Some games approach their genre aiming to reinvent key elements, if not the whole genre. That’s not the goal offarming simulatorPixelshire, however. Instead of attempting to upend the cozy farming sim genre, which sounds incredibly unlikely of any game,Pixelshireset out to remix beloved elements of the genre together in its own way.
Pixelshirecreator Vasileios Karagiannakis spoke to Game Rant about the title, shortly before its May 8 release date, and how its influences blend together.
Pixelshire Doesn’t Reinvent the Wheel
It was Karagiannakis’ intention to make a game that blends his favorite features of the genre with his own spark of creativity. The idea of breaking new ground was never his ambition, which, given the extensivehistory of the farming sim genre, makes complete sense. Some of his favorites include terrain manipulation and NPC assistance, which he explained:
“Honestly, my goal wasn’t to reinvent the genre or create a specific feature that nobody ever did before, but to bring together proven mechanics I’ve loved in other games and combine them into one cohesive and enjoyable experience–and I think that’s what helpsPixelshirestand out. Some of my favorite features include terrain manipulation, which allows players to terraform the landscape and design a truly personalized town, and ‘Buddy Mode’ where NPC companions can assist with tasks like farming or gathering resources. For example, if you’ve built a friendship with the logger, he might join you in cutting down trees.”
Terrain manipulation and extensive town customization gained a lot of attention as the central mechanic inAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, but it was far from the only cozy game whose influences found themselves inPixelshire. Those other influences naturally includeStardew Valley, but also a game calledLittlewood.Littlewoodis a cozy pixel art farming gamein the vein ofStardew ValleyorPixelshirethat focuses on finding potential residents for a town and recruiting them, another mechanicPixelshireremixes into its formula.
The terrain manipulation, though, was particularly important to Karagiannakis. The game’s setting, Arcadia, is a largely undefined land, only recently discovered and rich in diverse biomes and opportunities. By allowing players to terraform this environment,Pixelshireallows players to put their unique stamp on Arcadia.
“I’ve always loved games that let players shape their own worlds. Giving players the freedom to customize their environment fosters a stronger emotional connection to the game. Terraforming inPixelshireallows each player to truly make the world their own…Arcadia is a newly discovered island-continent in a larger world, full of mystery and mostly unexplored. It’s divided into diverse regions, each featuring its own distinct environment–from enchanted forests and deserts to icy plains.”
