I Think We've Reached The Breaking Point Of Adorable Farming Sims

thegamer.com:

Stardew Valley changed the world. Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon have been around for decades, but ConcernedApe’s indie farming sim defined the magic of a rural life away from the hustle and bustle of the city like nothing else had before. It sold millions of copies and embraced a community of modders who continue to broaden its horizons, while also influencing a new generation of studios eager to build on its wholesome vibes.

Farming sims where you grow crops, fall in love, and stake your claim on new homesteads are everywhere in the modern era, with the genre long becoming saturated with familiar gameplay systems and a casual malaise where we are expected to let our worries melt away. But when dozens of these experiences are being developed with the exact same conceit, that appeal ceases to be. Fae Farm, My Time At Sandrock, Harvestella, and Dreamlight Valley all seem like competent games in their own right, but are all too familiar.

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Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct was filled with titles that exude the very same atmosphere, all while sporting gameplay mechanics that after so much iteration have grown derivative. The daily routine of tending to our farm before popping into town to build relationships has been established for years, and all of these games are trying to build upon it without ever doing enough to stand out. I was rolling my eyes as farm after farm was thrust into my face even if some of these games might excite me on their own. But there are way too many.

Harvestella has a striking aesthetic and ties in the usual routine from Stardew Valley with a strange apocalyptic twist. It seems that the relationships we build and all