Shinehill
- September 18, 2024
- Peach Bite
Get on Steam"Shinehill" is a game where you play as a spy on an alien planet, mistaken for a new neighbor. You must gain the trust of the locals by helping them, farming, fishing, and exploring abandoned dungeons. As you progress, you will uncover the island's secrets and threats in this seemingly paradise planet.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique narrative twist that combines farming simulation with an engaging alien-themed storyline, making it stand out in the genre.
- Charming pixel art style and vibrant environments create a cozy and nostalgic atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- The gameplay is simple yet fun, with a variety of activities including farming, fishing, and mini-games that keep players engaged.
- The main story is relatively short, taking around 7 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Controls can be awkward, particularly when managing inventory and moving items, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
- NPCs lack routines and movement, making the town feel static and less lively, which could improve immersion.
- grinding29 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game "Shinehill" offers a refreshing take on the farming sim genre, with less grinding compared to traditional titles, making it more accessible and enjoyable. While some players find the farming mechanics less rewarding, the unique narrative twist involving an alien identity and engaging social interactions keep the gameplay interesting. Overall, it strikes a balance between cozy farming activities and exploration, appealing to fans of the genre looking for something different.
“Farming is confusing as it doesn't feel rewarding in the slightest.”
“Right now, I am farming a lot in order to cook food to find everyone's favorite dishes, but besides some quests, I do fail to really see the appeal of farming.”
“Which is fine—farming is not my favorite thing to do in games; it's just an observation.”
- story28 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and unique alien-themed narrative, blending elements of farming simulation with exploration and social interactions. While the main storyline can be completed in under seven hours, players appreciate the depth provided by side quests and character interactions, which add layers to the experience. Overall, the charming plot and quirky characters create a memorable adventure, leaving players eager for future updates and expansions.
“Amazing storyline!”
“The graphics are great, the story is interesting so far, and there is plenty to do.”
“The story revolves around your character’s need to remain undercover while gradually uncovering the mysteries of the island.”
“The main story content can be completed in less than 7 hours for early access.”
“The main story is brief, leaving players wanting more.”
“While the main story is concise, additional side quests, social interactions, and exploration offer reasons to revisit.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Shinehill" is a blend of traditional farming simulation and engaging social mechanics, featuring intuitive farming, fishing, and cooking activities alongside a unique alien-themed narrative. While it offers a more straightforward experience compared to titles like Stardew Valley, it incorporates mini-games and exploration elements that enhance player engagement. However, some users noted that the combat mechanics are basic and lack depth.
“I particularly appreciate that the game is a little more involved than the average farm sim, with a focus on mini-games and the disguise mechanic.”
“"Shinehill" offers a mix of familiar farming activities with unique twists that keep the gameplay engaging.”
“Gameplay is much simpler than both Stardew Valley and Fields of Mistria, but does have similar elements of both.”
“The game offers straightforward farming and social mechanics with added depth through exploration and hidden narrative elements.”
“Basic combat mechanics: combat lacks depth and variety.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their charming pixel art style, featuring vibrant and colorful environments that evoke a cozy, nostalgic feel. Reviewers appreciate the beautifully crafted visuals that enhance the game's narrative and character engagement, making the overall aesthetic both visually appealing and immersive.
“The pixel art style immediately felt nostalgic, yet the game’s fresh narrative kept me invested in each character and storyline.”
“Delight in the beautifully crafted pixel art that brings the island and its inhabitants to life with a warm, cozy aesthetic.”
“Charming pixel art style with vibrant, colorful environments that evoke a cozy, nostalgic feel.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance even in its early access phase. Overall, players are enjoying a seamless experience on this platform.
“Runs great on Steam Deck even as an early access title.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“It also runs great on the Steam Deck; I'm really enjoying this so far!”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its funny and silly premise, with particularly strong dialogue from the main character that elicits genuine laughter and smiles from players.
“I'm going to start by saying I love the premise; it is funny and silly.”
“The dialogue, especially from the character you play as, is just hilarious.”
“I find myself smiling or laughing out loud at some of the lines.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly with only minor bugs reported, and offers a stable experience across various platforms, including the Steam Deck. Even in early access, it provides a solid performance and a decent amount of content, though some activities may feel repetitive.
“The game runs smoothly with minor bugs reported; overall, it provides a stable experience with good performance on various platforms, including the Steam Deck.”
“Despite being in very early access, the game runs smoothly and offers quite a few activities, even if they may be a bit repetitive.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game's replayability is high, with various choices and outcomes encouraging multiple playthroughs. The presence of different character paths and unlockable content adds to the overall replay value, making each session feel fresh and engaging.
