Stream Next Fest is currently underway, and if you still haven’t played some of the hundreds of demos available, I’m here to help. However, while I’m smitten with System Shock as the next one, I think what we can all use right now is a break. And hey, what better way to relax than to spend a weekend refueling with some cute and cozy games?
For all the fans of Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, Studio Ghibli movies, and any other media with cute art and good vibes, I’ve compiled a list of seven demos that I think you will like. All of these demos will be available until February 13, so be sure to play if one (or all of them) stands out to you. Plus, games on Steam’s favorites list help developers in many ways, so make sure to add any and all that interest you. The bonus is that you will also be the first to be notified when they are released and will eventually go on sale.
Lakeburg Heritage
If you’re a huge fan of management sims but always find yourself thinking they even better With some kisses, boy, I have an offer for you. Lakeburg Legacy is a medieval village management simulation that allows the player to simultaneously be a matchmaker for their town. To build your village and farm resources – all of which are found in your typical town management simulation – you must successfully marry your townspeople to nearby settlers. or other villagers and encourage them to have children. The flirting process requires you to pay attention to the likes and dislikes of couples, and to make sure they go through three successful dates with your potential partner. After all, someone who loves kittens and is anti-war can be hard-pressed to beat someone who enjoys public executions. Additionally, a larger village can lead to greater drama, including dramatic divorces and interactions, where you must carefully decide the fate of your citizens. The Lakeburg Legacy is the spiritual successor to The Sims Medieval I’ve been waiting for, and it’s awesome.
Our Lives: Now and Forever
Before finding this game listed on my recommended feed, I had never heard of the Our Lives series–turns out, it was recommended to me for a reason. justifiable. In my short time playing Now and Forever, I fell in love with the visual novel characters, engaging dialogue, autumnal vibe, and sweet illustrations. All in all, the demo was amazing and made me yearn to play more and experience the tender story I was weaving. Which brings me to another thing this game does so well: It gives players more options than I’ve ever seen another game offer. While some people may find the experience a bit wordy and the focus on their characters/relationships a bit overwhelming, I appreciate all the attention given to making the game whole. presentable, customizable, and deeply personal. This is a really special game, like one I’ve never played before, and I can’t wait for its full release.
Fabledom
Similar to Lakeburg Legacy, Fabeldom is a management sim that also injects a bit of romance into its core gameplay. While its town management aspect is a bit more grounded, it’s also extremely complementary, allowing you to settle on a procedurally generated map, buying nearby properties that contain useful resources useful and play a game similar to more strategy-based games, like Age of Empires. However, it also has a bit of humor, as a narrator presents the game to you through a storybook and occasionally interjects cheeky comments. Where the romance comes in is part of the game where you have to choose whether you’re a “prince” or a “princess” looking for a “prince”, “princess” or “either”. And while this didn’t lead to anything in the demo–I hit the demo’s population cap before any kind of romantic interaction happened–it looks like Fabledom has a lot more to offer. is eye-catching and I’m excited to experience it then down the line.
Mika and the Sorcerer Mountain
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a Ghibli-style adventure game in that it has lovely, lively art and feel. much like Kiki’s Delivery Service is gamified. In it, you play as a young witch named Mika who traverses a lush island on her broom, delivering packages to the townspeople below. As you make more deliveries, you’ll get closer and closer to the island’s inhabitants, uncovering mysteries, and growing from a novice to a full-fledged wizard. Even in the demo, I was struck by the size and liveliness of the town, as well as the character art. This game has a lot of potential and is definitely a must-try game.
Mailing time
If you’re looking for a sweet platformer with some serious cottage core vibes, look no further than Mail Time. In Mail Time, you have the opportunity to create your own adorable postman to deliver mail to the creatures of the forest. While the background was a bit rough in the demo – although I doubt it would have been better to have a controller than my mouse and keyboard – it was still a lot of fun climbing the mushrooms and gliding through the air. As you send mail (and complete the various quests that needy creatures force you into), you earn a scout badge that your mushroom-hat postman can proudly display. Bonus: This game is also one of the most accessible I’ve played, with plenty of options to suit different playstyles as well as no drop damage.
Mineko Night Market
Mineko’s Night Market has the main Animal Crossing vibes, but is wildly different from the popular Nintendo game and has its own vision and personality entirely – a remarkable feat. This whimsical game takes your character to a small Japanese-inspired town at the foot of Mount Fugu, where she must learn how to craft items to sell in the Night Market in order to earn money. However, this is only a small part of the game. You can also take quests and give items to the villagers – thus improving your relationship with them – take part in various mini-games and explore the land to get to the bottom of a mystery mystery. Oh, and if that’s not enough, yes much of cats in this game. Like, a lot. And you can feed them all.
tea
If Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is Kiki’s Delivery Service, then Spirittea is Spirited Away, and I apologize again for referring to a Ghibli movie, but please bear with me – it may apply Okay! In Spirittea, you play as a city-loving writer who moves to a village in the Japanese countryside. However, when you get there, you discover that some strange and supernatural events are taking place. After making yourself a cup of tea, a spirit comes to you and reveals that these things happen because the village bathhouse – which is a lavish paradise that spirits will bathe in – is completely messed up. , causing souls to become restless. Since you’re the only person in town who can see spirits, it’s your job to repair and run the bathhouse, managing every aspect of it, from cleaning towels to sitting spirits. in giant vats of water (see? Spirited Away!).
While doing this, you must also adapt to the town and use your “spiritual vision” to stop the more fearsome spirits. This is an extremely ambitious game that definitely needs more refinement and character customization, but what’s out there is very promising. With the aesthetic of Stardew Valley-meeting-Japan, I both think and hope it will be successful in the future.
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