An upcoming game on Steam called Welcome to Elderfield takes the farming sim elements and social mechanics of Stardew Valley and adds a distinct horror aesthetic with a much darker tone and visuals to set it apart. Welcome to Elderfield has yet to receive an official release date, but the game currently has an alpha demo that fans can download from the game’s official Steam store page.
“Cozy” games are a huge part of the gaming world, with titles like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley proving hugely popular. With how big the genre has become, new titles continue to pop up offering unique new elements and settings that serve to help them stand out from a swath of competitors.
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One such game is Welcome to Elderfield, a horror-themed life and farming simulator with a much darker tone and visual style seemingly drawing inspiration from the works of iconic horror manga artist Junji Ito. Taking on a top-down perspective just like Stardew Valley, the game tasks players with managing a farm and making relationships with locals while investigating spooky local mysteries and battling ancient gods and other horror creatures.
Welcome To Elderfield Combines Eldritch Horror With Cozy RPG Vibes
The game differs from its clear inspirations with its combat, though, which takes on a first-person turn-based format akin to Dragon Quest or other classic RPGs, letting players upgrade their equipment to take on various enemies and bosses. According to the Steam description, there are multiple ways for the player to meet their demise from supernatural entities like ghosts and gods and even some threats that can eliminate them in their sleep.
Crafting mechanics also give Welcome to Elderfield some distinct survival mechanics as players will be able to cook food from an array of recipes to boost their stamina and create items to upgrade their stats and abilities. Side quests from the game’s numerous NPCs that exist around town are also available, giving players plenty of content to engage with as they receive requests from townsfolk to gather specific resources, battle monsters, or explore abandoned locations.
Without an official release date listed for the game, fans of the genre will have to wait until Welcome to Elderfield’s solo developer, Chris Cote, updates the listing with an official launch window.