Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin Reviews
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin comes with a decent price tag, not as much as Nintendo’s big staples. However, it’s more than reasonable for Sakuna. In just under a month of playing, and I’m still hooked. Even as someone who generally dislikes platformers, Sakuna has ticked all the right boxes for me. My love of farming, mixed with the fighting style, makes for a complete and fascinating game. I will be recommending this game to pretty much everyone. It has a bit of most things but manages to incorporate it all smoothly. Other games can feel jarring when mixing playstyle or genres, but Marvelous have succeeded, almost expertly.
Some accomplished character work and a narrative full of heart, sits next to a deep and detailed rice-farming mechanic that will have you sinking hours in trying to get the perfect crop. However, fiddly combat and shallow platforming take their toll. If you’re anything like me, you’ll get lost in the farming, and let the other parts lie fallow.
I don’t think Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin can be classified as one single genre. It’s blending of farming and action only scrapes the surface of what this game actually offers. Still, by looking at those two pieces alone, there is a ton of excellent moments of gameplay to experience. Yes, it’s very much a farming game, and yes, it is full of action, but these two systems run seamlessly alongside a beautiful story and brilliant presentation.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin isn’t perfect, but the good more than outweighs the bad here. It’s just frustrating for me personally, cause there were so many things about the game that could have translated to a perfect experience. There’s just too many missteps for that. Thankfully, what’s here is still very much worth the price of admission. If you want a game you can sink hours and hours into while enjoying a meandering and surprising story, you have to check this one out.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a fun gameplay experience if you’re really into managing statistics and growing from your mistakes. The biggest flaw is that the narrative, which has an interesting premise, is stunted by the shallowness and, at times, obnoxious nature of the characters. Luckily, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is focused more on the gameplay and is an easy recommendation if you’re looking for a rewarding combat experience and farming simulator.
This is a truly impressive 2.5D action platformer that boasts some of the best production values on the entire Switch’s library, with gorgeous visuals and a great soundtrack. Its gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, and its slice of life mechanics, while far from being the best thing about it, are still interesting and not very intrusive.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a game that grows on you. People accustomed to farming simulations like Story of Seasons or even Rune Factory will find themselves forced to suddenly pay way more attention to the process of growing crops than before, then be patient since it will be in-game years before you “get good” at growing crops. Folks coming in because the combat seems satisfying will have to understand this is a game where constantly revisiting areas and keeping up with farming will be necessary to make any sort of significant progress. And everyone will have to deal with the fact that the lighting system and fonts will sometimes make you strain your eyes as you try to get things done.
GREAT - With a nice divided focus between action adventure platform levels and chill farming sequences, you have a great gaming experience that should satisfy your button mashing battle hardened side and fill your calm, peaceful farming simulation needs all in one game.
But the whole thing is presented with such care, patient attention to detail, and downright love that it’s impossible not to enjoy the heck out of this game. It’s the sort of game that I highly recommend to people who may naturally only be inclined to one side or the other of this particular melange, because you might find yourself enjoying it more than you expected.
Sakuna of Rice and Ruin is a fantastic game, made with love and that will give us 25-30 hours of play that does not disappoint at any time. In short, a round game with a lot to offer.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a fun, cute action platformer bogged down by unnecessary repetition and tedious farming mechanics.
it's indeed the full harvest. It defies everything we know about the commonplace Anime video game, and exceeds all expectations from gameplay, presentation, narrative and character growth.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a really unique game. The end result may not have reached a certain level of exceptional quality, but the attempt to do something new has certainly reached its goal. As much as the central mechanics are bound to become tiring, it manages to blend two very different genres with mastery, and this is something very worthy of respect. If you like farm simulators, action platforms or simply indies who are not afraid to invent their own formula, Sakuna is a good option.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Sakuna is eye-opening, not only because it shines a light on the nourishing, temperamental, and soulful qualities of rice but also because it demonstrates how a small team of two people can produce greatness by combining two seemingly incompatible genres.
It is rare to see a title that is composed of so many quality elements. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a great action and simulation game that put several aspects together in one package: an immersive adventure, beautiful visuals, fun gameplay and many challenges and secrets to explore. Although some little things could have been better worked out, this Japanese adventure is a must for your library.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a very mediocre independent game that you probably will not interact with. It also gets boring quickly due to its numerous problems. It would be great for the developers to address these problems and fix the game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Despite the few issues, I enjoyed my time with Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. The in-depth farming system was relaxing and almost therapeutic, which really goes in its favor.
If you’ve been on the lookout for a good side-scrolling action adventure, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is worth looking into. Between the flexible combat system and the puzzle platforming, you have an interesting small scale farming simulator that only adds to the overall sense of accomplishment as it replaces most standard RPG experience level systems. Add in some humorous dialog and likable characters, and I think I found either my guilty pleasure or my pleasant surprise for the year!
Sakuna is a game you shouldn't play because of its story but you should play it because of the freedom it gives you. Some elements are repetitive but I can choose on my own what to do on the beautiful island.
Review in German | Read full review