Fae Farm
- September 8, 2023
- Phoenix Labs
- 14h median play time
If you're looking for a magical farming sim that does most things right, this is it.
Escape to the fairytale life of your dreams in Fae Farm, a cozy farm-sim RPG for 1-4 players. Craft, cultivate, and decorate to grow your shared homestead—and use spellbinding magic to explore the enchanted island of Azoria.
Reviews
- Cute graphics and charming art style that creates a whimsical atmosphere.
- Engaging gameplay with a variety of activities including farming, crafting, mining, and bug catching.
- Quality of life features such as automatic tool selection and unlimited storage enhance the overall experience.
- Numerous bugs and glitches, especially in multiplayer mode, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Shallow NPC interactions and repetitive dialogue, making it hard to form meaningful relationships.
- The game feels incomplete with a lack of depth in story and character development, leading to a less engaging experience.
- story598 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Fae Farm" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it cute and engaging but ultimately shallow and repetitive. While some appreciate the cozy atmosphere and charming characters, others criticize the lack of depth in character development and quest variety, often describing the narrative as simplistic and aimed at a younger audience. Overall, while the game offers a pleasant experience with its art style and gameplay mechanics, the story does not reach the same level of richness found in other farming simulation titles like "Stardew Valley" or "Story of Seasons."
“The story moves along at a perfect pace, never dragging, and you won’t find yourself stuck or frustrated.”
“The story is great and interacting with the characters and learning about them has been amazing.”
“Fae Farm has an adorable art style, tons of story content, new areas to unlock teeming with new things.”
“The story lacks depth and the characters recycle the same few lines of dialogue, so if you're looking for a rich story you will not find it here.”
“The storyline is laughably weak.”
“The story is repetitive, the NPCs are lifeless, and the last three major cut scenes contain zero visuals, just a black screen and text.”
- grinding499 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Fae Farm" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the cozy and magical elements of the game, they often find the gameplay repetitive and overly grindy, particularly in resource gathering and crafting, which can detract from the enjoyment of farming itself. Some players feel that farming is secondary to mining and other activities, leading to a lack of satisfaction in the farming mechanics, making it feel tedious and less rewarding compared to other farming sims.
“Running around town is not tedious at all.”
“Stardew, Rune Factory, Animal Crossing, then this game will be for you. It's such a relaxing, cozy game with so much fun stuff to do that's not tedious!”
“Love it! Definitely the best farming sim I've played so far.”
“Was really enjoyable until it gets grindy.”
“Farming, which should be the core of the experience, is tedious and unrewarding.”
“The grind for materials is a bit tedious, especially when it comes to home decor and materials.”
- gameplay247 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Skies of Azoria" is characterized by a mix of promising mechanics and frustrating bugs, leading to a generally uneven experience. While players appreciate the cute graphics and some innovative features like the tool-switching system and flower breeding, many find the core mechanics repetitive and lacking depth, with certain tasks feeling tedious and grindy. Overall, the game offers a cozy atmosphere but suffers from execution issues that detract from its potential enjoyment.
“The gameplay is great and there are tutorials out there if you are struggling.”
“The mechanics are fun, the style is whimsical and beautiful.”
“The gameplay deftly marries simplicity with rewarding depth.”
“The gameplay is an absolute chore.”
“I love the idea, and incorporating magic into a farming sim is genius, but the actual execution of these ideas is lackluster, and the gameplay loop leaves something to be desired.”
“Every gameplay system is either inconvenient, bugged, or needlessly repetitive to the point where the game feels grindy without really rewarding you with a good experience.”
- graphics225 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant, cute, and charming art style, which many players find engaging and visually appealing. The colorful environments, adorable character designs, and smooth animations contribute to a cozy atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, some players feel that while the graphics are impressive, they overshadow gameplay elements that could use more depth and polish.
“The deep richly colored graphics, adorable characters, and multiple quests will keep me highly engaged for weeks!”
“The graphics are beautiful, the music is super relaxing.”
“The graphics are so cute and the sound effects and music are delightful.”
“The initially charming graphics hide the very poor gameplay, but become stale soon.”
“There are quite good amount of bugs, like in the barn (where cows and sheep are) there's really weird graphical error on the floor where it flickers a lot.”
“Graphics are adorable, but gameplay is clunky (so much so that it makes the game difficult to enjoy).”
- stability84 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous glitches and bugs that significantly impact gameplay, particularly in multiplayer mode. While some users have found workarounds for minor issues, others have experienced game-breaking problems, frequent crashes, and unreliable cross-platform play. Overall, the game feels unfinished and in need of substantial updates to address these stability concerns.
“Runs great, no real issues.”
“Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“Gameplay-wise, I can personally say I've had no glitches or stutter on my end.”
“Although it's a beautiful and enjoyable game, I wouldn't recommend it as I had quite a few glitches that made me restart the game at least 5 to 6 times in 30 hours of gameplay.”
“From the newest update, frequent crashes to bizarre glitches, 'Fae Farm' feels like a beta version rather than a finished product.”
“The game is extremely buggy, especially in multiplayer; the NPCs are very one-note and most have the same dialogue as each other.”
- music63 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its relaxing and enchanting qualities that complement the game's cozy atmosphere. However, some found it lackluster or repetitive, failing to leave a lasting impression. Overall, while the soundtrack is praised for its soothing nature and beautiful melodies, it may not resonate with everyone, leading to a varied reception among players.
“The music is soothing and fantastic.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful!!!”
“The charming art style and pleasant soundtrack make Fae Farm my new go-to game for chill vibes.”
“As one of the most disappointing aspects, I have played this game for nearly 30 hours and I cannot recall a single musical note.”
“There is background music for these different areas, but it's so lackluster it left no impression.”
“The soundtrack is so focused on sounding 'whimsical' that it doesn't stray from that at all and it gets very grating very quickly.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and cozy atmosphere, making it a charming experience for players seeking relaxation and heartwarming interactions. However, while the game excels in creating a fairytale-like environment, it lacks emotional depth and a compelling narrative, which may leave some players feeling disengaged. Overall, it is praised for its inclusivity and charm, making it suitable for casual play, especially in a social setting.
“A wholesome charming indie game with a lot of heart.”
“It's such a wholesome game and I always feel so cozy playing it.”
“The story in Fae Farm is captivating and heartwarming.”
“In the end, if you can ignore the boring story and dialogue, there is a lot of fun and relaxation to be had here.”
- character development12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, particularly for NPCs, with many players expressing disappointment in the superficiality of their personalities despite appreciating the art style and character designs. While some users noted the potential for character development and customization options, the general consensus is that the game falls short of delivering a meaningful narrative experience akin to titles like Stardew Valley.
“I love the art style and the character design.”
“I love the character designs; I think they're inclusive and diverse, but their personalities are not.”
“Game is cute, adds a lot of needed quality of life aspects, and opens the door to some neat character development.”
“It lacked a lot of character development.”
“I wish we could have seen more fleshed out character development for the NPCs, a more robust character design system that doesn't look like the faces are drawn with crayons. The price tag tells me either you really thought this was a done game, or you had investors breathing down your neck, but either way, I didn't feel good about the purchase.”
“Just don't expect Stardew Valley level of story and character development.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reviews, with some players feeling it resembles a cash grab due to missing features and bugs despite its price, while others argue that the developers put in significant effort, suggesting that the game's marketing overshadowed its development. Overall, there is a consensus that the game could have benefited from better resource allocation towards development rather than advertising.
“This was no cash grab and the work the devs put in shows!”
“It is not only the most disappointing aspect, but frankly pathetic, and blatantly shows that Phoenix Labs hopped on the 'cozy game' train as a cash grab.”
“I would agree with other reviews, they should have spent the money they spent on advertising on additional resources for development.”
“Cash grab with entirely obsolete farming and animal caring.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, particularly on PC and Steam Deck, where players report smooth performance and minimal bugs. However, the Nintendo Switch version struggles with significant frame rate drops and multiplayer issues, leading to a less favorable experience. While the graphics and controls are well-received, the multiplayer aspect appears to be poorly optimized.
“It runs smoothly, has one of the best mining journeys I've experienced, fun collectibles, flower breeding, and a lovely magical twist.”
“Performance-wise, the PC version has been smooth as butter for me.”
“I've not encountered any bugs so far, aside from the shipping quests only working properly half of the time, and everything runs smoothly on my PC and Steam Deck (with default settings).”
“It's worse; the Switch version runs at 15 fps, and the multiplayer is laggy and stuttering.”
“My evaluation is primarily based on my reservations regarding the performance of the Switch rather than the game's overall quality.”
“Clearly, the game wasn't optimized for multiplayer, so why did you guys even include it?”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its cozy and funny elements, particularly when playing with friends. However, some users find the repetitive character laughter and lack of character depth to be drawbacks, noting that while the initial giggles are cute, they can become grating over time. Overall, the game features amusing glitches and charming animations that contribute to its lighthearted atmosphere.
“This is a very cozy and funny game and I like to play it with my friends.”
“(So your burly guy could be squeaking like a chipmunk for someone else... which is almost a hilarious pro, in my opinion.) I really hope the game developers continue to expand.”
“The crafting tables are animated; they're adorable! Heck, we got whacked by the saw, and it was funny, lol.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as relaxing and magical, enhanced by beautiful graphics and soothing music. Players appreciate the vibrant and interactive environment, which fosters joyful interactions and a cozy, enchanting experience reminiscent of beloved titles like Stardew Valley and Sun Haven. Overall, the game's theme of using magic in farming captivates players, making it a delightful world to immerse themselves in.
“It has a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, with beautiful graphics and soothing music.”
“Fae Farm, in particular, excels in creating a magical atmosphere, complete with enchanting 'fae' creatures that require upgraded tools to catch.”
“Overall, the atmosphere is very cozy, and I genuinely enjoy the world itself. The theme of using magic to aid with farming is something that immediately held my attention.”
“The graphics and atmosphere feel outdated and lack the immersive quality expected from modern games.”
“The atmosphere is bland and uninspired, making it hard to get invested in the game world.”
“Despite the potential, the atmosphere falls flat, leaving players feeling disconnected and unengaged.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant replayability, with players expressing disappointment over the absence of engaging content to revisit after completing a playthrough. Many feel that the farming mechanics, particularly the tedious harvesting process, further diminish the incentive to replay.
“It doesn’t really have replay value, unfortunately, so once I finish my playthrough, I will probably wait for new content.”
“There is zero replayability; if you farm anything over 9 plots, you will be harvesting for ages as there is no mass harvest option.”
Critic Reviews
Fae Farm Switch Review
If you're looking for a magical farming sim that does most things right, this is it.
80%Fae Farm review
Fae Farm is a little rough around the edges, but there's so much to do with satisfying pacing and tons of loveable characters to meet.
80%Fae Farm review: "A low-stakes, inclusive, and cozy farming sim"
Fae Farm is a low-stakes, inclusive, and supremely cozy farming sim that delivers some uniquely interconnected features in a neat and accessible way. It's a narratively charged, explorative experience, and a shining example of devs having learned from the mistakes of other farming sims.
90%