New game Little Witch in the Woods combines the crafting and wholesome small-town life of Stardew Valley with the magic of Harry Potter. Over the years, the popular farming simulation game Stardew Valley has inspired many other titles, but few have included any magic as part of the gameplay. Releasing in alpha soon, Little Witch in the Woods is sure to please many fans of both series.
First released in 2016, Stardew Valley quickly gained fans through its unique gameplay combination that borrows from both life and farming simulation titles. In the game, players have inherited their grandfather's farm, and are tasked with rebuilding his land while earning a living selling produce and animal goods. Resources such as plants, ore, and fish can be collected all over the town of Stardew Valley, which players can use to create things like machines, tools, and cooked dishes. While working on their farming business, players can befriend the townsfolk and even marry some candidates living in Stardew Valley.
Little Witch in the Woods, a new game from developer SUNNY SIDE UP, bears many similarities to Stardew Valley with a magical new angle. A preview of the game's early access release was posted on the SUNNY SIDE UP YouTube channel, detailing many of the witchy activities featured in the game as protagonist Ellie goes about her daily life as a witch's apprentice. She can be seen collecting materials, riding a broom, brewing potions, casting spells, helping townspeople, and more. While no release date for a final version of the game has been announced, an early access version of Little Witch in the Woods will be available for download on the game's Steam page beginning May 17.
This adorable new game is bound to pique the interest of many cozy-game fans, particularly those who are already veterans of Stardew Valley. The visual style of the game is especially appealing, with the cute pixel-art style similar to Stardew Valley's giving the whole game a very wholesome feeling to it. Many cozy games involve copious amounts of chores - albeit fun ones - which Little Witch in the Woods appears to offer in spades, giving players plenty to do around town. It's not clear yet how deep interpersonal relationships will be able to go with folks around town, but it is confirmed that the popular social mechanic of raising relationships through gifting with be included in gameplay.
Little Witch in the Woods gives a new fantasy slant to the popular simulation genre, with magic and potions for the most part replacing regular tools. The game seems to have strayed even farther from realistic farming simulation mechanics than the only somewhat-realistic Stardew Valley, which could very well be for the better. While Stardew Valley will undoubtedly always remain one of the most critically-acclaimed simulation games of all time, most fans of the genre are always eager to experience something new, and Little Witch in the Woods looks like it will fit the bill for many players.
Source: Little Witch in the Wood/Steam, SUNNY SIDE UP/Youtube