Village Monsters is a life sim set in a dead game
What if you could talk to the monsters?
What happens to forgotten games? I'd like to think some of them just turn into after-hours parties, like a lock-in at proper old boozer. When nobody new comes to play, the characters just grab a pint or do a line of shots and hit the dance floor.
Village Monsters [official site] sees things differently. Here, the baddies inhabiting an abandoned RPG have moved on and are now living the good life. You can join them in this Harvest Moon inspired indie game.
Village Monsters is still in a pre-alpha state but you can download a demo version right now
There are loads of hobbies to take part in, like cooking and fishing, and you can also go on adventures and bring back collectibles and decorations for your house.
Most importantly, there are pets. Initially, the pets were a cat, dog or guinea pig, but a recent update suggests you'll be able to tame any critter. I approve. Give me all of the animal friends.
When I first saw the screenshots, I thought, "oh, it's Stardew Valley but also Undertale". I think there's less emphasis on farming though and more emphasis on all the rest, and there are day/night cycles, NPC schedules and dynamic weather changes. Stuff that I love, basically.
I'm going to quote a big block of planned features here, mostly because it uses the word "rambunctious" so I'm unlikely to improve the wording.
- Purchase, furnish, and upgrade your very own house. Hang up some new wallpaper! Plant a garden! Sit atop a golden throne you found in the woods!
- Pick up a new hobby, like treasure hunting, cooking, critter catching, or fishing. Donate your findings and creations to the Historical Society of Monsters
- Meet a boatload of rambunctious and whimsical villagers with their own personalities, schedules, and problems to solve
- Experience total immersion thanks to a robust day/night cycle, seasonal changes, dynamic weather, and a packed calendar full of events and holidays
- Explore a bizarre digital world that’s been transformed by its abandonment
- Bring back the treasures from your expeditions to decorate your home and village
- Unravel a unique story through dialog, environments, descriptions, and other esoteric means
- Enjoy the deep satisfaction of dog ownership
- Discover a world brimming with lore where every area, villager, and item has context and background
- Solve mysterious and other quests, and enjoy rewards that can upgrade your house and village
- Complete a massive compendium full of collectibles and secrets
It might seem like a small thing, but I've been reading the devlogs and really like the effort to add flavour and background information to every item. Given the strange setting, it'd be a shame if there was no attempt to explore the leftover RPG features that are the building blocks of the world.
A full release isn't expected 'til next year but you can try that demo right now, and it will receive updates as development continues.