Fae Farmis a roleplaying game with a focus on both farming and life simulation, allowing you to interact with the town and seek adventures on the island of Azoria. It was launched on September 2023 for Windows and the Nintendo Switch and has proven to be rather divisive, with some people loving it and others feeling underwhelmed.

Its first DLC was launched in December of 2023, adding more content to the game and shifting the focus more onto adventure and exploration rather than the actual farming aspects of Fae Farm, which is rather ironic given the game’s name. Given Fae Farm’s divisive nature and DLC, it may be difficult to decide if it’s worth it.

Fae Farm, the farmer standing outside of their house on the farm during the daytime

Review

Our Lead Guides Editor, Meg Pelliccio, wrote a very comprehensive review of Fae Farm.At the time of her review, Meg wrote thatthere were some great parts in the game, but it still had room to growand needed some polish to fully flourish. Fae Farm doesn’t have a strong narrative, and as Meg makes clear, it does take a while to really get into the game, but it does eventually get better. Andwhen it gets better, it getswaybetter.

This slow start might be a struggle for people to overcome, as they’ll largely be unaware of the game’s full promise. This is a shame, since when it gets good, it gets really good.

Fae Farm the farmer standing in the market square during the daytime next to some NPCs

Fae Farm has simple mechanics, andyou can keep it simple, or you may get really complexwith those same mechanics once the game opens up. However, you have to work through the slowest portion of the game until you can fully enjoy the gameplay. However, it has some great mechanics, like automatically switching between whatever tool you need, which is both innovative in the genre and a massive improvement upon the standard farming simulator staples.

you’re able to also play in multiplayer, though if you want to,they have to be on your Phoenix Lab friend list- no online play with strangers, which most parents will probably love for their children. This, of course, means that you’re going to have to make a Phoenix Lab account if you want to access the multiplayer features. But the game doesn’t particularly feel like you need to have multiplayer players, as it’s comprehensive enough for the lone farmer not to feel too lonely.

fae farm a mystical archway in the dark forsest floating in the middle of a chasm with several waterfalls around it

If you’re playing on the Nintendo Switch, online play in multiplayer will require that you have Nintendo Switch Online.

Once you’ve unlocked more of the game,you can do a lot of exploration, and you might find that your focus shifts frombuilding up and perfecting your farm to going on adventures- something that is never particularly a focus in farm sim classics, likeStardew Valley. You can also spend a lot of time catching bugs and little critters or fishing on your adventures, which those of you who loveAnimal Crossingwill find both familiar and enjoyable.

Fae Farm the farmer holding a net, ready to catch a ladybug as it flies past them

All in all, despite the slow start, Meg makes it clear thatfrom Chapter Three onwards, the game’s true beauty shinesin the extensive crafting, quests, romances, and exploration. However, if you’re looking for a strong and compelling story, you probably won’t find it here.

Time Expenditure

According toSharnelle Earle, one of our List and Guide writers, there areeight chapters in Fae Farm, which can takeabout 27-30 hours to beat, which is a bit short for these types of games. However, current Steam Reviews rangeanywhere from 20 hours to upwards of 100 hours of playtime, which bodes well for the replayability of those who enjoy Fae Farm.

Cost

If you want to play Fae Farm, you will have to cough up a bit of cash, the price of which might make you grimace (just a bit).The Standard Edition of Fae Farm is $39.99, and forthe Deluxe Edition, it’s $59.99- the price of a brand new triple-A game. The Deluxe Edition includes the Fae Farm official soundtrack and the DLC, Coasts of Croakia. On their own,the soundtrack and Coasts of Croakia cost $9.99each.

Unfortunately, forNintendo Switch players, you don’t get a choice and have to pay $59.99for the digital and physical editions. But, at the very least, you get Coasts of Croakia with it. If you’re able to justify the price and you like what you’ve heard so far, Fae Farm might just be worth it to try out. But, it is worth considering what other people who have played think first.

What Players Are Saying

Absolutely Adorable - Zoë J. Osik

Fae Farm is a breath of fresh air that throws you right into the story and the farming aspects of the game. While it can be overwhelming, everything moves quickly and focuses on the fun and exciting world around you. If you’re looking for something cute and easy to run through, Fae Farm is for you.

An Enchanting Take On The Traditional Farming Sim Game - Shannon Elkins

If you love cute games, especially farming games with multiplayer options, Fae Farm is worth a look. Traditional farming and ranching tasks all have their own magical twist, and the game has been designed with serenity and relaxation in mind, including the ability to save in-game at any time.

Slow To Start But Quick To Soar – Gabrielle Castania

While the start of Fae Farm is a little slow, when compared to other games of its genre, the game takes off (pun intended) when you get your wings and begin to experience the more magical elements of the game. Farming is a component of the game, sure, but it’s far from the component – socializing with the townsfolk, doing odd jobs, dungeon-crawling, and decorating your various homes was more fun to me than the actual vegetable-growing element. With the Coasts of Croakia DLC out now, too, there’s more to explore during the main story than ever before, which only solidifies my recommendation for anyone who likes a mystical twist to their farming sims.