Search results for "stardew valley"
Jul 10, 2019
The classic franchise takes on a whole new look in Turok: Escape From Lost Valley.
We at myPotatoGames don’t usually cover games that have a heavy focus on violence. Light combat is okay on occasion (we make exceptions for games like Stardew Valley and My Time at Portia), but we tend to stay away from first-person shooters and the like. However, the new graphic style in Escape From Lost Valley is just too adorable not too mention. This new title fully shifts the series into an entirely new genre. It is as though the creators of Turok met the creators of “Road Not Taken” (a cute title from the makers of Minekos Night Market), and decided to make a game together.
Trading in the old style of fast paced FPS with unique weaponry, this Turok is now a third-person action/adventure game. They have turned away from the ultra graphic violence style and dawned a more charming visage. In Turok: Escape From Lost Valley, you awake as the original protagonist that the game is named after. You must explore the lands and fight dinosaurs along side your trusted companion, Andar. The ultimate goal being finding your way back home. Although the game has been cute-ified quite a bit, you can still expect plenty of dinosaur fighting combat reminiscent of old.
Escape From Lost Valley Trailer
Turok: Escape From Lost Valley was developed by Pillow Pig Games (who you can follow on Twitter by clicking here), and will be released on Steam on July 25th.
- Apr 24, 2019
Stardew Valley update adds lots of great goodies!
Lots Of TLC in this farm! In a recent post from @concernedape, it has been revealed that our beloved farming SIM title is getting an expansive update. Of course, there could never be enough to do in Stardew Valley. Nothing quite like spending every morning tending your garden and caring for your animals before setting out on whatever adventure is necessary for that day! Be it reaching the next elevator level in the mine, or using those mined resources to get that beautiful gold ax, every day is wonderful in Stardew Valley.
A ride in a winter wonderland. So, obviously, the news of this update being “packed with new stuff” is quite welcomed indeed. What new activities await? One new feature that has been divulged is the addition of a new character ability for Marlon, who can now be paid to retrieve items that you may have dropped in those hectic mines. Nothing worse than getting way down in the mines, then losing the gold hoe that you shouldn’t have brought with you in the first place. Well, no longer, thanks to our wonderful dev!
Camping Time There is also mention in the Tweet of some “quality of life” improvements. These features are being implemented to streamline the gameplay in the Valley. As to what exactly this means, we could only speculate. Whatever the features may be, we can be sure that they will make Stardew Valley an even greater place to spend our leisure time.
- Apr 25, 2024
Pixadom is an upcoming cozy 2D pixel art social game. This cute game will be fully browser-based and takes inspiration from classic retro games like Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda, but also draws inspiration from the ever popular Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. This community-driven game set in a colorful fantasy world will be full of fun activities to try out with your friends!
Explore the different areas of the Pixadom world and take in some pretty sights. Go shopping for new character customization items, as well as visit a cafe, hang out at a nightclub, and visit other shops. Play mini games with friends to socialize and have fun. Attend weekly events with your friends and make new friends through interacting. You can also battle monsters! The road map promises even more fun activities like fishing, gardening, pets, quests, crafting, mounts, player housing, and boss fights.
Release Date
Pixadom is currently in early development, but does release progress updates so you can follow along on their Youtube channel or website!
Utopia No. 8 is an upcoming social MMORPG and so is Galactic Getaway!
- Apr 4, 2024
Thanks to the developer Low-Hi Tech for giving us the opportunity to play Chill Town. Please also note this game is still in Early Access, which means this is not its final form.
ACNH came out in a time when we all needed it. It provided a cozy, comfortable little escape where we could forget about the horrors of the world and just exist. That game was even the first in the franchise for some of us, me included! However, it left behind an itch for similar games that just hasn’t been scratched since. Until now, anyway. Recently, Chill Town hit Steam in Early Access and so far it’s done well trying to pick up what ACNH has put down.
What Is Chill Town?
Chill Town is a cozy life sim where you help a small island town grow. You get your very own house, which you can decorate, plus you can settle in new neighbors by building their houses, which you also get to decorate. Decorate the island with a variety of plants, lights, outdoor furniture, and more to make it a comfortable little home. Spend your days (and nights) fishing, farming, catching Pals and bugs, and collecting resources. Take a flight to nearby islands to discover different fish and bugs, plants, and crops. Sell your items to earn money and buy more decorations for homes or the town. Complete quests to help the mayor and other residents. Or just sit and enjoy the beauty of your little island while listening to the soothing lo-fi soundtrack that’s built into the game.
My Experience So Far
First and foremost, I love the low-fi soundtrack that Chill Town has. Not only is the music relaxing and soothing, but you’re able to switch between the different songs at will. Plus, fishing is less stressful than in other games. If you accidentally pull the line up too early, it doesn’t disappear, so you can try again. Though, if the fish pulls the bobber underwater and you don’t click in time, you lose it. And, only your first catch (including bugs) pops up with a message that interrupts you to label the item. You still show it off to the camera, but it takes far less time without every catch having a message. It makes fishing and catching far more enjoyable.
Unfortunately tool durability is a feature, but it’s been really easy to earn money to buy new tools. Or if you want to make them with the recipes, resources are abundant. So, either option is super easy to achieve. The tools also feel like they have a good amount of durability before they break, and they have a durability amount you can keep track of in your inventory. Both make planning much easier.
Chill Town does have a day/night cycle similar to Stardew Valley. It’s not a real-time cycle like ACNH, which I actually enjoy more. I haven’t run into any consequences for staying up late, either. So, I’m able to work into the night on projects, but can hop in bed to advance the day. The seasons change, too! So, you can catch seasonal critters without waiting the whole year to do it. What the game needs, though, is the ability to pause. There’s no pause function, so if you want to walk away for a bit, make sure to save and quit to the main menu.
The Road Map
Low-Hi Tech released a road map for this fun sim game that promises a lot of cool features that I look forward to. Many of these new additions will add some great value and freedom to the game, too. Unfortunately, there aren’t set dates for the release of the features since development doesn’t always go to plan.
Chill Town’s road map promises the ability to add pathways to the island as well as fruit trees to cultivate. Social functions will be added to deepen player connections. Island sharing and island visiting are planned so you can allow others to visit or you can visit others. A trade system will be implemented so players can exchange decor items with each other.
What I’m most excited for is the addition of seasonal festivities, which will have fun mini-games, festive items, and experiences. Plus, there’s plans to improve on the seasonal flora and fauna that appears as the weather changes. A museum where you can display your artifacts and critters is coming, plus new bugs, Pals, and island ecosystems.
Final Thoughts
I have run into some issues where the game lags a whole heck of a lot, and my only option is to just shut it down. However, that doesn’t happen often. So, I’ve been able to just explore and really enjoy what the game has to offer. Again, this game is still in Early Access so not everything has been smoothed out or perfect, but the developer releases frequent patches and bug fixes to address problems. They’ve also been up-front with their roadmap, which is great!
I’ve very much enjoyed my time playing Chill Town, and look forward to the improvements that will be made. It’s a laid-back, relaxing little game that gives me the freedom to do my own thing while giving me some structure via quests. It’s fun to explore and decorate. Catching bugs and fish is great. And the overall environment, plus dynamic weather is just lovely. I’d highly recommend it for the ACNH lovers.
I give it:
You can find Chill Town on Steam!
- Jan 24, 2024
If you aren’t familiar with Blue Oak Bridge, it’s a farming sim set in a fantasy world full of magic and unique creatures. You’re washed up on the shores of Eloria with no memory of what happened to you or even where you are. The townspeople are more than happy to welcome you into their charming little village and help you get on your feet. Not everything is quite as peaceful as it seems, though. Trouble is brewing and you find yourself smack in the middle of it all.
Story and Characters
The overall story and delivery of the story in Blue Oak Bridge feels a little less than cohesive. You wash up on the shores of a foreign land with no memory of what happened. You’re integrated into the town and find yourself in the middle of solving problems that none of the locals seem to want to solve. There’s no really compelling argument made for you to be doing all that work. You just… do. Games need a reason for you to be the one single handedly taking on the burden of restoring things for it to be engaging.
Otherwise, the characters are cool. They’re varied in appearance and personality, while still feeling like they belong to the same community. The character designs are pretty unique for both their portraits, map icons, and overworld sprites. It adds flavor to the game that you don’t always see. They also have fun dialogue when you talk to them. However, the NPCs do talk in a dialect akin to Simlish, and it’s fairly obnoxious to listen to. I would have preferred them to not be voice acted with the nonsense language.
Controls and Gameplay
Blue Oak Bridge is ultimately clunky in its controls. Movement is odd, and aiming your farm tools appropriately is borderline luck based. Trying to water a pad of crops is even worse. It’s like the sensitivity is turned up on the mouse and you’re trying to click at a very specific spot. The watering outline jumps around wildly until you find that exact sweet spot. The nice thing is there’s a strafe button to make using the hoe and planting easier.
The map is clunky. It’s difficult to see what a building is. The character icons show the area they’re in, but not where in the area. So, you can see if a character is in town, at the beach, in the woods, etc. However, you can’t see where in each of those areas they are. That’s fine outside of town, but in town, it can be a real hunt to find who you’re looking for.Their icons also don’t pop up with their name, so you better memorize what their icons look like, and they’re designed differently than their portraits or sprites! Map doesn’t even show your location, so you’re forced to learn every bend and curve of every area, especially the town, which isn’t laid out in a grid pattern. All of these elements just make using the map more of a headache than it needs to be.
Blue Oak Bridge also has some weird glitches that don’t break the game, but make it a little less enjoyable. Fish can glitch out and totally disappear as they’re coming for your hook. And if the body of water is situated at the bottom of the screen, your toolbar covers up a lot of the fish. Thankfully, the fishing minigame is easy and laid back and doesn’t make me want to pull my hair out (looking at your Stardew Valley).
Visuals
Overall, Blue Oak Bridge is pretty. Your farm plot is nice and big with gorgeous grass textures, several different kinds of trees, wild flowers, and a river. It’s a cozy, idyllic little piece of land perfect for starting a farm. The other areas of the fairly small map are nice, too. The mines have different “themes” every 10 levels, and some of them are borderline ethereal. I loved the lighting and overall feel of some of the mine levels. The beach areas are nicely done too, as is the swamp. All three areas feel appropriately beachy or swampy. The snowy mountain area is very small, and doesn’t contain much besides a house, pond, and snow. Plus, the animals are adorable, there’s some really nice decor, and the town looks great.
So, What is Good?
Outside of the character designs being unique, and the graphics being gorgeous, the story being cute, and fishing actually being relaxing, there’s some other stuff that Blue Oak Bridge got right. A lot of what this game got perfect is in the little things like chores. It seems to me the developers looked at all the farm sims out there and improved on certain aspects.
Naturally, you start out with different tools like the axe, pickaxe, watering can, and hoe so you can work on your farm. The watering can doesn’t need to be refilled. Just water away. Drown your crops if you want to, but you won’t be running to a well to refill! Of course, using tools costs stamina, much like every other game out there, too. And surely we’ve all been there when we’re mining rocks and just completely miss the rock we wanted to obliterate. Well, in this game, missing your mark doesn’t cost you stamina. It’s great to not be punished for your goof ups!
Blue Oak Bridge also doesn’t waste your stamina when you’re reached 0. Many farm sims will have you pass out and start the next day with less than full stamina, but not this one! Once your stamina reaches 0, that’s it. That’s where it stays. If you try to perform an action that costs stamina when you’re already at 0, the action just doesn’t happen. There’s no wasting stamina and no overdoing it! Both made the game that much more pleasant.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Blue Oak Bridge isn’t a bad game. It’s pretty and has some unique things to set it apart. It also appears the developer is still working to add to it, which is great. I just didn’t connect with the story or felt the desire to track down characters to get to know them because the map is so obnoxious. Poor controls make things difficult, too. I want to love this game, as it feels like it has potential, but falls short in my eyes.
I give this one
You can find Blue Oak Bridge on Steam.
- Dec 24, 2023
If you received a new Nintendo Switch from Santa or simply looking to expand your library, here are some of the cutest games should play.
Some reports show that Santa has been pretty generous this year and there is a chance that if you were hoping for a new Switch, you may have found one underneath the tree.
No matter if you are an experienced Switch owner or if you just joining the fun, here are some super cute games that you should consider adding to your games library.
From hidden gems like Little Dragons Cafe a game made by the original Harvest Moon creator, where you run your very own Cafe and raise dragons at the same time – to must haves like Animal Crossing New Horizons. Dive in and check out some of these adorable and wholesome games that are perfect for cuddly and cozy winter evenings.
Little Dragons Cafe
Little Dragons Cafe is the latest game by Yasuhiro Wada the original Harvest Moon creator. In little Dragons Cafe players choose between a boy or a girl, who are twin siblings. You will be able to gather ingredients and cook recipes in order to run your very own Cafe. Furthermore players will be able to raise a dragon. A fully grown dragon can even be used as a method of transportation to reach far away spots on the map. MORE INFO HERE
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It was released for Switch on 17th May 2018.
My Time at Portia
My Time at Portia Start a new life in the enchanting town of Portia! Restore your Pa’s neglected workshop to its former glory by fulfilling commissions, growing crops, raising animals, and befriending the quirky inhabitants of this charming post-apocalyptic land! [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE
Palia
Palia is a free-to-play cozy MMO all about farming, cooking, fishing, and exploring. Immerse yourself in a beautiful new world full of interesting characters and compelling storylines. Expand your homestead and build a gorgeous home for yourself. Craft a number of different furniture and decorative items to make your home suit your tastes. You can play solo or with friends, or even party up with strangers, and play at your own pace!
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 2 The game combines the best from an RPG game and mixes the formula with a crafting and building game. For the first time players in Dragon Quest Builders 2 will be able to go on a journey with up to 4 players in an online multiplayer coop experience. Exploring, crafting, building and more are all part of the game and can now be enjoyed with your friends. MORE INFO HERE
Golf Story
Golf Story is an uber-cute and silly golfing simulator that combines the relaxation of golfing with the stress of crushing defeat looming in the shadows. Take pride in driving that little white ball all across the eight unique environments , cleverly designed to simultaneously inspire joy and rage! Enjoy going head-to-head with your friends in varied and select-able modes, difficulties and maps. MORE INFO HERE
Roots of Pacha
Roots of Pacha is an absolutely adorable farming and life simulation game by developer Soda Den and publisher Crytivo. You get to customize your very own character and be a member of a thriving stone age community. Discover ideas to improve the village, grow and harvest crops from seeds you find in the wild, befriend a variety of cute animals, get to know your fellow tribes mates, and much more.
Stardew Valley
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE
Fae Farm
Fae Farm is a beautiful farming sim where you cultivate crops, craft items to decorate your home with or sell, and care for adorable farm animals. Befriend a varying cast of townspeople, and even romance some of them. Plus, you even get to venture into the faerie realm, where you’ll see faeries and fantastical creatures not seen in the human realm. Even delve deep into the mines to collect resources, fight enemies, and uncover mysteries!
The Legend of Zelda Links Awakening
If you are like us, you just can’t wait to get your hands on the newly remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. The adorable graphics alone are enough to keep us on the edge of our seat, waiting to find out exactly what else is new with this awesome epic classic. With the recently released fact sheet from Nintendo, we now know just a little bit more about what to expect. Not that we needed more than the beautifully polished graphics, that is. MORE INFO HERE
The Stillness of the Wind
The Stillness of the Wind is a beautiful and unique take on the traditional and very popular farming game genre. The game focuses on Talma, an elderly woman who is spending her late days on her farmstead growing food, making cheese and tending to animals. The Stillness of the Wind packs everything you come to except from amazing farming games, such as Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons to name a few.
The Stillness of the Wind My Riding Stable 2
My Riding Stables 2 – A New Adventure is an open world exploration game that focuses on the life of a stable owner, and that stable owner is you. You will get to care for a few different breeds of horses, while you try to run a fully functioning riding stable.
There will be many different activities to participate in while running your business. You can choose to start the game as most do and take part in the story mode, or you can choose to ride off into the world in search of treasures.
Harvest Life
Harvest Life is taking a cute approach to the oh so adorable farming life simulation genre. In this game the player will of course do some extensive farming, taking care of livestock and exploring the gorgeous environment. But beyond it’s usual farming features, the game also delivers an intriguing story line.
More info on Harvest Life here.
Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town
Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town is a remake of the much beloved and highly praised Harvest Moon Friends of Mineral Town that originally released on Gameboy Advance – many, many years ago! And now it is finally coming to Nintendo Switch with all new features and upgraded visuals!
Paleo Pines
Paleo Pines is a charming dinosaur farming game. Customize your character, and embark on a journey to a peaceful little island where pioneers live peacefully with affectionate dinosaurs. On the island, evolution went a different direction – “survival of the kindest” – and resulted in a world where humans and dinosaurs live together in harmony. Much to the delight of the residents of the island, you’re the last known descendant of the Flute Whisperer. Together with your Parasaurolophus, Lucky, you’ll build a ranch, make friends with residents, and discover the history of your lost ancestors. Tame other dinosaurs using your flute-playing skills. Build enough trust with them and they’ll help you with your farm chores!
Many More Games!
Of course there are just so many more games to talk about so make sure to check back for more coverage on current and upcoming wholesome video games!
If you are an Animal Crossing fan, you might want to take a look at the latest on New Horizons right here!
- Nov 30, 2023
Fae Farm is a beautiful farming sim where you cultivate crops, craft items to decorate your home with or sell, and care for adorable farm animals. Befriend a varying cast of townspeople, and even romance some of them. Plus, you even get to venture into the faerie realm, where you’ll see faeries and fantastical creatures not seen in the human realm. Even delve deep into the mines to collect resources, fight enemies, and uncover mysteries!
What’s Great About the Game
The art in Fae Farm is absolutely gorgeous. It’s easy to fall in love with the game based on that alone. The scenery is varied. The NPCs all look different. Even your clothing options are lovely. Then, the furniture and decorating choices are great. You’re sure to find something that suits your style, whatever it may be. Adventuring into the fae realm is probably my favorite part. It’s so whimsical and magical. Even the dungeon is dreamy, though chock full of enemies. The art is absolutely what drew me to the game to begin with!
What I also really like about Fae Farm is that tools switch automatically for you. Walk up to a tree to chop, and you’ll immediately have your axe in hand. Then, go to a rock and poof! There’s your pickaxe! It’s a super handy mechanic that I would love to see in all farming sims. It saves time and lets me switch between activities much faster. Besides that, fast travel unlocks early game. There are several points across the map called Wayshrines that act as fast travel spots. You need to craft a seal from cave resources in order to activate the Wayshrine, but you can accomplish that easily early on. Having fast travel early in the game makes it genuinely useful and not just an afterthought. Plus, the mines have waypoints where you can place seals you’ve crafted in order to get to different levels without going through the whole mine. Think Stardew Valley’s mine elevator, but with more magic and teleporting!
What I Dislike
Unfortunately, Fae Farm has more aspects that I dislike than I like. In order to play multiplayer, or even just name your character, you need to create a Phoenix Labs account. Otherwise, your character’s name defaults to the account name that’s on the system you’re playing on. So, my character’s name is a string of random letters I used for my Steam name. It kind of ruins any romance when my husband calls me by name.
I once wasted a precious Fae Farm day sitting in the crafting menu or almanac menu thinking the game was paused. It certainly was not. The nice thing is that you aren’t negatively affected for passing out after bedtime, so all I truly lost was a day of play time. It didn’t decay friendship points with my critters, and it didn’t ruin any quests. Then there’s the sales tables. The limited sales table spots really get in the way of me mass selling a hoard of items I’ve held onto for too long. It doesn’t inhibit money-making, just clearing out that stack of 600 fibers I probably don’t need so many of.
The exuberant laughing at everything is obnoxious, though. When I accomplish something, I laugh. When talking to an NPC, they laugh instead of speak. None of it is funny! I’d prefer if they muttered some nonsense like Sims do. Unfortunately, the laughing just lends itself to the overall soul-less feel the game has. The NPCs have no deep backgrounds, and their dialogue is repetitive and shallow. There’s not even a point to befriending anyone unless you’re trying to marry them. And there’s only a handful of marriage candidates. Even the festivals feel lifeless. They’re not exciting and engaging. Everything feels very surface level.
Final Thoughts
Don’t get me wrong, Fae Farm is somewhat fun. I’ve put some hours into it, but I’d hoped for a lot more polish for that AAA price tag. A better story with more meaningful characters would have made this game an absolute gem. I’d also like for everyone to have a nose, please! Everything feels so shallow and surface level. I don’t need some deep, dark secrets to go into it, just a little more substance that makes me want to talk to people or do things. And when you add up several minor gripes, things feel lackluster, and that’s what we have here.
Overall, I’d give it:
You can find Fae Farm on Steam and Switch now!
Check out another of my reviews on a magical game: Witchy Life Story!
- Nov 1, 2023
There is an abundance of cozy farming games out there now. Stardew Valley, Coral Island, and Roots of Pacha are some of my all-time favorites. They are wholesome and have a bit of story while still being open to be played however you want. I think what makes them so cozy is the repetitiveness of farming, while being able to break from doing the same thing. What I’ve really wanted is a city-based cozy game where you visit shops in the neighborhood and befriend people sounds like a dream. And now we finally have one!
Moonlight in Garland is a cozy, open-ended life sim. You’re brand new to the bustling city of Garland, and you’re building a new life in the metropolis. Start by finding the perfect apartment by choosing from four options. Cedar Court has beautiful historic features. Maple Place has a great foodie culture and green space nearby. The student accommodations are close to the city’s best nightlife. Or there’s even a modern and stylish high rise called Birch Tower! Each apartment comes with its own unique challenges and community of people to get to know. Once you’ve settled into your new home, engage in a number of different activities across the city.
Spend time getting to know your neighbors in Moonlight in Garland, as well as help the building manager to solve community problems. Even make friends with other residents of Garland to experience meaningful events and cut scenes, and perhaps fall in love. Or take some time to photograph and document the local wildlife you find in the city. Just don’t forget to water your houseplants, either! You can also take on a part time job, get married, attend festivals, solve local mysteries, and more in this cozy city life sim.
Available Now
Moonlight in Garland is available now on Steam. There are plans to port it to other platforms once full release on Steam happens in 2024!
Moonlight in Garland has similar visual vibes as Wish Upon a Llama!
