I have mentioned previously when the weather is chilly, I have a deep desire to play survival games. Something in my nerd brain says that a sweater in the morning equals survival. However, sometimes it is fun to be cold and cozy while playing a farming sim. Would you be excited if I told you I found a game with elements of both? I know I am. So, let’s talk about Echoes of the Plum Grove.
Echoes of the Plum Grove‘s Story
Echoes of the Plum Grove begins in an unusual setting, a dockyard. Players meet their best friend, Timothy Tweed, before trekking to the small island of Honeywood. Unfortunately, the journey is dangerous, and tragedy strikes. Luckily, you make it to your destination, but this is not the only harsh trial you must overcome. Winter is coming, and you must prepare. Farm your new plot of land, extend the branches of your family tree, and more to ensure survival. In the end, Honeywood is what you make it.
Features Unique to Echoes of the Plum Grove
- Survive and farm in the 1700s.
- Prepare for a harsh winter.
- This includes typical farming sim elements like:
- Farming, foraging, fishing, and mining.
- Also includes:
- Stockpiling the cellar with food and medicines.
- This includes typical farming sim elements like:
- Get to know fellow villagers.
- Players can make friends by giving gifts and helping villagers with requests.
- Enemies can also be made by insulting villagers and giving them poisonous gifts.
- NPCs are dynamic.
- They can get married, have children, and die.
- Dynastic gameplay.
- When a player’s character dies, they begin playing as their child.
- Animals can be butchered.
- Adds to the survival element.
- Funerals and weddings are big to-dos.
- Players can celebrate or mourn their friends.
- They can also mock or insult their enemies.
- There are also mysteries to solve and so much more.
Thoughts on Echoes of the Plum Grove
Echoes of the Plum Grove has a 2.5D animation style, so I was intrigued when I saw it grace my Kickstarter email. As I read about family dynamics, I knew this game needed attention. This is an element I have seen requested in farming sim circles for years now. It feels like a massive undertaking for the devs, and I am stoked to see how it plays out. Plus, 1700’s aesthetic feels very US Thanksgiving. I am festive if I play this title in November, right? Overall, everything about this title screams fun. Therefore, I had to check out the demo.
The game began, and I was about to embark on a journey with my best friend, Tim. We will buy a big plot of land together and live a simple life. All seems well until a storm approaches. I am living out a scene from The Flying Dutchman by The Jolly Rogers. I am terrified as the scene goes black, and I wake up in a strange bed. This is my origin story; I am the sole survivor.
The mayor did not miss a beat and quickly showed me my new plot of land and told me I would need to pay taxes. The survival element promptly reared its head, and I am here for it. The snippet of the demo I have played thus far has been excellent, and I am excited to dig my claws deeper. In the end, this was a great introduction to the story, and it reeled me in like the farming sim simp I am.
Odds & Ends
If you want a unique and compelling farming sim, I highly recommend Echoes of the Plum Grove. When writing this, the Kickstarter is still live, and the Steam demo is available. Finally, if you want to read about more farming sims, I also recommend my article on the Song of the Prairie.
