I fear I am losing my reputation for being an evil person when playing video games. Just look at the list of titles I’ve been playing this year! Starsand Island, Collectors Cove, Tailside Coffee Sim, and Big Hops are proving how much I enjoy the more wholesome side of video games lately. I should probably return to my death colonies in Rimworld soon.
We’re in March and some big releases are approaching fast. Slay the Spire 2 definitely has my interest, and like everyone else I’m very curious how Crimson Desert turns out. Today however I am taking a more cosy route. I have been playing quite a bit of Sky Harvest since its launch, and it’s pretty interesting as farming life sims go. Being able to go about my day on giant floating islands is my idea of a good time, and the game deserves more attention.
Sky Harvest is an indie farming and life-simulation game that launched back in January this year, and is a solo project by Hamzah Kirmani. One interesting thing about the game is the price tag. £6.69 or 9$ is honestly insane for a game of this scope, even for a solo title. Indie games have been gradually going up in the standard price tag such as Mewgenics, Slay the Spire 2, and Starsand Island hovering around the 20-30$ price point. While Sky Harvest is in Early Access with a long way to go, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
Designed as a relaxing “cozy game,” it emphasizes farming, exploration, and community over combat and fast-paced action, and the setting is rather unique too, taking place in the sky. The player inherits an abandoned floating island farm from their grandfather, which is the standard plot I guess. Plot… get it? (Terrible joke)
Things play out like the usual farming sim. Armed with only a few old tools and some starting funds, they take on the role of the new “Chief Farmer,” tasked with transforming the neglected island into a thriving agricultural home. As the farm flourishes, players can grow crops, fish in lakes, gather ingredients, and cook meals, all while revitalizing the surrounding region and assisting its inhabitants. I have no complaints with the general gameplay loop. It doesn’t do much different, but the game does things well enough.
Sky Harvest’s main draw is going to be that aerial exploration between the many sky islands. Players travel using vehicles like airships and can utilize tools such as jetpacks to uncover new islands, hidden ruins, and scattered resources. These islands have everything from extra resources to little quests that expand the story.
As time progresses, new farming upgrades, crafting recipes, and customization options become available, allowing players to shape their farm and character as they wish. One thing I like is that the developers have focused solely on the ‘cozy farming’ aspect of their game. There are no strict timers or combat systems, so you can explore and farm at your own pace while getting bogged down fighting random monsters. This does mean there’s some compromise on the variety of gameplay, however.
Since its Early Access launch, the current version includes the complete main storyline, and future plans involve adding more islands to explore, additional abilities, and gameplay enhancements based on community feedback during development. What really stands out is the developer’s involvement. They’re very active in the community, which is what I expect from anyone. Sky Harvest’s unique blend of farming mechanics and exploration across floating islands sets it apart from traditional farming simulators, and there’s a lot to like so far. Even at this stage, the basic controls are fully functional and intuitive.
If you enjoy supporting games while they’re still evolving, Sky Ranch is worth trying out, especially for such a low price tag.
