on Steam here and the Epic Games Store here at $24.99 US. If you’re a Kickstarter backer, you’ll have access to the closed Beta version very soon! There’s no news on the console versions as of yet but we’ll know more after the tests! If you want to try your hands at a demo, My Time at Sandrock will have a booth at the PAX East convention on April 21st-24th, 2022, so check that out here.
Fan of both relaxing farming and engaging combat? If you’re interest in My Time at Sandrock, you should definitely check out Rune Factory 5 now!
