Fae Farm Review
With thanks to the folks at Phoenix Labs we’re checking out their new-life farming sim Fae Farm. As ever we have a full video and extended written review down below. They are joined, as always, by our common-sense parent’s guide and accessibility analysis. If you’re looking to find out if Fae Farm is safe for kids, or just if it’s worth getting, read (or watch!) on.
While you’re here, if sci-fi is more your bag, check out our early-access review of the pixelated sci-fi farm sim, One Lonely Outpost.
The Basics – What is Fae Farm About?
Available on: PC (Steam / Epic), Nintendo Switch
Price: £29.99 (Steam), £33.50 (Epic), £49.99 (Switch)
Type: Fae-inspired Farming New-Life Simulator
Download: 2.4GB (PC – Steam)
It certainly puts its own stamp on things, but Fae Farm will be instantly recognisable to any fans of farming sims. This title brings back mechanics which most of us will know and (at least to some extent) love. However, Fae Farm also brings cute autumn-feeling farming sims into a nice 3D package.
You’ll start the game by discovering a message in a bottle, which will whisk you off to the magical and mystical land of Azoria. After a less than optimal sea crossing, you’ll be trapped on the somewhat idyllic island, making a new life for yourself. You’ll work as a farmer, interior designer, bug hunter, fisherman, miner, merchant and all-around good egg.
Much like other titles within the cutesy new-life farm sim genre, you’ll forage, chop, cut, dig and craft your way to improved weapons, decorations and tools. You’ll also delve into the local mine, where enemies and mystery await. If you don’t fancy that, you can always build up relationships with the people of this quaint seaside town, and potentially find that special somebody to settle down with.
Fae Farm also brings multiplayer, meaning that you can host or join a world to share the adventure with up to three friends. By pooling your collective energy you can build an expansive farm, plum the mine’s depths or complete quests and generally flutter about the town.
Fae Farm’s magical land, animals and enemies are incredibly cute, with a faerie edge to your adventure running right through everything you do. From the Chickoos on your farm to the mysterious Jumbles in the local mine, everything is verging on the adorable, even when it’s trying to hurt you.
Is Fae Farm Safe for Children?
Rating: Family Friendly.
Fae Farm is rated by PEGI at 7 and above, and by the ESRB at Everybody 10+. These ratings are mostly based on fantasy violence, though the title also has online multiplayer to consider. Even with the fantasy violence, it’s been one which we are happy for our Micro-Bandits to play at almost any age.
Violence in Fae Farm is entirely free of blood or gore. Even when you run out of health completely, the mystical visuals mean that there’s nothing really troubling within the violent content. Enemies share the same cute visuals as the rest of Azoria, meaning that the don’t come across as scary or intimidating at all.
If you’re wondering if Fae Farm is safe for kids, we’d give it a mostly green light. As long as you have online play covered by parental controls for your Micro-Bandits, this is one which we’re happy to rate as family friendly, and one where you and your young ones can play together.
Is Fae Farm Accessible?
Rating: Low Barrier.
Fae Farm does aim to be as accessible as possible. While farming your main tools (axe, watering can, scythe, pickaxe and shovel) automatically change depending on what item you have targeted. In addition, outside of cordoned off “dangerous locations” like the local mine, there aren’t really any high-pressure, must-do tasks.
The map also allows players to easily find, mark and navigate to locations or specific people. You can also entirely remap your controls if needed, and the title also provides three different colour-blind options.
There are a couple of things which do lower this slightly. Firstly, there’s a lot of reading to do here, which could also make the title trickier for younger gamers. In addition, opening the main menu or inventory does not pause the game. This means that when you’re in the mines you do have some pressures while looking through items or the almanack.
Overall Fae Farm is not only accessible, it’s also inclusive. Character creation options consider various genders and religious needs, and it’s clear that Phoenix Labs have tried to provide a game which anybody can enjoy.
The Run Down – Our Five-Point Rating for Fae Farm
Gameplay – 5: Fae Farm leverages mechanics we know and enjoy in other farming sims, while streamlining some areas and converting to glorious 3D. While it will feel instantly familiar to fans of the genre, it does enough to separate itself, while providing accessible and intuitive controls. It’s a well-built title, and one where we’ve not found any wobble edges, with everything here being ship shape (apart from your ship, which is now mostly shapes)
Visuals – 4: Fae Farm’s cute and cosy vibes really do pull through into the visuals. The rounded aesthetic really fits in with the fae environment, and keeps things feeling relaxed and trouble free. In addition, character designs have been great, and we’ve especially enjoyed discovering the various Jumbles which you’ll come across on your adventures.
Audio – 4: This one is slightly let down by a lack of voice acting within the title, but it’s not a real game-breaker. Environment, action and weather effects are nicely put together, making it feel extra cosy during the autumn rains. In addition, the soundtrack is excellent as well as adorable, and a pleasure to listen to you as you travel from peaks to shore.
Narrative – 3: There is a fair narrative here, but we think it will probably blend into the background for most people. It’s let down by repetitive outside-quest chat with villagers, which start to cycle even within early gameplay. The overarching story is decent, but nothing hugely out of this world, and easily overshadowed by excellent game mechanics and customisation options.
Replay –4: Fae Farm has a load of reasons to keep coming back. Along your travels you can discover an incredibly number of customisation options and recipes. These will unlock benefits, if you manage to make your homestead nice and cosy, and just give a decent reason to go out and explore. There’s also a good amount to do (like with other new-life farm sims) to keep things varied. In addition, a four-player multiplayer really ices the replay cake here, and will help to keep players engaged.
The Verdict – Is Fae Farm Worth It?
Overall our Pixel Bandits StarWho? Level for Fae Farm is an outstanding 9 / 10.. Fae Farm provides a good variety of different activities, and the fact that you can do it solo or as a pair or group is a really great touch. With its suitability for children it also means that it’ll be a good idea for any parents looking for a title they can play along with their little ones. Because of this, Fae Farm is also getting our Pixel Bandits’ Family Hit Award and is one we’re saying is going to be especially good for families.
It’s not entirely perfect, but for those looking for inclusive, cute, cosy and community-based vibes it’s definitely going to be close enough. Mechanics will be incredibly familiar to fans of the genre, with farming, customisation, mining, fishing and relationships all making a return, but Phoenix Labs have done well to put their own spin on things.
In addition, Fae Farm is incredibly inclusive and accessible. Whether you are playing alone or with friends, if you’re a fan of the genre, Fae Farm is definitely worth a look. This is especially true for younger gamers who, if they have good reading skills, will get a lot out of this one.
As ever, to provide this review and common-sense parent’s guide, we received a free copy of Fae Farm from the folks at Phoenix Labs.
