At this point, I have played or dived into at least a hundred farming sims. I have seen it all in terms of storylines where a grandparent dies, or a city slicker has decided it is time for a simpler life in the country. These games fall into these tropes because we need a reason to have the character fall into this story. It can be tiring; however, I do get it. A happy character will not drop their life to move to a new setting. It is like how many D&D characters have tragic backstories. No sane, happily married individual drops it all to slay dragons and listen to Bard’s tales. So, while this game I will be discussing today may fall into those tropes, it is charming. Without further ado, let’s get into Sprout Valley.
Sprout Valley‘s Plot
Sprout Valley follows the tale of Nico the cat, who has loved the outdoors since he was a kitten. He fell into a mailroom clerk position as an adult in the big city of Lemontop. One day, he was reading the Pascal Town Tribune when he found an ad for a property called Ostara. After haggling the price down with the owner, Ozlo, Nico quickly fell into his new life. What new adventures are in store for Nico? Will the farm life be all it is cracked up to be? That is up to you to decide.
Features Unique to Sprout Valley
- Typical farming goodness.
- Gather resources, grow crops, and make this new island your home.
- Procedurally generated levels.
- Each level has a unique seed that can be shared with other players.
- A seed, in this case, is like a map, not like in the farming sense,
- Dynamic weather system.
- Players can get caught in the rain or have a foggy morning.
- Crafting.
- Decorate your island as much or as little as you would like.
- Travel to other islands.
- Gather resources from other parts of the world.
- Over 15 hours of story mode.
- And so much more!
Thoughts on Sprout Valley
I do not use comparisons between different games and do so sparingly. Doing so can take away the experience for others. However, as I was playing Sprout Valley, I got the same fuzzy feeling I get when I pop in Animal Crossing. Ozlo, the owner of the property I purchased, feels like a sweeter Tom Nook. I am more worried about making cute furniture in this title than in other farming sims, and the fishing mechanics are very similar. This is where the similarities stop, and the uniqueness of Sprout Valley shines.
Overall, I tried the demo on itch.io, and I quickly found myself playing longer than intended. It was a relaxing experience, and I did not feel pressured to make the most mass-produced farm as soon as possible. I just went with the flow and grew what sounded interesting. I also got to hang out with a little frog pal that genuinely made my day. It is a sweet title that all cozy gamers will enjoy. Overall, if you are looking for a game to just vibe with, this is the one for you.
Odds & Ends
If you want to try the demo before buying Sprout Valley, it is available on itch.io. This title is available on Steam and the Nintendo Switch. If you want another game with a chill vibe and a demo, I recommend Potion Permit. Both titles are excellent for relaxing and having a good time. Overall, I hope you enjoy these games as much as I have!
