Given the monumental success of ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley, it's no surprise that a wide range of indie titles have drawn inspiration from it. However, there is a big difference in borrowing some mechanics from Stardew Valley and be a full-on Stardew Valley-as. Games like upcoming Pawsome Resort falls into the latter category, essentially being just like Stardew Valley with the addition of an animal care element. The same can be said about Steam Farlandsa sci-fi cozy game with seriousness Stardew vibes.
While Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is incredibly charming, the game's somewhat realistic approach means there are experiences available in Farlands which simply cannot be offered in the most beloved cozy game ever. Interacting with aliens, wrangling alien plants and wildlife, and exploring distinct alien biomes are all that can Farlands appear. But everyone Stardew Valleys most famous element is a central part of Farlands' DNA, ensuring that fans of that game feel right at home in this newer version. And while it will be available for PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo players very soon, as it leaves Steam Early Access on July 16th, players won't have to wait that long to try it out thanks to a brand new demo.
Farlands' demo is available on all of its planned consoles (Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4 and PS5), ensuring players know exactly what to expect before purchasing the full game on July 16. Farlands Steam side, the game will likely cost around $17.99, and players can purchase it on Steam now to get access to the existing version and the 1.0 release next month.
New Open-World Life Sim on Steam Looks Like Pokemon Pokopia meets Stardew Valley
A brand new Steam game with Stardew Valley-like mechanics also throws some Pokémon Pokopia spice into the mix, making for a very interesting life simulation.
Farland's functions at a glance
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MANAGE your own planet and transform it from a (seemingly) abandoned rock into a charming new home.
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DAILY TASKS will keep players busy, such as cutting weeds, digging paths, chopping trees and more.
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EXPLORE multiple planets via your trusty old starship, collecting their unique resources to customize and expand your farm when you return home.
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INTERACT with a variety of human and alien characters who can be romanced and even married.
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EXPERIENCE a slowly unfolding story where players overthrow a corrupt figure and save their solar system.
Congratulations, you have bought your own planet! A farming stone on the edge of the galaxy that was practically given away for free for some reason. So it's time to leave your busy, stressful life in an overcrowded metropolis for a more rural and rewarding life.
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)
Farlands mixes Stardew's relaxation, progression and romance with space exploration
All staples off Stardew Valley which has made the game a permanent part of Steam's sales charts Farlands. For example, players will interact with aliens that resemble frogs, cats, and Dr. Zoidberg from Futuramanot to mention human characters, as they explore the solar system. Players can get particularly close to some of these characters, pursuing and even marrying bachelors and bachelorettes like in Stardew Valley. For many, the characters are what make it Stardew Valley so special, so to have that aspect with one Stardew-like is the key. thankfully, Farlands will cover them.
In addition to relationships, the daily hustle and bustle of running a farm is an important part of Stardew Valleys satisfying game loop, and again, Farlands seems to nail that element. Players will dig paths and plant alien crops, they will cut trees for materials or to spruce up their new outer space home, and they will mine caves. Although there is an exciting storyline Stardew Valleys lore to put together, it's just as easy to play Farlands without worrying about the story, or the NPCs for that matter. If players want, they can just relax and focus on making their perfect living space.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Start
Guess the games from the emojis.
Light (120s) Medium (90s) Hard (60s)
The same top-down camera perspective, pixelated images and portraits used for dialogue ensure a similar, immersive presentation for Stardew Valley fans to appreciate at every turn. However, Farlands is not just one Stardew clone, as its main gimmick should provide a lot of variety. If players ever get bored with mining in the same caves as Stardew Valleyor cut down the same kind of tree and gather the same kind of crops, Farlandsextra planets can prove game-changing. Players aren't just limited to their farm and the cheap, small planet they start with, as they can travel to different planets to gather unique materials, meet more characters, and explore entirely new biomes. This variety can be game-changing and based on user reviews for Farlandsit seems developer Jandusoft knocked it out of the park.
Farland's Early Access Response gives players an idea of the game's quality
Although it is true that Farlands' demo was released a few days ago at the time of writing, and the full game has yet to launch, the title was in early access for almost two whole years. In that time, there have been over 1,300 reviews, 93% of which are positive, giving the game the coveted “Highly Positive” rating on the Steam platform. Points of praise include the music, NPC dialogue, and satisfying core mechanics. There are some negatives, to be clear; fans have pointed out a few bugs, like a disappearing blacksmith, which will hopefully be resolved with the full version. If Farlands can squash those bugs, but it has the potential to be a big hit with casual gamers looking for something that's both slightly new and very familiar at the same time.
