The farming sim genre has been a crowded category lately, with both Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town and Harvest Moon: One World coming up next month and Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin having released at the end of last year, not to mention the many farming sims that have had great success on Kickstarter recently, such as the upcoming Ova Magica and Coral Island, easily surpassing several funding milestones.
But with Coral Island, Ova Magica, and even the Story of Seasons franchise that these farming simulators drew inspiration from, they amplify one major problem with the genre: they all tend to be various versions of the same experience. But Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin changes it up and offers a unique experience that isn't just more of the same Harvest Moon-inspired story.
The Farming Sim Formula
Most games in the farming sim genre tend to follow the same format: players are tasked with raising crops and livestock and selling the products for money while romancing a villager, eventually leading to raising a family on the farm. This trend started long with the original Story of Seasons games, originally named Harvest Moon. The early Story of Seasons games were the most successful, which inspired Eric Barone to create Stardew Valley, hoping to replicate the feeling that old Story of Seasons titles gave players.
Since Stardew Valley, a number of other indie farming sims have cropped up, such as Ooblets, Ova Magica, Kynseed, and so many more. Not all of them have this in common, but more often than not, these titles are the same mechanics—farming, raising livestock, romancing—but in the developer's preferred art style. Of course, each game has its own charm that sets it apart from the rest, and regardless, gamers in the farming sim community eat it up. But each time the same format is recycled into another game, the format grows redundant. This is what makes Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin so special.
What Makes Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Different From The Rest
Firstly, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is more than just a farming sim; it shares half its gameplay with 2D platforming, where Sakuna must vanquish demons while searching for humans. But as far as farming goes, Sakuna is less of a general farming simulator than it is a rice farming simulator. But even though Sakuna only needs to tend to one crop, the mechanics behind it are more in-depth than one would see in a regular farming game. For example, the player needs to water the rice to just the right amount by opening and closing a stream gate while also being mindful of how rainfall might affect the water levels. And after harvesting, much work needs to be done to prepare the rice for eating.
But farming directly ties into the platforming and the rest of the story, making it far more meaningful. The rice's quality correlates with Sakuna's base stats and can provide buffs during battle, offering an incentive to dedicate effort into doing the task well. Eating dinner at the end of the day and maintaining Sakuna's fullness level is essential to progressing. Here, the rice farming ties together the lore of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin with a real purpose rather than being a somewhat optional task.
And unlike any other farming sim, players assume the role of Sakuna rather than create their own character. Perhaps this is a matter of preference, but allowing players to explore a developed story through the eyes of a pre-written character gives them the chance to empathize and experience a real story alongside a simple simulation of life.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is available now for the Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4.