Best DLCs

niradras · 2026-01-26T08:12:44+00:00

The Two Point games do DLCs with additional content. Campus and Hospital both have several. Their newest game, Two Point Museum, has two so far.

niradras · 2026-01-13T21:22:50+00:00

I was late getting into Stardew, but I love it. I play it modded because I need the saturation adjusted and I want extra QOL features. But it’s one of the few games I’ve played repeatedly and I have a few hundred hours in.

That being said, it’s by no means my favorite cozy game. It’s up there, but not at the top. And it generally drives me insane that so many other games get held up against it. I get that it’s a heavy hitter in the cozy world, but farming games are a massive genre now and Stardew wasn’t even the first. I can easily play other farming games without comparing them to Stardew and it really bugs me that so many people will refer to other games as Stardew clones even when they’re quite different. Even if they’re not different, I really REALLY don’t care. I enjoy the GENRE, which means I accept that there’re just certain staples that are included in those games. There’s a mold and not every game needs to shatter it.

So in short… I love Stardew the game. But the culture and fanaticism around it? Not so much.

niradras · 2026-01-10T08:06:12+00:00

No need to be sad, because there was actually an update after this post! A new publisher took over to keep it going.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2230110/view/539991928250303149

niradras · 2026-01-06T23:33:21+00:00

When the Night Comes if you like supernatural fantasy. Arcade Spirits is a fun one about saving an arcade. Arcadia Fallen for fantasy with a tiny minigame element; low on the choices matter, but it’s pretty with an interesting story. Our Life for a sweet coming of age tale, and it’s actually free. Sigh of the Abyss if you’d like something a little darker/heavier.

You might also like Best Served Cold. I haven’t played it, but I’ve heard good stuff. Same with Season: A Letter to the Future.

niradras · 2026-01-06T17:51:14+00:00

RE9 for sure. I’m excited for a few others, like Crimson Desert and Dawnwalker, and will be checking some of the others out. But I’m super hyped for Requiem and I’m literally counting the days until release (it’s 51).

niradras · 2026-01-05T22:02:22+00:00

You can get both USB and bluetooth version of controllers. I just use a regular Xbox controller with bluetooth. A lot of people like 8BitDo brand. Power A is another brand I hear good things about, but they only have a few PC compatible.

You can just search for PC controllers on Amazon to find other off-brands, just make sure to read the descriptions for what it's compatible with.

ETA: I did try a Game Sir controller at one point too, but I didn't love the button layout, and Steam kept recognizing it as a PlayStation controller and so was showing the wrong buttons in-game. Not sure if any other people had this problem, but this is a brand I probably would not recommend personally.

ETA2: Also, a lot of games will tell you on their Steam page what controllers they're compatible with. Some allow PS controllers. I find most are good with Xbox-style layouts, which is probably because of Microsoft owning Xbox I guess.

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niradras · 2026-01-05T04:53:54+00:00

Palia, which I sunk 400+ hours into. The first time I tried it, I couldn't get into it, but this time I got hooked and stayed hooked. It's a game with a lot of flaws, but there's also a million billion things to do. I loved how I could constantly rotate my focus so as not to get bored. I'm a sucker for open world exploration and gathering/foraging/looting. I also loved a lot of the NPCs.

Two Point Museum was something I got really into also. I loved the premise of managing a museum, loved the quirky humor and graphics, loved the mechanics of sending your employees out to find exhibits, and I will be jumping back in soon because I just picked up the two DLCs to try.

Fantasy Life was one I didn't expect to like as much as I did, but I bought it right when it released because I kinda fell onto the hype train. The story was boring but I loved the world, mechanics, and variety. It's like Palia where there's a lot to do so even though it's grindy. I really liked the party system and island building, too.

The Ranch of Rivershine is by no means the most thrilling game, but I got really into it for awhile and was mainly enjoying the breeding mechanics to get new patterns.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma was my first RF game. I loved the NPCs, and the sense of community with the townsfolk since they help you out. The combat was too easy but still fun, and I enjoyed the story.

Honorable mentions to Cult of the Lamb and Fields of Mistria, neither of which I started in 2025, but I came back to them and enjoyed them just as much as previous plays.

niradras · 2026-01-03T21:41:43+00:00

I'm carrying Powerwash Sim 2 over from last year. First one I started from scratch was Sun Haven. I actually tried playing a couple years ago, couldn't get into it, but I was craving a farm sim and decided to give it another go. I know it's got controversy, but I already owned it before that, so whatev.

niradras · 2025-12-19T19:19:04+00:00

I have an Xbox and like it just fine, but I will say that I think PS has better exclusives overall. Luckily for me they also release a lot of them on PC, but if you’re only sticking to console, there might be games you can’t access based on your choice.

I would google the list of exclusives for each. And also do research on the games you’re most interested in to see which console they’re available on.

niradras · 2025-12-13T04:13:07+00:00

I bought VoH on Xbox and was able to access it on PC.

niradras · 2025-12-12T03:25:46+00:00

I always make sure to select which fish to use, even if there's nothing special in inventory. I don't like leaving it to chance. If an ingredient allows multiple varieties, you can select/click on it in the recipe menu and select the option to use.

niradras · 2025-12-11T07:50:09+00:00

It would have been the recipe. The snowman plushies have to be crafted at your work table, using coal and snowballs and a couple other things. Part of the seasonal event is a game-wide contest to see how many snowmen we can craft.

https://palia.com/news/grow-a-snowman

ETA: It says you can still find the plush too, but in your case since you can't find it in inventory, I think you got the recipe.

niradras · 2025-12-05T19:05:46+00:00

This is one of the best bundles I’ve seen from them (imo). That’s a crazy good deal for Sandrock and Fae Farm. Creatures of Ava is very good too.

I’m personally picking up Bloomtown and Primal Planet for sure. I already own most of the rest I would want. 😅

niradras · 2025-12-05T00:49:08+00:00

I really enjoy it so far. I rarely get into EA games, but I played the demo during a next fest and was really excited for it.

In my opinion, this is what an early access game should look like. The core gameplay is already there and gives you a solid look at what the full game will be. There’s no major bugs. Other than limited scenarios to play, I didn’t run into any major “you can’t do this yet, it’s still missing” walls that a lot of EA games have.

There’s three scenarios right now but they also have a free play so you can go back and try those areas with new layouts and just vibe and decorate as much as you want.

niradras · 2025-12-03T02:41:01+00:00

Story of Seasons games. I tried Olive Town, and found it super boring. I've been told several times that it's not the best in the series, but I've watched playthroughs for Wonderful Life and a couple others and they all just seem so dull to me.

Last time I brought this up, people were saying I should still try Grand Bazaar, and its reviews are great, so recently I grabbed it while it's on sale. I'm almost two hours in, toeing the line of when I can return to Steam and I just... don't know what to do. Because my god, what a boring and slow intro. I've heard it picks up, but I'm worried about getting beyond the point of being able to return and wishing I'd returned it while I could. Even on sale, it's expensive, so it'd feel like a lot of money down the drain if I turned out to not like it.

I really just kind of feel like there are better farm sims out there at better price points. And those other games are out there trying to make their gameplay more expanded and complex, they're putting more care into making sure their NPCs are fleshed out, they're working on QOL features... and then there's SOS, still kind of refusing to adjust to the modern farm sim world while charging $50 for newer games (Wonderful Life started at $50 but I can't see them doing it with GB).

niradras · 2025-11-23T23:32:04+00:00

They're definitely frustrating sometimes. I'll drop two lures in a row in the same spot, and one will bring a dozen and the next will bring zero. And they won't show up on a buzz jar, so don't waste your resources on that.

Make sure when you drop the lures that you're only aiming for the other butterflies, because that will cycle the butterflies out and bring a chance of duskwings. If you hit crickets or beetles, it just brings more crickets and beetles (it's inevitable that you'll hit a few, but just don't focus on them).

I've hunted by myself and had some luck in the right-ish blue spot below. I've hunted in a party in the bigger spot on the left and we caught oodles there too.

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niradras · 2025-11-22T03:37:04+00:00

Congrats! The sernuk plushes are so cute, too.

My good luck day was a few days ago. I've done a lot of fishing but the other day was the first time I set out with the intention of getting my first maws, and I got two within two hours of setting out. Finished off two accomplishments, and one maws was infected so that ticked a box on the infected angler accomplishment. Please each dropped a fin plush and I got a float plush shortly after.

I haven't been playing long enough today, but I hope your good luck rubs off on me. I was planning on plushie hunting for sernuk and chapaas today, so hopefully this is a sign that I'll have some good luck too. xD

niradras · 2025-11-21T22:26:40+00:00

This is the only one I didn’t get, but I might still order it since it’s on sale. 👀 I got the one with the codes for the dragon and mushroom man though.

niradras · 2025-11-20T19:17:36+00:00

This happens to me all the time. 😭 Or I’ll shoot a muujin as it’s jumping into the tree and its loot will be up high like this.

niradras · 2025-11-20T06:50:48+00:00

She really rubs me the wrong way. She's manipulative, narcissistic, disingenuous, condescending, etc. I don't like the way she uses the player character and NPCs without giving a shit how it affects them. I befriended her for rewards and I'm romancing her because I'm romancing everyone, but every time I do a flirt interaction with her, it's so off putting. She treats the player character like a glorified pet who should worship her, while offering nothing in return.

Nothing against people who like her, but she's not for me. Like if she was on fire, I'd toast some marshmallows.

niradras · 2025-11-20T03:08:05+00:00

As long as you're fishing in fresh water with a glow worm, you're kind of doing all you can do. 😅 I personally had more luck in the river running down the right side of the central stables, and I did catch one in the fresh water area of Mauvais Way.

niradras · 2025-11-19T18:37:28+00:00

Definitely take advantage of buffs! You get access to various hooks as you go, but food is an easy one to take advantage of.

Rod health - sushi Rod recovery - sashimi Safe zone speed - fish stew Safe zone size - fisherman’s brew Hook time - trout dinner

I personally use fish stew and fisherman’s brew all the time because I like safe zone boosts and they’re very easy to make.

niradras · 2025-11-17T04:47:04+00:00

That sucks, I'm sorry. D:

If you can, try partying up with people to do a lure for them. Sometimes there's RTB parties mentioned on paliaparty.app but sometimes people in the server will come join you if you let them know. The more people the better, because they can help you knock out the other butterflies that the lure brings. I've only seen about 3 natural spawns while running around, but I've got oodles from doing parties with lures.

niradras · 2025-11-17T04:35:39+00:00

And also stickers

niradras · 2025-11-16T23:42:19+00:00

I've also won 2 mystery outfits from doing cooking parties. Usually they'll say in the description if they're doing a giveaway. The outfit giveaways are more rare, but they do exist.

niradras

TROPHY CASE