Celebrating the seasons: a look at festivals in farm-life sims

Farm-life simulation games strike a perfect balance between cosiness and adventure. They are rooted in reality just enough to feel homely and familiar, yet they have a unique charm that makes them a delightful escape from the mundanity of life. Games like Stardew Valley and the Animal Crossing franchise are well-known for their vibrant colours, fun activities, and their strong sense of an in-game community spirit. Naturally, this makes them perfect for seasonal events and festivals. What better way to represent themes of community and celebration than to have festivities that excite players, encouraging them to come together to share their different strategies and experiences? However, many games only succeed in uniting players against the games, as they come together online to rant about how much they detest the festivals. So, do these games successfully foster a festive community spirit, or do the festivals ultimately become more of a chore than a celebration?

“Bunny Day” is one of most recognisable, yet one of the most hated holiday events

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, “Bunny Day” is one of most recognisable, yet one of the most hated holiday events. In New Horizons, the event takes place over eight days and revolves around collecting eggs scattered throughout the game world. It sounds like fun at first, but the sheer volume of eggs quickly becomes annoying. It interferes with other activities such as fishing or digging up fossils, rendering the game unplayable for those who are not interested in collecting all the Easter-themed crafting recipes. Fans often express a desire for other events like the “Cherry Blossom Season” or “Toy Day” festivals to receive the same level of attention and focus. Though the festivals can indeed add a sense of seasonal joy to the game, they can also detract from the fun and overwhelm the players.

Some fans of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, a bite-sized version of the Animal Crossing games, echo a similar sentiment. In this mobile game, there is a monthly cycle of events, featuring gardening challenges, a fishing tourney, and a scavenger hunt. Each event has a new theme, bringing with it new items, new clothing, and new campsite terrains. Some fan favourites have been the “Jingle’s Floral Festivities” and “Heartthrob Valentines” events, and even collaborations like the “Sanrio Characters Collection”. All the events create a new and unique atmosphere, and this makes them the perfect addition to an otherwise simple game, constantly giving players something to look forward to. Simultaneously, however, they bring a sense of urgency and structure to the gameplay, and some players feel as though it goes against the intended nature of the game. Completing events takes commitment and playing the game at consistent intervals throughout the day to finish tasks. The events turn the game into a chore rather than a relaxing escape.

The interactions players have with its in-game characters reflect the joy of a real-life festival season

Some farm-life sims, on the other hand, have shorter events throughout the year, giving players a smaller window to complete challenges. In My Time at Portia, the events are fun and interactive, embodying a sense of competition and community. However, some fans point out that the competitive spirit of the townspeople is often absurdly and hilariously over-the-top, especially in festivals like the “Day of the Bright Sun”. The festival involves the players and townsfolk in a mad scramble to collect gifts being dropped from an airship, turning into a free-for-all that fans describe as a ‘literal stampede’. While some players believe this disrupts the immersive and beautiful gameplay, others think it wonderfully encapsulates the intensity and spirit of real-life festivals, building a strong sense of community.

The same can be said for many events in Stardew Valley, which integrates festivals into the gameplay in a way that does not oversaturate the game but adds seasonal cheer and variety to it, adding something unique for players to engage with. For example, the “Egg Festival” allows players to take part in a fifty-one-second, competitive egg hunt. Many players find it challenging, which sparks discussions online about strategies, bringing the community together at this time of the year. Similarly, the “Flower Dance” and “Feast of the Winter Star” prompt players to share their different experiences. One of the most notable things about Stardew Valley is its in-game sense of community as well as its fan base. The events and the interactions players have with its in-game characters reflect the joy of a real-life festival season, and it is part of what makes them so appealing.

In conclusion, farm-life sims are perfect for bringing some seasonal festivity into the world of gaming, but their success depends on balance. However, regardless of how tedious some events can be, each game helps to foster a sense of belonging in a community. They combine the cheerfulness of real-life festivals with the idyllic tranquillity of their gameplay and ultimately create a unique experience along with many fond memories.