SunnySide

About

SunnySide is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy and romance themes. It was developed by Aftabi Games and was released on June 14, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"SunnySide is a single-player Role Playing game that offers a spectacular story and exceptional gameplay set in a Japanese countryside post town. Create your homestead, build relationships with locals, and express yourself through farming, customization, and self-expression. With 113 crops, 27 characters, and hundreds of recipes, SunnySide provides a dense and highly emotional atmosphere, although it can be grindy, lacking in optimization, and buggy."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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72%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,050 reviews

graphics75 positive mentions

grinding679 negative mentions

Charming art style and beautiful graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
Innovative gameplay mechanics, such as using a hose for watering crops and a smartphone for various tasks.
Engaging character interactions and a unique relationship system that encourages players to build friendships and romances.

Numerous bugs and performance issues, including frame rate drops and crashes, making the game feel unpolished.
Lack of clear tutorials and guidance on gameplay mechanics, leading to confusion for new players.
Limited character customization options and a lack of marriage or family-building features, which may disappoint some players.

grinding
681 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of "Sunnyside" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the innovative and modern farming mechanics, they also note that the game can feel tedious and overly complex, requiring significant time investment for progression. Players highlight that while the farming experience is engaging, it often lacks the quality-of-life improvements seen in other farming sims, making some tasks feel like a chore rather than a rewarding experience.
- “It also just feels ridiculous how much work you have to put into grinding for materials just to make something.”
- “It makes this 'progression' incredibly tedious, especially for something that is pretty much your only way to move forward in the game.”
- “The polish issues coupled with the tediousness of going back and forth across the town, impatiently waiting for my character to slowly get on and off of her bike, just turn me off from playing it further.”
optimization
356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
75%
20%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems. While recent patches have improved performance for some, the consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization work to reach a playable state. Despite these challenges, players express hope for future updates and acknowledge the developers' commitment to addressing these issues.
- “The performance still needs some polishing, but the recent updates have made it more manageable.”
- “Yes, optimization needs improvement, but dev response has been fast to let us know this is something they are working on.”
- “While the game does still have a fair bit of frame rate drops, the recent optimization patch helped tremendously, and the game runs much smoother now.”
- “And it's a damn shame because after playing for as long as I have, I can say that this game would be one of my top favorite farming/life sims ever if it weren't for the absolutely dreadful performance, which is no doubt because the developers don't know how to make a game of this scope and size work.”
- “For the love of god, fix the optimization of the game... can't get past 5 minutes in the game without it crashing and freezing.”
- “This game is in desperate need of optimization, but I can see it has lots of potential and I can tell the devs are passionate about it, so I'm sure they'll start fixing bugs ASAP.”
graphics
321 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming art style and beautiful Japanese-inspired aesthetics, reminiscent of anime and Studio Ghibli. However, many players report significant performance issues, including lag, graphical glitches, and a lack of polish in certain areas, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals have potential, they require further optimization and refinement to fully realize their appeal.
- “From the moment you step into Sunnyside, the game's stunning visuals and serene landscapes draw you in.”
- “The art style is great, the little town is beautiful to look at, and all the details put into this game, both big and small, are what make it great.”
- “The vibrant, anime-inspired visuals create a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere that fans of the genre will find utterly charming.”
- “The graphics need a lot more polish, but the underlying aesthetic they are going for is headed in the right direction.”
- “I wanted to love this so bad, but I hate it; the visuals are stiff and unpolished, really glitchy to play.”
- “Despite praising the art style, I ran into numerous issues, such as long loading times for items, things looking really low quality compared to the trailers we saw, and plenty more visual issues.”
gameplay
300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
68%
5%
The gameplay of this farming and life simulation game is praised for its depth and variety, featuring mechanics like farming, cooking, and character interactions that evoke a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley. However, many players report significant issues with bugs, poorly explained mechanics, and tedious systems that detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the game has great potential, it requires substantial quality of life improvements and optimization before it can be fully recommended. Despite these challenges, the charming art style and engaging setting keep players invested, with hopes for future updates to enhance gameplay.
- “The gameplay is absurdly in-depth.”
- “The gameplay is exactly what I was hoping it would be, and I feel like the dev team delivered.”
- “Its beautiful setting, engaging gameplay, rich customization, and deep character interactions create a captivating experience that draws players in.”
- “I really wanted to like this game but I am having issues understanding the gameplay of it even with tutorials' help and getting materials/resources.”
- “Mechanically, a lot of the systems in this game are tedious and there needs to be some heavy-duty quality of life improvements before I can safely recommend this to anyone.”
- “There is a high jank factor, with poorly explained mechanics, bugged broken features and things straight up missing, such as a way to sell/remove animals.”
story
233 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
3%
The story in the game is described as charming and engaging, with a mix of intriguing quests and character interactions that enhance the overall experience. However, many players noted that the narrative can feel thin or generic at times, lacking depth and meaningful choices, which detracts from the sense of personal investment in the story. Additionally, technical issues and bugs have hindered the storytelling experience, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- “Despite some technical stability issues, Sunnyside shines with its innovative gameplay, rich customization options, and heartfelt storytelling.”
- “As you help Sparky retrieve their lost memories and complete their mission, you'll engage in cozy card-based battles and explore hidden caves. This storyline provides an additional layer of intrigue and adventure, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The story is engaging and the buildings and homes you can build are nicely made.”
- “It feels like whoever wrote it only gave you their desired options and not others that would make you feel like this is your story and your adventure.”
- “The story feels thin, and the character interactions didn’t engage me as much as I’d hoped.”
- “They said the story was supposed to be the big draw, but I found myself having to turn my brain off when the characters were talking to just smile and nod.”
music
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, relaxing, and cozy vibe, often drawing comparisons to the soundtracks of the Persona series. Players appreciate the variety of tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, whether during farming, exploring, or engaging in battles, although some have noted issues with abrupt transitions between songs. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere.
- “The catchy music and soundscape really adds to the cozy relaxing game, enhancing the experience and allowing you to unwind and enjoy your time.”
- “The music is phenomenal and reminded me of what I enjoyed about Nier Automata's soundtrack.”
- “Peddling down the lane with the groovy soundtrack to go to the corner store, coming back home to my cute Japanese house to plant some stuff, getting invited out for noodles in the city... it's lovely.”
- “The music does not fade in or out, it just abruptly stops and skips tracks.”
- “Just a quick one, there is a real lack of sound in this game, when it's there it's great and adds to the atmosphere but most of the time it feels like 'let's constantly play music and hope the player doesn't notice that there is next to no sound design.'”
- “The music was a bit off and didn't really fit very well.. I would've much rather had the sound of wind, birds and a mellow in the background, but the music was overpowering and didn't really fit on theme with the game.”
stability
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a frustrating experience for many players, with issues ranging from minor visual glitches to significant performance problems that can hinder gameplay. While some users find enjoyment despite these issues, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and should have been released in early access. However, there is optimism regarding the developers' responsiveness and commitment to addressing these problems in future updates.
- “Everything looks and runs great.”
- “My experience has been mostly bug free, completely crash free, and has run passably well despite how demanding the game is graphically.”
- “I'm not gonna lie and say this game isn't buggy, it for sure is, but for all the bugs, I really didn't have any (so far) that interfered with me playing the game.”
- “I can't even play the game, it's so buggy and laggy and then it won't save and continue to the next day, just a never-ending loading screen.”
- “This game has a lot of potential with its story arc, modernized farming mechanic, and beautiful views, but right now this game is way too buggy to even be playable.”
- “Very poor performance, crashes and freezes.”
humor
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky animations, particularly the ragdoll physics during bike crashes, which players find consistently hilarious. Many reviews highlight the comedic value of the game's bugs and glitches, with instances of characters getting stuck in amusing positions and the lighthearted writing style reminiscent of Persona's banter. Overall, the game embraces its "indie jank," offering a fun and lighthearted experience for those who appreciate its comedic elements, despite some players noting that the humor may not resonate with everyone.
- “The ragdoll physics when you crash your bike are pretty hilarious; sometimes I can't stop crashing it, but it's always funny.”
- “I think it's hilarious that I park my bike in the middle of the road and an NPC gets stuck in a constant 'run over' animation.”
- “This game is cute and adorable while also being hilarious and fun as hell if you're into these kinds of things.”
atmosphere
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
36%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, inviting, and beautifully rendered Japanese countryside, enhanced by vibrant visuals and a nostalgic aesthetic. Players appreciate the relaxing vibe, immersive interactions, and charming details that create a sense of exploration and community. However, some critiques mention a lack of sound design, which can detract from the overall experience despite the appealing ambiance.
- “The Japanese countryside is rendered with loving detail, creating a peaceful and inviting atmosphere.”
- “However, you can really feel the love put into the game by the devs. This is very clearly a passion product and it has such a cozy and unique atmosphere that I just have to recommend it to people who are into this kind of vibe and fans of the genre.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is incredibly pretty, and I cannot get enough of the rainy weather days; they are my jam.”
- “The atmosphere and farming are very relaxing while adding some newer elements that keep the game fresh.”
- “The vibrant, anime-inspired visuals create a cozy, nostalgic atmosphere that fans of the genre will find utterly charming.”
emotional
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find "Sunnyside" to be an emotionally resonant experience, highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and the love evident in its design. Despite some technical issues, the game evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth, reminiscent of idyllic countryside life, and many express a desire for deeper character relationships, such as marriage, to enhance the emotional connection. Overall, it is praised as a wholesome and charming farming adventure that leaves a lasting impression.
- “Despite some technical stability issues, Sunnyside shines with its innovative gameplay, rich customization options, and heartfelt storytelling.”
- “The amount of love and research that has gone into all the little pieces that make this game so amazing is so heartwarming to see.”
- “If you're looking for a modern and heartfelt farming adventure, Sunnyside is definitely worth checking out.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
37%
13%
Character development in the game is highlighted by a diverse and well-designed cast, contributing to an engaging experience reminiscent of the "Persona" series. While the character designs and the Japanese setting are praised, some players feel that certain elements hinder their overall enjoyment and recommendation of the game.
- “Lots of great character designs and a huge cast.”
- “I love the concept and the character design.”
- “I liked the character designs, the setting being in Japan, and the fact that they added a water hose instead of a watering can.”
- “I love the concept and the character design, but there are some things keeping me from being able to enjoy it or recommend it right now.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users indicate that the game possesses significant replay value, even in the absence of certain features. This suggests that the core gameplay and experiences are engaging enough to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “But will still have replay value without it.”
- “Talk about replayability!”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers generally perceive the monetization strategy as thoughtful and player-focused, indicating that the developers prioritize the game's quality over merely generating revenue.