The Garden Path

The Garden Path is a labour of love for both developer carrotcake and the player. It targets for a specific audience that is accepting of a slower pace and a soft, cosy vibe. Unfortunately, that meticulous, mellow life is both The Garden Path's selling point and its weakness, with vague directions, advice, and control issues on Switch weighing down the experience even more. The Garden Path may grow on you over time, but whether you have the patience for that will be the real test.

The Garden Path is a title that bets on a serene, leisurely rhythm, leading to an attractive experience for those looking for a soft daily routine in a tranquil environment. However, the absence of clear directions and the not so intuitive controls can be quite frustrating, demanding a good amount of patience. Though the core mystery and the characters have a captivating potential, it takes a long while until these elements truly shine.

Enjoyable and engaging, The Garden Path is all about taking your time and simply existing within its charming world, letting go of the anxieties of life to make your own place without constant objectives bogging you down.

The Garden Path is a chilled out slice-of-life sim that requires patience, but if you're willing to give it that, there's fun to be had.

While it lacks the drive and pressure to meet objectives, that also can make it feel meandering and dull

The depth and breadth of The Garden Path are so extensive and coupled with real-time interaction that it’s hard to review after only a few days of play. My initial thoughts on this exquisite, hand-crafted game were positive. The artwork is stunning, the dialogue witty, and the mystery intriguing. But as time progressed, and I was slowed down by my excessive collecting, coupled with the lack of direction, my enthusiasm plummeted. However, I pushed through the barriers of frustration, had the Eureka moment, and started to understand where The Garden Path was going. This is not a game for the faint-hearted. If you like bright colours and clear guidance, look for a different game. But, just like in real life, the more time and effort you invest, the more reward you get, especially when it comes to gardening. The Garden Path is truly a remarkable game. Unlike anything I’ve encountered before, I’m left wanting to know more and play more. It was close to getting our highest rating, but the lack of clarity on some of the mechanics and the snail’s pace penalty for hoarding means: