Summary
- Mirthwood, inspired by Fable and Stardew Valley, offers immersive life simulation RPG gameplay with hand-drawn graphics and interactive systems.
- Players can choose between cozy farming or a bandit lifestyle, affecting morality and relationships with villagers in a dynamic world.
- Mirthwood releases September 11 on Steam.
Mirthwood, a Fable inspired open-world RPG, is coming to Steam on September 11. Mirthwood is being developed by Bad Ridge and distributed on Steam by V Publishing, which is known for an array of titles like Sanctuary Saga and Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness. Mirthwood aims to be an "enchanting" take on the life simulation RPG genre, with hand-drawn graphics and plenty of interactive systems that make the world as immersive as possible.
Mirthwood is the first release by Bad Ridge games. The title received an announcement trailer in May 2023 that showed plenty of the concepts at play, but none of the fleshed out ideas and mechanics available now. Mirthwood is largely inspired by the Fable series, which tends to place heavy emphasis on the decisions players make throughout the story. For players who are looking forward to the new Fable game but can't wait, Mirthwood is a potential alternative.
New Game is Like a Medieval Fantasy Stardew Valley
An upcoming life sim RPG has fairly strong Stardew Valley vibes, combining combat sequences with taking care of one's own farm.
Mirthwood is set for a September 11 PC release, and that date comes with a trailer that outlines the gameplay loop. Players will be able to spend their time living out a cozy farming lifestyle after fleeing a war. Managing and succeeding at farming will be made more complex by world events, which can affect the availability of resources. Based on those factors, gamers will have to adjust to the influence the world itself has on supply and demand.
Mirthwood Set For September 11 Release
Players who keep track of the available opportunities will be able to easily dominate the market, but those who want to achieve their ends through more volatile means can choose the path of the bandit. This alternative appears to be more focused on stealth and fighting than the cozy farming lifestyle one can choose. In the trailer, the choice to swipe a sick villager's last piece of bread affects a morality meter, which could ultimately stack up. Additionally, players who enjoy dating sim elements will be able to romance the villagers they become familiar with.
Often, games like Stardew Valley don't necessarily have an ending, because players can continue their activities even after the story content is completed. It will be interesting to see if Mirthwood follows that path, or whether it leans more towards structure. Mirthwood could also skew more towards its Fable influences, where the game can offer several different endings. Gamers who play Mirthwood when it releases will be able to answer that question for themselves.