Monster Harvest vs Stardew Valley
Monster Harvest
Monster Harvest is a very promising game that features a refreshing blend of monster-collecting and farming simulation. In this game, you grow various “pocket monsters” called Planimals at your farm and bring them to the local rec center to test your mettle or the dungeon to gather special materials. You'll get to develop both your farm and your skills as a Planimal trainer.If you love farming sims and collecting Pokemon - or any other types of pocket monsters really, then Monster Harvest is the game for you! The game features the very interesting premise of turning your crops into battle pets, and how you “slime” them will result in different kinds of pets with varying power. There’s even a roguelite dungeon and a gym for you to test your mettle at and, in the case of the dungeon, gather special resources for upgrades.
The sad thing is Monster Harvest is woefully early access and a work-in-progress. The game still has some pretty massive bugs and pending content (such as the empty-feeling “festival”), though none of them are completely game-breaking. In the worst case, you’ll just have to restart the game, though some players have reported corrupted saved games where all their planimals stored in the pen went missing.
Due to this, I’d not recommend getting the game right now. If you’re really interested, try the free demo and wishlist the game to keep an eye on it. Once the bugs are squashed to a more manageable level and some more features and content are added, then you might want to splurge and grab the game.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is an indie farm simulation/RPG that had surprisingly become popular mainly because of the beautiful pixel art, its heartwarming storyline and of its fun yet relaxing gameplay. In this game, you've inherited your grandfather's old farm in Stardew Valley, a place that was previously vibrant with life is gradually being worn-down since Joja corporation brought its Joja Mart chain to town. However, you saw the potential that this Valley has and are determined to restore it to what it could be - greatness... or you could just sell out and supply the Joja corporation with your produce... it's completely your call!Like most farm simulation games, you'll need to plant, grow and harvest a wide variety of crops as well as raise a plethora of farm animals. There are plenty of useful machines that you can restore and use to hasten your day-to-day, farm life routine. Interestingly though, being an RPG, you'll also get to mine for minerals, fight enemies, fish for... well, fishes and go foraging in the wild. These skills can be leveled up with use and as you progress, you can even unlock new recipes, places to explore and even pick up a profession or two. The best part though is that the game has some of the most interesting characters in a farm sim, some of whom you can eventually date and marry. You can also decorate your virtual home and customize the appearance of your avatar.
Stardew Valley reminds many of the game, Harvest Moon, and they aren't wrong. The game seems to build on the best parts of the latter and add in acouple of its own unique twists too. This is the sort of game that gamers, regardless of which type you are, will be able to enjoy.