Stranded Sails - Explorers of the Cursed Islands
(Summary at the end of this review for easier, faster reading)
UPDATED FOR THE COMPLETION UPDATE (Dec. 2020)
Having had fond memories of The Sims: Castaway in my childhood, I was quite ecstatic when I found a game that sounded similar. There are a great deal of differences between the aforementioned Sims spin-off and this indie game, and it more easily compares to Yonder: the Cloudcatcher Chronicles in regards to progression. Instead of simply relying on the tired “get better tool to get next material” method of game progression, you get access to new locations by acquiring new tools (an axe to cut down bushes that block your path, a raft to row to different islands, etc.) or by learning new crafting recipes (like ladders, and bridges) to cross previously impassible obstacles.
– Real player with 106.9 hrs in game
Read More: Best Exploration Story Rich Games.
Update October 2020 - I quit playing this game because the fishing became VERY UNPLEASANT. The fishing was fairly fun before the 2nd update. Now it is a CHORE and this added difficulty adds nothing to the game. Many food buffs rely on the fish that are now so difficult to catch that it actually spoils the game. Several players have commented on this only to fall on deaf ears. Too bad…. there are many other aspects of the game that are enjoyable.
Here is a January update since the fixes in December. Note I did not start a new game but continued with the added update.
– Real player with 58.9 hrs in game
Real Farm – Gold Edition
I am sorry to say this but this is by far the worst farming simulator game out there. I got a stroke trying to take part in the traffic with a goddamn harvester that I HAD TO ATTACH THE TOOL TO… The tools by the way feel like they are attached with a bunch of rubber dildos.
If you are going to name a game REAL FARMING, I expect some reality like there is no harvesting in rain as it is supposed to clog the machine.
Seriously hope this is not the final form of the game and the developer(s) will venture out to a real farm to get more ideas or just please play some Farming Simulator 19 to get a basic idea.
– Real player with 1.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Exploration Time Management Games.
a dumb driving simulator not farming simulator
– Real player with 0.8 hrs in game
Lumberjack Simulator
Well, after playing Lumberjack Simulator for over 44 hours now I feel I can wholeheartedly recommend it. It may have a tough learning curve due to the large amount of different vehicles and the unusual key commands, but it is so worth it after you learn the basics of a few machines. I had enough fun in the beginning of career just cutting down a few trees and running them through a chipper to make a few bucks but then you can advance through much more complex machines. There is also ‘open world’ play with easy, medium, and hard levels.
– Real player with 141.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Exploration Driving Games.
Let me first start off by saying the product I am reviewing is the Steam Early Access!
No, I was not paid to say any of this, this is all 100% my personal opinions of what I think about the game.
Detailed review or SKIP to TLDR
Who is this game for?
If you love forestry or any sort of logging or have a curiosity for it, or just would like to give yourself a challenge out in the forest, then I believe this game will be for you!
(Now, not to compare, but I am doing so purely from a review point to point out the key features that Lumberjack Simulator has over other games!)
– Real player with 54.1 hrs in game
Slime Factory
at current version avoid it .. feels like cheap buggy knock off of slime rancher ( i went and bought that one after to compare) even playing just a few mins there a few bugs one of which makes u alt f4 my advice put on your wishlist buy it if it goes on a decent sale then wait a year or so to see how the updates go . hopefully by then the bugs are worked out and games starting to show its own unique development direction
– Real player with 0.1 hrs in game
Garden Of Mooj
Garden of Mooj is a monster farmer simulator where you raise cute little slime monsters called Mooj. You find different types of food and feed them to your Mooj and it will train their stats in different ways. Every night even scarier monsters come to try and destroy your Mooj statue and you must defend yourself using the Mooj you have raised. Once you train your Mooj, their abilities can unlock gates to allow you passage into new areas, as you make your way across the world trying to save it from a mysterious enemy. Mooj is fairly similar to games like Slime Rancher and the Chao Garden from Sonic Adventure, and was a lot of fun. The game also has a really decent jazz/easy listening soundtrack.
– Real player with 19.6 hrs in game
I find this game strangely addicting and loads of fun despite how simple it is.
Its a good game for just not worrying and getting a good chuckle and you can make your mooj fairly different.
Pros:
Relaxing
Silly and cute
Addicting
Cons:
it can be a bit buggy
its not entirely clear on what to do
could still use more to do(personal bias)
– Real player with 15.6 hrs in game
Far North
Far North is a sandbox co-op procedural open world survival game with changing seasons.
Set in the deep North your survival depends solely on your ability to thrive.
Build and expand settlements in order to brave through the changing seasons ranging from beautiful summer days to fierce winter nights.
Venture through alluring and treacherous terrain where you explore and harvest resources used for crafting new clothes, tools, structures and more.
Survive the changing seasons
Experience the wilderness with four beautifully crafted seasons and the unique challenges that come with them. Out here you’ll be tracking your Hunger, Thirst, Stamina, and Temperature as you struggle to balance resources with the energy needed to obtain them. Find food, upgrade your settlement, stock up on supplies and craft new clothing. Preparation is key here in order to survive the game-altering seasons. Every decision you make will have a direct impact on your life, so be careful because that decision might just be your last.
Explore the North
Nature is calling, the diverse terrain and its inhabitants are beatiful but dangerous. Utilize all that nature has to offer by harvesting resources wherever you can find them but beware of the wild life and weather. A long journey into the wild can spell the end of you if you don’t come prepared.
Build and expand your settlements
Expand your simple settlement into a beautiful farm! Domesticate animals, grow crops, start an orchard and more! Challenge your architerctural skills by building to survive the elements in style.
Crafting
You will need to scavenge, hunt, forage and craft your way through the wilderness. Find new resources and use them to improve your tools, structures and clothing.
Improve your character
Your character is unique. Go from a beginner to a master of cooking, wood cutting, farming, exploring and much more as you shape your own journey!
Key Features:
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Massive Procedural world
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Game-changing Seasons
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Dynamic Weather
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Co-op
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Exploration
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Cooking
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Farming
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Building
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Crafting
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Skill System
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Harvestable Trees
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Animals
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Domesticate Animals
Mendel’s Garden
I love this game. It’s cute, it’s funny, it’s relaxing, it’s a great idea. I want more games like this.
– Real player with 3.9 hrs in game
It is a very fun game, I recommend it if you like Mendel and his study of pea’s…just without peas.
– Real player with 3.9 hrs in game
Monster Harvest
Should I recommend this game yes or no? I played about 50 hours of it.
But this game feels very early access. It is fine for the price.
Don’t expect too much though.
Here are my pros/cons.
Pros:
-Monster farming/fighting is integrated in the gameplay loop, unlike Stardew Valley where it feels more like an afterthought/removed from the actual gameplay.
-The world is more phantasy like. You don’t have your typical normal farmlife but instead you farm eyes and skulls. Especially the Dark season is very Halloween. Yes there are only 3 seasons: Dry, wet, and dark.
– Real player with 46.7 hrs in game
Hello,
I am quite conflicted about this game.
I really like the concept of Monster Harvest. It’s different from the usual. It’s like a mix between moonlighter (for the dungon part) but with planimals for fighters (a bit like pokemon) and harvest moon, stardew velley, peaceful days, etc… for the farming / townfolks part.
And that is a good idea. But there are a lot of itching little things.
Let’s start with the + :
Three seasons which are different from the usual is nice, 21 days instead of 28 or 30… Well, why not.
– Real player with 28.4 hrs in game
Farm Folks
This game published by Crytivo
Join Farm Folks email list to receive news about game updates and potentially get invited to test game.
After washing ashore on Softshoal Island, you are given a chance at a new life. A plot of land awaits your green thumb to transform it into a booming farm, and a new world beckons you to explore its secrets.
Farm Folks offers a delightful mix of RPG and farming mechanics, giving you the freedom to get lost in the world while you build a farm from the ground up. There are many friends to be made, many crops and animals to tend, and a whole island to discover. What are you waiting for?
As you begin to nurture your plot, uncover great mysteries, and meet the citizens of the island, you’ll experience the everlasting magnificence of your new home first-hand–all while you rekindle the memories from your past that caused you to embark on this grand, exciting adventure in the first place. You never would have guessed that finding your purpose in life was just a shipwreck away…
In Farm Folks, live your life as you see fit–there are so many experiences to be had! Working the land and rearing animals is a bunch of fun, but there is so much more on offer here. Let’s run through what you can expect:
It wouldn’t be much of a farming simulator without farming, would it? Farm Folks features the time-tested farming mechanic in which players can purchase or forage seeds and begin to grow their farm into a bountiful and rewarding resource.
Once the soil is tilled and the seeds are nestled firmly into the ground, it’s time for some TLC–Tender Loving Care. You’ll water your plants daily, either by hand or through other means, until each crop has reached its maturation and it’s ready for harvest. Harvesting your hard-earned bounty can reward you in many ways, but if you’re focusing on that bottom line, then it’s time to put some coin in your purse.
After loading your haul onto your trusty mount, you’ll head into town and sell your goods to the island’s exporters. As your purse grows fatter and fatter, the farming process can be enhanced and streamlined until you’re running the island’s most booming farm.
Soon you’ll be wondering if it’s time to invest in one of those fancy mainland automobiles….or maybe someone who can help out around the farm…
Softshoal Island’s farmland is so very fertile because of the island’s local animal population and the generations they’ve spent grazing every acre of the luscious landscape. Today, farmers can continue to reap the rewards of Softshoal’s four-legged (and two-legged!) friends by giving them homes on your property.
The local forester is also a great carpenter, and he’ll make any kind of coop or stable that’s available–for a price, of course. Once the structure is built, you’ll need to stop by the nearby animal breeder to purchase some healthy livestock! Before you know it, you’ll be in the ranching business. Milk, eggs, and wool, oh my!
Nurture and care is key to making sure your livestock is producing worthwhile products. The happier your animal companions are, the higher the quality of their yield! Make sure you’ve got your brushes and special feed handy!
Sometimes reward is found outside the fences of your farm. You’ll need to explore the wonderful and diverse settings of Softshoal to find the valuable items that can’t be found on a shelf in the local general store. These resources include minerals and materials for upgrading your tools–usually mined from Softshoal’s extensive cave system, or fish and other precious sea life that can be fished from the island’s various rivers, lakes and coastlines.
Your progression is enhanced by what you find in the wilds of Softshoal, and sometimes searching for something trivial can lead to a grand adventure you never saw coming. Get out there and see what you can find–don’t forget your pickaxe and fishing rod!
Softshoal’s local community is a character-rich roster of living and breathing souls, all of which are just waiting to share their story with you. From those that live in the island’s coastal town, Port Meridia, to those found out in the wilds, Farm Folks features a diverse, well-thought cast of over thirty characters.
You’ll meet them, find ways to further your relationships with them, and soon you’ll know each one by name. These citizens offer quests a-plenty, and spout dialogue that’ll keep you coming back for more. High relationships come with high rewards, but don’t think everybody in Softshoal is going to be easy to please…
The seeds you sow in the community will quickly begin to bear fruit. However, you better be careful not to grow weeds! Build your relationships with townsfolk by giving them gifts, attending special events, performing quests, and remembering their birthdays. Earn enough favor and maybe the townsfolk will begin giving you gifts in kind. Some nuts are harder to crack than others, but with some finesse, they just might come around. You never know - you might even find love out there.
There’s beauty and intrigue found in every corner of Softshoal. It’s a compelling place that calls the player ever further into the mysterious woods, down into the dangerous caves. As you explore, you’ll see things that you’ll never forget and you’ll experience adventures worth re-telling.
And where better to relay your stories of heroism than back in Port Meridia? This fair-sized town has plenty of places to kick back and enjoy a day away from the farm, but it’s also home to the many festivals that you don’t want to miss!
Every season brings with it a great calendar of holidays that are perfect cause for celebration. You’ll find the townsfolk have a festival for nearly every one of those occasions. Make sure you’re there!
Your character is a reflection of your personality (we assume that deep inside, everyone is an attractive, island-dwelling farmer). As such, they can be customized in any way you desire, including your gender. After creating a glorious persona, we know there will be fashionistas who want to take it a step further. Want to give them a more epic hairstyle or outfit? Visit the barber or tailor! You will soon become a shining star in the farming community.
And so much more!
Farm Folks is whatever you make of it. It’s an adventure driven entirely by you. There is so much more to discover and so much more fun to be had when you get creative. Live this pleasant life to the best of your abilities and become the greatest farmer that Softshoal has ever seen!
Dragon Kingdom
I played just after release and there were some bugs (and still are) but it is still really fun cause every bug get’s fixed quite fast by the developer. The game is still in development but has quite good potential, I’m looking forward to how the game will turn out. Also I really love the look of the animals they look so cute can’t wait to get one!
– Real player with 5.3 hrs in game