New Steam Cozy Game Is Basically Zelda if Link Retired to Stardew Valley

It’s always a surprise when I come across a new game on Steam and, before I read much about it, I’ve downloaded it and pressed play, and it turned out to be something I didn’t quite expect. On the surface, Littlelands looks like The Legend of Zelda in its presentation and gameplay, especially the Link’s Awakening remake for the Nintendo Switch. Most of the marketing material shows a hero equipped with a sword and shield, running through a colorful world filled with chests to find, puzzles to solve, and plenty of enemies to strike down. However, at its core, Littelands isn’t just your run-of-the-mill Zelda-like adventure game. Rather, Littlelands explores what it might be like if Nintendo were to let Link retire to a cozy place like Stardew Valley, complete with the gameplay loop that made ConcernedApe’s farm life sim so popular in the first place.

That’s essentially the idea behind Littlelands, which lets players spend their time working on a farm and getting to know the locals without necessarily having to give up the adventure that makes Zelda so appealing in the first place. There’s still a world to explore whenever you feel like leaving the comforts of home behind, and I think that’s what makes the whole concept so interesting. With Littlelands headed for Steam Early Access on November 16, 2026, I decided to give its free demo a try and ended up spending just under an hour with it. That may not sound like much, but it was more than enough time for me to walk away impressed, especially considering the game is being developed by just two people, Rafael Martín and Kyle Creamer.

Littlelands Brings Zelda to Stardew Valley

Check Out Littlelands’ Demo on Steam

Now, before I get any further, let me clarify that although Littlelands is technically labeled “cozy,” that doesn’t necessarily mean players going into it can just skirt their way through the adventures they’ll be embarking on. In fact, the boss I tackled during the demo actually almost killed me because I underestimated its attack patterns, strength, speed, and health pool. Call me unskilled if you want, but I think there’s something to be said about Littlelands‘ cozy, almost childlike veneer being a decoy for combat encounters like that. It’s not a difficult game in the slightest, but it’s also not Animal Crossing—that’s all I’m trying to say.

But it’s clear that Martin and Creamer are Nintendo fans, and not just because Littlelands looks and plays like Zelda. That boss I just mentioned reminded me a lot of King Bob-omb from Super Mario 64, both in the way that he waddled across the arena and the fact that, if I got too close, he would pick me up and throw me. He was faster than King Bob-omb, though, and he would even roll across the arena trying to run me over, prompting me to get him to run into a wall, which would stun him briefly and leave him helpless on his back in the same way King Bob-omb was once you threw him. But more on the Nintendo side of Littlelands‘ inspirations, there was even a Pokemon joke thrown into the game that actually got a chuckle out of me.

As far as Littlelands‘ Zelda-likeness goes, the world itself is set up in a pretty similar way to classic Zelda games. There’s a village that serves as a sort of home base, but once you venture beyond it, you’ll find yourself wandering through forests with paths that lead to all sorts of places. There are chests to find that contain gems you can use to purchase items back in the village, but you can also find equipment, like a sword and shield, as long as you’re exploring everything the game gives you access to. But gear and gems aren’t the only valuables scattered throughout Littlelands‘ charming little world, as its cozy side starts showing itself out there as well, with plenty of plants and crafting materials to find as well.

And speaking of cozy, Littlelands eventually gives you a garden where you can plant any seeds you acquire, and from what I saw in the demo, you can even customize the look of it. Then there are the game’s NPCs, whom you can build relationships with by interacting with them or expressing an emote toward them. They can also be found out in the world, where they offer quests for Link—I mean, you—to complete, and their location changes as Littlelands‘ day-night cycle moves forward. For instance, one NPC had me looking for plants that he could then use to offer me new dyes for my character’s hair. Another NPC had me run into a cave to retrieve something they lost inside, and upon getting it for him, he gave me an escape ladder, which I could use to quickly escape dungeons and caves. I mean, that basically screams Zelda.

Littlelands Is Already One of My Biggest Steam Surprises of 2026

Considering how little I knew about Littlelands before I downloaded it, I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. Yet here I am, having spent just under an hour with its demo, with more quests still waiting for me and every intention of going back to finish them. In just under an hour, I had finished only three of the eight quests available in the demo. Plus, I wouldn’t mind hanging out in the world of Littlelands a bit longer anyway, and I’m sure there are secrets that I missed.

But what’s even more exciting is that Littlelands is only just getting started. It’s heading to Steam Early Access on November 16, 2026, which means Martín and Creamer will have plenty of opportunities to expand on what’s already there as development continues. I’m especially curious to see how much more they can add to the world, because even in the short time I spent exploring it, I could already see myself sinking quite a few hours into this game. At any rate, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Littlelands eventually becomes. Oh, and before I forget, I need to say, “Wow, what a charming narrator! So witty! So essential to the Littlelands experience!”

Systems

Released

June 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Rafael Martín, Kyle Creamer

Publisher(s)

Apogee Entertainment

Number of Players

1

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