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