Garden Witch Life is a cosy, slow-paced affair that utilises every genre trope. This may sound like it lacks originality and could be low on energy. However, this isn’t the case. The fun-filled fantasy world has a wholesome edge that will make you smile. Moreover, the missions are simple to understand and I loved the rudimentary approach. Yet, the developer has incorporated plenty of secret twists and turns to keep you on your toes. This was great as it prevented things from getting stale.
This fantasy life sim was developed by FreetimeStudio and published by SOEDESCO. What’s more, it is a single-player experience set in a 3D semi-open world. Accordingly, you are free to explore as you wish, but certain progression elements prevent you from discovering everything at once. This was fantastic as it kept you busy while stopping you from steam-rolling ahead.
Garden Witch Life tells a familiar tale.
This genre has a desperate edge where failure quickly turns to success. Garden Witch Life utilises this design in everything it does. Consequently, if you’ve played this genre to death, there won’t be any curveballs. However, if you are new to things, or you are a bit of a Jack of all trades, you’ll adore the whimsy charms.
You take the role of a down-on-her-luck alchemist who has recently been sacked. With the weight of the world on her shoulders, she doesn’t wish to return home a failure. Yet, her fortunes change when she stops at a little island. The locals need her help and the sense of community is missing. By working together, and completing quests, the would-be witch can find herself a new home and help those around her.
This isn’t the most original plot I’ve experienced, but I loved the characters you encounter and how well the action unfolds. Furthermore, the tasks were enjoyable and exploring the small but interesting world was rarely dull.
A comfortable gameplay loop.
Like its peers, Garden Witch Life demands that you farm, mine, and clean up your surroundings. The hero is given an abandoned house, and they must remove the clutter and decorate it to their liking. Along the way, you are asked to plant crops and remove any negative objects. Moreover, you’ll discover hidden areas and an array of chests to open.
As discoveries are made, you’ll unlock new recipes and ways to create items. Additionally, there is a gradual tool progression system to keep things balanced. This element was the slowest part of the core gameplay and may frustrate you. Money isn’t easy to come by, so getting the best tools to increase your revenue was a bit of a slog. However, once you open up the mine and discover secret resources, things get easier.
On top of this, you’ll find animals to pet and admire. Though this wasn’t essential, I enjoyed it regardless. The interaction with your fellow villagers wasn’t always necessary either. Yet, if you help them out, you are occasionally rewarded with seeds, food, or cash. Subsequently, keeping an eye on your neighbours and spending time with them had its rewards.
Do as much or as little as you want.
The hero has limited stamina and their days are short. As such, you must try to fit plenty of energy-sapping jobs into a small window. Now, this may seem stressful, but it wasn’t. Instead, there are no demands on your time. You may do as much or as little as you like. If you wish to spend a day in the village relaxing, you can. Alternatively, maybe you want to pick weeds and cook food. Either way, you are in charge of how productive you wish to be.
Garden Witch Life is vibrant and pleasant to look at.
The developer has gone all out on the OTT colour. The vibrancy is eye-catching, and I loved the use of light and shadow. What’s more, the fantasy edge has a slightly futuristic design. Accordingly, it was strange but interesting. Though Garden Witch Life was great to look at, I discovered some visual glitches along the way. The mine was the worst culprit, as I fell through the world and was stuck underwater for ages. Thankfully, the character reset setting overcame this silly and unfortunate problem.
The audio is somewhat subdued by comparison. The calm soundtrack allows the wholesome action to take centre stage. Moreover, the realistic sound effects are suitable for every tool you wield. This was pleasant but not mind-blowing. I prefer this approach rather than something that exploits the magical edge.
Tight controls.
Garden Witch Life can be played with a controller or mouse and keyboard. I tested the latter and found the interface to be easy to understand. What’s more, the key bindings are refined and this prevents things from becoming complicated. Though I didn’t try a gamepad, I can imagine it would be responsive and easy to use.
The action focuses on a calm and slow process. Progress can be tricky, but it was rarely tiresome. Additionally, the exploration elements were enjoyable whilst dipping into the fantasy realm. Consequently, there is plenty of replay value if you love a peaceful existence.
Garden Witch Life is a pleasant experience.
The developer has done a great job with this game. The action is easy to follow, and you never feel out of your depth. Moreover, I loved the character interactions and the enjoyable quests. On top of this, the freedom to plant crops and explore the world rarely outstayed its welcome. Accordingly, it is a pleasant game and I recommend buying it here! Can you make the strange island your home? Do up your house, grow some crops, and help the locals.
