Fans of both The Legend of Zelda and Stardew Valley are in the same boat at the moment, waiting for a clearer picture of “what's next” for their favorite series. Sure, the immediate future is clear; more Zelda LEGO sets and the upcoming Netflix series are on the way, while Stardew Valleys major 1.7 update will bring new marriages to continue and deeper mechanics for children.
Beyond that, however, there are bigger questions: will Stardew Valley 2 finally come true? Coming next Zelda feel more traditional or continue with the open worlds seen in recent entries? And when exactly will more concrete information come? As fans ask questions and wait for answers, one comes Steam game-Plague Alchemist— could help the communities in both IPs kill some time.
The Steam game in question is a healthy mix of both traits, but fans should be aware that it's more old-fashioned Zelda than any of the modern records. However, it works in its favor, as the combination of classic Zelda and Stardew looks just as good as it sounds on paper. Gamers won't have to wait long to try out this promising mix of franchises either, as it will be released at the end of February. For those who are curious Plague Alchemist due to its similarities to one (or both) of the franchises mentioned above, here's what you need to know about it.
Plague Alchemist Features at a Glance
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EXPLORE a living open world affected by time and weather.
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CRAFT potions that enable story progression and combine materials freely for secret fans.
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CLEAR dungeons full of puzzles, unique biomes and creatures.
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Experience a story of alchemy, corruption and quiet survival.
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FILL in a codex with information about areas, creatures and ingredients found on the journey.
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SHAPE Plague Alchemist through early access feedback.
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RELAX via slow-burn gameplay where music and painted pixel art shine.
A story-rich pixel art RPG centered around alchemy and discovery. Investigate a spreading plague caused by the collapsing border between magical and non-magical worlds, with progression built around exploration and crafting.
Plague Alchemist looks like Stardew Valley but plays like Old-School Zelda
Visually, Plague Alchemist feels strongly inspired by ConcernedApe's beloved farming sim. This is not only visible in the game from moment to moment, where a sprite moves through a colorful city with bright green grass, dirt roads, rocks and trees, but also the conversation screens. As in Stardew Valleytalking to one of the pixelated NPCs will bring up a more detailed headshot of the character, making it easier to connect with them and their personalities. It is currently unclear if there will be romance and heart events like Stardew Valleys, but the text and HUD should immediately feel just as familiar to Stardew fans like Plague Alchemistthat's what art does.
Even more than Stardew Valleywho have some strife in their mines, Plague Alchemist wants to prioritize discovery and satisfactory development above all. There is no combat in the game. Instead, players will collect resources, explore and take in the story, which seems to be delivered at a very leisurely pace. There is some adventure though, which is there The Legend of Zelda influence comes into play. Specifically, players will complete a series of puzzles within seven dungeons, one for each element (earth, fire, water, air, body, mind, and spirit). Players will not only find unique biomes and themed challenges in each dungeon, but also exclusive materials for the crafting mechanic that seems integral to developer Hardcoded's project.
Plague Alchemist's Crafting seems like its biggest draw
Like The Zelda series, players have a real goal to complete and a story to eventually roll credits on, and to do so they must master the art of alchemy. Pastes, Elixirs, and Potions can all be crafted, many of which will be required to clear certain story obstacles. But players are also free to be creative and randomly combine ingredients to discover hidden buffs and abilities. Experimenting with the alchemy system should be a lot of fun, and as players search the open world for new ingredients to help them with their mad science, they'll fill out a codex with extra knowledge about everything they come across. Eventually, they should have all the knowledge needed for the player character – a plague doctor trying to rid a town of a mysterious sleeping curse – to wake up the victims and save the day.
Plague Alchemist's Early Access Road will be long, but the journey may be worth it
Plague Alchemist is meant to be a slow, immersive experience, and a similarly cautious pace is applied to the game's early access period. The game is expected to be in early access for 2-4 years, with developer Hardcoded citing its “huge, system-driven mechanics” as a reason for this extensive testing period. During that time, Hardcoded promises transparent updates on the game's progress, stability fixes, and slow and steady content additions to ensure a polished experience when the game is fully released.
The pros and cons of this approach are obvious. On the negative side, Plague Alchemist will be pretty light on content when it launches into early access at the end of February. All the core systems (alchemy, exploration, and questing) will be there, but the game will only offer the first region and dungeon at first. The others will be added via free updates, but players can only get a few hours out Plague Alchemist initially. That said, the upside is equally clear; players will be able to help shape this title from the very beginning. Maybe they think the future dungeons need a different design approach, don't like the drop rate of certain materials, or have issues with the mission design; all these things can be shared and addressed early to ensure a satisfactory end product at a good pace.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Start
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
Those interested in the game and convinced of Hardcoded's vision for it may want to consider early access, as this version of the game will cost significantly less than the final product. The price will only increase when Hardcoded is secure Plague Alchemist is worth it, but it will happen eventually, so it's definitely something to consider. While there are plenty of Stardew Valley clones and Steam games built on Zelda nostalgia, this exciting combination of the two holds a lot of potential.
