- DEVELOPER: Chonky Loaf
- PUBLISHER: indie.io
- PLATFORMS: PC
- GENRE: RPG
- RELEASE DATE: November 11, 2024
- STARTING PRICE: 19,99 €
- REVIEWED VERSION: PC
If we take a look at the recent games from farming sim genre, we can see that they try to offer players something more than simple planting, watering and harvesting. For example, some of them experiment with horror elements, turning relaxing gameplay into a fight for survival (like in Pumpkin Panic or We Harvest Shadows.) In other cases we find ourselves in an unusual setting that encourages us to explore and uncover its secrets – like a post-apocalyptic world of Doloc Town, which demo version I lately played. After that, I got a chance to try yet another casual game with a twist to it: Everholm. This time managing a homestead on a magical and welcoming island is accompanied by a mysterious disappearance and strange behaviour of the local folks. So if you’re looking for a cozy, but not too cozy RPG, this title might be just the thing for you.
Lost in the calm
Lilly is looking for her lost sister, Melanie. During her search, she discovers a magical portal and gets spirited away to Everholm – a cozy, lovely, but also mysterious island where everyone seems to recognize her. Now she needs to establish a homestead, meet friendly Everfolks and uncover the mysteries of this little cozy place with the help of a local witch.
We’re thrown into action right off the bat: in the middle of the night we follow the clues scattered along the way, leading to peculiar portal. After entering it, we are suddenly teleported to our house in Everholm, where we are introduced to mechanics associated with management of our farm and goals that will help us with the exploration. The game doesn’t waste any time – after receiving basic instructions players are given a lot of freedom when it comes to collecting natural resources, crafting and shaping the overall look of their own place. I especially enjoyed fishing as an activity that put your reflexes to a test. At the beginning I also had fun with catching bugs and picking up mushrooms and berries, however it later became quite repetitive, and even frustrating.
As the progress with farming may take some time in this type of games, I rather focused on exploring and getting to know the characters. The town and its residents are diverse and colorful, but at the same time you just can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. However, the hints and suggestions are really subtle – one time it’ll be weird line spoken by someone, the other time you’ll find a suspicious object in the forest. It is vital to balance your objectives so that you will have time to thoroughly traverse the island, but also impress local folks enough so that they let you know their secrets. There are number of things that take consistent effort to discover, so being patient is the key for this game.
Cute, Cozy, Clandestine
Both pixel art and soundtrack convey charming and magical atmosphere of the island. It is worth pointing out that the scenery changes according to seasons, but it’s not limited only to weather – there are some holidays and events that are emphasized with various decorations and activities. It was a pleasant surprise that you can have a break from your current tasks and simply enjoy a day filled with new forms of entertainment.
Since we’re talking about general presentation of the game, I can’t overlook the experience of entering the mysterious portal in Everholm after conversation with a witch. The moment we teleport into dungeons is truly stunning – the play of light is otherworldly, music is enchanting, and the new fighting mechanic brings freshness to the already well-known cozy environment. These sections are also tied to the soul-capturing element, which allows players to expand their abilities in an unusual way.
The truth beneath the surface
It is true that there’s more than meets the eye to Everholm. In the mystery aspect we’re not only struggling with the disappearance of our sister, but also inaccessible areas, unexplained occurrences and stubborn residents. On the one hand, it’s thrilling to get surprised with something new each time, but on the other hand, the routine of managing farm and interacting with others might stall your progress with the main story, making you less interested in it. In my opinion, the approach to this matter depends on how far you are in the game and how much time you are willing to spare to bring yourself closer to the truth.
Ending thoughts
Going back to the beginnig, is Everholm worth checking out in the surge of different kinds of farming simulators and cozy RPGs? For me, it offers an experience quite different than the rest of the games, although it definitely could use some updates and improvements, such as character customization. Overall, Everholm is a good example of casual gameplay connected with mysterious lore, which invite players to set out on a mission full of twists.
Review copy provided by the publisher
4.0
English (UK) 
Hrvatski