Moonglow Bay is an indie game set to come out in just a few short days, and it's not one that fans of the hit farming sim Stardew Valley will want to miss. Though it doesn't exactly fall into the farming genre, it's the same style that cozy gamers who often play Animal Crossing: New Horizons and the indies Spiritfarer and Cozy Grove tend to enjoy.
Players assume the role of a character whose partner has passed on—though, at the beginning of the game, this spouse, who can be male, female, or even nonbinary, will teach the PC basic fishing skills. Later on, their daughter River will come to visit and give a few more pointers, helping her grieving parent move on. Because the pair had originally moved to Moonglow Bay to follow the spouse's dreams, the PC stays to fulfill them, but along the way falls in love with the comforting town and its many residents.
Moonglow Bay is More than Just a Fishing Game
Fishing in Stardew Valley is actually not all that similar to the activity in Moonglow Bay, but that's probably a good thing. Stardew's fishing mechanic is not well-received across the board, even though many players do enjoy it. It can be pretty difficult, especially when catching the Legendary Fish, but otherwise, it might grow a bit monotonous to some, and it's hard to imagine an entire game designed around that specific mechanic and the way it was implemented.
Moonglow Bay, though it is marketed as a fishing simulator, is far more than just that. It's just a small part of a surprisingly narrative-driven story. Moonglow Bay, like Stardew Valley, is all about community. The town has lost a lot of economic value because of some myths and legends, so its townsfolk aren't doing too well financially. The mayor is attempting to close up Town Hall, and Moonglow Bay no longer has a reputation as a thriving seafood harbor town. The player character sees this and decides to do what they can to lift people's spirits.
They do this in a number of ways that make up Moonglow Bay's gameplay. Just as their spouse taught them, the player can take their boat out and explore the harbor and its surrounding waters, so there's a considerable amount of light nautical gameplay involved. And with multiple rods, lures, and baits to tackle the ocean's variety of sea creatures, the mini-game is more in-depth than most games with a fishing mechanic. And players can donate their fishy friends to the local aquarium, similar to Animal Crossing: New Horizons' museum.
While exploring, they'll come across the legends that have been terrorizing the town, stopping most folks from getting in the water, effectively hurting the town's economy. But the player character isn't afraid to tackle the beasts head-on. Hinted at in Moonglow Bay's trailer, these strange creatures may have stronger ties to the game's narrative than one might think.
Finally, cooking and selling are also equally as important in Moonglow Bay, which will likely excite many farming sim and Stardew Valley fans. Cooking is an in-depth process that includes chopping, boiling, washing, baking, and frying, and skill makes a difference in the dish's final quality. Along with fish, dishes can then be sold to the locals for profit. However, some townsfolk will request certain dishes and can grow their relationship with the player once gifted the food. Players can also help rehabilitate the town with their thriving seafood business after improving morale.
All around, Moonglow Bay is a wholesome experience with a touching community. While it's not extremely similar to Stardew Valley in its core gameplay, those who enjoy relaxing life and social sims won't want to miss Moonglow Bay.
Moonglow Bay releases for PC and Xbox on October 26.
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