Summary
Stardew Valleyfans looking for some wild-west flavor are in luck, as indie studio Castle Pixel is working onCattle Country, a game that meldsStardew Valley’s retro, cozy aesthetic with the quaint Americana twang ofRed Dead Redemption.Cattle Country’s spin on theStardew Valleyformula shows a lot of promise, especially for those missing the quiet, contemplative moments of Rockstar’s western opus.
So-called cozy games didn’t start withStardew Valley, but the genre certainly exploded following the 2016 game’s release. AlthoughStardew Valleyhas received steady updates over the years, it has also inspired a staggering number of spiritual successors, which tweak its polished, addictive,Harvest Moon-inspired life sim mechanics in a number of ways, and to varying degrees of success. WithCattle Country,Castle Pixel is targeting a very specific mix of small-town life and classic Western nostalgia, making it an interesting prospect forStardew Valleyplayers.
How Cattle Country Couches Cozy Gameplay in a Western Setting
One look atCattle Countryis all it takes to see theStardew Valleyresemblance. The wild-west cozy game has all the hallmarks of aStardew-inspired title, including colorful pixel art, grid-based farming mechanics, and social simulation features based around small-town living.Cattle Country’s gameplay loop revolves around farming, engaging with villagers, exploring mines and other inhospitable areas, and crafting various goods. Indeed, if one weren’t overly familiar withStardew Valley, they could be mistaken for thinking thatCattle Countryis a wild-west-themed DLC or mod for the game.
Cattle Country’s greatest departure fromStardewis, naturally, its setting and premise. TheCattle Countryreveal trailer, which just so happens to feature Arthur Morgan voice actor Roger Clark, evokes feelings of quaint, yet exciting frontier life. The game leverages Western tropes like bull-riding, shootouts, and cattle driving, which promise to give the game a more rough around the edges feel than the wholesomeStardew Valley.
While Roger Clark narrates theCattle Countrytrailer, it’s not clear whether he will be in the actual game. Since these sorts of cozy games don’t usually have voice acting,Red Dead Redemption 2fans may want to temper their expectations.
As previously mentioned,Cattle Countrybears an uncanny resemblance toStardew Valley, which has the potential to work to its detriment. So many ofCattle Country’s core mechanics, from how farming and mining seem to work, to how players interact with and romance NPCs, appear to be copied right fromStardew Valley—the two games even have similar UI designs.Stardew Valleyhas arguably remained the most relevant cozy farming-centric game since its release, so trying to compete with it in such a direct way could be tricky.
This risk is exacerbated by the fact that the cozy,Stardew Valley-inspired farming genre is beyond floodedat this point. Games likeMy Time at Portia,Graveyard Keeper, andFae Farmall have their strengths, but when it feels like a new laid-back life sim is launching every other day, a newcomer to the genre needs to do a lot to stand out. What’s more is that these games are often designed to be played either indefinitely or for extremely long periods of time, making it tough for players to straddle multiple titles at once.
Having said all that,Cattle Countrydoes seem to be bringing a few new ideas to the table, like its shootouts and hunting activities, which are definitely a bit edgier than what’s on offer in most cozy titles. Hopefully,Cattle Countryleverages its unique premise to be competitive in theStardew Valley-like cozy game space.
Stardew Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
