A town in the middle of the woods. A cozy farm. The incomprehensible horrors of the Old Gods. Welcome to Elderfield.
Developed by Chris Cote and published by Kwalee, this cozy horror RPG/farming sim is like if you took the corpses of Welcome to Night Vale and Stardew Valley, performed a viscerally unpleasant ritual, then merged them into a monstrosity. Truly riding the line between nostalgic coziness and a creeping sense of dread, Welcome to Elderfield breaks the mold of traditional farming sims through its uniquely imagined gameplay and world.
The Meat
If you’re familiar with ye olde top-down pixelated farming sim (a genre that has crept its way into every crevice of the gaming world since Stardew Valley), you know some of what to expect. But in case you don’t, here’s a brief summary:
- Farming (obviously)
- Foraging
- Mining
- Crafting/cooking
- Completing quests
- Befriending the townsfolk
- Exploring the world
Sounds familiar? If I may rant for but a moment, I tend to resent farming sims that are essentially Stardew Valley, but worse. My dear developers, by all means, make your retro top-down farming sim! But ask yourself, “How is mine different? What new wonders will my players behold when they open my game?”
The developers of Welcome to Elderfield answered: wonders of cosmic proportion that will send the players shivering with fits of madness.
You’re not foraging in a gentle forest, you’re foraging at risk of a beast springing out from the rubbish. You’re uncovering a conspiracy of a cult that, inexplicably, has decided you’re of interest to them. You’re in a world where nighttime brings curses and where townspeople are insane in their own, special way.
The hideous beauty of Elderfield is in the details. Not only are the visuals creepy, but the game contains unique mechanics that drive home that the land itself is inhabited by ancient evils. For example, sleeping itself has consequences, as a dice is rolled to see if you are cursed or spared in the night.
The Skin
The demo only encompasses 1/3 of the game world, which is packed with unique characters, monsters, and mysteries. What is the Neighborhood Watch? Why is there a cult of tentacle people stalking me? Who is the romanceable skeleton, and why is she the only normal person in Elderfield?
The overall tone of Welcome to Elderfield is exactly what it needs to be. The manga-inspired artworks for the characters and monsters are beautifully drawn, not to mention delightfully unsettling. The soundtrack, composed by dark lofi artist Dated, is the perfect vibe for Elderfield, reminiscent of Welcome to Night Vale.
I’ve mentioned Welcome to Night Vale a few times. If you haven’t had the pleasure of making its acquaintance, it is a fictional podcast where radio host Cecil Baldwin reports in his silky voice the strange going’s on in the desert town of Night Vale. Not only does Night Vale’s signature purple eye imagery appear throughout Welcome to Elderfield, but the game features its own “weather channel,” where a man not unlike Cecil Baldwin himself reports on eerie happenings in this fair town.
Another source of lore is the local news, which updates daily with a fresh mystery to investigate. If you don’t mind grappling with some ancient magic, that is.
The Teeth
In Elderfield, there are few places that are truly safe. Monstrous critters, strange mall patrons, and eldritch abominations abound.
A startling rush from an enemy launches the player into turn-based combat. Though the player starts out with a large stick and a sheer will to survive, you should strive to gain power with better weapons, armor, and rituals. A pro and con of living in such a bizarre town are blessings and curses, which can help or hurt you in combat, respectively.
Best of all, looting the corpse may grant you treasure, determined by a roll of a dice.
Visit Elderfield Today!
Welcome to Elderfield is set to release in 2026, but you don’t have to wait to poke your head around the town. The demo offers a good amount of content and was part of Steam Next Fest: June 2026. It is still available on Steam as of publication.
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