Cover art for the Eastward Octopia DLC. The image features colorful artwork with characters and animals, including a cow and a pig, in a vibrant rural setting. One character holds a carrot, while another stands with a fishing rod. Published on: LadiesGamers.

Eastward Octopia DLC Review

Game: Eastward Octopia DLC
Genre: Adventure, Farming Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on Steam (Windows, Mac))
Developer | Publisher: Pixpil | Chucklefish
Age Rating: US Teen | EU 12+
Price: US $5.99 | UK £4.99 | EU € 5,99
Base game Eastward needed for playing the DLC
Release Date: January 31st, 2024

No review code was used; I purchased the game myself.

In 2021, developer Pixpil and publisher Chucklefish brought us Eastward, both on Steam and the Switch. This action-adventure game with puzzles plays in a setting that is apocalyptic yet beautiful. You get jaw-dropping 2D art (and 3D lighting effects), and gamers with a love of things Japanese or East Asian will find delightful details in this game, from kanji signboards to an old bathhouse.

You switch between two protagonists, older man John and little girl Sam, to solve puzzles and tackle combat promises to deliver an interesting experience. This is somehow reminiscent of the Zelda series (think Phantom Hourglass).

Screenshot from Eastward Octopia showing a character and their companion exploring a swamp-like area filled with tall grass, mushrooms, and a pig. The scene is rich with vibrant colors and detailed pixel art. Published on: LadiesGamers.
An apocalyptic yet beautiful landscape

A Totally Different Genre

I loved Eastward and couldn’t wait to try the DLC that appeared in Steam and the Switch eShop at the beginning of this year. Surprisingly, Octopia turned out to be in a totally different genre from the main game. Instead of an action-adventure, Octopia is a farming sim with no combat.

Screenshot from Eastward Octopia depicting a character watering crops in a well-maintained garden. Various plants are arranged in neat rows, and other characters can be seen around the area, including a marketplace setting. Published on: LadiesGamers.
Tending to the farm

In a remote mountainside village, Sam and John start life anew, this time as farmers. You work the land, tend livestock, and cook heartwarming meals for familiar -yet strangely different- friends. Meanwhile, you revitalize a neglected farmstead, grow crops, rear animals, forage in the wetlands, talk to ghosts and spend your nights casting your line in the local fishing holes. Aside from that, you construct and upgrade stores and homes to restore Octopia into a thriving community.

Fun with Cooking and One Weakness

What Octopia does have in common with Eastward’s mechanics is cooking. As I loved cooking in the main game, I was happy to spend more time learning recipes in the DLC. It was a joy to see many familiar dishes from East Asia and Southeast Asia being represented, from okonomiyaki to durian ice cream.

Screenshot from Eastward Octopia displaying the in-game inventory screen with various food items like sashimi, bread, and soup, each with icons and quantities. The highlighted item is sashimi, with a description below it. Published on: LadiesGamers.
Some wonderful dishes can be made.

Cooking in Octopia doesn’t just restore stamina; it’s also a big source of income. Plus, you can also invite NPCs to your house to eat what you’ve cooked. How cool is that?!

As a farming sim, Octopia is more laid-back and has less grinding than classics like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and Rune Factory. Money is rarely in short supply.

One weakness of this 15-hour game is pacing. By day 55, my playthrough had plateaued. I collected most of the items: food, crops, fish, and tech. I found myself fast-forwarding days by going to bed early to trigger NPC events that appear on a timeline. I reached the ending/credits on day 88, after which there are a few items that can be collected only post-ending.

Screenshot from Eastward Octopia featuring a cozy indoor scene where multiple characters are seated around a dining table enjoying a meal. One character, Solomon, is shown speaking, with a text box reading, "John's cooking rekindled the fire of hope in my heart." Published on: LadiesGamers.
Cooking brings familiar faces to your table

Conclusion for Octopia

In other words, this pacing weakness meant an otherwise delightful game got boring about halfway through the main narrative. Still, I don’t regret the US$5.99 spent on Octopia because it gave me several hours of charming, cosy, relaxing farm life. On gloomy days, this game put a smile on my face.

I’d recommend Octopia to Eastward fans, but you don’t need to play the main game to play this DLC. You do, however, need to own the base game to access Octopia from the main menu.

Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot

I like it a lot

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