Apico

APICO is a charming sandbox simulator that also teaches you a thing or two. For fans of laid-back gameplay in a pleasant natural setting, this game is the perfect choice. The price of €16.79 is currently a bit on the high side, but it’s justified either by a discount or the promise of future updates. By purchasing the game, you’ll also be contributing to the #SaveTheBees charity, thereby improving the lives of some real bees.

There may be a lot you can do in APICO but no matter what you fill your schedule with, you're bound to have a lovely and relaxing time.

APICO is a tightly constructed and well-presented simulator about a topic loads of people are curious about but few people dive into. It’s a good way to quietly spend some time thinking about the majesty of these little animals while having a complicated enough gameplay loop to keep you invested for hours upon hours.

As the days grow darker and the nights grow colder, a relaxing game on the Switch is just the thing you need to cuddle up with on the sofa. APICO is a title which certainly ticks that box; leaving city life behind, you move to Port APICO to carry on your family’s beekeeping legacy. With a cutesy pixel art style too, is this a bee-autiful indie to chill with, or does it really sting? Find out in this Rapid Review!

The more I play APICO, the more convinced I feel that I'm playing it wrong. It calls itself "a laid-back beekeeping sim game about breeding, collecting, & conserving bees.” The Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive, praising it for being calm and relaxing. And me? All I can think whenever I play is how stressed it makes me.

APICO might start off slow, but it becomes intriguing pretty quickly. It's a chilled experience that allows you to complete the game at your own pace. The crafting and building features are easy to pick up on and enjoy, allowing you to design the island to your liking. But what makes APICO stand out is the beekeeping aspect, breeding different bees to get desired traits and ultimately discovering new bees. The game sneaks a bit of science in the fun, and I'm all for it.

APICO isn't as relaxing as it states, but you'll still have a fun time conserving bee populations if grind-y simulation games are your cup of tea (with honey).

A wonderful, laid back beekeeping simulation that is perfect for players looking for a change of pace from the standard farm sim

When you need to unwind after a long day, or get lost in the Zen-like calm of caring for your in-game world farming sims are a great distraction...

Oh honey, APICO has all the fixins of a good and relaxing farming sim, but with bees! You have an inventory system that allows you to multitask without wasting time or restricting your options. There are little-to-no penalties for playing however you want, whenever you want. The soundtrack is so soothing and laid back that you'll put viewers and bees to sleep. And, there exists an element of surprise within the gameplay loop of beekeeping, breeding bees, and discovering bees that can keep you playing into the wee hours of the morning and can be disabled if you wish to leave less gameplay up to chance. Despite the gigantic tutorial (that could admittedly use some tightening up for new players) and the lack of deep story/community-building that you may expect from other popular farming sims, it is SO easy for one to lose track of time and relax in the bee-pun filled world of APICO. Give APICO some time -- it's an absolute hit, and I'm SO EXCITED to see it grow.