Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator
- February 22, 2024
- stillalive studios
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator" is a relaxing game where you can plant and nurture your dream garden using real-life techniques. Complete tasks from neighbors, unlock new tools and seeds, and discover the story behind an abandoned community garden. The game features different colorful plant varieties and allows you to enjoy your garden in full bloom throughout the changing seasons.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and art style that create a cozy atmosphere.
- Highly addictive gameplay with a relaxing pace and no time constraints.
- Engaging story and charming characters that enhance the overall experience.
- Severe limitations on the number of plants and decorations that can be placed in the garden.
- Frequent crashes and performance issues, especially on lower-end systems.
- Inventory management is cumbersome, lacking sorting and organization features.
- story188 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally described as cute and heartwarming, revolving around the restoration of a community garden after the passing of a beloved character. While some players appreciate the charming characters and light narrative, others find the story mode somewhat lacking in depth and engagement, often feeling repetitive or disconnected from the gameplay. Overall, it offers a cozy atmosphere with a simple plot that serves as a backdrop for gardening tasks, but many players express a desire for more substantial story content and character development.
“There are simply objectives in story mode, which allow you to see the development of a beautiful garden take shape over a few days, and the story is very sweet: the eldest member of the community garden has passed away and you have been invited to restore the garden.”
“The story is sweet, the design is beautiful and interesting, the gameplay is fun and rewarding.”
“I love the story line of this game and how relaxing it is; I love playing this game when I am not having a good day.”
“There's not really any kind of story available.”
“The tasks get repetitive after a while, and once the main story is finished, the game simply isn't interesting enough anymore.”
“Once I played through the main story line there was nothing left to do or discover.”
- graphics102 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the beautiful art style and charming visuals, particularly the colorful flowers and cozy atmosphere. However, there are significant criticisms regarding poor optimization, inconsistent art styles, and technical issues such as crashes and performance problems, which detract from the overall experience. While some players find the graphics endearing and relaxing, others express frustration over the game's inability to run smoothly even on capable systems.
“The graphics are gorgeous, especially the flowers themselves – so colorful and cheery.”
“The game captures the essence of gardening with stunning visuals, relaxing music, and endless possibilities for creativity.”
“It's a beautiful game, the visuals and art style are amazing.”
“It really impacts enjoyment of the game at some point when you cannot unsee the inconsistencies in art style and rendering, the tiny hands and wrists, nonsensical and discontinuous details on the clothing and accessories, and all the other telltale signs of AI-generated then barely touched-up art.”
“The graphics make me motion sick, no matter how I tweak them, and some of the flowers look really flat (like literally flat) and sloppily finished, while this whole game is about gardening and selling flowers.”
“This game crashes constantly, and it's crazy how a game with low-grade graphics can still overclock your computer.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a relaxing and visually appealing gardening simulation, featuring simple mechanics such as planting, watering, and pest control. While many players appreciate the soothing nature and aesthetic of the game, some criticize its repetitive tasks and lack of depth compared to traditional farming sims, leading to a sense of grind. Overall, the game offers a charming experience but has room for improvement in quality of life features and gameplay complexity.
“I really like this game; it's a delightful escape with whimsical art and fun gardening mechanics, perfect for unwinding after a long day with a hot cup of tea.”
“The gameplay is very relaxed and non-punishing.”
“The positives include the main mechanics, the way the flowers bloom is incredibly beautiful, planting, tending, collecting, achieving new seeds, and delivering requests is very satisfying.”
“The game feels like a farming sim lacking all the gameplay of a farming sim.”
“It's an empty shell of a gardening sim game where it looks the part and the beginning feels interesting... but when you play, you quickly realize how little there is to do and how much of the 'gameplay' is just grind.”
“The gameplay is pretty repetitive, with collecting flower clippings and new seed variants to get more flower clippings of other colors, so if that isn't your cup of tea in cozy games, then this may not be the one for you.”
- grinding31 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game has a significant grinding aspect, often described as tedious and repetitive, particularly when trying to achieve all goals or manage inventory. While some players find enjoyment in the cozy gameplay, many feel that the lack of diverse activities and the need for extensive micromanagement detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than a relaxing simulation.
“Not too long, fun to do and collect everything, not too grindy either.”
“It's a cute game, and I suppose it's casual enough to grow flowers and fulfill requests, but if you're aiming to get all achievements, then this game is super grindy.”
“After some time, the game feels more grindy to get certain plant colors and to get the things you want and complete tasks.”
“It wasn't the chill, relaxing game I was looking for; it's very grindy and requires a fair bit of micromanagement, but it was so charming I stuck with it anyway.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, low frame rates, and a lack of graphical options, even on high-end PCs. While some users experienced smoother gameplay, the general consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements and quality-of-life enhancements to fully realize its potential. Despite its charming aesthetics and engaging gameplay, the optimization issues detract from the overall experience.
“The game is made in Unreal Engine 5, which can make games look beautiful, but if poorly optimized, even high-end PCs will struggle running this game.”
“Despite some room for growth in garden expansiveness and optimization, its blend of charming artistry and detailed gardening garners a solid 4 out of 5 blooming flowers.”
“I have read in a few other reviews that they had problems with the optimization, but it ran smoothly for me.”
“The performance of the game is pretty bad, especially because this game shouldn't be this demanding.”
“The game is made in Unreal Engine 5 which can make games look beautiful, but if poorly optimized, even high-end PCs will struggle running this game.”
“You need to provide more graphics options in settings and fix the awful optimization.”
- music19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming, soothing, and beautifully fitting the cozy atmosphere, enhancing the immersive experience. While some users find it decent but not particularly inspiring, many appreciate its relaxing qualities and how it complements the game's visuals and overall vibe. Overall, the soundtrack is well-received, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic and enjoyment.
“The calm music and ambient noises really let you immerse yourself.”
“The game captures the essence of gardening with stunning visuals, relaxing music, and endless possibilities for creativity.”
“It is so chill and relaxing, the soundtrack is beautiful.”
“The music is decent, but not inspiring to listen to.”
“Runs poorly, music is meh, progression is rng.”
“The soundtrack isn't too intrusive, which is always a plus in cozy genre games.”
- stability17 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received significant criticism, with many players reporting frequent freezes and crashes, particularly during loading screens and specific quests. While some users have noted improvements over time, the overall experience remains marred by bugs and performance issues, leading to frustration and making the game feel unplayable for many. Despite its appealing concept and aesthetics, the stability problems detract heavily from the enjoyment.
“I thought I was just getting one of each piece, so I went crazy and took stacks... yes, I placed 100 balloons in the greenhouse! Kudos on a perfect game with no glitches, and I appreciate that all the achievements were joyfully obtainable without a guide.”
“When starting a new game, it freezes at the bus station after the story intro.”
“I got a few hours in and I'm just too frustrated with how regularly it freezes up on loading.”
“Overall, I love the concept and the atmosphere of the game, but I’m writing this because this is one of the worst gaming experiences I've had in a long time due to crashes, freezes, and many quality-of-life features not existing within the game.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its relaxing, cozy, and whimsical qualities, making it easy for players to lose track of time while tending to their gardens. The calming soundscapes, beautiful graphics, and charming character designs contribute to a dreamy and inspiring environment, appealing particularly to those interested in gardening and botany. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance enhances the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable for players seeking a tranquil escape.
“The atmosphere is so relaxing, and I feel inspired to tend to my garden in real life.”
“The game has a really calm, chill atmosphere, which makes it so easy to let the hours go by.”
“Overall, I love the concept and the atmosphere of the game, but I’m writing this because this is one of the worst gaming experiences I've had in a long time due to crashes, freezes, and many quality-of-life features not existing within the game.”
“You grow/take care of plants while trying to make the garden as pretty as possible, a lot of things to customize alongside a very warm atmosphere.”
“The whimsical character design and discoverability of additional plant variations add to the cozy atmosphere.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming environmental design and engaging story, which effectively conveys themes of loss and grief in a wholesome manner. Players feel a strong emotional connection to the characters and the cozy atmosphere, making the experience both relaxing and touching. Despite some criticism regarding the character art, the overall emotional impact leaves players feeling seen and connected.
“The characters are really cool and the way loss and grief are dealt with was very well-done and wholesome.”
“It's all very sweet and this game really surprised me with how it made me feel so seen and cozy.”
“Overall the game is beautiful, touching story line, and this is the best photo mode I have seen from any cozy game I have played.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its whimsical and gorgeous designs, contributing to a cozy atmosphere. The illustrations are noted as perfect, reflecting the design team's creativity and effort in crafting both characters and the environment. Overall, players appreciate the aesthetic appeal and attention to detail in character design.
“The whimsical character design and discoverability of additional plant variations add to the cozy atmosphere.”
“The character designs are gorgeous, the illustrations are perfect, and I have had little to no issues with running this game.”
“It was going okay until the character design.”
“The game is beautiful, and I can tell the design team had a good time coming up with the decorations, character design, and environmental look.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted contrast between chaotic and serene moments, as seen in the final scene where characters engage in playful antics while others find joy in peaceful gardening. This blend of comedic elements adds a charming touch to the overall experience, enhancing the game's more tranquil aspects.
“The decor and their description can be pretty funny, a nice little addition to a calmer game.”
“The final scene shows the group divided: Harley and Jinx gleefully launching seeds and chaos while laughing, Ivy and Zyra watching their interactive garden flourish with pride, and Lux and Bane quietly tending to a small patch of sunflowers in peace.”
