Everbloom is a whimsical farming sim with adorable animal villagers

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In tough times, I find solace by watching adorable animal videos and engaging in laid-back games such as Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Coral Island. This is the appeal that Everbloom, an upcoming farming simulation game developed by Torbie, holds for me. In Everbloom, players can cultivate crops, mine ore, and interact as an adorable animal character in a town populated by more such characters. I was fortunate enough to test a pre-alpha demo of the game at the Day of the Devs event during GDC 2025, and although it was evidently still under development, I could already imagine myself becoming engrossed for hours in Everbloom’s town of Brambleton.

A different kind of farm animal

In Everbloom, you’ll find that it generally follows the conventions of contemporary farming simulations. The game allows you to create a character who can resemble various animals such as a fox, cat, dog, or wolf, initially encountered in the demo. This character is welcomed by Mayor Herbert, a bear, to Brambleton and promptly receives ownership of Shady Glade Farm from him. Mayor Herbert laments the farm’s neglected condition and expresses his longing for Heirloom crops, which are crucial for the Grand Heirloom Festival. However, considering your character’s apparent knack for cultivating uncommon Heirloom produce like honeycorn, cornberries, and Diablo peppers, Mayor Herbert is optimistic that the upcoming festival will run smoothly.

Afterward, the gameplay closely mirrors that of Stardew Valley. As the new farmer, you’ll find yourself adhering to a routine similar to this: tending to the soil with a hoe, sowing seeds, and watering them regularly; removing rocks, logs, and weeds from your land. Each task consumes stamina, which can be replenished by consuming wild fruits or meals prepared at a campfire.

Initially, your basic tools like the axe and watering can are rather rudimentary. To improve them, you’ll need to find specific types of ore in the mines – sometimes these mines will reveal themselves after breaking a rock on your farm. Once upgraded, these tools will become more effective at clearing obstacles such as hardwood and boulders.

By trading your farm produce, you can acquire currency that’s useful in the local town store, where fellow villagers gather for a friendly chat or to exchange thoughtful gifts that could strengthen your bond with them. The town hall also offers unique rewards for players who accomplish specific tasks, such as donating gold, supplying diverse fish species, and transporting goods derived from livestock farming. Additionally, the town’s arboretum is seeking assistance in cataloging all the local flora and fauna. In essence, these areas serve a role similar to the community center in Stardew Valley and the museum in Animal Crossing.

Specialty crops

Everbloom stands out from other farming games due to its unique control over plant growth. This is crucial when it comes to cultivating Heirloom produce. For example, placing a stick of butter among corn crops results in popcorn plants, while burning corn produces Diablo corn. Sowing pepper seeds at noon makes bell peppers. Similarly, the food livestock consume affects their products; a cow fed large amounts of chocolate will naturally produce chocolate milk. The game’s whimsical quirks are abundant, and I find them delightful.

Furthermore, this magical farming simulation game allows for multiplayer gaming with up to four participants online. The developer mentioned that it will function much like Minecraft servers, enabling players to join and depart from one another’s worlds at their convenience. To promote trade, some worlds may feature distinct wildlife and plant life unique to their ecosystems, such as the Wooly Cow which is more likely to appear in The Highlands or an animal with a particular trait that players desire for crossbreeding. If friends prefer not to exchange items directly, they can also send them through each other’s mailboxes instead.

The game titled Everbloom is anticipated to debut on PC through Steam; however, a definitive launch date has yet to be announced. Scheduled tests for

This sneak peek is derived from an early pre-release demo presented by the publisher at the Day of the Devs: San Francisco Edition event, which took place during GDC 2025.

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2025-03-28 19:28