News
Mar 29, 2023
Uncover Clues in the Search For Your Missing Best Friend
in Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories, you play as Honeydew, the bunny headband-wearing protagonist and melon soda factory worker. Recently, her best friend has gone missing, so Honeydew is on a mission to find her. Is it really safe to travel in a town where melons are illegal, though? And why is a hamster that’s trying to sneak into Kitten King’s castle?
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a short, but full little game with a fun callback to the green-tinted retro games of the past. Meet a variety of fun characters with unique personalities and some with tragic backstories. Unravel additional mysteries as you meet them, too. Collect clues about the disappearance of your friend. Sneak through the seedy underground of Hog Town. Use your quick wit and keen eye to put together the pieces of the puzzle to solve the mystery before it’s too late.
Along with the green-tinted monochrome pixel graphics, Melon Journey has more than 90 different electronic and jazz-inspired tracks for you to listen to while playing. It also includes an optional prequel game, called Melon Journey Pocket, that introduces the main characters.
Available April 6, 2023
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories will be available April 6, 2023 on pretty much all platforms! Find it on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5, and Xbox One and X|S.
For some more pixel graphics games, check out this wonderful list!
- Feb 22, 2023
Welcome to Violet’s Boutique!
Wylde Flowers is a beautifully crafted farming sim (and you can read my review here) where you play as Tara. She’s a city girl who arrived in Fairhaven to help her ailing grandmother with the family farm. It needs a lot of restoring, and Grandma Hazel just can’t do it alone. Plus, Tara’s a witch! Grandma Hazel is too, and teaches Tara about her new powers. So, Tara’s got a full plate. Learning to be a witch, restoring the farm, building relationships with the townspeople, and solving the mystery of Fairhaven is a full-time adventure.
Developer Studio Drydock even continues to impress the fanbase by actually listening to their criticisms and wishes. The first free update was released in December 2022, and gave players the ability to continue changing the seasons for continuous farming fun after the story is over. They also added more dialogue and the ability to go on dates with the person you married.
And come February 24th 2023, Studio Drydock will be releasing another free update! Violet is getting to live out her dreams and is opening a brand new boutique. You’ll be able to craft new outfits for Tara, from other dresses, sweatpants, overalls, and more, you’ll get to dress for any occasion. No more farming in heeled boots and a short dress! There will also be a Photo Mode, so you can capture special moments with friends and save memories from Tara’s life in Fairhaven. There’s even a special wedding to attend, and several more secret treats to discover in-game.
Coming February 24th!
In just two short days we’ll have Violet’s Boutique! If you haven’t played Wylde Flowers yet, you can find a demo on Steam, where you can also Wishlist the game. It’s also on Apple Arcade and Nintendo Switch!
And if you’re looking for more farming fun, then check out the upcoming Cornucopia, Coral Island which is in early access, or the fully released Harvestella.
- Feb 8, 2023
SunnySide is an upcoming game published by Merge Games with a mix of farming and a dash of dating sim. The graphics are reminiscent of the Lake so it really has a relaxing vibe. SunnySide is inspired by the Japanese countryside and will have you fermenting your own soy sauce and slicing tofu, and gazing upon cherry blossom trees!
Much like My Time at Sandrock, SunnySide has more of a modernised take on farming by giving you access to solar panels, electric water pumps, and other such contemporary machines. You’ll be totally self-sufficient when it comes to growing and cooking your own food and generating your own power. There will be no shipping boxes or other tedious tasks!
With that extra free time, you can really get to know the locals. Moreover, form friendships or romantic relationships, join groups, attend events, and more! With the use of technology, like your in-game smartphone, you can keep in touch with new friends, access online shopping, and store your favourite farm fresh recipes.
Coming Soon to Switch and Steam
The developers behind this beautiful farming JRPG plan to release it on PC and Switch in 2023, with PlayStation and Xbox to follow soon after. For now, you can Wishlist SunnySide on Steam here.
- Feb 8, 2023
Adopt Stray Cats, Furnish, Manage, Decorate Your Restaurant
You might have noticed that I’m completely in love with cats and keep an eye on any cat-related games such as Cats & Soup – Cook Up A Storm With The Help Of Cats, Cattails Become A Cat And Join A Cat Colony, and Calico – Magical Girls Running Cat Cafes Update. Therefore, with utter excitement, I share with you a cat cafe managing, restaurant decorating, simulation game.
In Cat Cafe Manager, you’ll adopt stray cats to bring them into your restaurant. It’s a restaurant that you get to renovate, furnish, expand, and decorate! Train your staff and decide what goes on the menu to keep those customers coming in! Furthermore, you can forge relationships with the locals, help them with their personal problems, and even get them to divulge secrets of the town!
Available Now on Switch and Steam
Cat Cafe Manager is developed by Roost Games and published by Freedom Games, whom have published the likes of To The Rescue!, a dog shelter managing game. You can get Cat Cafe Manager on Steam here or for the Switch here.
- Feb 4, 2023
Harvestella is a new life simulation game by SquareEnix, creator of Final Fantasy.
Harvest Stelle at it’s core feels like a Final Fantasy and Fable hybrid game with the typical beautiful graphics, unique characters and absolutely stunning looking environments that just invite you to go exploring.
But unlike most Final Fantasy games, Harvestella also features farming, cooking, crafting and more. You will be able to grow a large garden and use the ingredients to craft items to help you on your journey.
As you explore the vast open world you will notice that the entire world changes as the seasons pass by. On your expedition you will come across many villagers who will guide you on your way. As days progress you also choose if you want to spend your time by the lake to see if you can catch some fish, crafting a bunch of new items or even accept a job.
Jobs provide a variety of different gameplay mechanics, become a fighter. Shadow Walker or a mage and explore the many dungeons the game has to offer!
Harvestella Release date and platforms
Harvestella is now available on Nintendo Switch and Steam for PC. Take a look at the gorgeous release trailer below!
Doraemon Story Of Seasons
For more farming adventure take a look at the brand new installment in the Doraemon Story of Seasons franchise!
- Feb 3, 2023
Pixelshire is an adventure, farming and life simulation game that is a reminder how Harvest Moon shaped the genre.
At the heart, Pixelshire offers everything you come to expect from games like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. You find yourself in a little town with a starter tent much like Animal Crossing New Horizons. The town is inhabited by many villagers that all feature unique personalities.
As you find your way around town you can choose to interact with the town folks, you will eventually make friends or… frenemies? If socializing is not a priority on your mind, you may want to spend your day by the lake and cast your fishing rod to hopefully become an expert fisherman.
Town building and Terraforming add a cool new vibe
In addition, the towns look and feel is entirely in your hand, build up the town and decorate it as much as you like! There are no limits to your creativity. The option to terraform your land is a great tool to make everything your own.
Resourcing is also a big part of the game, mine, cut trees and plant crops to grow your favorite vegetables and fruits – then turn in your harvest for a juicy profit. In addition you can also care for various animals and raise livestock right on your very own farm.
Pixelshire Demo out now
the indie game has been in development for a while and I couldn’t have been happier to find out that we can finally play the demo! Head over to steam and get started!
- Feb 1, 2023
Dinkum let’s you play with friends in an Australian inspired outback island.
Dinkum, an RPG and simulation game developed by sole developer James Bendon much like how Stardew Valley started.
If you are not familiar with the game, at heart Dinkum is a life simulator with town building elements, farming, fishing and just so much more. The game is inspired by classics such as Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon.
In Dinkum you arrive with a group of explorers to a previously unexplored island. You will be be able to let your creativity roam free as you place and build a home for yourself as well as helping other villagers create the house of their dreams.
James has recently released a first good look at the game revealing the feature packed life simulation game. In addition the trailer gives you a glimpse at the exciting multiplayer part of the indie game, as you can watch two people on a mining spree together.
Play Dinkum Now
Dinkum is currently available on Steam. A console release is currently not planned but may still happen in the future!
Palia an open world fantasy life and Animal Crossing like
If you enjoy Animal Crossing you may also want to take a peak at Palia.
- Jan 31, 2023
Farm, Learn Magic, Befriend the Town
In Wylde Flowers, you play as Tara as she starts her new life in the town of Fairhaven, located on a small rural island. She may be a city girl turned farmer with little outdoors experience, but she has the can-do attitude needed to help Gramma Wylde take care of the family farm.
Learn how to plant and care for crops, mind animals, and gather materials like mushrooms and wood. You can also learn to fish, craft items, and much more!
Wylde Flowers features a diverse multicultural cast of characters. Get to know each of them through talking, quests, and story moments. Each one has a compelling backstory and even personal mysteries to discover. You may even find romance and love in one of them! Or if you prefer, platonic relationships and friendships are available and equally fruitful.
Rural life isn’t the only new thing for Tara, though. She’s also learning to become a witch! You will learn how to fly your broomstick, craft potions, control the weather and the seasons, and turn into a cat. Join the local coven who will guide you in your lessons.
Available on Steam Now
Wylde Flowers is already available to play on Apple Arcade and is now also available on Nintendo Switch and Steam. There is currently a free demo available on Steam, too.
The game is also getting a huge free content update, take a sneak peak here.
Check out Sun Haven or Super Zoo Story more cute sim games.
