sakuna is not a game i would normally play, being focused a lot on farming, yet that i still had on my radar because of the other half of the gameplay. fast forward a few years later and here i am finally having bought and played it

the verdict? damn i think this game is hella cool and i like it.

sakuna is split, in its first half, into a fairly in-depth rice farming simulator that takes you through the various steps of farming rice, either by doing it yourself on a micro level (planting) or through QTEs (threshing). it feels very relaxed and zen, and even if you get a bad harvest, the game does carry on. it's never a real blocker but you are rewarded for better harvests.

the other half is an adequate side-scrolling action game. i think it's a bit clunky because of the animations on certain moves or how the rainment works but it doesn't feel like a deterrent. if anything it would feel weird if it was a full action game. there's several stages, most of what you do feeds (literally) directly into what you need to survive and thrive to progress the game, be it crafting or meals. sakuna cannot regenerate on an empty belly, and while rice dishes are the best thing you can make, she ultimately needs to need regardless, so the whole thing is a cycle : do the necessary steps for your rice harvesting, craft your new gear, go exploring, eat, rinse and repeat.

i think sakuna is a bit more than the sum of its parts : it's very charming, has a good cast for VA, and in general handles fairly well. at the very least, it's a game i didn't think i would like this much, so i was eagerly surprised to have this much fun with it.

more importantly, this game had me find newfound respect for rice harvesting because god it is a lot of work and steps.

i think you should give this game a shot!

sakuna is not a game i would normally play, being focused a lot on farming, yet that i still had on my radar because of the other half of the gameplay. fast forward a few years later and here i am finally having bought and played it the verdict? damn i think this game is hella cool and i like it. sakuna is split, in its first half, into a fairly in-depth rice farming simulator that takes you through the various steps of farming rice, either by doing it yourself on a micro level (planting) or through QTEs (threshing). it feels very relaxed and zen, and even if you get a bad harvest, the game does carry on. it's never a real blocker but you are rewarded for better harvests. the other half is an adequate side-scrolling action game. i think it's a bit clunky because of the animations on certain moves or how the rainment works but it doesn't feel like a deterrent. if anything it would feel weird if it was a full action game. there's several stages, most of what you do feeds (literally) directly into what you need to survive and thrive to progress the game, be it crafting or meals. sakuna cannot regenerate on an empty belly, and while rice dishes are the best thing you can make, she ultimately needs to need regardless, so the whole thing is a cycle : do the necessary steps for your rice harvesting, craft your new gear, go exploring, eat, rinse and repeat. i think sakuna is a bit more than the sum of its parts : it's very charming, has a good cast for VA, and in general handles fairly well. at the very least, it's a game i didn't think i would like this much, so i was eagerly surprised to have this much fun with it. more importantly, this game had me find newfound respect for rice harvesting because god it is a lot of work and steps. i think you should give this game a shot!