Pumpkin Days

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 292 reviews
  • grinding
  • graphics
  • story
Pumpkin Days Game Cover
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"Pumpkin Days" is a farming-themed RPG that allows players to create and customize their own non-binary characters, play on different difficulty modes, and engage in multiplayer modes with friends. The game features a diverse cast of over 100 characters, with the option for same-sex marriage and polyamorous relationships. Players can farm, complete quests, and build relationships at their own pace.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 292 reviews
graphics19 positive mentions
grinding118 negative mentions
  • The game offers a vast open world with multiple towns to explore, each with unique characters and quests.
  • There is a wide variety of activities to engage in, including farming, fishing, mining, crafting, and cooking, providing a rich gameplay experience.
  • The character customization is extensive, allowing players to create diverse avatars and relationships, including non-binary options.
  • The controls can be clunky and awkward, making movement and interaction frustrating at times.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer mode, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The in-game time passes too quickly, making it challenging to complete tasks and manage stamina effectively.
  • grinding119 mentions

    The reviews highlight that while the game offers a rich and engaging farming experience with various activities like crafting, fishing, and socializing, the grinding aspect can feel tedious due to slow farming mechanics and stamina limitations. Players express a desire for improvements, such as better automation options and faster watering methods, to enhance the overall gameplay flow. Despite these concerns, many find the game addictive and recommend it to fans of the farming sim genre, appreciating its depth and customization options.

    • “The farming is too slow; watering plants one by one is an outdated method. Instead, you should be able to walk around as you water until you can upgrade.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It requires some balance either with an automatic way to plant seeds or lowering the stamina spent. If you want to have farms in multiple towns, you'll need to go between towns to tend things, and quick travel takes quite a bit.”
  • graphics63 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming, simplistic art style reminiscent of early 2000s games, while others criticize the rough textures, lack of detail, and various graphical glitches. Many users note that the visuals can be nostalgic and endearing, particularly for fans of farming games, but they also highlight performance issues and the need for decent hardware to run the game smoothly. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for the game's indie status, though they may not satisfy those seeking high-end visuals.

    • “The aesthetics are phenomenal and you can stand for ages taking in the hard work the devs have put in to the game to make it a magical world to behold.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics are lovely, cartoony, and simplistic, with most colors falling into not-so-saturated pastels.”
    • “The graphics are horrible.”
    • “I can't get over how a game like this in 2020 comes out looking like cereal box video game graphics from 2001.”
    • “The buildings, water, trees, and mountains are just so bland in appearance (despite graphical settings) that the game feels 20 years old.”
  • story60 mentions

    The game's story is often described as lacking depth and coherence, with many players finding it janky and filled with cliché elements. While there are quests and character interactions, they tend to be simplistic and repetitive, with fetch quests dominating the gameplay. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the casual nature of the story and the potential for character development, suggesting that with more meaningful side quests and improved NPC interactions, the narrative could become more engaging.

    • “I can feel every ounce of the small dev team's heart and thoroughly implore anyone who cares more about representative and realistic NPCs and the backdrop for a rich storyline you can create to really give this game a fair shake, and some kudos to the hardworking dev team!”
    • “This game has an overarching plot but also enough crops, things to explore, food to make, and characters to meet that you keep you interested for hours.”
    • “There are quests for both friendships and for the main plotline, which is Stardew light, and involves filling a percentage of the newly built museum in order to prevent an environmentally unfriendly company from moving to the island.”
    • “The apparent main part of the game - while not exactly deep enough to be called a story - is the museum.”
    • “The quests are bare minimum and although I would love to explore the world, it just doesn't have the key mechanics that make it fun to farm and all other fun stuff that comes with these games.”
    • “The storyline is kind of existent but... eh?”
  • gameplay40 mentions

    The gameplay of this game offers a mix of familiar mechanics from the farming simulation genre, such as farming, crafting, and socializing, while introducing some unique elements that set it apart. However, players have noted issues with stamina mechanics and a lack of depth compared to titles like Stardew Valley, leading to a somewhat uneven experience. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the game's potential and the variety of activities available, suggesting that it can be enjoyable for fans of the genre.

    • “Lots of content, relaxed open gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay: this game feels like some people who've played quite a few other games in this genre got together and said: 'we want to make a game that incorporates all these things that fans of these types of games want to see, but haven't really been implemented.' and the game does include a fair few things that I haven't seen elsewhere.”
    • “It scratches the itch for farming games, with a few unique mechanics that keep things fresh.”
    • “The mechanic that I hate in all of these games, stamina, is an absolute killer in this game.”
    • “However, while this game gets a lot of rare/important things right, it baffles me that it gets so much basic gameplay wrong.”
    • “It feels like a lot of time was spent on conceptualizing and ideas while not a lot of time was actually spent on gameplay and the actual entertainment value.”
  • music35 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its calming and varied nature, featuring a blend of jazz and ambient styles that enhances the gameplay experience. However, others find it repetitive or annoying over time, with a desire for more sound effects and a disconnect from the farming theme. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also has detractors who prefer to mute it in favor of their own music.

    • “The music is varied, with several different melodies for different seasons, times of day, and whether or not it's raining in your area.”
    • “The music is both beautiful and soothing -- think a mix of 'softer' jazz and Spanish guitar.”
    • “The music is very relaxing and offers a mix of jazz and soothing ambient music.”
    • “The music isn't that great and I wish there were more sound effects like footprints or when you go in water.”
    • “This game isn't good, the controls are really bad as well, save your money for something else, the game is super awkward to control, its almost fun but it isn't, the controls really don't make this game worth your time, this game is littered with bugs as well, even for an early access title, it almost feels like a demo not an early access title, the music is also really annoying as well, this game should have never been released in the state that it's in now, what a waste of time and money.”
    • “Started very promising but then the lag and depressing music came on.”
  • stability21 mentions

    The game is reported to be quite buggy, with various glitches such as floating objects, character animations issues, and occasional lag or freezing, particularly in multiplayer mode. While these stability issues can disrupt immersion, many players find the game enjoyable despite its early access status, and the developers are actively working on fixes. Overall, while stability is a concern, it does not significantly detract from the fun experience for many users.

    • “Has glitches such as floating trees and rocks and insects; sometimes characters and animals will slide across the floor without moving their legs, and sometimes characters won't be there during cut scenes.”
    • “My PC has the needed specs, but the game lags and freezes frequently.”
    • “I got stuck in a tree no less than three times while walking around; these must be some of the early glitches, and I hope they will be fixed soon.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the dialogue and NPC interactions to be both hilarious and well-written. Many appreciate the amusing animations and quirky bugs, such as flying cows, which add to the overall charm. The diverse and inclusive personalities of the characters contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience, making the game enjoyable beyond typical gameplay mechanics.

    • “I love the dialogue and many of the responses are hilarious.”
    • “Dialogue with the NPCs is funny and adorable -- and well-written throughout.”
    • “There are still a few bugs in the game (some of which are actually pretty funny, such as cows flying through the city and stuff).”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The game's optimization is currently a significant issue, particularly in specific areas like the clementine mines and near the museum, leading to performance problems. While players appreciate the gameplay, they express frustration over the limited impact of visual settings on performance and note that improvements, including controller optimization, are in progress.

    • “The biggest issue right now is optimization for the Clementine mines and near the museum area, but I've been assured this is actually being worked on.”
    • “Just learned that controller optimization will be added.”
    • “The biggest issue right now is optimization for the clementine mines and near the museum area, but I've been assured this is actually being worked on.”
    • “I wish turning down the visual settings had more impact on the performance.”
    • “Looks dated and is not optimized.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with some players expressing a preference for fewer characters but with deeper, more focused narratives. While the character design is praised for its inclusivity and charm, the overall depth of character interactions and development is seen as a missed opportunity.

    • “The character designer alone is a delight, but the inclusivity does not end there by a long road -- as you will quickly discover as you interact with the NPCs.”
    • “Lack of character development.”
    • “I’d honestly prefer fewer characters, but better character development.”
    • “My suggestions for the game, or perhaps a Pumpkin Days 2.0, would be to narrow its target audience, focus objectives, and work more on adding quality as opposed to quantity (e.g. fewer characters with more dialogue, focused character development, etc.).”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally uplifting due to its wholesome community interactions and the developers' responsiveness to player feedback, enhancing the overall experience. The ability to customize gameplay elements like day length fosters a relaxed atmosphere, contributing to a heartwarming and addictive experience.

    • “They all help each other out and it's just wholesome and nice.”
    • “Its pure, its heart-warming and it will make you addicted.”
    • “At the same time, the devs received heartfelt pleas -- including from me -- about things like space management and day length, and now players no longer need to buy/craft tons of storage units for the voluminous crafting materials the game demands you keep; and players can make the days, I believe, as much as twice as slow as they would normally be for the ultimate in relaxed play.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its diversity, featuring three distinct starting areas, each with unique environments and NPCs that enhance the overall experience. While one area, Diamond Falls, is noted as feeling less polished, the overall ambiance and character interactions contribute positively to the game's appeal.

    • “There's a lot of content, I enjoy the characters, and the atmosphere.”
    • “Three different starting areas, each with their own unique atmosphere and crop growing conditions. I will say I think Diamond Falls feels the least polished of the starting areas I've played, but it is still playable.”
    • “Each area has its own unique atmosphere and NPCs.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the game's strong replayability due to its diverse features, including various crops to cultivate, recipes to discover, and multiple starting locations. The ability to explore different gameplay options, such as ranching and interacting with NPCs, further enhances the experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “I feel this game has great replayability value, with the amount of crops to explore and raise, recipes, ranching, NPCs to get to know, foraging, and different places you can start your game!”
    • “Seeing what you planted or brightening only the cave options are great additions that significantly enhance replayability.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a potential cash grab, with players feeling that it exaggerates the game's readiness to justify early access. Additionally, the in-game purchases are viewed as excessive, with basic items costing more than essential features, leading to frustration among users.

    • “The game looks great, but the in-game purchases are ridiculous; your entire farm only costs 1,000 gold, but a single storage chest costs 1,200 gold.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers some free content, but the monetization strategy feels a bit aggressive at times.”
    • “While the game is enjoyable, the pricing for certain items can be frustrating and feels unbalanced compared to the overall gameplay.”
    • “But after seeing the push to leave early access, this feels like a cash grab to possibly generate some needed revenue for development, but at the expense of greatly exaggerating the game's state of readiness.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it feel like the developers care more about profits than providing a fair experience for players.”
    • “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

102hMedian play time
117hAverage play time
8-250hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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