Game: Sprout Valley
Genre: Simulation, Casual
System: Steam (Windows) (also on Nintendo Switch)
Developer | Publisher: Vadzim Liakhovich | RedDeer Games
Price: US $14.99 | UK £12.79 | EU € 14,79
Release Date: September 8th, 2023
Review code used with many thanks to RedDeer Games
We live in a time with many farm sims available and many more on the way, but Sprout Valley may be among the cutest. They’ve managed a pixel art style that looks so soft and rounded. But does the gameplay have rough edges? Let’s see if this valley would be a good home for you.
Story and Pacing
Sprout Valley opens as many farm sims do. Our protagonist, Nico, is a simple cat who wants a simple life beyond the hustle and bustle. A small private island appears to be the answer. For several in-game days, there is no goal to be found.
Clear your land, start some farming, and learn to explore the procedurally generated islands reachable by your little boat. Gather wood, stone, berries, and fruits. Sell items via your mailbox and order items via your phone. It’s all up to you! The days felt too long at first for my stamina and my sparse to-do list. Thankfully, after some time, it does open up with actual collections to complete, plus everything gets easier to do when you’ve developed the skills. It ends up feeling rewarding in those areas!
Impressive Options and Definite Limits
Part of the draw of Sprout Valley will be the ability to customize your home with a variety of furniture and your character with fun accessories. However, your house is very small.
Landscaping is possible, but I was annoyed to discover that I couldn’t move the fencing & flowers that came on my land. Visiting the random islands sounds great on the surface, but they’re all effectively the same. There’s a wide variety of seeds to order, but few crops are used in any crafting recipes, so there’s not much reason to branch out.
Audio and Visual
Personally, I love pixel art. Sprout Valley manages it here beautifully, with nothing looking too much like it’s ripped straight from a more popular game. It’s colorful but cozy, and has its own style, but everything looks easy to recognize. There’s texture and detail without getting cluttered.
Changes in the time of day and the weather were fun to observe. I didn’t find the music remarkable in any way; there was nothing to complain about but nothing memorable either. Sound effects were subtle but everywhere I wanted them to be.
Controls and UI
This was a rough system to get used to playing. It feels almost like they wanted to avoid being similar to any other farm sim. There are menus that float while your character can still move around. I’d press B to back out of something, only to find myself spending my stamina accidentally using a tool. Using your boat or your bed is done by walking into the one you want and just standing there.
Crafting multiple items is easy, but to order multiples of an item from the shop, you’ll press A for each one you want, one by one… That’s painful when trying to order a bountiful crop worth of seeds. After a few hours, I did get used to it, but I imagine this could be very frustrating for any player who wants brief sessions. If you play a different game and return to this one, the muscle memory might be gone.
Conclusion
If you want a cozy simple game, Sprout Valley may be just your vibe. Finding your routine is relaxing, and there are no punishments or surprises. Everything is cute. If you’re all about planning, engaging your brain, working out the time management… I suggest you give it a pass.
There isn’t anything here for the explorers or people who like meeting a variety of characters. But maybe, like Nico, you just want to make a simple home and achieve simple goals! I could see this being a perfect treat for sick days or other low-key recovery times. For a comfy distraction, it does very well.
Final Verdict: I Like It.
