Grow: Song of the Evertree

There are some rough edges to be found, and one person’s relaxation will be another’s repetition. However, Grow: Song of the Evertree succeeds in its attempts at presenting a wholesome, laid-back experience. Its successes are admirable, and its missteps are negligible. It lives up to its philosophy and presents something that has all the satisfying progression of a typical game experience, but without all the violence. There’s still room to grow, but the roots are firmly planted.

Although lacking in some aspects, what Grow: Song of the Evertree gets right is the sense of whimsical fun and adventure. Definitely worth giving a try!

Without a doubt Grow: Song of the Evertree took on board what worked and what did not work so well in Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and produced an engaging, time consuming game that is hard to put down with virtually no issues aside from occasional weird camera angles. It was not possible to finish the main story for this review because of how long it takes to complete each section, but there are dozens of hours to be spent creating new realms to explore and harvest from, creating settlements that are eye-catching and meet all residents' needs, with few issues that make it an epic title in its own right on Nintendo Switch.

There is certainly room for improvement—such as better overall design—but the overall impression is largely positive, and it’s definitely worth a try. When I played it, I bought Grow: The Song of Evertree for around 450 CZK, which is a fair price considering I spent just over thirty hours playing it. Overall, the game captivates with its philosophical concept and captivating music, offering a gentle, rewarding experience with added value. Although there is room for growth, the foundations are solid.

Grow: Song of the Evertree is the definition of a chill and relaxing game. While it provides fun and enjoyment through puzzles and challenges, the visuals of the map design and technicalities may prove uncomfortable for some, especially when you have to do repetitive elements for the first 6 hours to actually see some variety in the game.

A game with mystery, world building, farming, fun characters, exploring, customisation – Grow: Song of the Evertree really does have it all. This is one of the most wholesome and wonderful games I have had the pleasure of playing this year, and I’m here to tell you all why you should be playing it too.

A bit slow at the beginning and a bit repetitive in the long run, overall Grow: Song of the Evertree still offers a pleasant and relaxing experience, with its simple but effective playful loop, its ability to motivate the player without pressure or forcing and that sense of freedom and progression that transmits in a concretely satisfying way.

If you can look past the issues with pacing and the odd graphical stutter, Grow: Song of The Evertree is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure with rewarding exploration as well as tons of fun things to create and collect within its large and colourful game world.

Grow: Song of the Evertree is close to excellence with its gorgeous aesthetic and charming writing, but it struggles under the number of gameplay elements packed into it. There’s a lot here that might work together in theory, but the end result is less than the sum of its parts. When exploring Alaria and interacting with the characters, it’s easy to get swept up in this quirky and beautiful world. Unfortunately, the bits you enjoy will be intercut with stuff that might feel more like a chore. Grow is a game with too many irons in the fire, but its obvious heart and character still presents a lot to love.

Grow: Song of the Evertree is three different games crammed into the same one. Its mechanics clash too frequently for Grow to stand out despite some bright spots.