If you are looking for a bit of country idyll, animal companions and a touch of magic, you might want to visit Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store find what you are looking for. The cozy farm store simulation from the house of rokaplay, which acts as both developer and publisher, focuses on decelerated gameplay, cute visuals and a charming island setting. Instead of time pressure or management stress, there is relaxed gardening, friendly forest spirits and an atmosphere like a warm cup of cocoa. The only question is: is this enough for a lasting gaming experience or will it remain a brief sugar shock?
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Of harmony, wood and pets
The history of Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store begins with a legend. Once upon a time, people, animals and small Forest spirits in perfect harmony on the titular island. But as is so often the case, greed set in - people wanted to cut down the harmony tree, the heart of the island. As a result, the spirits fled, animals disappeared and the island fell apart. Now, years later, a castaway wakes up on the island. Or rather: Spielende sets off with an empty rucksack, but full of hope for a new life.
The main aim of the game is to restore harmony on the island. To this end, a small farm is set up, equipped with a stable, garden beds and its own store. The harmony tree plays a particularly important role - by completing its tasks, the environment is restored piece by piece. New areas open up, animals return and even the friendly forest spirits start to reappear. Trust to grasp.
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Digging, baking and building are part of everyday life in Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store
The focus is on the farm store, which forms the heart of the game. Players plant vegetables, look after their animals, collect resources such as wood or stone and sell the produce in the store to cute ghostly creatures. The highlight: the prices are negotiable. If you bargain cleverly, you can get more stars (the in-game currency). The economy remains pleasantly simple. No inflation, no supply chain problems - just happy transactions with fluffy customers.
Farming works in the traditional way: buy seeds, plant, water, harvest. Animals - from chickens to sheep - provide products such as eggs or milk if they are treated well. Care is the magic word here. If you don't stroke your cow, you won't get any milk. Sounds simple, but it is - and that's exactly what makes it so appealing. The flow of the game is relaxing and slowed down, almost meditative.
Resources such as wood, stones and herbs can be collected from the surrounding area. These are used to Improvement of the house, tools or to expand the store. The game motivates with a constant feeling of progress, even if the tasks often remain similar. However, anyone who enjoys daily routines will quickly feel at home here.
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Character with character - of goats and pigtails
Special attention is paid to rokaplay on individualization. The appearance of the character can be customized with a simple but loving character editor. Hairstyles, skin tones, clothes - everything can be changed. There are also pets to choose from, which not only look cute but also follow you through thick and thin. From fuzzy dogs to curious cats - the animal companions bring life to everyday life.
Relationships also play a role. Islanders have their own personalities and can form friendships or even romantic bonds. If you talk to someone consistently, give small gifts or spend time together, you can get closer. The dialog is simple but charming - in keeping with the style of the game. No one here will be confronted with Shakespeare surprised, but with warmth.
The game was developed by rokaplaya German indie studio that specializes in cosy game concepts. Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store is a declaration of love to classics such as Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley but deliberately slower and more accessible. The influence of these genre greats is noticeable, but the game goes its own, very leisurely way.
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Technology, sound and keyboard shortcuts
Visually reminiscent Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store of a pastel-colored picture book dream. The island is kept in soft colors, the characters cute and the animations are fluid. The art design clearly aims for a feel-good factor - and hits you right in the heart. Even weeds look kind of cuddly here.
The soundtrack underlines the ambience with calm, melodic pieces. No hectic beats, but soft guitars, gentle piano sounds and birdsong. Particularly pleasant: the sound adapts to the time of day and weather, which gives the game a sense of depth without being intrusive.
The controls are basically simple, but not entirely free of pitfalls. Switching between tools or placing objects precisely can be fiddly. Some players report small bugs, such as freezing when loading or strange collision queries. Nothing that couldn't be fixed with a patch - but still worth mentioning.
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The UI is functional, but not overloaded. Anyone who has ever seen an inventory bar will quickly find their way around. Mini-map, quests and Loading interface are clearly structured, which is particularly convenient for longer sessions.
Small but hearty - Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store
Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store is not a simulation for number crunchers or optimization experts. Anyone who loves Excel will probably yawn here. But anyone who enjoys decelerated game mechanics, a loving atmosphere and animal assistance can look forward to a little gem. It's a game that doesn't shout, but whispers. A digital walk in the forest, where even the weeds give a friendly wave.
The 15 or so hours of gameplay don't offer an epic story, but plenty of little moments of smiles. When a sheep looks at you as if to say: "Hey, today is a good day", then Sugardew Island - Your cozy farm store achieved its goal. Sure, there's room for improvement - more variety, better controls, a bigger island. But sometimes less is more, or sometimes life is a piece of cake after all...