The first farming sim I've actually cared about in ages blends Rune Factory vibes with Japanese ghosts and a "flamboyant and perpetually tipsy" bartender

gamesradar.com:

Tales of Seikyu, an upcoming co-op fantasy farming sim blending Rune Factory vibes with Japanese folklore, is the first new game of its kind to really catch my attention in as long as I can remember.

I grew up playing a lot of Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, likely as an unconscious counterbalance to the myriad gruesome horror games I was probably way too young to be playing. Likewise, it's perhaps a very natural response to the state of the world that we've seen an absolute onslaught of self-styled "cozy" games in recent years; a computerized crusade for the cute and cuddly in the face of real-world anxieties. At some point though, I felt we'd become spoiled for choice. And then they kept coming.

I still find a lot of value in the cozy contingent of modern games, the problem is there's just too damn many, and not enough that are doing anything new or interesting. Farm, fish, craft, build, romance, and on, and on, and on. There are some standouts for sure - the one where you're a cat comes to mind - but by and large, I fear this particular market is grossly oversaturated.

Tales of Seikyu, though, now here's one I can sincerely say I can't wait to get my world-weary, trembling hands on. First of all, it's based in a world inhabited by Japanese yokai; spirits, each of which have their own fascinating folkloric histories often rooted in tragedy. You, as the player character, have built a house in the countryside of a haven protected from these vengeful ghosts, but one that's home to its own assortment of weird and wonderful inhabitants, from "the flamboyant and perpetually tipsy bar owner, Yoji" to "Otter Andolini, a former mafia boss who now cherishes peace at his beloved dock."

Yes, you'll grow crops, craft items, get