Everdream Valley is a farming simulation game developed by Mooneaters and published by VARSAV Game Studios, set to be released in 2023. This cozy farming adventure allows players to rebuild their grandparents' farm and grow crops during the day, and experience various dreams that let players embody different farm animals and complete unique challenges at other times.

In an interview with Game Rant, the CEO of Mooneaters and lead game designer of Everdream Valley Marek Maruszczak discussed various aspects of the game, including its quirky characters. Maruszczak emphasized the fact that players will be able to meet a host of characters to assist them with quests and provide them with special rewards throughout the game.

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Everdream Valley's Gameplay and Characters Emerged From Family

Everdream Valley Merchant

According to Maruszczak, the inspiration for Everdream Valley came from the development team's fond memories of spending holidays in the countryside with their extended families. With this in mind, they set out to create a unique farming sim that would capture the adventure and magic of those experiences, while also emphasizing the role of conscious dreams and animals in the gameplay. This unique approach sets Everdream Valley apart from other farming sims such as Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon. As Maruszczak explained,

“These were amazing experiences that certainly influenced the kind of people we are, how we perceive nature, and how we recharge our batteries. We wanted to create something that recaptures those days but really dial up the emphasis on adventure and magic.”

Maruszczak describes Everdream Valley as a farming sim taking place during the summer holidays, where the player must complete chores around their grandparent's farm, but the main objective is to discover the source of vivid, magical dreams. Along the way, players can complete quests such as renewing an old fruit orchard, healing sick animals, and providing entertainment for goats. And of course, the family and various characters of Everdream Valley are there to help with the farm and these dreams.

The Characters of Everdream Valley

Everdream Valley grandpa
  • The Grandfather
  • The Grandmother
  • The Merchant
  • Various villagers and animals

The grandfather, grandmother, and merchant are the most significant characters on Everdream Valley's farm. Maruszczak explained that, from the very start of the game, the grandfather assigns the player various duties related to animal care and building construction, while the grandmother imparts her knowledge of sewing, cow milking, and plant care. Maruszczak explained that the player’s efficiency is “closely linked” to what activities the player can accomplish on the farm.

“They are helped throughout the process by their grandparents, who teach them how to build new facilities, but also work and give them the items they collect. Over time, the player acquires blueprints for new buildables, seedlings of new plants, and the option of bringing more new animals to the farm.”

The game also features a merchant who assigns tasks to the player, such as acquiring new products and animals. The merchant also has personal interests that can be leveraged to lower prices in the shop. Additionally, as players progress through the game's storyline and complete tasks, they will learn more about the other human inhabitants of the valley and the various animals. In fact, players will have the opportunity to communicate with and assist certain animals throughout their journey.

The gameplay design of Everdream Valley has been carefully considered with a focus on the animals' point of view, with the studio taking into account several important factors. One of the primary goals was to use the same locations that the player can visit during the day wherever possible. The game world is highly interactive, allowing the player to modify the environment by planting trees, constructing fences, and clearing areas. This affects gameplay as well, with the ease of chasing away wolves from sheep pens dependent on how the player constructs their farm. Similarly, mice can be more easily hidden from cats if the farm has plenty of tall grass and hiding places.

Maruszczak also stated that the game's designers also wanted the outcome of each game to have an impact on the player's experience during the day. For example, if the player fails to protect their sheep, they may find that they have been kidnapped from their pens. However, none of the animals in Everdream Valley can be permanently injured or killed.

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Possibly Expanding the Farm of Everdream Valley

Everdream Valley grandma

According to Maruszczak, the studio of the upcoming farming sim Everdream Valley has thoroughly evaluated the possibility of adding online multiplayer as a feature in the future. However, due to its complexity and the need to complete the game within a reasonable timeframe, the team decided to postpone its implementation and focus on other aspects of the game first. While online multiplayer is a highly desirable feature, one that could bring even more character into the game, the team determined that it would be best to put it on hold until after the game's release.

Maruszczak also discussed whether Everdream Valley will be available on Xbox. As of right now, Maruszczak said the game isn’t available on Xbox, but the team is actively pursuing its release there.

“Hope should never be abandoned. After all, the Polish national team is still playing soccer right? I think it's more of a matter of time, but if anything, you can write directly to Phil Spencer that you want to chase geese on his console as well.”

Everdream Valley will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch on May 30, 2023.

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