Welcome to Elderfield

Serviceable RPG grind wearing Stardew Valley's skin.

People have called Welcome to Elderfield the spiritual successor to Graveyard Keeper, but I think it deserves the accolade of being called the spiritual dark successor to Stardew Valley. Stardew Valley is considered the gold standard for narrative-driven farming sims, and in my opinion, Welcome to Elderfield has shown that it has what it takes to stand alongside the greats. It also feels perfectly placed for autumn and Halloween. This is the kind of dark cosy game that could easily pull in horror RPG fans, cosy gamers and people who simply want something a little stranger from their farming sim. Given the follower numbers before release and the hype already gathering around it in the cosy community, I would be very surprised if a bunch of streamers and content creators do not flock to this game.

Welcome to Elderfield is a game worthy of the Lovecraftian title. It makes the mythos feel like a dark fairytale that you can take part in, and the weirdness of the whole experience is brilliant. Every little task feels rewarding because you get information, items, or access to resources. I put hours into this game, and I still don't know how I'm supposed to feel about it. If you're like me and enjoy both horror games and cozy games, then you definitely need to give it a try.

If you can stomach it, Welcome to Elderfield is an endearing escape from the normal world we’re all forever trapped in. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough, but who knows? Maybe you, like the other denizens, will never leave once you arrive.

Welcome to Elderfield blends cozy farm life with unsettling horror in a world full of personality, though its English-only text can get in the way of its dialogue-driven mystery.

All in all, Welcome to Elderfield is an impressive Gesamtkunstwerk that draws you in with its aesthetic of slimy tentacles, but keeps you hooked; especially because of its gameplay.