Whether it’s award wins, sales numbers, or user review scores, finding an indie game that’s more celebrated than Stardew Valley is a difficult task. Created by solo developer ConcernedApe, the game has reached millions of gamers due to its cozy mechanics, memorable characters, and consistent updates. While the game is a genuine classic, gamers have been playing it for over a decade, and many will naturally feel that they’ve done all there is to do within the title because of that. With spiritual successor Haunted Chocolatier still lacking a release window, this is where games like Stardew Valley come into play, with one of the latest being Pinecove Grove.
There’s no doubt that Stardew Valley was an influence on Pinecove Grove developer Quality Time Studio, as its art style, UI, character interactions, and farming mechanics all resemble that title. However, there’s a key difference between the two titles conceptually, and that’s what players are farming and why. In Pinecone Grove, they won’t be planting various crops to sell them for profit; instead, they’re building an ideal tree nursery to help restore the forest environment. This positive goal will define the entire game, from character dynamics to exploration to a peaceful, Pokemon Snap-like approach to wildlife.
Everything You Need to Know About Pinecone Grove
- BUILD and decorate your tree nursery with different species of trees, adding beauty to the forest.
- DISCOVER a wide range of animals, taking photos of them to uncover knowledge about each.
- EXPLORE a world full of interesting puzzles and secrets.
- MEET a cast of interesting characters with unique stories and tasks to help with.
“…a cozy farming RPG game with a twist: Instead of optimizing for output & profit, you’ll focus on rebuilding your tree nursery and positively changing the world around you by bringing nature back to life. You’ll also solve puzzles, meet quirky characters, and experience nice stories!”
Pinecone Grove’s Borrowed Stardew Mechanics Should Make it a Cozy Delight
A top-down pixel art style, hoeing, planting, and watering, character interactions, and exploration are all core concepts of Stardew Valley, and the same can be said for Pinecone Grove. While it’s true that the game’s positive message of caring for the environment as opposed to working for personal gain means players won’t be buying and selling piles of crops for profit, the act of running a tree farm is similar enough to the act of farming in Stardew Valley. A lot of the same day-to-day activities will take place, and when players need resources, they’ll either explore the world around them or interact with a cast of charming characters.
While romance is not mentioned as something present within Pinecone Grove, which could rule out an equivalent to Stardew Valley’s entertaining Heart Events, that doesn’t mean this indie title’s characters won’t be deep. Developer Quality Time Studio has promised that players will be able to assist their characters with individual tasks and quests pertaining to their jobs within the grove. Through these moments of help, as well as quiet discussions and hangouts, players will learn the backstories of each NPC, some of which will apparently be quite surprising.
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
When not interacting with their fellow forest dwellers, players will be able to customize their tree farm to their heart’s content. This includes crafting objects that can be used as exterior decorations (or interior items within the player home), finding and raising diverse tree seedlings across multiple life stages, and harvesting fruit to create larger groups of trees. The rarer the seeds, the flashier the fully grown plant will be, with players able to create some truly beautiful environments if they diversify their tree lineups.
Pinecone Grove’s Pokemon Snap-like Animal Hunting Should Keep Exploration Engaging
For players wanting to find more seeds to beautify their homes, venturing beyond the initial zone will be a must. Here, a lot of Pelican Town-like exploration elements will be present. Tree huggers will engage in some light combat with fantastical creatures like slimes, solve puzzles involving memorization, and be tasked with traversing mazes to progress. Butterflies will hint at further secrets, giving players plenty to discover. However, it’s the game’s approach to animals that really stands out, as with such a peaceful approach, hunting or capturing critters wouldn’t make any sense.
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In Pinecone Grove, players will essentially have a Pokedex of wildlife to fill, with entries unlocked by reacting quickly and photographing animals when they run across the screen. Just like in Pokemon Snap, quick reactions and photography skills will see players rewarded with information about the animal in question. Habitat, diets, and behaviors will all be recorded as details within the lexicon, but unlocking these tidbits will be easier said than done. Players will have to be properly stealthy, watching from a distance and memorizing habitat positioning to get the photo they’re looking for. With this bit of variety, plus all the cozy staples, Pinecone Grove will likely end up on the Steam wish lists of many gamers who enjoy relaxing experiences.