Summary
Farming games often permeate cozy game lists. For those who want a dusting of fantasy in their farming life, Spellfield is an indie game that combines both of these aspects. Part portal fantasy, as the game opens up, you are pulled through a book into a new world. Surprised to see you, the kind townsfolk give you an overgrown plot of land, and soon you find yourself part of an ancient prophecy.
If you are new to farming games and find it overwhelming to learn a magic system on top of everything else, never fear. The plot moves only when you want it to, or when you reach certain milestones. Your ability to learn and use magic is introduced slowly, and you will have plenty of time to practice it in the dungeons. And to help, here are some tips to get you through your first year in Spellfield.
At the outset of the game, a book will appear to guide you through some of the basics. Avoid little errors like planting during the wrong season or not giving your trees enough space to grow by reading this book. Later, you can find books with more specialized content for sale at the museum in the castle.
Don’t forget to take the time to look at the map as well. You’ll notice that there are other islands on the map, including the desert and dark isles. These can only be reached by boat, one of which you’ll find conveniently docked near your home.
9Explore The Town First
No farming game is complete without a charming little town. If your frame of reference isAnimal CrossingandStardew Valley, think more Stardew Valley – the village is already complete, with its own residents, so you won’t be exercising your town management skills here.
However, heading into town before getting started on anything else would be a good idea. You’ll be able to pick up quests, meet residents that you may be able to romance later, learn some basics of the game, and figure out what the town resources are. You’ll also be able to pick up some tools for free, so don’t rush to purchase anything. Also, you may find some interesting and mysterious places in Spellfield that will open up to you as the game progresses.
8Cultivate Your Farm
This may seem like a given, since this is a farming game, after all. However, pay close attention to which crops you grow, and when. The game starts you off in the spring, which is an excellent time to grow crops. Keep in mind, seasonal crops can’t be planted outside their designated season, so harvest enough to allow you to cook and bake during the off-seasons.
You won’t be able to buy produce in the market, only seeds. In the winter, you won’t be able to plant anything outside the precious few crops in the greenhouse.
7Tame The Property
The property you’re given is likely bigger than you anticipated, as it encompasses three plots of land. It may seem overwhelming at first, so it’s a good idea to clear the land as needed, or a section at a time. Keep in mind that cleaning up the stones, trees, and weeds will help you advance in the relevant skill sets.
Since crops can only be grown in the soil and not the grass, you may want to get some farming areas ready first, as you will want some funds flowing in pretty quickly. Additionally, your mining skills can be leveled up by removing the stones on your land, and the higher your mining skills are, the faster you can move through the dungeons without exerting too much stamina – you want to save that for fighting monsters.
6Explore The Dungeon
The dungeon can be found in the southern part of town, in the crumbling tower. Here, you’ll be able to fight monsters, gather loot, mine resources like copper and iron, and open treasure boxes to find things like potato and cucumber seeds.
Fighting in the dungeon will help your battle skills level up, while navigating it improves your mining abilities. Moving deeper into the dungeon will also help progress the plot, as you won’t receive any magical abilities until you’ve gotten to the fifth dungeon, and some of the bundles require monster parts, silver and gold bars, and precious gemstones.
5Take The Time To Donate To Spellfield’s Museum
Much like in Animal Crossing,the museum in Spellfield demands the first of your loot, from monster skins, crystals, and precious stones to mysterious artifacts. All of these can be found in the dungeons, or on the western and dark isles.
For roughly every five items you donate, you will be given a reward. Sometimes, these rewards are staples such as croissants, wine, pie. Other times, these rewards are more puzzling, like mysterious orbs.
4Prioritize The Bundles
About halfway through spring, Gino will alert you about a new room available in the castle. Here, it’s revealed that you are part of a prophecy, and there are seven bundles that must be completed. While this may seem overwhelming at first, the Portal Bundle – the second bundle on the left – can be completed in the Spring if you get past the fifth dungeon.
You might also be able to finish the Guild Bundle (third on the left) if you sail to the islands on the left-hand side of the map. However, the monsters that drop the crystals necessary to complete the Guild Bundle might be too tanky to fight at the beginning of the game. You won’t be able to finish the Greenhouse Bundle until about a week into fall, but it’s well worth it once completed.
3Upgrade Your Most Used Items
Efficiency is really key to the game. Upgrade the items you use the most, starting with the items that will help you move through the dungeons faster, such as the pickaxe and your weapon.
If you’ve completed the Guild Bundle, invest in the silver sword that you can purchase from Ivan at the guild. For farming, upgrading your watering can is great, but investing in sprinklers is even better, as they save you time better spent in the dungeon. And remember, like in real life, the more you do something, the better that skill set develops.
2Keep An Eye On The Status Bars
To the right of the screen are three status bars – health (red), stamina (green), and mana (blue). If you dip too low in health, you’ll collapse and wake up back at home. Stamina and mana loss won’t send you home, but it will make it impossible to do any physical labor or combat.
Also, keep an eye on the time – if you stay out past 2 a.m., you’ll collapse regardless of your health bar.
You may get lost in the game, and the seasons will go by quickly – there are some crops you won’t be able to plant once the season has gone by (unless you’ve completed the Greenhouse Bundle).
Stockpile some crops to use later, and some seeds to plant in the greenhouse. Planning ahead will help you stay fed, and ensure you always have something to sell, especially during winter.
