Garden Story

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 769 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Garden Story Game Cover
Garden Story is a wonderful and unique take on the sim-adventure genre, and it’s definitely worth a look
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In "Garden Story," players assume the role of a helpful grape named Concord, who sets out to revitalize a once-thriving garden community. They'll meet and aid various anthropomorphic inhabitants, engage in peaceful activities like farming and fishing, and defend their friends from invasive Rot. With a focus on relaxing gameplay, Concord's journey promotes cooperation, restoration, and resilience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 769 reviews
story155 positive mentions
grinding88 negative mentions
  • The game features adorable graphics and charming characters, creating a delightful atmosphere.
  • The gameplay is engaging with a mix of combat, resource gathering, and quests that keep players invested.
  • The story is heartwarming and offers a unique narrative about community and restoration.
  • The game can become repetitive, especially with daily quests that often feel like busywork.
  • Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration during battles.
  • Inventory management is cumbersome, as items do not stack and storage is limited, making resource gathering tedious.
  • story433 mentions

    The story of *Garden Story* is generally described as charming and engaging, featuring a cute narrative about a grape named Concord tasked with saving a world threatened by rot. While many players appreciate the cozy atmosphere and character development, some criticize the repetitive fetch quests and pacing issues that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a delightful blend of adventure and light-hearted storytelling, appealing to fans of laid-back, narrative-driven gameplay.

    • “Garden Story is a charming, cozy pixel art game where you play as Concord, a little grape tasked with saving a world overtaken by the invasive rot.”
    • “The story is really good, and overall a super chill, cozy game.”
    • “The characters were surprisingly complex and the story kept me interested in the odd little fantasy world.”
    • “I finished the main storyline within the first in-game month but had to spend three extra months in this mindless, boring cycle to reach 100% completion.”
    • “The tasks get repetitive really fast, the combat is a plain nooze-fest outside of boss battles, and the story drags on.”
    • “The main downside is that quest design is very repetitive with the same few tasks being recycled over and over.”
  • gameplay152 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by a mix of charming visuals and a variety of mechanics, but it often suffers from repetitiveness and a tedious grind, particularly in town leveling and daily tasks. While some players appreciate the relaxing pace and engaging story, others find the mechanics overwhelming or underdeveloped, leading to frustration with inventory management and limited freedom. Overall, the game offers a cozy experience with enjoyable elements, but many feel it lacks depth and can become monotonous over time.

    • “The gameplay is not difficult but is very relaxing; this is a wonderful game that I look forward to finishing.”
    • “A beautiful game with rich worldbuilding, beautiful visuals, an astoundingly good soundtrack, and core mechanics that all work together to provide a chill yet deeply engaging experience.”
    • “The gameplay offers challenges and interesting tactics while making you feel like a small grape in a small world.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive.”
    • “Unfortunately the initial whimsy can only hold your attention for so long when the gameplay is a repetitive loop of simplified clunky RPG mechanics and grinding.”
    • “The worst part is the gameplay itself, which is why I don't recommend it.”
  • music130 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its pleasant, relaxing quality, enhancing the overall experience with a charming and cozy atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its ability to complement the cute visuals and engaging gameplay, making it suitable for both casual play and study. Overall, the music is described as delightful, memorable, and a key element that contributes to the game's immersive and heartwarming environment.

    • “Not only does it have epic cozy game vibes, a wonderful soundtrack (that I have also been using to study), and a lovely blend of combat and errand running gameplay, you get to play as a grape!”
    • “The music is a delight.”
    • “The art style and music together are awesome and really make the world come alive.”
    • “The music fits and is suitable, but I don't think it sticks to me quite as memorably as tracks from arguably comparable games like Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing do.”
    • “No music played, it was just the stillness of nature.”
    • “I saw that this game is praised for the visual and music but critiqued for underwhelming gameplay, but while I agree that the gameplay is repetitive, I personally think it allows for a relaxed gaming experience - this isn't a game to be finished in one sitting.”
  • graphics118 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, often described as pixelated and vibrant, which enhances the overall cozy atmosphere. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and cohesive design, complemented by a relaxing soundtrack that contributes to an engaging experience. While some mention minor issues with clarity in navigation, the overwhelming sentiment is that the graphics are a standout feature, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable.

    • “A beautiful game with rich worldbuilding, beautiful visuals, an astoundingly good soundtrack, and core mechanics that all work together to provide a chill yet deeply engaging experience.”
    • “The art style is so cute and the music really brings you into the story.”
    • “The art style and music together are awesome and really make the world come alive.”
    • “The graphics are very busy and cluttered despite the simple art style; I can never really tell where the paths are - this is especially problematic in the second town and surrounding areas.”
    • “The capped 30 fps makes the game feel 'chunky' and blocky in its moments and visuals, so much to the point that I thought something was wrong with my graphics card and/or monitor and was getting motion sickness/nausea from playing the game.”
    • “The game is really hard to look at (and I grew up on NES, 8 or 16 bit graphics).”
  • grinding90 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly when leveling towns and collecting materials. While some appreciate the satisfying progression and charming visuals, others feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, especially given the game's late introduction of farming mechanics. Overall, players suggest that the game is more enjoyable if approached at a relaxed pace, but it can become monotonous for those seeking to complete every task or upgrade.

    • “It's not grindy at all!”
    • “There is no farming or mining or decorating or anything like that.”
    • “Tedious grind to level towns due to time & task mechanics.”
    • “Most of your time is just grinding/fetching materials and fulfilling very surface level missions for NPCs that blur together.”
    • “Unfortunately, the initial whimsy can only hold your attention for so long when the gameplay is a repetitive loop of simplified clunky RPG mechanics and grinding.”
  • emotional57 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking feelings of nostalgia and joy. Many reviews highlight the charming characters, beautiful soundtrack, and engaging world-building that contribute to a cozy atmosphere, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a relaxing and emotionally fulfilling gaming experience. Overall, the game successfully combines lightheartedness with moments of genuine emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on its audience.

    • “Great cozy game with a surprisingly heartwarming story!”
    • “It had such a charming and wholesome atmosphere, the pacing of the story was just right, the characters and dialogue were made perfectly, an undeniably amazing soundtrack that massively enhances the gameplay and story.”
    • “So far in my time this game has got me very emotionally invested in the town and its characters; I even teared up a little bit when a character I liked left.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its unique charm, with each area offering a distinct yet cohesive feel, enhanced by lovable NPCs, cute pixel art, and a delightful soundtrack. Players appreciate the cozy, relaxing environment that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic games, while the world-building and character interactions contribute to an overall wholesome experience. The combination of engaging visuals, music, and storytelling creates a satisfying and immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “Each area has its own unique atmosphere, and the NPCs are lovable in their design and dialogue.”
    • “I absolutely adore the art style and that each town is based on a different season, giving everything a distinct atmosphere while still feeling like a cohesive world.”
    • “The story, characters, graphics, atmosphere, music, all of it comes together to create an absolutely amazing experience overall.”
    • “The atmosphere and story kept me satisfied.”
    • “I love the homely cozy atmosphere.”
    • “The art style is cute and constructs this atmosphere of games from your childhood.”
  • humor7 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently praised, with players highlighting its funny narrative, charming characters, and overall lighthearted tone. Many reviewers find the game to be a delightful experience, filled with amusing moments that enhance the gameplay. Overall, the humor is a significant strength, contributing to the game's appeal and enjoyment.

    • “I got my first computer in March of this year and this was the first game I bought for it, and it did not disappoint. I love the color schemes and all of the fun, funny little friends you get to make along the way.”
    • “The storyline is funny and I love the narrative.”
    • “It's a really cute and funny game.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; some players find significant value in revisiting the game to uncover missed content, while others feel it lacks depth and offers limited incentive to replay. Despite a few hours of enjoyable gameplay, many reviewers suggest that the game feels incomplete, resulting in low replayability for some.

    • “I see a lot of replayability for me as I missed some memories.”
    • “Great replayability, this game never gets boring!”
    • “Maybe it's more optimized for PC gaming, but replayability is low and I won't try it.”
    • “However, while there isn't that much there in terms of replayability, the main story that it does provide gives you a few hours of cute and joyful gaming, which is exactly what I picked it up for.”
    • “The game feels incomplete and has little to no replay value.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a well-made experience with no significant issues, others encounter glitches and bugs, particularly with map boundaries. This inconsistency has led to divided opinions on its reliability.

    • “Other than that, a very well-made game with no glitches, force closes, or any other discrepancies.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs, providing a seamless experience.”
    • “I appreciate the stability of the game; it has been consistently reliable during my playtime.”
    • “Can't recommend a buggy game.”
    • “Despite some glitches, this game is great.”
    • “A few map section border glitches (Concord can go out of bounds).”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming art style and character designs, which effectively reflect each character's personality. Players appreciate the engaging dialogue and the overall lighthearted tone, contributing to a delightful RPG experience.

    • “The art style, character dialogue, and character design were my favorite things about this game.”
    • “The character designs are also great; they are simple, yet reflect each character's personality well.”
    • “A very lighthearted RPG with nice character designs.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization has received criticism for low or locked frame rates, resulting in a stuttering and lagging experience, particularly during combat. While it may be better suited for PC gaming, overall replayability is perceived as low, leading some players to lose interest.

    • “The game is well-optimized for PC gaming, providing a smooth experience overall.”
    • “The optimization allows for seamless gameplay, enhancing the overall enjoyment.”
    • “While some have noted issues with combat, the optimization generally supports a stable frame rate.”
    • “As others have noted, combat feels like frame drops are happening, which might be a flaw with optimization or simply with how hit stop is designed.”
    • “The game seems to have some kind of low or locked frame rate issue that makes it feel like it's perpetually stuck in a state of stuttering or lagging.”
    • “Maybe it's more optimized for PC gaming, but replayability is low and I won't try it.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Garden Story

Play time

16hMedian play time
44hAverage play time
9-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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