The Witch of Fern Island

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 343 reviews
  • story
  • grinding
  • graphics
The Witch of Fern Island Game Cover
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In "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
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 343 reviews
story28 positive mentions
grinding100 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming and cozy atmosphere with beautiful graphics and a whimsical art style.
  • There is a vast open world to explore, filled with various quests, crafting options, and magical elements that keep gameplay engaging.
  • The developers are responsive to community feedback and regularly update the game, showing commitment to improving the player experience.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including frequent crashes and performance problems, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • There is a lack of clear direction and guidance for quests, making it difficult for players to know where to go or what to do next.
  • The inventory management system is cumbersome, with limited space and no way to easily sort or access items, leading to frustration.
  • story188 mentions

    The game's story is described as having potential with interesting themes and characters, but it suffers from poor execution, including a lack of clear direction and quest markers, which can lead to frustration. Players often find themselves stuck due to quests requiring items that are not available in the current season, and many have to rely on external resources like wikis to progress. While some appreciate the engaging narrative and magical elements, the overall flow and coherence of the story are hindered by bugs and unclear quest objectives.

    • “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.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, an engaging storyline, and stunning music make this game a must-play for anyone who decides to give it a try.”
    • “The story is boring and not engaging at all.”
    • “There is a story but it's disjointed and hard to follow because of the quest system.”
    • “The quests are dull and unmotivating, offering no incentive to continue playing.”
  • grinding100 mentions

    The reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the grinding aspect of the game. While some players appreciate the slow-paced, cozy nature of the gameplay and find enjoyment in the variety of tasks available, others criticize the excessive grind required for farming and resource gathering, which can feel tedious and frustrating. Overall, the game offers a blend of farming, crafting, and exploration, but the grind can detract from the experience for those seeking a more streamlined or engaging gameplay loop.

    • “Especially when I'm ready to end the day and save after grinding my soul out, and I need to start over the whole day... but what's more problematic is the gameplay itself.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics76 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful art style and detailed environments, particularly in winter settings. However, several players report significant 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.”
    • “The artwork is stunning, and the world-building is top-notch.”
    • “It wasn't just that it wasn't aesthetically pleasing, it was also making my game lag.”
    • “The graphics 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.”
    • “Honestly, I have not progressed further than the house from the beginning of the game because I have spent so much time trying to adjust my graphics and figure out where I've gone wrong because the devs are so persistent that this runs fine on the deck.”
  • gameplay60 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it clunky and frustrating due to poor mechanics, lack of polish, and an outdated feel reminiscent of early 2000s titles. While some appreciate the charming graphics and the integration of farming and magic mechanics, others criticize the repetitive nature, slow pacing, and inadequate guidance, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from significant issues that hinder enjoyment and progression.

    • “The cute graphics and fun gameplay make it a pleasure to play, and the mysteries of the island keep me curious and engaged.”
    • “It's got a lot of very interesting and cool mechanics that are well utilized.”
    • “Relaxing with good gameplay and interesting mechanics.”
    • “Especially when I'm ready to end the day and save after grinding my soul out, and I need to start over the whole day... but what's more problematic is the gameplay itself.”
    • “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.”
  • stability19 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including crashes and freezing. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay, others have noted that the game feels unpolished and suffers from frequent technical problems, particularly related to graphics settings and in-game mechanics. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a major concern, with ongoing issues that detract from the overall experience.

    • “This game is gorgeous, looks great, and runs fairly fast on my system.”
    • “It is practically bug-free right now, with no glitches and zero major errors.”
    • “Give me motion sickness and is very buggy!”
    • “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.”
  • optimization15 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. While some players initially noted potential and positive aspects of optimization, the consensus is that the game remains unoptimized and frustratingly flawed, detracting from the overall experience. Many reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that despite its potential, the game's current state makes it a poor investment.

    • “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.”
    • “I was told, back when I bought the game in March (six months ago), that there would be more optimization for the deck.”
    • “[Edit after release:] 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.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and enchanting qualities, contributing significantly to the cozy atmosphere that players enjoy. While some users noted issues with music cutting off 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 captivating environment that lingers in their thoughts even after playing.

    • “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).”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charm, enchanting surroundings, and dynamic weather effects, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful graphics and lovely music that contribute to a cozy and magical ambiance, although some express a desire for improvements in future updates to further enrich the atmosphere.

    • “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.”
  • humor3 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.

  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the game to provide a wholesome and cozy emotional experience, emphasizing a relaxed pace. However, the presence of inaccessible areas labeled as "not available in early access" detracts from the immersion, making some feel as though they are engaging with a demo rather than a fully realized world.

    • “A wholesome and cozy experience where one does not have to rush.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers emphasize the importance of incorporating procedural and repetitive elements to enhance replayability, suggesting that varied gameplay mechanics and dynamic content can encourage players to return to the game multiple times.

    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making each playthrough feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in; the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
    • “The procedural elements are poorly implemented, leading to a sense of déjà vu rather than fresh experiences with each run.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

14hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
12-45hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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