The Ranch of Rivershine
- May 12, 2023
- Cozy Bee Games
- 26h median play time
Get on Steam"The Ranch of Rivershine" is a relaxing farming and life simulation game. Players manage a ranch, grow crops, care for animals, and build relationships with townsfolk. With stunning visuals and a calming soundtrack, it's a great escape to rural life.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and adorable graphics that create a cozy atmosphere.
- Engaging gameplay with a focus on horse care, training, and breeding.
- Active developer who listens to community feedback and regularly updates the game.
- Controls can feel clunky and may lead to frustration, especially during races.
- The game can become repetitive due to limited competition types and grinding for resources.
- Character customization options are currently limited, making NPCs feel generic.
- story360 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and somewhat cliché, revolving around classic horse game themes like competitions and community interactions. While some players find the narrative engaging and appreciate the cozy atmosphere, many express a desire for a more in-depth storyline and character development. Overall, the game offers a relaxed pace with optional story progression, but it currently lacks substantial lore and meaningful quests, leaving players wanting more depth and variety in the narrative.
“I have long since been waiting for a horse game with the simplicity yet captivating atmosphere and story that this one has.”
“The story line is fun; it tells the tale of previous 'champions' in Rivershine, and you, the player, are the new champion!”
“The story so far is very nice and helps the player get settled on their farm in the beginning; you learn how to do all important things and the flow of quests also seems natural and not forced in any way.”
“Storywise, there is also not a lot going on, and so far I don't feel like I'm developing a bond with the characters.”
“There is a very basic storyline to follow, but the lore of the game is bare-bones.”
“I'd love to see more added to the story; it feels rather empty now.”
- grinding300 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is widely regarded as very grindy and repetitive, with players often feeling the need to engage in extensive training, competitions, and farming to progress. While some enjoy the cozy, laid-back nature of the grind, others find it tedious, especially given the limited variety in daily activities. Overall, the grind can be satisfying for those who appreciate a slower-paced gaming experience, particularly if they are fans of horses and farming.
“It takes time and effort to get far, but isn't too grindy or annoying; it takes time for a good reason.”
“As for gameplay, the game is very grindy and repetitive with nothing to really look forward to day to day.”
“Biggest complaints are how grindy it is and how hard it makes you work for something like a blanket that costs 6000 in-game currency.”
“It gets directly tedious to constantly run around - very fun in the start, but over time it just becomes quite annoying.”
- gameplay268 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this early access horse game is generally praised for its responsive riding and jumping mechanics, engaging training and breeding systems, and a relaxing yet challenging gameplay loop. Players appreciate the variety of mechanics, including wild horse herding and customization options, although some find the progression slow and certain mechanics overly complex or grindy. Overall, the game offers a charming experience with room for improvement, particularly in balancing and refining existing features.
“The gameplay is simple, but there are challenges that drive you to breed, buy, or catch better and better horses.”
“The gameplay loop is easy to get a hang of with the ability to pick and choose your favorite ways to play the game.”
“The horse training mechanics are really fun and engaging.”
“The core focus of the gameplay, which is horse breeding, is sound, but you'll go through the game wishing one or another thing was included.”
“It tells you exactly what to do and where to go but doesn’t explain extremely frustrating gameplay mechanics fast enough to stop you from not being able to complete the 4th mission in the game because your horse already ran out of energy, and the only way to gain that energy back is skipping the rest of the day.”
“The final con is really minor as well but bears mentioning: at first, and to the point of the game I'm at currently at 6 hours of gameplay, you'll only have access to wild horses.”
- graphics220 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cozy art style, which combines simplicity with vibrant colors to create a warm atmosphere. Many players appreciate the cute and appealing visuals, particularly the horse models and various environments, although some note that the graphics can feel a bit clunky or cartoonish at times. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's relaxing and inviting experience, making it enjoyable for players, especially those who love horse-themed games.
“Beautiful graphics, stunning horses, and amazingly thought out gameplay.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, realistic enough to be visually stunning, but cartoony enough so as not to aim so high as 'RDR2 realism' because let's face it, no other game can beat RDR2 horses.”
“With its beautiful graphics, intuitive gameplay, and extensive customization options, it's a must-play for horse lovers everywhere.”
“The graphics are cute, but at this point in time, their clunkiness and cartoonishness are the only complaint that I have.”
“Game doesn't have the best graphics or controls to be honest, it's quite tricky at the beginning, but overall its price isn't that much, and the wholesome content makes up for it.”
“This is similar for walking and traveling over uneven terrain, the graphics are still clunky.”
- music88 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, cozy, and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the beautiful graphics and environments. Players appreciate the distinct soundtracks for different times of day and the soothing nature of the music, which often makes them feel less stressed. However, some users find it frustrating that they have to manually turn off the music each time they start the game, despite enjoying it.
“The music is very sweet, and I don't find myself needing to listen to my own music while playing because it complements the game so well.”
“The music will make your soul sing, and the game will only get better in time as it's still in early access.”
“I love exploring the town, seeing the chickens, meeting the villagers, taking care of my horse, and just looking at the beautiful environments while listening to the gorgeous soundtrack!”
“I have to turn the music off in the settings every single time I open the game, which is frustrating, not because the music is bad but because I watch something while I play and I don't like having to turn the music off every single time.”
“There are a few minor glitches (I got stuck and had to force-close the game only once in 57 hours, and occasionally the music will abruptly stop) but very much worth the $30 USD.”
“The gameplay is quite different compared to other horse games and don't even get me started on the soundtrack.”
- stability48 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is characterized by a mix of minor glitches and bugs, which are generally not game-breaking. While some players report occasional issues, such as getting stuck or visual glitches, many appreciate the developers' commitment to regular updates and fixes. Most users find the experience enjoyable and worth the investment, despite the presence of some bugs typical of early access games.
“A very well balanced and almost bug-free experience.”
“Fairly bug-free (from my experience) and addictive.”
“Even in early access, this game is not very buggy!”
“There's an insane amount of all sorts of bugs and glitches.”
“Breeding overall is very buggy as well - you can end up with your horses not breeding the chosen partner, foals getting stuck with the wrong parent, yearlings not being able to assign so they end up standing like statues with no way to ride them, and so on.”
“Kinda buggy when putting horses to stable or pasture; using the board to send them back and forth doesn't usually work.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cozy, cute, and nostalgic qualities, enhanced by a simple yet charming art style. Players appreciate the relaxing environments and the warm, inviting feel that makes engaging with the game enjoyable, particularly for fans of horses and cute animals. Overall, the combination of pleasant graphics and a chill vibe contributes to a captivating and immersive experience.
“It's unbearably cute and chill; the art style is simple, but it gives that nostalgic feeling, and I love the bright, warm atmosphere.”
“Graphics have a somewhat simplified and unique look, but it all comes together to create a pleasant, cozy-like atmosphere.”
“I really enjoy the horse models and the character artwork, and it just creates this cozy atmosphere that I look forward to opening up every morning.”
“I really enjoy the horse models and the character artwork and it just creates this cozy atmosphere that I look forward to opening up every morning.”
“It's unbearably cute and chill, the art style is simple, but it gives that nostalgic feeling and I love the bright, warm atmosphere.”
“Even feeding them a tasty carrot or handful of hay could do something for the atmosphere.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Ranch of Rivershine" is overwhelmingly positive, with players praising its wholesome and cozy atmosphere. The game's art style and charming interactions, particularly with the horses, create a calming and fuzzy experience that resonates deeply with fans of cozy games. Despite some technical shortcomings, the overall emotional impact and relaxing vibe make it a beloved choice for players seeking a heartwarming gaming experience.
“The entirety of this game is just so wholesome, nice and fuzzy, and I guess that's the point of cozy games.”
“My horses neighing to me as I enter the barn is the most wholesome thing ever t_t”
“Another thing I greatly enjoy is the world itself--it's cute, it's cozy, the horses are pretty enough, and the game itself radiates a wholesome vibe.”
- monetization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, which allows for a more relaxed gameplay experience. However, some users express concerns about the prevalence of ads and the game's overall pricing, suggesting it may be overpriced despite the lack of in-game purchases. Overall, while players enjoy the freedom from microtransactions, they desire more content to enhance their experience.
“I love this aspect of the game because I'm never feeling pressured to rush forward into the fray, whether it's topping a leaderboard with the best times, breeding beautiful performance horses worth a fortune, or buying the latest gear through microtransactions.”
“The breeding is very straightforward but does not require microtransactions like Howrse and Rival Stars to progress.”
“There are no microtransactions and while I appreciate that, I would love more content for this game.”
“Rival Stars has a bit more options with play, but is riddled with ads.”
“All I hope is never to see any microtransactions within the game.”
“- a horsey game that doesn't have in-game purchases to be so money hungry (although the game is overpriced in my opinion)”
- optimization10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the smooth performance and vast content, others report issues such as poor user experience, bad font choices, and strange animations. Despite these drawbacks, many users feel that the game allows for a relaxed playstyle without pressure, contributing to their enjoyment.
“I love this aspect of the game because I'm never feeling pressured to rush forward into the fray, whether it’s topping a leaderboard with the best times, breeding beautiful performance horses worth a fortune, or buying the latest gear through microtransactions.”
“I see myself putting a lot more hours since despite being in early access the performance is pretty good and the content is vast.”
“My daughter is having trouble finding things; the user experience is poor, the font is the worst ever, and the performance is lacking.”
“The game needs better optimization to allow players to unlock all areas and access everything available, regardless of their performance in horse trials.”
“The user experience is frustrating due to poor performance and difficult navigation.”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features a mix of interesting and unique designs that are visually appealing, but some players find the characters themselves to be somewhat bland and lacking depth. Overall, while the aesthetics are praised, the personalities may not resonate as strongly with all players.
“It has interesting character designs and personalities.”
“From the story to the character designs, everything is just amazing.”
“The character designs are unique and add depth to the overall experience.”
“Unique character designs, but bland characters.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in the game's quirky inconsistencies, such as a horse-centric town with no actual horse owners, leading to amusing observations about the local economy. Additionally, the presence of "funny bugs" adds to the comedic experience, as they often result in mildly inconvenient yet entertaining situations. Overall, the humor stems from the game's absurdities and unexpected scenarios.
“It's really funny to me that this town is super horse-based; every single shop is highly specialized towards horses, and yet you seem to be the only horse owner in the area. Of course the town's economy is failing—why are you only selling horse tack in a town with no horses? Nobody even visiting the town is riding a horse; they're just NPC set decoration!”
“To me, these have been what I call funny bugs.”
“Most of them are just funny or mildly inconvenient.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers excellent replayability, bolstered by a supportive community and a developer who actively engages with players and provides opportunities to experience new updates.
“It's got some great replayability; the community is so nice, and the developer really listens. I love that she gives us a chance to try out new updates.”
