Finally, a cozy game that isn’t just another farming sim. No dying crops or time pressure. I can take my time foraging, making potions, and doing side quests without worrying about missing the main story. Played on my ROG Xbox Ally X, and the controller navigation is smooth and comfortable. Only gripe is that Virgil and Ellie talk way too much sometimes, but honestly, this is the kind of cozy game I actually want to keep playing.

This game is super CUTE! (I've been burned before so I only write reviews once I have finished with them,)
You are a young, bubbly with named Ellie Blueriver and you are wearing Virgil the talking witch hat. You've graduated from witch school and are now on your way to your apprenticeship when your train gets stopped. Unknown to Ellie, forces are at play to have her stay there to help a vine infested village.

Gameplay is straight forward. I got used to the original key bindings, but now you can customize them to better fit PC play. You will gather resources, make potions, and magic candies. For some resources you have to figure out how to use one of the four potions specific to the area. (There's a total of 3 areas.) You will get info on how to catch/harvest items as you fill your Witch Encyclopedia. There are criteria to meet and rare species to find to help raise each page to S.

The game has puzzles at important rooms and minor puzzles as you figure out how to use your major potions to help gather components. All the villagers will have storylines and you will get a fish and cat encyclopedias as well. You use hints and trial an error on gifts to the villagers to gain affection. You can't pet the cats until you hit the story point where you can start gaining affection. Dropping fish on the ground and backing away from it, is how the cat will be enticed over to eat it. Once you get enough affection, they'll let you get them. For fish, once you catch enough of the non-special type, Fred will give you a fish tank for the particular fish. You also get lamps for getting to S rank with the main potions, and carpets once you have made and sold enough of each candy. Completing the creatures and plants will get you stuffed animals and paintings.

Keep an eye out for new options from the traveling sales lady. One is super useful as it allows you to exchange regular rocks/muds/wood for the higher types which you need to expand your basement. Also keep an eye on the magic scroll and what it sells as you will be able to buy upgrades to your cauldron and other machines so you can create components/potions/candies at a higher rate!

Character stories actually get quite poignant and the main story line is built throughout the whole game. Be aware that the cats will stop eating from the cat bowls once the main storyline is done, but you can still drop fish to the ground from inventory.

I totally recommend this game! But be aware that a few of the creature/plants will be a pain to get in the conditions required to complete their encyclopedia page. But if I could do it, you can too! Enjoy!

Horrible controls, clunky dialog, and unintuitive design. Lasted all of 9 minutes before getting frustrated by the lack of direction and endless dialog loops.