The farming sim genre has been a crowded category lately, with bothStory of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive TownandHarvest Moon: One Worldcoming up next month andSakuna: Of Rice and Ruinhaving released at the end of last year, not to mention the many farming sims that have hadgreat success on Kickstarter recently, such as the upcomingOva MagicaandCoral Island, easily surpassing several funding milestones.
But withCoral Island,Ova Magica, and eventheStory of Seasonsfranchisethat 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. ButSakuna: Of Rice and Ruinchanges it up and offers a unique experience that isn’t just more of the sameHarvest Moon-inspired story.
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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 originalStory of Seasonsgames, originally namedHarvest Moon. The earlyStory of Seasonsgames were the most successful, which inspiredEric Barone to createStardew Valley, hoping to replicate the feeling that oldStory of Seasonstitles gave players.
SinceStardew Valley,a number of other indie farming sims have cropped up, such asOoblets,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 whatmakesSakuna: Of Rice and Ruinso special.
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What Makes Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Different From The Rest
Firstly,Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruinis more than just a farming sim; it shares half itsgameplay with 2D platforming, where Sakuna must vanquish demons while searching for humans. But as far as farming goes,Sakunais 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 ofSakuna: Of Rice and Ruinwith a real purpose rather than being a somewhat optional task.
Andunlike 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 Ruinis available now for the Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4.
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