We live in a gaming world that is becoming swamped with cozy RPG farming sims, so it’s always nice when a game comes along that surprises you, such a game is Snacko, a delightful cross between Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. Developed by Bluecurse Studios and published by Armor Games Studios, it gets its official 1.0 release after a lengthy period in early access.
Snacko sees you, you being a small cat, (colour and characteristics chosen by you in a customisation menu that gives you more options than you would ever think you needed for an animated cat), together with your childhood friend Mikan, setting sail to Snacko Island for a fresh start.
It is here that you meet Nobu, the one remaining occupant of the island and it’s caretaker, who sets you up with some tools, a home and instructions to get you set up and farming.
Once you’ve completed the tutorial you’re free to explore the island, discovering its mysteries, different biomes, and working to lift its curse through a series of quests.
The quest system itself is quite extensive giving you plenty to do, with over 200 quests ranging from simple tasks to intricate story-lines. You can fish, farm, mine, build and decorate, rebuilding the town in an effort to attract others to join you, giving an opportunity to socialize with a fun, colourful group of animal characters. And, the discovery of shrines adds a nice change of pace, offering puzzle-platforming challenges.
The farming aspect will be familiar to anyone who has played a game of this type before, hoe land, plant seeds, water, harvest and ship. The fishing mini game is simple, after you unlock the rod through a quest and the building mechanics are straight forward, with lots of options to build your ideal island from scratch.
The interaction between the quirky animal characters is fun with some amusing dialogue, and the soundtrack is a perfect accompaniment to the cozy gameplay. Its art style is visually appealing with the use of vibrant colours and fun and adorable character designs.
As for drawbacks, some players have reported a few glitches, like furnaces not working properly on certain platforms, but the developers seem quick to respond, and in the few hours that I played I saw at least four updates or patches. I think the progression is well paced and new features are introduced steadily so as to not overwhelm you. Some players may find the slow social skill progression frustrating, and the main story may feel lengthy (from anecdotal evidence, potentially 100+ hours), but this is all dependent on your personal preferences.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing, and know that there is still so much to do and discover, and I look forward to getting deeper into the story.
Is it worth the £20.99 you’ll pay for it on steam? Well, the devs clearly care about your gaming experience and have put in a lot of work to make it fun, entertaining and packed with things to do, you will lose hours, if not days of your life. So, yes I believe it’s well worth the price tag. If you love cozy gaming, grab yourself a copy.
