Few genres are quite as surprising as the simulation genre, as you truly never know what is coming next. It’s also genre that can be exciting and dull in equal measure. The latest sim to join the pack will definitely have players divided as German PRODUKTIVKELLER Studios bring us Garden Simulator.
And this may not hit you as a thrill-a-minute title, but if you have green thumbs or just looking to chill, it’s the perfect tonic.
100% Natural Gameloop
If you have played a sim like this before you’ll have a good idea of what awaits you in Garden Simulator. You are given a patch of land, make plans on what you want to do with it, then nurture the plants. Then you harvest them or admire them.
It’s a gameloop built on an age-old cycle that’s supported humanity for thousands of years. And as it turns out, this is extremely addictive and rewarding when translated into the virtual world.
Roots of a Story
There is an underlying story to the game, a backstory as to why you have become a gardener. It’s nothing too heavy and it’s your standard city-slicker burned out tale. One where you needed to get away before you had a nervous breakdown.
It’s a loose framework, but it’s a thread that will resonate with us all on some level. From there you’re off and basically tasked with firstly cleaning up the overgrown garden of a house in the countryside and then turning it into a real show winner.
Sapling Mode
The game doesn’t just throw you in the deep end with a huge plot, but instead unlocks different areas within the garden as you complete challenges and earn garden coins. With each new area unlock you’ll get to grow new and different things, which keeps it all feeling fresh.
Challenges often come in the form of locals or your neighbours asking you to grow certain flowers for a wedding say, or veg for a recipe – they are basic tasks in a way, but do give you mini goals to focus on.
Branching Paths
How you attack the garden is up to you, if you want a dream show garden full of flower, go for it. If you want a produce-filled plot, just do it. As you play you’ll earn garden coins and XP. These see you levelling up and the better you get, the cooler and better kit you get access too.
You start with a small watering can but soon will have full fat hydroponics and these upgrades make the core task of garden maintenance a lot easier and quicker. And the more you play, the more you will learn what plants yield the most coin and XP (meaning you can cheat a little to power levels…sort of).
Floral Display
Garden Simulator is visually very detailed in places, but not so much in others. Whilte there is a style to the graphics, it mostly aims to be functional. The game runs very smoothly, though, admittedly, it’s not doing much heavy lifting.
Garden Simulator‘s audio as pleasant and peaceful matching the mood and vibe of the game nicely.
In Bloom
Some of the hit detection in Garden Simulator had me scratching my head, especially when cutting the grass. I could be mile away from a plant, but still run over it. Digging with the spade can also be hit and miss.
Garden Simulator, like most sims, will not be for everyone and that’s understandable. But if you are looking for a chilled and easy going title that lets you take it at your own pace, it’s perfect.