My hunt for a unique cozy game took me to the Lightyear Frontier demo during Steam Next Fest. It took me on a charming adventure that was out of this world!
It hits the sweet spot of casual adventure, laid-back farming sim, and gentle space exploration. I lost track of time, happily exploring for 2 hours!
Lightyear Frontier, launching March 19th, is a casual adventure game where you explore a vibrant new alien world, craft unique tools, and build your dream homestead beneath starry skies. You’re encouraged to unravel the mysteries of a forgotten civilization, connect with fellow spacefarers, and take in the calming soundtrack and breathtaking visuals.
Whether you crave a relaxing farming sim or a gentle spacefaring adventure, Lightyear Frontier offers a heartwarming escape waiting to be explored.
I thoroughly enjoyed my gameplay and was not expecting to be so captivated by this game! I was pleased to see that the game had the option for controller support so I could kick back and play more casually. I was even more excited to learn that up to four people can play co-op and work together to create a new habitat in a strange and beautiful world.
You begin your journey as an explorer set off to inhabit a world with greener pastures. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted through the radio by a friendly lady named PIP-3R, who speaks with a Southern accent and also goes by the name Piper.
She lives in a satellite orbiting the planet and acts as your guide during the first day. Piper’s presence, although not a physical one, adds a comforting feeling as she greets you each morning when you wake up to explore another day on the planet.
The game has similar vibes to Fallout minus all the stress and violence which, as a cozy gamer, I couldn’t be more happy about! You can roam the alien world freely as your person or use the machine called the “Mech”. The Mech is very helpful in reducing times to harvest materials but there are also places where only you can go to collect resources and then bring them back to your Mech.
The Mech reminds me of those machines the humans used in Avatar but thankfully with this game, there is no harm to wildlife here. If anything, you help the wildlife by removing the noxious slime that’s polluted the area.
There are also many stories of a lost civilization where you can collect artifacts to figure out what happened. When you collect enough artifacts, Piper will analyze them and give you some insight into the mystery.
The seamless tool-switching mechanics are a dream and have the added bonus of satisfying sound effects. I really enjoyed using the unique tools like the vacuum hose where you suck up seeds and water and then use your seed gun to shoot the seeds into their plots and the water gun to water them. It just adds another level of fun when you get to use a giant saw tool attachment than your normal tree-hitting axe.
I got caught up in exploring, grinding for resources, and feeding the adorable alien creatures. I actually enjoyed the grind of this game and didn’t feel like it took away from the experience. Especially since a major point of the game is to explore and gather new resources.
During the demo, you get access to two areas of Frontier, but it seems like the full version of the game will have at least three additional areas!
There’s also a huge component in the game for trading with the merchant that flies to your base every morning. I really like this mechanic because it’s not like most games where the prices are set.
There’s a market that tells you if some items are selling for more or less that day. The same goes if you’re selling items to the merchant. You can also purchase blueprints to create really cozy items for your farm.
Discovering new regions of the map and nurturing the local wildlife has its own rewards, and having a cozy farm can give you even more buffs to help you along the way.
In summary, I thought this was one out-of-this-world cozy experience that I can’t wait to fully explore later, especially with my husband in co-op. Lightyear Frontier has a permanent spot on my wishlist, and I eagerly await its March 19th launch!
If you’d like to also wishlist this game or play the demo, you can do so here.
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