The Violet Archive needs your help!

Sightings of exotic plants and creatures near the town of Shimmerbrook have attracted a wave of new settlers. The Violet Archive was set up to record the development in the region, and is looking for researchers to aid its cause!

A game about research and discovery

Discover and record 90+ plants, creatures, and fish at various locations around Shimmerbrook, and contribute your findings to the Archive.

Forage for seeds, grow crops with different growth conditions

Observe wild plants and grow them as crops based on their requirements!

Tame and raise 30 unique creatures!

Tame creatures as part of research! Observe wild creatures, learn their diet, and tame them with their favourite food!
Raise creatures, meet their needs, and unlock their perks! Each creature has a unique ability: Chickens find you seeds, Sproutkittens grow seeds into sprouts instantly!
Collect Shimmers! These rare coloured variants give double the Produce!

Fishing - some common fish, but also unique fish requiring research!

Find Fish Parts and use different bait to hook various fish!

Dive deep into the Mines!

Mine ores and gems in the Mines.
Certain plants and creatures can be found only in the Mines!

Explore the puzzle caves to uncover the mystery behind Shimmerbrook

Complete puzzles to obtain Artifacts! Each puzzle you solve brings you one step closer to learning the truth behind the proliferation of flora and fauna in Shimmerbrook.

Cook, craft, build, and more!

Cook meals to gain buffs!
Craft and automate with sprinklers, auto-feeders, and more!

Meet the townsfolk!

Befriend townsfolk! From a druid whose family has lived for generations in the mountains, to a featherfolk whose first job is in this new town - many characters await in Shimmerbrook!
Schedule Hangout Events with them to learn more about their stories!
Romance any of the 10 romanceables and marry your favourite!

","background_raw","package_groups",[222],{"_12":223,"_224":225,"_238":239,"_240":212,"_30":212,"_241":125,"_242":243,"_244":245},"default","subs",[226],{"_227":91,"_228":229,"_230":71,"_231":125,"_232":212,"_233":81,"_234":235,"_236":237},"packageid","option_text","Research Story - 12,99€ 10,39€","is_free_license","percent_savings","option_description","can_get_free_license","percent_savings_text","-20% ","price_in_cents_with_discount",1039,"title","Buy Research Story","save_text","display_type","selection_text","Select a purchase option","is_recurring_subscription","false","price_overview",{"_248":237,"_249":250,"_251":252,"_253":254,"_255":256,"_257":258},"final","initial",1299,"currency","EUR","final_formatted","10,39€","discount_percent",20,"initial_formatted","12,99€","capsule_imagev5","https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1629830/0fa90214d8f9caafbb1f730427dc31f09e958043/capsule_184x69_alt_assets_0.jpg?t=1753141808","pc_requirements",{"_263":264},"minimum","Minimum:

OS *: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
Processor: 2 Ghz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti
Storage: 1 GB available space

","recommendations",{"_165":267},182,"mac_requirements",[],"short_description","Set out to discover and record plants and creatures for the Violet Archive. Grow crops, tame animals, and build the perfect farm! Forge friendships along the way as you begin your life as a researcher!","controller_support","full","linux_requirements",[],"content_descriptors",{"_278":279,"_280":-5},"ids",[],"notes","supported_languages","English, Simplified Chinese","detailed_description","

Marriage Candidates

About the Game

The Violet Archive needs your help!

A game about research and discovery

Discover and record 90+ plants, creatures, and fish at various locations around Shimmerbrook, and contribute your findings to the Archive.

Forage for seeds, grow crops with different growth conditions

Observe wild plants and grow them as crops based on their requirements!

Tame and raise 30 unique creatures!

Tame creatures as part of research! Observe wild creatures, learn their diet, and tame them with their favourite food!
Raise creatures, meet their needs, and unlock their perks! Each creature has a unique ability: Chickens find you seeds, Sproutkittens grow seeds into sprouts instantly!
Collect Shimmers! These rare coloured variants give double the Produce!

Fishing - some common fish, but also unique fish requiring research!

Find Fish Parts and use different bait to hook various fish!

Dive deep into the Mines!

Mine ores and gems in the Mines.
Certain plants and creatures can be found only in the Mines!

Explore the puzzle caves to uncover the mystery behind Shimmerbrook

Complete puzzles to obtain Artifacts! Each puzzle you solve brings you one step closer to learning the truth behind the proliferation of flora and fauna in Shimmerbrook.

Cook, craft, build, and more!

Cook meals to gain buffs!
Craft and automate with sprinklers, auto-feeders, and more!

Meet the townsfolk!

Befriend townsfolk! From a druid whose family has lived for generations in the mountains, to a featherfolk whose first job is in this new town - many characters await in Shimmerbrook!
Schedule Hangout Events with them to learn more about their stories!
Romance any of the 10 romanceables and marry your favourite!

","latest_result",{"_287":288,"_375":376,"_477":478,"_485":486,"_487":488},"emotionsSummary",[289,299,304,309,314,319,322,327,332,337,341,344,348,352,356,359,362,366,369,372],{"_290":291,"_292":293,"_294":293,"_295":296,"_297":298},"point","Satisfaction","weight",0.30131004366812225,"importance","clusterSize",69,"explanation","Players feel satisfied by the game's rewarding progression system, particularly when working towards and achieving goals. The unique research and conservation mechanics, coupled with enjoyable exploration and a well-made fishing mini-game, contribute significantly to this feeling. The game's overall quality, including its art style, character design, and smooth performance, further enhances player satisfaction.",{"_290":300,"_292":301,"_294":301,"_295":302,"_297":303},"Appreciation",0.11353711790393013,26,"Players appreciate the developers' consistent updates, responsiveness to feedback, and overall care for the game. The unique research system, quality-of-life features like flexible saving, and the diverse cast of characters are also highly valued. The game's fresh take on the farming simulation genre is a significant source of appreciation.",{"_290":305,"_292":306,"_294":306,"_295":307,"_297":308},"Frustration",0.09170305676855896,21,"Frustration stems from various technical and design issues, including numerous bugs, incomplete translations, and frequent game crashes. Players also express frustration with high energy consumption, slow crafting, tedious management tasks, and unintuitive controls. These issues, along with small text size and a perceived slow progression, detract from the overall experience.",{"_290":310,"_292":311,"_294":311,"_295":312,"_297":313},"Enjoyment",0.06550218340611354,15,"Players enjoy the game's unique blend of farm, ranch, and life-sim elements, particularly the engaging research and puzzle aspects. The charming art style, interesting characters, and the overall cozy vibe contribute to a fun and engaging gameplay loop. The game's concept of researching fantasy animals and plants is a key source of enjoyment.",{"_290":315,"_292":316,"_294":316,"_295":317,"_297":318},"Disappointment",0.0611353711790393,14,"Disappointment arises from repetitive NPC dialogue, a lackluster social system, and an unrewarding gameplay loop. Players also express disappointment with a perceived lack of content, an abrupt ending, and past or current issues with controller support. The game feeling empty and hard to concentrate on the story also contributes to this emotion.",{"_290":320,"_292":316,"_294":316,"_295":317,"_297":321},"Love","Players express love for the game's overall concept, especially its researcher-themed farming twist. The cozy, relaxed atmosphere, freedom to play at one's own pace, and adorable creatures are highly cherished. The engaging research mechanics, well-designed characters, and appealing art style solidify this strong positive emotion.",{"_290":323,"_292":324,"_294":324,"_295":325,"_297":326},"Excitement",0.05240174672489083,12,"Excitement is generated by the game's cute character customization, its fresh take on farming simulations, and the anticipation of future content and updates. The charming art style, potential for building a perfect farm, and the sense of accomplishment also contribute to player excitement. The overall fun experience and the game's potential for growth are key drivers.",{"_290":328,"_292":329,"_294":329,"_295":330,"_297":331},"Delight",0.048034934497816595,11,"Players are delighted by the game's diverse crops and animals across all seasons, especially the cute animals that follow them. The charming art style, adorable features, and well-designed characters contribute significantly to this feeling. The game's aesthetics and core gameplay loop are major sources of delight.",{"_290":333,"_292":334,"_294":334,"_295":335,"_297":336},"Interest",0.039301310043668124,9,"Players are interested in the game's unique gameplay mechanics, particularly the research twist and the concept of learning about critters and crops. The unique premise and lore, along with the idea of characters having research majors, pique player curiosity. The amount of research available even in early access maintains this interest.",{"_290":338,"_292":339,"_294":339,"_295":158,"_297":340},"Joy",0.034934497816593885,"Joy is primarily derived from the enjoyable fishing mini-game and the overall positive gameplay experience. The cute animals and the productive feeling of playing the game also contribute to this emotion. It reflects a general happiness with the game's core activities.",{"_290":342,"_292":339,"_294":339,"_295":158,"_297":343},"Admiration","Players admire the game's high-quality NPC designs, character art, and appealing pixel graphics. The rich content, realistic simulation of flora and fauna, and the engaging research and taming mechanics are also sources of admiration. The beautiful art and lovely characters are consistently praised.",{"_290":345,"_292":346,"_294":346,"_295":142,"_297":347},"Anticipation",0.017467248908296942,"Anticipation is driven by the wait for the game's full release and future updates, particularly the highly desired controller support. Players are looking forward to further development and the realization of the game's full potential.",{"_290":349,"_292":350,"_294":350,"_295":138,"_297":351},"Affection",0.013100436681222707,"Players feel affection for the game's characters and its overall atmosphere. The well-developed NPCs contribute significantly to this emotional connection. The game's charming environment fosters a sense of warmth and fondness.",{"_290":353,"_292":354,"_294":354,"_295":102,"_297":355},"Relaxation",0.008733624454148471,"The game's relaxing and beautiful farm simulation atmosphere, coupled with its simplicity, provides a sense of calm. Players find the overall vibe of the game to be soothing and stress-free.",{"_290":357,"_292":354,"_294":354,"_295":102,"_297":358},"Gratitude","Players express gratitude for the developer's efforts in providing Chinese language support and other localization initiatives. This shows appreciation for inclusive design and accessibility.",{"_290":360,"_292":354,"_294":354,"_295":102,"_297":361},"Hope","Players express hope that the developer will continue to work on the game and realize its full potential. This indicates a belief in the game's future and a desire for ongoing improvements and content.",{"_290":363,"_292":364,"_294":364,"_295":131,"_297":365},"Longing",0.004366812227074236,"A strong desire for a game involving research and conservation of wildlife is the sole cause of longing. This indicates that the game fulfills a specific niche that players have been seeking.",{"_290":367,"_292":364,"_294":364,"_295":131,"_297":368},"Addiction","The engaging gameplay loop is so compelling that players feel addicted to the game. This suggests a highly captivating and repeatable core experience.",{"_290":370,"_292":364,"_294":364,"_295":131,"_297":371},"Motivation","The unique research mechanics provide a strong motivation for players to continue engaging with the game. This indicates that the core gameplay loop drives player progression and engagement.",{"_290":373,"_292":364,"_294":364,"_295":131,"_297":374},"Anger","Players experience anger when their character passes out due to low stamina. This highlights a specific gameplay mechanic that can lead to negative player experiences.","gameInfo",{"_377":378,"_385":386,"_395":396},"usage",{"_379":380,"_381":382,"_383":384},"totalTokens",7062,"promptTokens",5475,"completionTokens",1587,"gameCategories",[387,388,389,390,391,392,393,394],"Life Simulation","Resource Management","Build Crafting","Puzzle Solving","Exploration","Animal Simulation","Single-player Story","Research and Discovery","mostRequestedFeatures",[397,400,403,406,410,413,417,421,424,428,432,436,440,443,447,451,455,458,461,464,467,471,474],{"_290":398,"_294":131,"_297":399},"Implement a universal storage system","Players find core gameplay loops, especially crafting, inventory management, and animal care, to be overly tedious and cumbersome due to the lack of quality-of-life features like universal storage.",{"_290":401,"_294":131,"_297":402},"Add stack crafting functionality","Players find core gameplay loops, especially crafting, inventory management, and animal care, to be overly tedious and cumbersome due to the lack of quality-of-life features like stack crafting.",{"_290":404,"_294":131,"_297":405},"Improve user interface and experience for core mechanics","Players find core gameplay loops, especially crafting, inventory management, and animal care, to be overly tedious and cumbersome due to the lack of intuitive UI.",{"_290":407,"_294":408,"_297":409},"Provide a comprehensive tutorial and clearer in-game guidance",0.55,"The game lacks clear guidance and a comprehensive tutorial, leaving players confused about objectives and mechanics.",{"_290":411,"_294":408,"_297":412},"Add more long-term engagement content","There is a feeling of emptiness and a lack of long-term engagement once the initial research or story elements are completed.",{"_290":414,"_294":415,"_297":416},"Increase diversity and dynamism of NPC dialogue",0.45,"NPCs suffer from repetitive and limited dialogue, lacking distinct personalities and dynamic interactions, which makes befriending townsfolk unrewarding.",{"_290":418,"_294":419,"_297":420},"Rebalance stamina consumption and add clear warnings for low stamina",0.29,"Stamina depletion is too rapid, especially for core activities like mining and chopping trees, without sufficient ways to increase it or clear warnings before passing out.",{"_290":422,"_294":419,"_297":423},"Introduce more methods to increase stamina or reduce its consumption","Stamina depletion is too rapid without sufficient ways to increase it, forcing players to carry excessive food and making progression feel frustratingly slow.",{"_290":425,"_294":426,"_297":427},"Adjust in-game day length and character movement speed",0.24,"The in-game day feels too short, and character movement speed is slow, leading to a perception that there isn't enough time to accomplish tasks.",{"_290":429,"_294":430,"_297":431},"Improve controller and Steam Deck control scheme",0.18,"Controller and Steam Deck controls are reported as confusing and unintuitive, requiring too many button presses for simple actions.",{"_290":433,"_294":434,"_297":435},"Address and fix existing bugs",0.15,"Players have encountered numerous bugs, though most are not game-breaking, indicating a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience.",{"_290":437,"_294":438,"_297":439},"Complete and refine Chinese language localization",0.13,"The Chinese translation is incomplete and stiff, with many parts still in English or poorly localized, significantly impacting the experience for Chinese-speaking players.",{"_290":441,"_294":438,"_297":442},"Add UI scaling and font size options","The default font and UI elements are too small, making text difficult to read and characters hard to distinguish, with an absence of UI scaling or large font options.",{"_290":444,"_294":445,"_297":446},"Expand shop inventory with essential items and rebalance prices",0.11,"Many essential food ingredients are not sold by vendors, and shop-bought items are generally expensive or not worth purchasing, limiting player options and making shops feel pointless.",{"_290":448,"_294":449,"_297":450},"Rebalance animal farming economics to be more profitable",0.07,"The cost of animal feed often outweighs the gold earned from animal products, making animal husbandry an unprofitable and financially draining endeavor.",{"_290":452,"_294":453,"_297":454},"Improve accessibility and provide guidance for acidic soil acquisition",0.05,"Obtaining acidic soil is excessively difficult, requiring rare resources from deep in mines and yielding minimal amounts, with no in-game information on how to acquire it.",{"_290":456,"_294":453,"_297":457},"Rebalance difficulty of certain puzzles","Certain puzzles are overly difficult and require significant leaps in intuition, indicating a potential disconnect between developer design and player understanding.",{"_290":459,"_294":453,"_297":460},"Introduce permanent items or mechanics to mitigate environmental debuffs","Environmental debuffs like freezing and heat are annoying, and the game lacks a permanent item or mechanic to remove them, adding unnecessary friction to exploration.",{"_290":462,"_294":453,"_297":463},"Implement an in-game festival reminder system","Players desire a reminder system for in-game festivals to improve quality of life and ensure they don't miss important events.",{"_290":465,"_294":453,"_297":466},"Clarify the purpose and utility of the 'paint' feature","Players are confused about the purpose and utility of 'paint' within the game, suggesting a need for clearer in-game explanations or a re-evaluation of the feature's design.",{"_290":468,"_294":469,"_297":470},"Rebalance fertilizer crafting costs and yields",0.04,"The cost of crafting fertilizer is too high relative to the yield, making it an inefficient and financially unrewarding process.",{"_290":472,"_294":469,"_297":473},"Add multiple save slots","The game lacks multiple save slots, limiting replayability and experimentation for players.",{"_290":475,"_294":469,"_297":476},"Increase inventory space and provide methods for expansion","The inventory space is extremely limited given the variety of items, and there's no apparent way to expand it, forcing constant inventory management and trips back to storage.","summary",[479,480,481,482,483,484],"Highly enjoyable and polished gameplay","Unique farming sim experience","Charming and cute art style","Cumbersome core mechanics","Insufficient guidance and content","Repetitive NPC 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(Steam)","genre","Video Game","aggregateRating",{"_538":552,"_553":554,"_555":556,"_557":125,"_558":510,"_559":510},"AggregateRating","ratingValue",92,"bestRating",100,"worstRating","ratingCount","reviewCount","reviewRating",{"_538":562,"_553":554,"_555":556,"_557":125},"Rating","author",{"_538":565,"_12":566,"_211":567},"Organization","VaporLens","https://vaporlens.app","reviewBody","Highly enjoyable and polished gameplay\nUnique farming sim experience\nCharming and cute art style\nCumbersome core mechanics\nInsufficient guidance and content\nRepetitive NPC dialogue","datePublished","2025-07-22","dateModified","publisher",{"_538":565,"_12":566,"_211":567},"actionData","errors"]

Research Story

Categories

Emotions