Well, it is time to book another x-plus hour onto my backlog, thanks to the release of Fae Farm. Don’t get me wrong, I love slice-of-life farming simulators. I played most of the Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons games, almost all of the Animal Crossing games (I skipped on the Happy Home Designer, sorry), and Stardew. And those are just the games I want to mention because I also played a lot of bad ones. Well, worry not! Fae Farm is not on the bad side of my list, and yes, I checked it twice. I’m loving it (McDonald’s jingle insert), so let’s dive in!
Phoenix Labs
So, Phoenix Labs developed Fae Farm and is a Canadian video game developer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The company was founded in April 2014 by former Riot Games developers Jesse Houston, Sean Bender, and Robin Mayne. The studio’s first project, Dauntless, launched in open beta on Microsoft Windows in May 2018 and was released on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on May 21, 2019, and released on Nintendo Switch on December 10, 2019. Dauntless takes place in a fantasy setting, where a cataclysmic event has torn the world apart, releasing monstrous creatures known as Behemoths that prey on the surviving humans. Players take on the role of Slayers to take down Behemoths, collecting loot that they use to craft and upgrade weapons and equipment to take down larger and more powerful Behemoths. While hunting, the game plays as a third-person action game; the player uses a combo system to attack the creature while monitoring their health and stamina gauge.
So fast forward to 2023, and the same studio behind the game I mentioned released Fae Farm. In which you escape to the world of Azoria. As you nurture and grow your homestead, you’ll meet charming characters, foster deep relationships, and discover ways to infuse magic into everything you do. Customize your character, master the arts of crafting, cooking, and potion-making, and discover so much more. See where I’m getting at? Unfold the island’s mysteries alone or with up to three other players. You can invite your family and friends or visit their homestead to progress together, playing beside you or online. As the seasons change, you can unlock new areas and restore the world around you. Embark on a ship and set sail to Azoria; there’s a magical world waiting for you!
Story & Mechanics
I think it’s incredible to see how versatile a studio like Phoenix Labs can be since these games are nothing alike. We are seeing a trend in casual gaming with many farm sims or games with farming elements growing faster than you can say corn on a cob. Oh, and guess what! No dead relative this time from whom you inherit a farm. Mayor Merritt welcomes you to the island and summarises the story until now, where your character has found themselves on the island despite many natural disasters preventing anyone from leaving or entering it. It is a refreshing take on the usual farming RPG by adding a touch of magic and fantasy to what could have been a tired old story. Even though it still makes me wonder how you even managed to get there…
But, who to complain! Since you are given a homestead and some farmland to begin your journey in Azoria. and all the locals seem to be interested in this new fancy stranger. What makes Fae Farm apart from the other Farming sims I mentioned above is an integrated story and questline that goes beyond fetch quests and learning the game mechanics. As you explore the world, you find more and more going wrong with the land, and it’s up to you to build your skills and unlock new abilities to solve the mysteries around the island. Many of the early quests are designed to help with working out how to farm, shop, and explore the many places of Azoria. As you progress through the main questline, the citizens become more personable, and the quests become more about saving Azoria and bringing peace back to the land. It combines many things I liked from Animal Crossing and such with features I loved from the more action-oriented Rune Factory games.
Gameplay
The gameplay is great and user-friendly, with a fixed top-down view and a sizeable viewing angle allowing you to see enough of your surroundings without compromising detail. Moving around the world feels smooth, and the addition of a jump button lets you go just about anywhere you would like. You can jump fences, swim through rivers and lakes, and utilize magic mushrooms to bounce high in the air and move up cliff faces with the greatest ease. So yes, this will let you throw yourself off everything you find. And I encourage you to do so because you will find many wonderful things by just jumping off a cliff (and yes, I know that when Nick asks you to jump off a cliff, your parents frown upon that idea).
As a player of many gaming sims, I found navigating and locating different elements within Fae Farm incredibly easy. One of the main features that made this so was the ability to add a waypoint to any location or NPC character within the game’s map. This feature was especially helpful after completing certain quests, as it allowed me to quickly and easily find the relevant character when needed. Additionally, the game’s inventory system was designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. The main tools used for farming, mining, and foraging occupied the same inventory slot, so I could easily switch from one task to another without worrying about switching tools. This made the game much more accessible and less of a chore. So, other simulation games – take notes. I don’t want to see it any other way anymore.
Fae Farm is a game that heavily emphasizes magic as a core theme throughout its gameplay. The game is filled with numerous fantasy elements that require players to use magic to progress. Rather than relying on traditional farming machinery, players are encouraged to develop their magical abilities to help with different tasks. The game’s magical aspect adds a unique layer of depth and complexity that enhances the overall gameplay experience. For instance, players can use magic to grow crops faster, saving them time and energy. They can also use magic to mass-harvest crops, making the process quicker and more efficient. Also, magic can be used in the mines during combat and mining, making these tasks less tedious and enjoyable. In summary, Fae Farm’s magical aspect is integral to its gameplay, providing players with a unique and immersive experience. By developing their magical abilities, players can easily progress through the game’s challenges and tasks, making it all the more enjoyable to play.
Conclusion
So, to conclude! Fae Farm breaks the mold by introducing a variety of elements that work in the context of a farming RPG while at the same time introducing many fantasy elements that make this different enough to stand out from the crowd. I did review this game on my Steamdeck, so I can’t judge how it runs with keyboard and mouse – so I recommend using a controller for the smoothest experience. I did hear about some technical hiccups on the other platforms, but those can be ironed out in future patches. So, even if you’re sick of farming on either of your consoles, I recommend checking this out.
