When I first played Fae Farm at Summer Game Fest, my first impressions were heavily based on its feel-good vibe and inclusivity. I’m glad to say that with some extra time playing the game, that has remained as true as ever, with some extra bonuses on top! From character creation to NPCs to accessibility, Phoenix Labs’ Fae Farm does some good while building a great farming/life simulator at the same time.
Fae Farm Does Inclusivity Right
Right off the bat, the character creation went above and beyond other farming sims and many other genres. There are options for two different eye colors for those with Heterochromia, several different head dressings, they/them pronouns, a huge color palette for skin and eyes, and more.
So many different backgrounds are represented here, and I think many will really appreciate it. What got me, though, was the random generator. It doesn’t stick between standard ideas for “male” or “female” characters. You will find characters with a mix of qualities that can represent any and all genders.
Fae Farm continues this trend with its NPCs. There are characters of every race and gender, and some people represented who are often forgotten. You’ll find Aspen, the carpenter, in a wheelchair. You’ll find Cinder, the blacksmith, who happens to be a woman. Though these don’t seem particularly out there, seeing people in roles that gender stereotypes wouldn’t normally allow is refreshing. This is something Singularity 6 did with Palia’s blacksmith as well. I’m also sure plenty of people don’t usually see themselves in games that will feel represented in Fae Farm.
Gameplay With Some Twists
Once you jump into the game, you are told the story of your arrival in Azoria. You are not on Grandpa’s farm! You found a letter in a bottle and sailed your way over but crashed along the way. Now you’re stuck in Azoria, but it turns out that isn’t so bad!
Gameplay in Fae Farm is fairly standard when you think about a farming simulator. There is foraging, fishing, farming, friendships—the list goes on. I can tell that there are definitely some influences here, but Pheonix Labs has tried to put its own spin on things too. The animals are adorable. Chickoos, Cottontails, Mamoos, and Wollyhorns can be adopted and bred; the names are just too cute.
Fishing is still my nemesis, as it is with every one of these kinds of games. It goes the route of Animal Crossing New Horizons, but I find the fish aren’t very intuitive and switch locations abruptly, making them hard to catch. Bug catching, however, feels like it takes no effort at all.
One thing Fae Farm does right that I hope every other simulator takes note of from now on is that you do not need to select the correct tool. If you walk up to a rock, it pulls out your pickaxe. Head to a tree, and it pulls out your axe. This goes for all the tools aside from your fishing rod, magic wand, and net. Even better, they don’t take up inventory space, either!
Mines are levels deep, with seals you can build to save each level and go back at your convenience. Each level also tells you the materials you can find there, which is a huge time-saver and a great added feature. You’ll find all sorts of fantastical enemies like walking chests, clocks, and octopi attached to wheels. The map of Azoria is also unique in that in each area, you’ll find pictures of all the people there at the time. These will change as people move around, and it also marks quest locations and new quests you can pick up!
Though this is a great addition, sometimes I haven’t been able to find people, and there really is no way to find specific locations. I can’t tell where the tavern is, or any special buildings, only the area of town like Town Center, Stay-A-While-Bay, etc. I’d love to be able to find a place instead of a person sometimes.
Something I really love about the area, however, is that it isn’t linear. You can jump over bridges and off cliffs, even on houses. Fun fact, you can also jump on your bed. I’ve enjoyed ripping around on the map at full speed, rarely using an actual path, and always jumping on any purple mushrooms I find to launch into the air. Movement isn’t limited, and it’s a lot of fun.
Great, But Not Perfect
There are a few quality-of-life features I think could use work, like when logging or mining, a bar to show how many chops, etc, would be great. The ability to organize your inventory is also missing and is desperately needed, and it doesn’t tell you the name of the items, just the picture, which leads to confusion.
I’m also seeing some issues with quests. They seem to be given well in advance of when you’re going to be able to complete them. I’ve often felt like I was missing something because I received early quests that needed materials from way down the line. Usually, quests are within your means and aren’t always in Fae Farm.
So far, I haven’t wanted to put Fae Farm down, which says a lot since I’m also working on reviews for some AAA titles. The cozy vibes are strong, the characters are inclusive and look like Fisher Price Little People, the environment is colorful, and there is plenty to do. I am eager to continue on my Fae Farm journey, and I know it is a game I will come back to often.
Fae Farm launches on September 8, 2023, for Nintendo Switch and PC for $59.99. It is a single or 1-4 multiplayer game via local co-op and online and supports crossplay.
