Redwall fans desperate to embrace the franchise's lighter themes and live life as an adorable forest animal need to check out this new game from former Bethesda, Naughty Dog, and Bioware developers. The success of titles like The Sims 4 and Stardew Valley has breathed new energy into the life-sim genre to such an extent that the Farming RPG market has become somewhat oversaturated in recent years. Developers looking to break into the market need a unique hook or gimmick to land players, and it certainly seems like Hawthorn has something special going for it.
Posting on YouTube, developer NEARstudios unveiled the first gameplay trailer for Hawthorn, a game that sees players step into the role of tiny woodland animals as they work to build a community in an abandoned trading post in the magical Windermere Valley.
The footage shows off some idyllic shots of owls, otters, and mice making a life for themselves in the forest by catching fish, crafting furniture, hosting small banquets for friends, and farming various crops. While it's still in early development, Hawthorn seems cozy enough to appeal to both Stardew Valley and Redwall fans.
As mentioned above, the life-sim genre is becoming over-saturated...