Slime Rancher

Without agriculture, modern life as we know it would change drastically. We rely on the honest, hard work of our farming communities to grow produce and keep food on the table. However, what if instead of crops and cattle and artisan goodies, you were in charge of corralling and farming cute little balls of slime. Well, Slime Rancher makes this dream a reality.

This title belongs to the well-known list of feel-good games such as Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing, LocoRoco or Katamari Damacy to name a few. It’s a colourful and cathartic experience that can be as intense or as relaxing as you deem acceptable in order to have yourself a good time.

An Honest Living

This title’s gameplay is very similar to the likes of Stardew Valley due to it’s reliance on the player farming crops, or in this case slime do create plorts. These are the produce and selling these gives you newbucks, the games currency. This is then used to upgrade gear, build more pens and expand your operation, automate your farm to offer you more downtime in a day and also, allows you to make the place a little more pretty.

As far as the story goes, there isn’t too much to speak of. You take control of Beatrix Lebeau, the silent protagonist of this title and from there you can find out as little or as much as you want about the character. The information is scattered around the map in various areas and you’ll talk to some NPC’s along the way too. Although, if you’re playing just for the love of the slime, you can farm with no need to delve any deeper. That’s the beauty of games like this, you have all the power to play your way.

The only aspect that we can really criticise is the gameplay loops tendency to have the player grind their way to their next milestone or game-changing mechanic. It’s not to say that the tasks aren’t fun or that the reward isn’t sweet when you get there. It’s just that the tasks can get repetitive and the less patient gamers out there will see this as a jumping-off point.

What a Time To Be A Slime

The visuals for this game are far from outstanding if you’re looking for realism or refinement. However, they suit the setting and the use of vibrant block colours lending themselves to the environments really helps you immerse yourself in the wacky world this game offers. Plus, the animations are great and the cute little slime faces are enough to keep you invested in this title all on their own.

Sound quality is also rather strong in this game. The soundtrack is relaxing and chilled, lending itself to the stress-free and therapeutic nature of the gameplay.

The Slime Of Your Life

Slime Rancher aims to offer a feel-good experience with the freedom to approach it in any way the player chooses. It’s a hard thing to pull off but this title nails it. Visuals and sound are cute and colourful. The gameplay, although grind oriented in places, is fun for the most part.

Pros

• Vibrant and colourful aesthetic
• Calming soundtrack
• Plenty of content to explore
• The story is told naturally through the environment

Cons

• Gameplay can be grind oriented in places.
• The game doesn’t motivate the player to explore or complete new tasks

Slime Rancher is a relaxing first-person adventure game that lets players explore and scavenge a vivid alien world. Playing as a new ranch-owner who abandons Earth for a life in the cosmos, it's your job to hunt down various slime creatures and bring them back to your farm. As you continue to explore and discover new slimes, you can build better items for your ranch, emboldening your slime herding business. With laidback pacing, bright and vibrant visuals, and a chill gameplay loop, Slime Rancher offers a surprising amount of content for you to enjoy.

Main Game Features

• Gather and grow your own slime farm
• Explore a colorful alien planet
• Soothing casual gameplay

Story

Slime Rancher tells the story of Beatrix LeBeau, a humble human who leaves Earth for greater things. Arriving on the alien planet of Far Far Range, Beatrix sets up in her new slime ranch. Here, slime ranchers explore the sprawling landscape, sucking up slime creatures and other goodies to harvest and bring back to their farm. As the days pass, Beatrix grows her farm, while exploring further areas of Far Far Range. There are other ranchers on Far Far Range that communicate with Beatrix via mail, providing trade offers and general ranching advice. Overall, the story in Slime Rancher is minimal, mainly using Beatrix's story as an avenue for exploration. Despite the lack of a super interesting narrative, Slime Rancher still offers an enjoyable tale delivered at the same pace as your exploration.

Gameplay

Generally speaking, Slime Rancher is a management and resource collection game. Your primary objective is to grow your ranch by adding and upgrading various buildings and structures. When you first start out, your ranch is pretty empty, with the exception of a pen to store slime creatures in. To grow your farm, you must explore the nearby wilds and suck up slimes with your handy vacuum device. After storing the collected slimes at your ranch, you can feed them using various meats and veggies, providing a currency known as plorts. There are a large variety of slimes to collect, and different slimes offer different plorts. All plorts can be deposited at an exchange station, which gives you coins to buy new upgrades, equipment, and buildings.

Although it seems simple, this gameplay loop defines the pace of Slime Rancher, giving the player plenty of freedom to engage with mechanics at their own pace. The game plays out over a day and night cycle, with nighttime bringing on extra dangers. You'll often spend the day collecting resources, then use the evening hours to manage your ranch. After you're finished, you go to sleep, rested and fresh for a new day. As you continue to expand your ranch and explore more of Far Far Range, you'll discover a wide variety of resources, presenting more customization options for your farm.

Conclusion

If you're the kind of player who likes to sit back, kick up their feet, and not think too hard, Slime Rancher is an enjoyable ride. The gameplay loop is a bit simple and can grow repetitive, making Slime Rancher best enjoyed in short bursts. That said, there's still tons of fun to be had growing your ranch and exploring Far Far Range, as you discover new ways to interact with the environment. The family-friendly tone and complete lack of violence also makes this a good game for younger audiences, especially those with a curious mind.

Pros:

• Building your ranch is rewarding
• The slimes are adorable and silly
• Cool environments to explore

Cons:

• Not enough tutorials
• Gameplay loop can be repetitive
• Underwhelming narrative