Farlands Review Summary

Charming pixel art and relaxing gameplay with a space twist offer plenty to explore, but early access means limited content and frequent crashes.

Pixel art is charming: The pixel art style receives widespread praise for its charm, beauty, and refreshing quality. Both the art style and character designs are highly appealing.

Gameplay is enjoyable: Players consistently describe the gameplay as fun, engaging, and entertaining. The loop is solid and highly enjoyable, making the game compelling to play.

Game is relaxing: Players find the game very relaxing and satisfying, with calm gameplay that is both entertaining and addictive. The relaxing nature is a key positive aspect.

Space twist adds depth: The space theme with multiple planets to explore is well-received, offering expansive exploration and diverse ecosystems. The spaceship system adds a time management element that players enjoy.

Much content to explore: Players note there are many things to do and always something to keep them engaged. The variety of activities contributes to the game's addictive quality.

Early access lacks content: The game is in early access with very little content, described as bare bones, incomplete, and like a demo. Many mechanics are missing, and the overall experience feels underwhelming.

Game crashes and freezes: Frequent crashes and freezes occur, often causing players to lose progress, such as constant crashes at the end of day three. These stability issues make the game unplayable for many.

No tutorial or guidance: The game lacks a tutorial, quest guide, or beginner's introduction, leaving new players confused about what to do next, especially in the combat system.

Too similar to Stardew Valley: The game is criticized for being too generic and copying Stardew Valley heavily, with mines and core gameplay lacking originality or innovation.

Lacks polish and refinement: The game feels rough around the edges and needs polishing in many areas, including menu navigation and general mechanics. It lacks the finesse of a finished product.

Space farming simulation: Players describe the game as a farming simulation set in space with multiple planets to explore. It combines resource management, crafting, and museum collection with a space theme and humorous elements.

Similar to Stardew Valley: The game is frequently compared to Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing. It is seen as a pixel art farming sim with similar mechanics, though some players note it has differentiating elements.

Space travel between planets: Travel to different planets is a key feature, involving spaceship mechanics with time and fuel management. Players must manage resources to explore and progress.

Farming and exploration gameplay: The core loop involves farming crops, exploring planets, collecting resources, and selling merchandise to earn money and upgrades. Activities include fishing, hunting, crafting, and mining.

Time and energy management: Players manage time and energy carefully, with a stamina bar and day/night cycle. Features like automated sprinklers help optimize farming tasks.

Frequent crashes and freezes: Multiple reviews report crashing and freezing issues, including a game-ending crash when donating at the museum, a crash on day 3, and repeated crashes leading to progress loss. Users also report freezes that require a hard close.

General bugs reported: Several players mention experiencing bugs and technical issues, though specific details are not given. One user noted that despite bugs, the game still runs on a low-spec laptop.

Excellent on Linux: One review states the game works perfectly on Linux, indicating strong compatibility on that platform.

Full Steam Deck support: A user confirms that Steam Deck support is complete, making the game playable on the handheld device.

Fast loading between planets: One review highlights that loading times between planets are nearly nonexistent, which is a positive performance aspect.

Not recommended in current state: Many players advise against purchasing the game in its current early access state due to bugs, missing content, or lack of polish. They suggest waiting for updates or full release.

Wait for updates before buying: A common suggestion is to postpone purchase until more content, bug fixes, or controller support are added. Reviewers feel the game will have better value when finished.

Recommended for Stardew Valley fans: A large group of reviewers explicitly recommend the game to fans of Stardew Valley who want a similar experience with a space twist. This indicates strong appeal to the core target audience.

Recommended for farming game fans: Several reviewers recommend the game broadly to fans of farming, cozy, or management games. This positions the game as appealing to the wider genre audience, not just Stardew Valley players.

Highly recommend with enthusiasm: Some reviewers give strong, enthusiastic recommendations, using phrases like 'highly recommended' or 'buy it now.' This shows a segment of players find the game very enjoyable despite its early access state.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 80.0h.

Story completion: 25.0h.

The game's early access state leaves it feeling incomplete and boring for many players, with no moment where enjoyment kicks in, despite some initial fun reported by others.

Friction: no tutorial for new players; boring generic NPC dialogues; lack of meaningful progression; incomplete content with missing features.

Patient Early Supporter: Patient; explores current content and waits for new features to arrive. Motivation: Supporting a promising indie project and enjoying the foundational gameplay while anticipating updates. Stance: sale.

Relaxed Newcomer: Casual; takes time to explore, customize, and enjoy the atmosphere. Motivation: Relaxation and discovery of a new genre in a low-pressure environment. Stance: buy.

Bug-Hindered Critic: Attempts to progress but is blocked by technical issues; frustrated by lost progress. Motivation: Seeking a stable, bug-free experience to enjoy without interruptions. Stance: no buy.

Steam Deck: The game has significant stability and controller support issues on Steam Deck, including freezing crashes and lack of proper controller mapping, making it frustrating to play. Some users appreciate the art and Linux performance but these positives are overshadowed by the major usability flaws.

Support Leyendas channel purchase: One reviewer felt the game was worth buying solely to support the Leyendas channel, indicating a niche but loyal community-driven motivation rather than direct gameplay value.