If you like cozy games, the latest offering by Phoenix Labs is one to watch out for. I’m a little less than 20 hours in and I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s on offer here. Fae Farm reminds me of one of my favorite cozy games of all time, Fantasy Life. While I’ve been chomping at the bit for scraps of info on the series’ sequel, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, here comes the developer who created Dauntless with a game that’s not only holding me over, but could possibly eclipse Fantasy Life completely. I don’t say those words lightly.
First off, I want to give kudos to the talented team over at Phoenix Labs. While Dauntless is admittedly in a category of gameplay that doesn’t particularly appeal to me, I cannot believe this game came from the same studio. It’s a complete departure in every conceivable way and the team over at Phoenix Labs is definitely one to keep an eye on as they work on other diverse projects in the future. But you didn’t come here to hear me talk about Phoenix Labs, Dauntless, or Fantasy Life, you came here to see what my thoughts are on Fae Farm. Let’s dive in!
As a fan of farming and lite life sims, the first thing I noticed and appreciate is the quality of life features Fae Farm has right from the start. Perhaps the biggest thing I’m a stickler for in the genre is the feature to auto-switch general tools when approaching an interactive item. There’s no need to switch between your watering can, pickaxe, shovel, axe, etc while roaming the world. Simply walk up to the crop, rock, dirt pile, or tree and press the action button and the game will switch to what you need. Some may find this lazy but in a game where you’re doing those things regularly, not having to fumble with tools is a godsend. While there isn’t fast traveling from the start, the ability is there and unlocked once you craft the waypoints and seals required which allow you to fast travel on the overall map and between dungeon floors. Another thing I love to see is the ability to find and track NPCs on the map which makes handing in quests so much easier and less of a chore.
As for the gameplay, there’s still so much I have yet to explore and unlock. Lots of craft-able items, home decor, and recipes still require undiscovered ingredients before I’m able to make them. I’m not far in the mines and haven’t unlocked the dungeons yet but the combat I have partaken in was simplistic, although I expect it will become more challenging as the game goes on. It’s also worth noting the game runs flawlessly on Steam Deck so far and is both a solo and online multiplayer experience. While I haven’t done so yet, teaming up with friends or others online to run through a dungeon seems like the MMO lite experience I’ve been looking for.
I do keep wishing I could zoom the camera in a bit more as well as swing the camera left or right to see around items. Something I noticed, that I wasn’t expecting, was not feeling attached to any of the people inhabiting the world. At least not yet. The NPCs don’t seem to have routines or venture out past their designated roles like general store, alchemist, blacksmith, etc. With that said, the characters and entire package are oozing with charm and I have so much to do that fills out each day that I don’t really notice. It’s far less glaring when compared to a game more simplistic like Story of Seasons A Wonderful Life. Similar to how I felt with Harvestella, in game days feel too short to get things done. While there seems to be far less pressure to adhere to a strict schedule like in Stardew Valley, I still wish the game would give me more time to go about my day.
Keep in mind that these small nitpicks have done nothing to deter me from playing Fae Farm day after day after day—both in the real world and in the world of Azoria. Stay tuned for our full review closer to the game’s release on September 8, 2023 when it launches for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on the eShop.
