Review: Farlands

Farlands brings the farming simulator formula to another planet with charm and plenty of great ideas.

It is almost impossible to start Farlands without thinking about Stardew Valley. In my case, the coincidence was even greater, as I was actually playing Stardew Valley for another review when I began my space farming adventure. The opening hours make those inspirations very clear. The farm layout, energy management, resource gathering, and even parts of the interface immediately bring ConcernedApe's classic to mind, occasionally feeling like a playful nod to the formula that made it so successful. Fortunately, that first impression begins to change as the campaign progresses.

Rather than simply copying a familiar structure, Farlands uses it as the foundation for building its own identity. Replacing a small countryside village with an entire solar system completely changes the feeling of exploration. You inherit an abandoned planet that must be restored while traveling to other worlds in search of resources, meeting characters scattered across space, and slowly uncovering what caused this once-thriving system to fall into ruin. This setting gives the game personality from the very beginning, making it feel like much more than just "Stardew Valley in space."

GAMEPLAY

The core gameplay follows a formula that fans of the genre will immediately recognize. Each day is divided between tending crops, mining, fishing, crafting equipment, organizing your property, and carefully managing your stamina before night falls.

The biggest twist comes from expanding that daily routine across multiple planets. Instead of limiting progression to a single farm, Farlands constantly encourages players to travel throughout the solar system. Every planet introduces exclusive resources, unique biomes, new characters, and materials required to unlock better equipment. This makes exploration feel far more meaningful than it usually does in traditional farming simulators.

Another enjoyable aspect is the constant sense of progression. Better tools grant access to previously unreachable areas, rare resources unlock more efficient buildings, and even your spaceship evolves as the story advances. This steady progression keeps the gameplay engaging throughout most of the adventure.

That said, not every system offers the same level of depth. Some activities will inevitably feel very familiar to players who have already invested dozens of hours in games like Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons. Combat, for instance, mainly serves as a complement to exploration and is unlikely to become the game's biggest highlight.

One detail that genuinely stood out to me was the attention given to small animations scattered throughout the experience. Whenever your character collapses from exhaustion, a tiny robot appears to carry you back to bed. It's a simple but genuinely funny sequence that gives the world extra personality while adding some charm to the otherwise repetitive daily routine.

VISUALS AND SOUND

Visually, Farlands impresses by modernizing an art style that many players instantly associate with Stardew Valley.

While it remains faithful to pixel art, the level of detail is noticeably higher. The protagonist features a much more defined face, expressive facial animations, and smoother movements during everyday activities. These improvements become particularly noticeable during conversations and scripted events throughout the campaign.

The artistic direction also makes excellent use of its sci-fi setting. Every planet features its own visual identity, from vegetation to architecture, creating varied environments that constantly encourage exploration.

The animations deserve special mention as well. Small details scattered throughout the gameplay help make the world feel more alive, whether you're mining, interacting with NPCs, or watching humorous moments like the little robot carrying your unconscious character home after an exhausting day.

The soundtrack complements the relaxing atmosphere perfectly. Soft melodies accompany life on the farm, while subtle musical variations appear as you discover new locations, creating a pleasant ambiance for long gameplay sessions.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Farlands features a fairly extensive achievement list designed to encourage players to experience nearly every system the game has to offer. Story progression naturally unlocks many achievements, from purchasing your planet and repairing your ship to completing the campaign and fully restoring the Ark.

Completionists, however, will find a much greater challenge ahead. Reaching 100% requires fully upgrading both your house and spaceship, building every type of barn, growing every vegetable, cooking every recipe, unlocking every crafting expansion, visiting every planet, and mastering nearly every activity available, including fishing, mining, farming, exploration, woodcutting, stone gathering, and insect collecting.

Relationships also play an important role in the achievement list. Players must build friendships with the game's romance candidates, reach the highest relationship levels, get married, and eventually maximize every available relationship, making social interactions an essential part of full completion.

Overall, the achievement list demands a significant time investment without relying too heavily on artificial difficulty. Instead, it encourages players to experience everything Farlands has to offer, making the journey toward 100% feel like a natural extension of the adventure for those who enjoy exploring every mechanic before putting the game down.

TRAILER OFFICIAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGhvLMyg758

FINAL THOUGHTS

Farlands makes its inspirations clear from the very beginning, but fortunately it doesn't become trapped by them. Its combination of farming, space exploration, and progression across multiple planets offers a refreshing spin on a well-established formula.

Some mechanics may still feel overly familiar, especially during the opening hours, but the charming presentation, attention to detail, memorable animations, and strong visual identity allow the game to stand on its own.

If you're looking for a relaxing farming simulator packed with content, rewarding exploration, and an uncommon science-fiction setting, Farlands is well worth your attention. It may not completely reinvent the genre, but it introduces enough original ideas to make restoring this forgotten solar system an enjoyable and worthwhile adventure.

SCORE: 8.0/10

 Review by Gamertag: Scoulz