Welcome to our Wholesome gaming news!
This week, we have news about Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village on Switch, New Game+ and Boss Rush mode for Ender Magnolia and Merch for Critter Cove. Cities: Skylines turns 10, and a free content update coming to Sunset Hills, PowerWash Simulator 2 and Everdream Village has been announced. Restore nature in Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature, a demo for Atelier Yumia and a release date for Urban Jungle.
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village on Switch
Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley & Skytree Village is coming to Nintendo Switch in June 2025, bringing two farming adventures together in one package.
The game titles might sound familiar to you, and you would be right. They were originally released on the Nintendo 3DS, and were the first titles after the Harvest Moon/ Story of Seasons breakup. They were received to mixed reviews as they were so different from the Harvest Moon games we were used to, but I must say I quite liked the freshness of the experience. You can read my original thoughts about The Lost Valley here.
Both games have been optimized for the Switch with updated controls, a refreshed UI, and improved textures. The Lost Valley follows a quest to restore the four seasons to a magical valley, while Skytree Village challenges you to revive a once-thriving land by restoring the power of the Harvest Goddess. Both titles include all previously released DLC, adding new characters, outfits, and more.
The game will launch digitally and physically worldwide. Pre-orders are now open through the Natsume Store, and early buyers will receive an exclusive acrylic standee while supplies last.
New Game+ and Boss Rush mode for Ender Magnolia
The dark fantasy Metroidvania ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom In The Mist has received its 1.1.0 update, adding New Game+ and a challenging Boss Rush mode. When James reviewed the game, he already gave it our highest rating, saying:
“Ender Magnolia is a fantastic achievement of dark fantasy storytelling and gameplay. Its gorgeous visuals, emotional soundtrack, and refined mechanics combine to create an unforgettable experience. While it doesn’t drastically reinvent the formula of its predecessor, it builds upon it in meaningful ways, offering a journey that is both familiar and fresh.”
So, great news that this update ads even more good gameplay! In New Game+, protagonist Lilac can restart her journey while keeping gear and relics from previous playthroughs, facing tougher enemies with new attack patterns.
Boss Rush mode lets players relive intense battles, taking on back-to-back bosses for extra rewards and time-based completion bonuses. Alongside these new features, players can continue uncovering the game’s deep lore, upgrading abilities, and customizing their playstyle with unique summons.
The 1.1.0 update is available now on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, and Xbox Series X|S, with support for multiple languages.
Merch for Critter Cove
Have you enjoyed your time in Critter Cove? Well, if you want to support the devs to make the game even more awesome, check out their new merchandise site.
I checked out the Early Access build a while back, and already really liked what I saw. So it will be exiting to see what else Gentleman Rat Studios can do with Critter Cove.
Cities: Skylines turns 10!
Cities: Skylines is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Originally released on March 10, 2015, for PC, the city-building sim from Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive quickly became a fan favourite. With over 45 million players worldwide, the game expanded across multiple platforms and received more than 60 expansions and content packs. In 2023, the series continued with the release of Cities: Skylines II.
Beyond gaming, Cities: Skylines has inspired players to seek careers in urban planning and has even been used to help design neighbourhoods and districts in real-world cities. To mark the milestone, Paradox Interactive has released a special anniversary trailer.
Free updates and new content will also be coming to celebrate both Cities: Skylines and Cities: Skylines II throughout March 2025.
On March 18, Cities: Skylines II players will receive a free Anniversary patch, adding new parks and buildings themed around the series’ birthday. That same day, three new Creator Packs and three Radio Stations will be released, available for purchase individually or as a bundle. These will also be included in the Ultimate Edition at no extra cost for owners.
The celebrations continue on March 25 with a free Anniversary patch for the original Cities: Skylines, introducing dynamic parks that change based on the expansions players own. Additionally, two more Creator Packs and one Radio Station will launch that day.
Free Content Update Coming to Sunset Hills
The developers of Sunset Hills have been listening to players’ feedback and are bringing a free content update to the Steam version in early April. This update will expand the story, addressing some of the missing plot points, and introduce quality-of-life improvements to enhance your gameplay.
To show their appreciation, the team is also releasing a free mini-soundtrack and a wallpaper pack.
There are even bigger plans, including more story chapters, additional localisations, Steam Deck support, and releases for Nintendo Switch and mobile. And that on top of a game, that Kalina already gave our highest rating to!
PowerWash Simulator 2 Announced
An exciting announcement for the fans of the first game: PowerWash Simulator 2 is announced for 2025. Coming to PC and Consoles, the game will bring you new locations and cleaning challenges. This time, you can clean solo or team up with friends in online co-op and, for the first time, in split-screen mode!
The first game was already a favourite for James, and the sequel introduces a fresh campaign with even more mysteries to uncover in Muckingham and beyond. New locations like Sponge Valley, Power Falls, and Lubri City are waiting to be restored to their sparkling best. Plus, you’ll have a home base to customize and relax in after a long day of power washing. Enhanced soap mechanics make tackling tough stains even more satisfying, ensuring that every job leaves behind nothing but shine.
Everdream Village Announced
Did you love Everdream Valley? If so, you’ll have to get ready for a fresh adventure with Everdream Village. The new game takes place ten years after the original game, expanding beyond the farm into a lively village full of unique NPCs, new lands to explore, and exciting ways to shape your world.
There’s more to do than tend to animals and run your farm. You’ll interact with villagers who have their own moods and routines, terraform the land to create your dream landscape, and even play as different animals for a unique perspective. There’s also a deep relationship system, questing, and an intriguing animal breeding mechanic that lets you mix traits for new companions.
No release date yet, nor more news on the consoles this will arrive on, though.
Restore Nature in Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature
Developer Dreamhunt Studios is working on a wholesome adventure game called Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature. This peaceful exploration game will be filled with emotion-driven interactions, environmental puzzles, and a touching storyline about friendship and self-discovery.
You’ll journey through vibrant, diverse landscapes in the form of a Golem. The Golem you control will reflect your progress through blooming flowers on its back.
Along the way, you’ll meet a variety of charming animals, including squirrels, elephants, sand cats, and more. A curious Fox will also accompany you, becoming a key ally in your quest. Solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and watch as your actions rejuvenate the environment around you.
Add to that a great orchestral soundtrack, and you’ll have a game that emphasizes the deep connection between nature and emotions, inviting you to restore a lost world through the Golem’s unique abilities.
Demo for Atelier Yumia
We have our review up for the new Atelier game, the first after the very successful Atelier Ryza series. It’s a great game, but there sure are differences! (Check out our review here).
Meanwhile, a demo for their upcoming JRPG Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available on 16th March 2025. Demo release times vary by store. For PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, the demo will be available from 15:00 pm GMT (16:00 pm CET) on 16th March 2025. For Steam®, the demo will be available from 12:00 pm noon GMT (13:00 pm CET) on 17th March 2025.
In addition, a special collaboration with Tales of Graces f Remastered, an RPG from Bandai Namco Entertainment, has been announced. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land will be available 21st March 2025 on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Windows PC via Steam® and, for the first time in franchise history, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Urban Jungle Release Date
Get ready to transform your living space in Urban Jungle, a cozy blend of puzzle gameplay and plant-growing simulation, arriving on Steam for PC on March 21, 2025. Published by Assemble Entertainment and developed by Kylyk Games, this charming and creative game lets you tidy up rooms, decorate with lush greenery, and turn a dull apartment into a vibrant oasis—all without the mess of real gardening!
With a variety of plants to unlock, puzzles to solve, and even a cat to pet, Urban Jungle offers a relaxing and rewarding experience that will keep you coming back for more. If you love cozy, creative games, this one’s definitely worth checking out, like Margaret wrote in her demo impressions:
Right now, Urban Jungle is a charmer with enough leafy greens in its demo to prove that it’s going to be something to watch.
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