Littlewood (2020)

I've started playing this and I already enjoy it more than Stardew Valley. I don't know why but I just can't get into Stardew Valley, and I generally like THOSE kind of games. I think I like when games hold my hand in the beginning. SV just feels to overwhelming. This is definitely more simple and more linear. I feel like there's less choices to get overwhelmed with. And the text is not pixely, even though the characters are, so already it's a plus over Stardew Valley.

Narrative

It's about you, the character/hero, who just saved the world and now can enjoy a relaxing life of building up the town again.

Gameplay

It's a simulator/clicker building/farming/crafting kinda deal. Honestly 99% of the gameplay is just clicking stuff until you get money to buy new stuff. You can farm a little, but nothing fancy. Place houses, buildings and scenery in your town. You can travel to various places to do stuff.

There is also townies to talk to and befriend/romance. But none of it is all that deep. Farming is just put stuff in ground and it grows forever. No watering. Same with orchards. Placing buildings is just collecting materials and place them instantly where-ever. Crafting is just getting materials and go to the proper building (like the refinery) to click and craft stuff. Romance is just talking to people long enough, and hoping you get the flirt interaction. I haven't gotten past "X seems to like you" so I don't really know what happens after that.

Setting

It's in a quaint little town you are rebuilding after a war. It's colorful and flat. There is some other places to travel to as well. The graphics are extremely simple pixel graphics. Nothing wrong with that perse, but it's not all that interesting. Worlds are also not interesting or detailed and neither are the people. Music, also pretty forgettable. It's just cute, quiet and chill. But nothing really eye-catching.

Other

Nothing really to say further.

Conclusion

Honestly I played this game for longer than expected but still didn't make it close to the end. The gameplay loop is just pretty boring. I know most farming games have repetitive gameplay loops, but at least stardew valley has some depth to the farming (watering, fertilizing, seasons etc) and interesting friendship/romance paths. At least My time at portia had a cool take on crafting. Animal crossing has amazing graphics going for it, and cool home decorating.

This game doesn't have any things that pop. Art style is pretty bland (for my tastes at least), gameplay is very repetitive and brings nothing much to the table. Romance was boring, and townies don't have much to say.

In my opinion nothing really makes this game stand out. So I won't play it more, and honestly it feels a bit like a waste of money. Yes I enjoyed my time with it, but looking back, I've enjoyed a lot of other of these types of games a lot more. And should have just stuck with Stardew for a couple dozen more hours.