Screenshot by Bonus Action
Cozy gaming holds many star titles that dominate as the best of all time. Fields of Mistria in its early access state is set to unseat the kings of farming sims thanks to a vibrant world, streamlined mechanics, and a cast of characters that make you fall in love with the story.
Fields of Mistria has all the farming staples – A large homestead for players to tend, dozens of crops to discover and grow, farm animals with adorable designs, and a cast of romanceable townsfolk. However, instead of rehashing the same structure seen in Stardew Valley or Story of Seasons, it takes the best of the genre and makes it better.
Key Details
- Developer: NPC Studio
- Platform: PC via Steam
- Price: $13.99
- Review Copy Provided: Yes
Mistria’s World and Characters Bring The Game To Life
Right from the beginning, players are given a purpose in Fields of Mistria. Instead of inheriting a farmstead from a random family member, and abandoning the struggles of oppressive, modern society, the player answers the desperate plea of a town ravaged by an earthquake.
As soon as players enter the town, they are met by a delightful, quirky cast of characters. Each NPC has a story for how they ended up in the town, and have personalities that are more fleshed out than any I’ve seen in cozy games of recent years.
What is particularly interesting about Fields of Mistria‘s town, is that the characters interact. If players enter the Inn on a Friday night, Eiland will be holding a tabletop session while others play card games. If players talk to one of the NPCs at the table, they will be treated to a full scene of dialogue as the characters speak to each other.
For the first time ever in a cozy game, I found myself prioritizing the relationships I was making with the townsfolk. I want to know how Balor ended up in Mistria. I want to know all about Eiland’s tabletop obsession. I want to know if Juniper and Valen are secretly dating.
This world is alive in a way that even Stardew Valley couldn’t manage. It makes you care deeply about the plight of the town and creates a sense of wild joy in players as they work through quests and deepen relationships with each character.
Streamlined Farming Mechanics Make Work a Breeze
Like all farming games, Fields of Mistria keeps players busy with farm work, foraging, fishing, mining, and exploration. However, it has taken these core mechanics and streamlined them for an optimized experience.
When I discovered my watering can never became empty, I was blown away. Players don’t have to go and fill up the can at some random puddle. They can just get the watering done. If you run out of energy you don’t faint, you just get sleepy.
The base farmhouse comes with built-in storage, which is immediately needed as pockets are small in Fields of Mistria. Upgrades for tools can be done by gathering resources, or just outright buying them. Crafting stations are available around town from the start of the game, allowing players to craft before they can build their own stations on the farm.
Fields of Mistria has streamlined the cozy model, erasing the grind loop of other farming games like Harvest Moon. This creates more time to explore, talk to NPCs, and finish quests, providing a more relaxed and enjoyable experience.
It Doesn’t Feel Like Early Access
While playing Fields of Mistria, I regularly forget it is an early-access title. The game is enormous, with so much to do despite its still-in-progress status. I’ve run into only a few minor bugs, and none have seriously impacted the experience.
Knowing there is still so much to come in Fields of Mistria has me excited beyond words. It is a game I want to sink hundreds of hours into and lose myself in as I listen to podcasts or relax in the evening.
Fans who have been waiting for another game like Stardew Valley absolutely must pick up Fields of Mistria, because this title has every bit of potential to become the next biggest game of the genre.
Final Score – 10/10
Fields of Mistria is a must-buy for any cozy gamer. Purchasing in early access will allow gamers to see the game expand in real-time, and its current build is more than worth the cost.
This is the perfect title for fans of old-school anime like Sailor Moon, and it will delight farming sim enthusiasts with streamlined mechanics and addictive gameplay loops.
Overall, Fields of Mistria is a shining gem in the cozy genre. It takes all the best elements of other games and presents them to players in a fresh and thoughtful way. As it continues to update, I am certain it will only become more amazing, and I can’t wait to see what the developers have in store for players as they work toward the 1.0 release.
If you want to hear about Henrietta’s wings being clipped, you can check out our feature on the first patch for Fields of Mistria.
**Bonus Action was provided a Steam PC code for the purpose of this review.**
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I’m so glad to have stumbled on this yesterday! Bought the game last night and have been enjoying it.
It’s so good!! I honestly just want to spend all day playing!