Ever since my days playing Harvest Moon on Game Boy Advance, I’ve been hooked on the cozy farming genre. It’s become a staple. When I want to unwind after an arduous run of Elden Ring? Cozy Farming! So, I’m always looking for new and upcoming titles to scratch the itch. Cattle Country was right up my alley, so when the developer offered an opportunity to check out the game, I couldn’t wait! Here’s our official Cattle Country review!
Editor’s Note: The Guide Hall received a review copy of the game from the developer/publisher/PR for this review. Their generosity does not impact our overall opinion or thoughts on the game!
The Story
Cattle Country puts the players into the shoes of a customizable pioneer traveling to a budding town in search of something more: a life worth living. There, you’ll acquire a sprawling expanse of untamed wildlands, overrun with trees, thick grass, and rocks. In town, you’ll meet all manner of characters, encounter bandits, tackle quests and jobs for the townsfolk, develop the town itself, and rebuild your farm. Oh, and yes, you can romance characters. I know that’s a big deal for many in the cozy genre!
Here’s the thing, though. While the story differs from all other cozy farming games—a nice change of pace—it’s still the background flavor. You’ll spend your time laser-focused on renovating your farm, growing crops, raising livestock, fishing, and romancing that one villager who caught your eye. Everything else feels secondary.
The Gameplay
If you’ve played Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, you’ll understand the gameplay in Cattle Country from the get-go. You have a hotbar where you may store your tools and resources, allowing you to quickly swap between your axe, watering can, or pickaxe, for example. You can also keep a few essentials to eat, replenishing your health.
On a day-to-day basis, Cattle Country revolves around waking up early, watering your crops, exploring the countryside, and speaking with villagers. Okay, so that’s early game. Once your farm becomes more developed, it’s nothing for an entire day to pass by without you ever leaving your land. With so many crops, livestock, and crafting projects, you’ll find yourself busier than ever. In a good way!
The Graphics
It’s cute! Cattle Country features adorable pixel art—a common feature in the cozy farming genre—but with a bit of a twist. It’s more grounded, a little more pioneer-esque, with dull colors melding with the bright, flashy greens and yellows of springtime.
There are animations for nearly everything, including sawing down trees with a two-person tool. Oh, and various events, like town gatherings, all with unique decorations, flair, and animations to set each one apart.
Gripes and Grimaces
All of that said, I do have a few gripes.
First and foremost, the characters. These are some of the ugliest character models in the genre, with little squashed potato people. Yes, I know it’s a stylistic choice, but they’re ugly and hard to look at as they roam the world. But that’s minor.
Secondly, the in-game economy requires tweaking. Everything is so cheap, making the game perpetually set to easy mode as you earn many thousands of gold per quest, along with all that you sell daily.
Lastly, the villagers require far more dialogue. They’ll run out quickly while you try to immerse yourself in the world, thereby repeating dialogue lines frequently.
The Verdict
So, as we wrap up our Cattle Country review, it’s time for the verdict. Despite the handful of gripes I have, they barely take away from the game. This is an excellent cozy farming game with plenty of side content, unique characters, and a setting worth exploring.
I do recommend you check out Cattle Country if you’re itching for a chance to play more farming, livestock-raising, and mining adventures!
We have new video game reviews going live regularly, so check back often to see what we’re playing and what we think!