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.
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.
- Grindy gameplay that can become repetitive over time.
- Limited character customization options and NPC interactions.
- Some bugs and glitches, particularly with animations and controls.
- story180 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, but it offers a cozy atmosphere that many players find enjoyable. While some players appreciate the relaxed pacing and the ability to progress at their own speed, others express a desire for a more in-depth narrative and character development. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus, with many players hoping for future updates to expand the storyline and quests.
“I have long since been waiting for a horse game with the simplicity yet captivating atmosphere and story that this one has.”
“The storyline is paced perfectly in that you can't blast through it too quickly, but you're also not sat waiting for the next layer of progression.”
“The story line is fun; it tells the tale of previous 'champions' in Rivershine, and you, the player, are the new champion!”
“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.”
- grinding150 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is widely described as grindy and repetitive, with many players noting that it requires significant time investment for tasks like horse training, competitions, and farming. While some find the grind enjoyable and relaxing, others feel it can become tedious, especially with limited variety in daily activities. Overall, the grind is seen as a core aspect of the gameplay, appealing primarily to those who appreciate a cozy, immersive experience centered around horse care and farming.
“It takes time and effort to get far, but isn't too grindy or annoying; it takes time for a good reason.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“The game is very grindy and repetitive with nothing to really look forward to day to day.”
“There's a lot of grinding involved so I promise you won't run out of stuff to do.”
“It can get somewhat grindy, but I find that relaxing and engaging as well, so it's basically exactly what I'm looking for.”
- gameplay134 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by responsive riding and jumping mechanics, engaging horse training and breeding systems, and a relaxing yet challenging progression loop. While the game offers a wealth of features and customization options, some players note that it can feel grindy and repetitive at times, particularly in its early access state. Overall, the mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, making it a solid choice for horse game enthusiasts, though there is room for further polish and additional content.
“The horse training mechanics are really fun and engaging.”
“The gameplay loop is simple but relaxing.”
“The potential stat and mechanic is about the only stressful thing in this game, as it introduces the fear of missing out if you don't use all of it in a meaningful way.”
“If you want to have this many mechanics in play, you gotta give me controller support and quality of life options, devs.”
“The gameplay is simple, but there are challenges that drive you to breed, buy, or catch better and better horses.”
- graphics110 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 somewhat cartoonish or clunky at times. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's inviting and relaxing experience, making it a delightful choice for horse lovers.
“It's unbearably cute and chill, the art style is simple, but it gives that nostalgic feeling and I love the bright, warm atmosphere.”
“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.”
“The art style is charming and smooth.”
“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.”
- music44 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, cozy, and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience with gentle soundscapes that complement the beautiful graphics and gameplay. Players appreciate the variety in soundtracks for different times of day and environments, making exploration and activities like horse care and racing even more enjoyable. However, some users find it frustrating that they have to manually turn off the music each time they start the game, despite acknowledging its pleasantness.
“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.”
“The first time you enter your ranch with that gorgeous music playing feels truly special.”
“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.”
“Sound: Yes, cozy gamers love an excellent, relaxing soundtrack but not a repetitive one that can be changed or adjusted.”
- stability24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting only minor glitches and bugs that do not significantly impact gameplay. While some users have experienced occasional issues, such as getting stuck or visual glitches, the developers are proactive in addressing these problems through regular updates. Many players find the experience enjoyable and worth the investment despite the minor stability concerns.
“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.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, nostalgic charm, characterized by cute graphics and a warm, inviting environment. Players appreciate the relaxing vibe that enhances the experience of caring for horses and exploring the game world, making it enjoyable for fans of peaceful, animal-themed gameplay. Overall, the combination of simple yet appealing art style and engaging activities contributes to a delightful and immersive atmosphere.
“I have long since been waiting for a horse game with the simplicity yet captivating atmosphere and story that this one has.”
“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; 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.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Ranch of Rivershine" is characterized by its overwhelmingly wholesome and cozy atmosphere, with players praising the cute art style and the heartwarming interactions with horses. The game evokes feelings of relaxation and comfort, making it a delightful experience for those who enjoy nurturing and caring for animals in a scenic environment. Despite some technical shortcomings, the emotional warmth and charm of the game resonate strongly with players.
“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.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % 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 feel the game is overpriced and express a desire for more content, while others note the presence of ads in certain titles. Overall, the lack of aggressive monetization strategies is a positive highlight for many players.
“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)”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game receives mixed reviews. While some players appreciate the smooth performance and vast content available even in early access, others report issues such as poor user experience, bad font choices, and strange animations that detract from immersion.
“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 into the game 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.”
“I hope the game will allow me to unlock all the areas and access everything available despite my poor performance in horse trials.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features interesting and unique designs that enhance the overall experience, though some players find the characters themselves to be somewhat bland. Overall, the combination of appealing aesthetics and engaging personalities contributes positively to the game's narrative.
“It has interesting character designs and personalities.”
“From the story to the character designs, everything is just amazing.”
“Cute character designs.”
“Unique character designs, but the characters themselves feel bland.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its absurdities, such as a horse-centric town with no actual horse owners, highlighting the irony of its failing economy. Additionally, players find amusement in the presence of "funny bugs" that, while mildly inconvenient, add to the overall comedic experience.
“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.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability, bolstered by a supportive community and a developer who actively engages with players by providing opportunities to test 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.”
