I played these Cozy Farming Games in my Quest for the ULTIMATE Farming Sim

DoshDoshington・2 minutes read

Farming games provide a sense of simplicity and escape from modern life, focusing on managing farms and completing tasks like planting and harvesting crops. Different games like Sun Haven, Travelers Rest, and Roots of Pacha offer unique gameplay experiences with varying mechanics, emphasizing the importance of engaging progression loops and clear objectives for player satisfaction.

Insights

  • Farming games offer an escape to a simpler life, free from modern constraints, where players manage farms by planting, harvesting, and upgrading, but can suffer from emptiness, limited character development, and repetitive tasks.
  • The essence of farming games is in the satisfaction derived from focused work towards clear objectives, catering to various player goals like relaxation or competition, emphasizing the importance of creating a seamless progression loop where tasks lead to desirable goals, ensuring complexity is integrated into routine gameplay for all players.

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Recent questions

  • What are cozy games?

    Cozy games involve managing farms for relaxation.

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Summary

00:00

"Escape to Farming Games: Simplicity and Freedom"

  • Farming games evoke a desire for a simpler life and freedom from modern constraints.
  • The text discusses a subset of cozy games where players manage their own farms.
  • The author's introduction to the series was Friends of Mineral Town on Game Boy Advance.
  • Harvest Moon series and Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town are mentioned.
  • The text delves into the history of the Harvest Moon series and its localization.
  • Gameplay involves clearing land, planting seeds, watering crops, and selling them for profit.
  • Crafting and scavenging mechanics are integral to the game's progression.
  • Upgrading tools, houses, and structures on the farm require resources and money.
  • The game's emptiness, limited areas, and repetitive tasks are highlighted as drawbacks.
  • The lack of character development, shallow interactions, and limited goals are critiqued.

12:11

Sun Haven: A Chosen One's Adventure

  • The submerged ruin required several days of pumping to drain it completely.
  • The protagonist collected sacks of garbage from the ruins, obtained by whacking moles in the mines.
  • Po's sacran setting is described as bland with non-existent characters and minimal content beyond farming.
  • Sun Haven introduces a furry, anime-like aesthetic, offering a refreshing change from Po's sacran.
  • The game starts with a cutscene involving a chance encounter on a train, leading to a mysterious plot hook.
  • Sun Haven features dialogue branches, character utility in quests, and a rudeness option affecting relationships.
  • Combat in Sun Haven is simple, focusing on upgrading equipment through farming and mining.
  • The protagonist is revealed to be the chosen one by a dragon-lion creature, embarking on the main quest line.
  • Crafting in Sun Haven is streamlined, with machines automatically pulling items from chests on the farm.
  • Farming in Sun Haven is lackluster, with limited relevance due to time constraints and profitability issues.

24:13

"Exploring transformative gameplay in indie games"

  • The text discusses the author's experience playing Terraria and Sun Haven, focusing on the transformative capabilities of Terraria and the character writing in Sun Haven.
  • In Sun Haven, the author marries the Ark Mage character and notes the game's inclusive approach to character relationships.
  • The author reflects on the gameplay loop in Sun Haven, highlighting bugs and inconsistencies but overall enjoying the experience.
  • The text transitions to discussing Travelers Rest, where the player acts as a Tavern keeper, serving customers and exploring crafting mechanics.
  • The game in Travelers Rest involves serving customers, crafting, and brewing drinks, with a focus on managing the tavern efficiently.
  • The author explores the brewing and aging mechanics in Travelers Rest, finding the process engaging and appealing.
  • The text critiques the lack of depth in Travelers Rest, noting the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the limited interactions with customers.
  • The author discusses the potential for deeper storytelling and character development in Travelers Rest, suggesting it would enhance the overall experience.
  • The text delves into the grind of Travelers Rest, highlighting the extensive time required for gameplay and the lack of significant rewards for progression.
  • The author questions the necessity of the crafting system in Travelers Rest, suggesting a focus on unique tavern mechanics might have been more beneficial for the game's overall experience.

36:31

"Roots of Patcha: Crafting Caveman Adventure Game"

  • Playing the game for about 8 hours initially leaves a positive impression before monotony sets in.
  • Some players enjoy the grind and upgrading aspects, leading to hundreds of hours of gameplay.
  • Concerns arise about games becoming stagnant due to a lack of risk-taking beyond crafting loops.
  • The game "Roots of Patcha" involves a caveman embarking on a journey guided by a guardian spirit named Patcha.
  • The game focuses on crafting all equipment by hand, emphasizing the Agricultural Revolution theme.
  • Stamina plays a significant role in tasks like watering plants and mining, limiting actions.
  • Stamina can be recovered through cooking, but its mechanics are questioned for their necessity.
  • Crops are contributed for favor within the tribe, emphasizing cooperation and unity.
  • Advancing in the game is tied to total village prosperity, impacting the ability to unlock new technologies.
  • The game's handholding approach and limitations on farming activities may deter some players from fully engaging with the gameplay.

48:43

"Fruits of Pacha: Innovative Farming Mechanics"

  • Fruits of Pacha's strength lies in its unique farming setting, delving into the roots of farming with innovative mechanics. However, the critique highlights that changing the style without altering the underlying mechanics may not be sufficient to stand out among competitors, akin to adding flames to a car not enhancing its speed.
  • The essence of farming games is in the satisfaction derived from focused work towards clear objectives, appealing to different player goals like relaxation or competition. The key lies in creating a seamless progression loop where tasks lead to desirable goals, ensuring complexity is understandable and integrated into routine gameplay for all players.
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