Staxel

Staxel is a farming simulation title that focuses on both community-building and crafting. It incorporates elements from Minecraft with its art style and block system as well as Animal Crossing with the emphasis on collectables and creating a marketplace for fish and bugs. Does the title provide the getaway I wanted? Find out in this Rapid Review.

Staxel exemplifies the old saying, “jack of all trades, master of none.” With the stellar competition on offer, a game really needs to excel these days to make an impact in what is becoming a very crowded genre. Unfortunately, Staxel, with its frustrating systems and the uninteresting cast, makes it hard to want to stick around and enjoy the variety of gameplay loops on offer here, and it’s difficult to see anybody but the most dedicated fans of the genre feeling any different.

If you are looking for a charming farming sim, you would probably be better looking down yonder Stardew Valley.

At $24.99, I think Staxel's priced a bit high, and I'd wait for a sale. But multiplayer can be lots of fun, playing with friends both locally and online. If you find the premise and presentation appealing, Staxel's a cute, chill, but familiar title. It's a game that can bore or relax depending on your thoughts about Minecraft and farming/new-guy-in-town simulators like Harvest Moon.

Staxel is a game with potential and there’s a lot that I liked about it. Ultimately, it gets in its own way by trying to spread itself too thin and leaving too many elements of the game feeling tacked on. Having so many quests going at once with materials not being available ends up feeling more frustrating than anything and while graphically the game looks good and stands out from the field, this only gets you so far. Admittedly, the creative mode would alleviate some of my issues but that would essentially make this a sandbox game. Unfortunately, Staxel winds up as an ambitious project that couldn’t keep up with its own potential.

Playing Staxel you can see the thought process that produced it all around...

Staxel delivers a mediocre mix of block-building, farming, and foraging without providing any substantial drive or reward for your efforts. In other words, you'll be better off picking up one of the many games that Staxel was inspired by instead.

Staxel provides a fun, zen farming and life simulator that replicates the visuals of Minecraft, and the premise of Stardew Valley. There is much to uncover and it could be everyone’s new favourite farm to milk cows, grow crops and build abodes, whilst making friends along the way.

Staxel is a delightfully chilled crafting adventure. If you are looking for a relaxing game to sink hours into then Staxel is worth adding to your gaming library. A good entry point for gamers new to this genre but I’m not sure it’s enough to pull gamers away whose hearts are fully invested in other competitors. What Staxel does, it does with sunshine and smiles which is something many of us sure need these days.

Create your own farm with Staxel. What I liked a lot about the game is the huge amount of creativity, which makes it possible to design the little town and your farm to your own likings. Unfortunately the construction of the buildings and some quests turn out quite laborious. Even if in my opinion the simulation doesn't quite reach Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, farming-fans should have fun while creating their own world alone or together with friends.