Summary
In a world of action-packed RPGs and shooters, many people still look for farming simulators likeStardew Valleyas a way to relax. These “cozy games” allow players to just tend to their farms, take care of animals, and befriend or romance villagers. They also have compelling stories that would keep players hooked as they get through each day in the game. As years passed, manyStardew Valley-like titleswould come out with their own spin to farming sims.
One such game isGrave Seasons. Developed by Perfect Garbage,Grave Seasonshas similar gameplay elements asStardew Valley, from the farming mechanic to the dating aspect. However, it has a sinister twist that fans of the genre would find quite intriguing.
RELATED:How a PS2 Game Inspired Farming Sim and Murder Mystery Title Grave Seasons
Grave Seasons is Not a Regular Farm Sim
Stardew Valleyand other cozy games like it have long set a wholesome tone. The plot often revolves around taking care of a farm that the main characters inherited from their relatives, and reinvigorating the whole village or island. But recently, developers have incorporated unique themes to make their games stand out.
InGrave Seasons, the main character, who was described as an “outsider,” moves to a new village to live a peaceful life. Apart from tending to their farm andmeeting villagers like inStardew Valley, they also have to help catch a serial killer. The twist is there’s a chance that players might accidentally romance the culprit if they’re not careful.
Perfect Garbage co-founders and lead developers Emmett Nahil and Son M. told Game Rant last May that theproportion of horror and romance inGrave Seasonsis a 50/50 split. They made sure that players would be able to experience both themes without detracting from the other, while also enjoying the cozy farming. Nahil added that this blend of genres was meant to showcase “raw, instinctive emotions” that would resonate with players asGrave Seasonswill capitalize on both fear and love.
What’s also interesting aboutGrave Seasons' relationship-buildingis that it will enable players to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior from certain characters. Not only does this add a new layer to the dating sim mechanic, but it will also test their deductive skills in catching the killer. Plus, it’s said that eachGrave Seasonsplaythrough would assign a different NPC to become the serial killer, so there’s no definite answer as to who it could be. This gives the game high replay value as players could explore various other relationships and navigate their virtual lives differently each time.
Grave Seasonsdoesn’t have a release date yet, but manyStardew Valleyfans have started keeping a close eye on it, and for a very good reason. Perfect Garbage was able to create a farming sim that will comfort players, while also keeping them on their toes. Some players might also want to know howGrave Seasonswould pan out if they would end up with the serial killer. It’s unknown if the main character dies, or still live happily ever after with their murderous partner. Curious fans will have to wait to find the answer.
Grave Seasonsmight not be as wholesome asStardew Valley, but the farming sim genre is definitely due for more variety. That variety is cropping up in the reveals of similar games, such as thevampire-filledMoonlight ValleyandStranger Things-esqueBloomTown: A Different Story. No matter how strange or dark these farming sims could get, these still fall under the cozy games that many players have fallen in love with for years.
