Everholm

About

Everholm is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by Chonky Loaf and was released on November 11, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Lilly was spirited away to a mysterious island. As her memories fade, everyone seems to know about her quest for her missing sister. It's time to establish a homestead, meet the islanders, learn their secrets and solve the mystery of Everholm in this open-ended minimalist RPG!

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 236 reviews

story41 positive mentions

grinding122 negative mentions

Beautiful, cozy, and charming pixel art with detailed environments and animations that enhance immersion.
Engaging farming simulation gameplay with diverse mechanics including farming, fishing, dungeon crawling, magic, and crafting, providing a relaxing yet rewarding experience.
Intriguing mystery-driven narrative that blends cozy life sim elements with dark and magical themes, encouraging exploration and interaction with unique NPCs.
Developers are responsive and actively improve the game with frequent updates, bug fixes, and community engagement.
Quality of life features such as adjustable day length, disableable fishing minigame, and UI scaling improve accessibility and gameplay flow.

Story progression and character development can feel slow, shallow or incomplete, leading some players to find the narrative unsatisfying or directionless.
UI and control issues including clunky inventory management, limited key-binding, wonky controller/Steam Deck support, and lack of tutorials or guidance frustrate some users.
Gameplay balance and progression problems, including overpowered early gear, repetitive tasks, confusing quest objectives, and grinding leading to lack of long-term motivation.
Performance issues such as stuttering, bugs, crashes, and occasional visual glitches detract from the experience for some players.
Lack of certain expected features like character customization, ability to rotate or more freely move buildings, and insufficient inventory space limit player freedom.

story
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The story in Everholm starts strong with an intriguing, mysterious premise centered around finding a lost sister, complemented by a cozy, spooky atmosphere and charming characters. However, many players feel that story progression is slow, often gated behind repetitive NPC relationship grinding, leading to frustration and a sense that the narrative is padded with generic farming tasks. While some praise its unique narrative depth and emotional tone, others criticize the lack of meaningful plot development, limited cutscenes, and unclear quest direction, making the story feel uneven and underdeveloped in its current state.
- “The story begins when Lilly stumbles upon a magical portal that transports her to Everholm, a mystical island where everyone appears to know her, though she has no recollection of them.”
- “The story gets resolved, you do get some nice cutscenes and dialogues from the NPCs you befriended (although more than half seem broken, not actually appearing in game when they should).”
- “The story got me pretty hooked right away, and I just want to keep playing to see what else there is to experience and understand exactly what's going on in the little world of Everholm.”
- “It was not an early access game, even though these people knew before they pushed it out that it didn’t have a storyline, it was confusing and aimless, and that they had no idea what they were doing.”
- “The story just dies and you have a bunch of quests like 'do 20 board quests', or 'build a barn' which don't seem to forward the story at all, they just get replaced by the next one which you need even more money to buy.”
- “The story is locked behind developing closer relationships with the NPCs, but unfortunately they are very plain, forgettable characters with often repeated dialogue so I never really feel like talking to them.”
grinding
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding in this farming sim is described as both a core and potentially tedious aspect, with some players finding progression slow due to constant farming, quest completion, and resource gathering. While the farming mechanics are polished and satisfying, certain tasks like dungeon bundles, fishing, and quest-heavy gameplay can feel grind-heavy and repetitive, occasionally detracting from immersion and pacing. Nonetheless, fans of the genre generally appreciate the balance of relaxing farming with mystery elements, despite the occasional monotony.
- “The greenhouse was nice but also not that useful because there's not much use for it besides grinding practically unlimited money.”
- “What I have left of the game seems extremely grindy, like farming relationship points or finishing the fetch quest rocks that require you to find almost every item in the game, and I'm pretty sure there won't be any reward for finding them, just more 'coming soon's.”
- “Everything comes in the form of a quest, and at one point you become bombarded with them, like literally 2 pages full of quests and no idea how to complete half of them except by inevitably grinding your life away.”
gameplay
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
Everholm's gameplay offers a cozy, polished farming sim experience with familiar mechanics like farming, fishing, and crafting, complemented by charming character interactions and a thematic mystery. While many find the gameplay rewarding and visually appealing, some note occasional bugs, underdeveloped mechanics, and pacing issues that may affect engagement, especially for players seeking deeper or more innovative gameplay. Overall, it balances relaxing routine tasks with narrative and exploratory elements, appealing mostly to fans of cozy, story-driven simulation games.
- “The initial gameplay loop was familiar and great: start building a farm, upgrade your tools, meet and do quests for the townspeople, etc. Avoiding specific spoilers but the story started off strong.”
- “Everholm is built on the familiar mechanics of a farming sim, but it does well to establish its own charm, thematic mystery, and satisfying gameplay that makes this game worth the purchase.”
- “Its combination of detailed farming mechanics, meaningful character interactions, and an atmospheric world create a unique game that appeals to players who enjoy both relaxing gameplay and story-driven exploration.”
- “Everholm is a very pretty game and I love the visuals and styling, but it left me wanting a lot in terms of the gameplay and progression.”
- “Yeah, most mechanics are a bit undercooked or broken, I would still say a lot of this game is just empty calories, but I did play a lot, so... if you like "cozy" games with not that much substance, this is one of them, and it's very, very pretty and saccharine.”
- “Just a minimal set of mechanics of a game of the genre, not a single try to add something new or at least something that wasn't in any game of the genre.”
graphics
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
38%
5%
Everholm features a charming and beautifully crafted hand-drawn pixel art style with vibrant colors and cozy, nostalgic visuals that many compare to Stardew Valley. The graphics are widely praised for their warmth, detail, and atmospheric range from comforting to eerie, with polished animations and unique character designs enhancing immersion. While some wish for additional features like zoom or rotation, the overall aesthetic is considered stunning, engaging, and a major draw for fans of cozy farming sims.
- “The graphics and atmosphere are the best I've ever seen, with a huge range of crops, cutest animal designs (even beating Fields of Mistria), and a novel but forgiving combat system where some monsters can spurt out little spores you have to avoid.”
- “The devs put a lot of love into the artwork: everything from the menus to the characters to the wildlife is beautifully designed, unique, and charming.”
- “Visually, Everholm embraces a hand-drawn pixel art style that evokes nostalgia while providing a warm and inviting atmosphere.”
- “I was looking for a game similar to Sun Haven and was sadly disappointed with this one; the extremely cute graphics pull you in but it's very slow and boring, with not much to do from the start.”
- “I can see there was a lot of effort put into the game, but it seems like most of the effort and budget went into the visuals.”
- “Might look into the game at a later date if things get polished, but right now the price seems a bit high for what it is, especially since nothing about this game stands out except for the cute visuals.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
48%
14%
The music in the game is generally praised for its soothing, cozy, and nostalgic qualities that complement the visuals and enhance the immersive, relaxing atmosphere. However, some users note a lack of variety, with limited tracks leading to repetitive audio experiences. Overall, the soundtrack fits well with the game's style and mood, contributing positively to the player's emotional engagement.
- “Complementing the visuals, the soundtrack features gentle, soothing melodies that enhance immersion and emotional tone, making the player’s time on Everholm feel like stepping into a beautifully crafted storybook world.”
- “The music and pixel art give me nostalgia for older farm games.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, the soundtrack is so cozy and peaceful, the mysteries to unravel are so intriguing!”
- “Music and sound design is fine, but not standout, which is tough in a game where you hear the same music and sounds repeatedly.”
- “Music is lacking.”
- “Only one music track per season, plus one for each region of the underworld (basically the mines), and the title screen music.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming blend of cozy and eerie elements, enhanced by beautiful hand-drawn pixel art that evokes nostalgia. Players appreciate the dynamic shift from relaxed, inviting daytime vibes to a more ominous mood at dusk, creating an engaging and immersive world. Overall, the atmosphere complements the gameplay and story, making the experience both relaxing and intriguingly spooky.
- “The introductory story is intriguing, and the slightly spooky atmosphere of the game meshes very well with the cute-spooky visual presentation.”
- “The atmosphere in general is relaxed and charming during the day, but as soon as dusk sets in it switches to an ominous vibe.”
- “Visually, Everholm embraces a hand-drawn pixel art style that evokes nostalgia while providing a warm and inviting atmosphere.”
- “Everholm is a game with a stunning aesthetic, lovable characters, and a not-so-cozy atmosphere that keeps you on your toes.”
- “The atmosphere in general is relaxed and charming during the day, but as soon as dusk sets in, it switches to an ominous vibe.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
23%
44%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including frequent stuttering, frame drops, and performance inconsistencies even on high-end systems. These problems often disrupt smooth gameplay and may require manual adjustments to mitigate. Overall, optimization shortcomings negatively impact the playability experience.
- “So, while it can be a bit grindy and there are some unexpected performance inconsistencies, I still wholeheartedly suggest giving it a try if you're a fan of the genre and open to slightly novel variations on the theme.”
- “Some players have reported occasional performance hiccups and bugs that can interrupt the otherwise smooth gameplay.”
- “That said, the game does need optimization and some quality-of-life improvements.”
- “Even with all their updates, there is not a storyline to be had, the game runs terribly because optimization never occurred to them.”
- “There are many frame drops and also stuttering, which makes the game not smooth to play.”
- “There's a constant stuttering/fps issue even though I play on a system that exceeds recommended specs.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in creating a deeply emotional and immersive experience through meaningful character relationships, a soothing soundtrack, and a charming, wholesome world. Its narrative richness and cozy atmosphere invite players to explore at their own pace, offering a heartfelt journey that resonates beyond typical high-action gameplay.
- “Developing relationships with these characters is not only vital to uncovering the island’s mysteries but also enriches the emotional resonance of the game.”
- “Complementing the visuals, the soundtrack features gentle, soothing melodies that enhance immersion and emotional tone, making the player’s time on Everholm feel like stepping into a beautifully crafted storybook world.”
- “But where it stands out is in its deep narrative and emotional journey.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes during key moments and bugs that hinder gameplay, especially in boss fights. While some players report few bugs, many experience frustrating technical problems that impact the overall experience.
- “I catch the fish, the game freezes.”
- “I really do like the game but it is incredibly buggy; it ruins the experience. Nothing is very clear and I feel like I'm wasting days walking around aimlessly.”
- “Fighting the shadow king to release the citizens is so buggy. Half the time I enter the arena, nothing works; I cannot use my tools, weapons, or magic.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game lacks well-written character development, offering minimal depth in getting to know the villagers.
- “So if you're wanting well-written character development as you get to know the villagers, then this isn't the game.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is enhanced by its dungeon crawling elements, adding some variety; however, these features may lack sufficient depth and challenge for players seeking extensive or complex combat and exploration, which could limit long-term engagement.
- “Additionally, while the dungeon crawling aspect adds variety, it may not be substantial enough for players seeking more extensive or challenging combat and exploration mechanics, potentially impacting long-term replayability.”