The Witch of Fern Island
- February 27, 2024
- Enjoy Studio S.A.
- 14h median play time
Get on SteamIn "The Witch of Fern Island" , you take on the role of a witch living in a mysterious mansion on Fern Island. Your goal is to sell potions, talismans, and handicrafts to the inhabitants of Barrow End to earn money. Explore the vast, open world of the island, discover various biomes, and uncover mysteries while becoming a part of the local community.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a charming and cozy atmosphere with beautiful graphics and engaging gameplay.
- There is a lot of content to explore, including various quests, crafting options, and seasonal changes.
- The developers are responsive to player feedback and actively work on updates and improvements.
- The game lacks clear direction and guidance for quests, making it frustrating to progress.
- There are frequent bugs and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress.
- The inventory management system is cumbersome, with limited space and no way to easily track items.
- story367 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and filled with potential, featuring elements of magical realism and a charming setting. However, players frequently criticize its execution, noting a lack of clear direction, poor quest organization, and frustrating bugs that hinder progress. While some appreciate the engaging characters and the depth of the narrative, many feel that the overall flow is disjointed and that the translation issues detract from the experience.
“The story of the game is interesting, and I would have loved a bit more of it, with more lore about the world.”
“The main storyline is well written and thought-provoking - we had a very well thought out discussion in the discord about what was the 'good' versus the 'bad' final choice.”
“Nevertheless, the game's captivating storyline and unique integration of witchcraft into farming mechanics inject a breath of fresh air into the genre.”
“The story is boring and not engaging at all.”
“For starters, the story is sparse and hard to follow.”
“There is a story but it's disjointed and hard to follow because of the quest system.”
- grinding196 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players enjoying the slow-paced, cozy nature of the farming and crafting mechanics, while others find it tedious and overly complicated. Many appreciate the variety of activities available, which can mitigate the grind, but frustrations arise from low energy levels and the time-consuming nature of farming tasks. Overall, the game is seen as a blend of enjoyable grinding for those who appreciate the genre, but it may not appeal to everyone due to its slow progression and repetitive elements.
“The world isn't that engaging to fill the time between quests, and your energy is extremely low, making you basically have to go to sleep before 10 AM when grinding for basic materials.”
“You have to grind really hard in order to progress, which is not suited for a farming sim.”
“The farming system is unnecessarily complicated and unrewarding.”
- graphics152 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and detailed environments, particularly in winter settings. However, numerous players report performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and graphical glitches, especially on lower-end systems or specific platforms like the Steam Deck. While some find the visuals charming and fitting for a cozy game, others express frustration over the lack of adjustable settings and overall graphical quality, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
“The graphics are beautiful and it is absolutely everything I want in a cozy game (as someone who loved Stardew, Song of the Evertree, Wylde Flowers, Coral Island).”
“The graphics in the game are beautiful and meticulously detailed.”
“I absolutely adore the artwork and the vibrant colors.”
“The graphics look terrible, and honestly, are quite straining on the eyes.”
“The graphic quality is pretty terrible, to be honest - like you watch items render in real time from a fuzzy mess to somewhat discernible but it never becomes crisp.”
“The devs decided to preset two graphic profiles with no ability to adjust any settings - so when your game stutters every ten seconds, blurs, etc., you can’t attempt to fix it.”
- gameplay119 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its clunky mechanics, lack of polish, and frustrating save system that hampers progress. While some appreciate the charming graphics and the blend of farming and exploration elements, others find the overall experience repetitive and slow, often comparing it unfavorably to more polished titles in the genre. Despite its potential and interesting mechanics, the game suffers from significant issues that detract from an enjoyable gameplay experience.
“The cute graphics and fun gameplay make it a pleasure to play, and the mysteries of the island keep me curious and engaged.”
“The witch of Fern Island stands as a beacon amidst the sea of farming sims, daring players to delve deeper into its enchanting blend of farming and survival mechanics.”
“While some may lament the absence of additional content updates, the depth of gameplay ensures that even after 15 hours, you've barely scratched the surface of its potential.”
“Sadly, it's short, but since it is slowed down by the gameplay, it takes some time to reach the endings.”
“The farming mechanic is very clunky and unfriendly compared to a game like Coral Island (which makes farming a breeze).”
“I can't recommend this game in its current state; the game mechanics are clunky, character animations are subpar/nonexistent, and it runs like absolute garbage on my PC that is well above the recommended specs.”
- stability38 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay, such as freezing when minimizing the game and issues with graphics settings. While some users have experienced smooth performance, the overall consensus indicates that the game feels unpolished and suffers from frequent technical problems. Despite these issues, there is a sense of optimism among players about potential improvements in future updates.
“This game is gorgeous and looks great, and runs fairly fast on my system.”
“It is practically bug-free right now, with no glitches and zero major errors.”
“I'm still in the beginning of the game and had to lower my graphics just to handle the lag, and then the glitches started.”
“But it crashes and/or freezes my computer just going back to the main menu--and my computer is more than able to handle the requirements of this game.”
“Would have loved this game but it is buggy and crashes way too often.”
- optimization30 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and poor graphics across various platforms, particularly on the Steam Deck. Despite initial praise for its optimization features, many players feel that the game is currently unplayable and lacks necessary improvements, overshadowing its potential. Overall, the consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
“I was told, back when I bought the game in March (six months ago), that there would be more optimization for the deck.”
“I'll let this cook for optimization and return to it one day.”
“[i]Edit after release:[/i] When the game was initially started in early access, I wrote a detailed positive review, praising its optimization and support for DLSS and FSR technologies.”
“Don't buy it; it's a waste of money and time for an unoptimized and poorly designed game, which is a shame because there's potential for a good game there, just hidden under layers of confusion as many features are not intuitive even for veterans of the genre.”
“This game is terribly, and I mean terribly, optimized for Steam Deck (which is primarily where I play games, so it's unfortunate).”
“If you care to read other reviews and discussions on the game's performance on Deck, you would see that everyone is in agreement with how awful it looks, yet nothing has been done about it.”
- music30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and enchanting qualities, contributing significantly to the cozy atmosphere that players love. While some users noted issues with music cutting in and out during gameplay and the absence of voice acting, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack enhances the experience, making it a standout feature. Many players find the music beautifully complements the game's visuals and themes, creating a magical and immersive environment.
“The cozy and magical atmosphere is truly enchanting, and the music is just lovely.”
“Beautiful graphics, an engaging storyline, and stunning music make this game a must-play for anyone who decides to give it a try.”
“The game's music is also very well done, adding to the atmosphere of mystery and magic.”
“There are long scenes with zero music or sound effects, and you have to stumble your way through learning the mechanics with minimal guidance.”
“Music cuts off and on during gameplay (pretty sure it isn’t supposed to do that).”
“Beatiful views, cozy music (sooo chillout that put me to sleep sometimes :p ) and a lot to do... but some lack of goals, even with some basic quests (and they take forever) to complete... it has some sort of Stardew vibe but with a lot less content (by now).”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charm, enchanting visuals, and dynamic weather effects, which contribute to a cozy and magical experience. Players appreciate the well-composed music that enhances the sense of mystery and immersion. However, some express a desire for improvements in future updates to further enrich the atmospheric experience.
“I love the atmospheric surroundings, seasons, and music.”
“The cozy and magical atmosphere is truly enchanting, and the music is just lovely.”
“The game's music is also very well done, adding to the atmosphere of mystery and magic.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely perceived as ineffective, with many players finding the townspeople off-putting and the intended comedic remarks falling flat or being difficult to understand. Dialogues that aim for humor often come off as insolent rather than amusing, leading to a lack of engagement with the game's comedic elements.
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players describe the emotional experience of the game as wholesome and cozy, emphasizing a relaxed pace that encourages exploration. However, the presence of inaccessible areas marked as "not available in early access" detracts from the immersion, leading some to feel as though they are engaging with a demo rather than a fully realized game.
“A wholesome and cozy experience where one does not have to rush.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviewers emphasize the importance of incorporating procedural and repetitive elements to enhance replayability, suggesting that these features can significantly contribute to a game's longevity and player engagement.
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
“After completing the game once, there's little incentive to go back; the experience feels too repetitive.”
“The procedural elements are not enough to keep the gameplay fresh on subsequent playthroughs.”
