Discover the Thrilling Secrets of Moonstone Island: Unveiling Its Unexpected Gameplay!
Moonstone Island's creator dismisses claims of it being a farming sim in a Game Rant interview, expressing concerns about being labeled a Stardew Valley copycat
Fans of farming simulations may have been interested in Moonstone Island, a recent release that combines creature collecting, deckbuilding, and farming. While it shares similarities with Stardew Valley and Pokemon, Moonstone Island goes beyond that. Although the game incorporates these elements, its developers do not consider it just a farming simulation.
The concept of integrating farming mechanics into other genres is not new. Just before the release of Moonstone Island, FloraMancer: Seeds and Spells incorporated farming into an action roguelike in a similar way. These games can be seen as a natural progression from titles like Rune Factory. Our website recently interviewed Moonstone Island creator Sandy Spink about how the game finds a balance between these genres and why it should not be labeled as a "Stardew Clone."
Moonstone Island can be thought of as a creature collector game that incorporates farming mechanics to enhance the genre's formula, similar to Pokemon rather than Story of Seasons. This concept is similar to Harvestella, a Square-Enix title set to release in 2022, which combines farming mechanics with the classic JRPG formula seen in Final Fantasy games.
There is a growing recognition of the thematic value that farming simulation games can bring to other genres, suggesting that fans may see this crossover in different types of games. One commonly mentioned mechanic is the significance of day and night cycles in shaping the storytelling or adventure aspect of a game.
“I believe that farming beautifully encapsulates this idea, where it provides you with a sense of progress, similar to a slow-loading bar, gradually witnessing the crops grow taller each passing day, observing their sprouting, and finally reaching the point of being ready for harvest. It implies that time is essential, nothing happens instantly, and one must patiently wait for growth. So why not take this opportunity to relax, engage in something enjoyable, and momentarily divert your attention from the process?”
He expressed that the nostalgic charm of classic farming simulations like Harvest Moon evoked a sense of progress in him. This allowed him to appreciate the small moments and seize each day with purpose. These pacing effects were qualities that he aimed to capture in Moonstone Island. The deliberate and gradual fulfillment of goals is a crucial aspect of farming simulations, and he believed that the creature collector genre also greatly benefits from this approach.
To his surprise, Moonstone Island has been well-received, despite being categorized alongside other games that prioritize their farming simulation aspects more strongly. Spink had been concerned that his game would be dismissed as a mere imitation of Stardew Valley, as Moonstone Island's farming mechanics serve the purpose of creature collection, which is the true core of the game. Thankfully, this has not been the case since the game's release.
“In terms of the genre, we identify ourselves as a creature collecting life simulation game, and that's the essence of it. The game primarily focuses on exploration, combat, and creature collecting rather than farming. This is something that our players have come to realize. Due to our pixelated graphics and inclusion of farming, we often find ourselves being compared to games like Stardew Valley.”
Farming is the primary way for players to acquire the resources needed to befriend, train, and care for the different spirits they collect in the game. According to Spink, the farm serves as a replacement for the traditional item shop in a creature collector game. The team chose farming as it aligned thematically with the world they were creating and the mechanics they decided upon.
Spink takes pride in how the different genres in Moonstone Island harmonize together, although it required a lot of trial and error to reach that point. However, there is still room for improvement since not all the desired features were ready for release. These features will include new spirits and the ability for players to grow trees on their farms, enhancing the main aspects of the game.
For now, new residents of Moonstone Island will never run out of things to do.
Moonstone Island is available for PC and Switch.
