When it came last March, Animal Crossing: New Horizons it was the ideal game to face a pandemic: it provided new levels of digital connection when people felt incredibly remote. Every day, new stories emerged about events within Cross between animals (I’m still sad that Elijah Wood never came to my island). Slack and Discord communities have emerged to allow people to trade recipes, exchange furniture and other household items and find the highest turnip price every week. A friend of mine even held virtual book events inside the game.
A year later, many people are still struggling with Covid-19. Most of the time, everyone is within the socially distanced status quo. But despite what it looks like, things are very different in March 2021. The world seems a little less out of control, many of my vulnerable loved ones are vaccinated and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I still find the style of Cross between animals relaxing, but I need a little more complexity in my gameplay now. Hence my obsession with Seasons History: Olive Town Pioneers.
If you haven’t played one yet Story of Seasons game (or Stardew Valley, because this game is based on an old portion of Story of Seasons), it’s like Cross between animals, but with more depth. Like B.C, Olive Town Pioneers that’s what you think of him, but unlike this game, there’s a lot to do. After completing the main storyline of Cross between animals, you can improve your island and interact with your villagers, but there is no more movement forward. It is up to you to make your own story; it was not meant to be thrown on binges, but in small doses over several days, weeks and months.
Seasons History: Olive Town Pioneers, on the other hand, starts with you, the main character, inheriting your grandfather’s old and grown farm. It’s your job to get it up and running – that includes planting, repairing barns (cows! Alpacas! Chickens!) And repairing old bridges to access new parts of the farm. But wait, there’s a lot more – your farm is adjacent to a fairly large city. Not only can you go shopping, have a drink at the cafe, buy new clothes and get a haircut, you can also make friends and even get married.
I can’t overemphasize the amount of things there is to do in this game – which is why it is perfect now. If Animal Crossing: New Horizons defined the 2020 pandemic and shutdown, so Seasons History: Olive Town Pioneers it’s the we-can-see-a-glimpse-of-hope game of 2021 reopening.
One year ago, Olive Town Pioneers it would have seemed oppressive. It wouldn’t have worked for me because I needed something to calm my nerves, and the possibilities seemed also without end. Now, it’s the perfect amount of engagement. I’m still anxious (that’s my secret, I’m ever anxious). I’m not saying that everything is Good but it is slowly improving. I have the energy and the ability to be a little more involved in my games and to deal with more complexity.
Furthermore, Seasons History: Olive Town Pioneers it can be as much as you want. Cross between animals emphasizes delight in the creative, and this is incredible (and necessary – I’m glad it is the way it is), but not everyone finds satisfaction and long-term relief from it. At some point, I needed more than the game was capable of offering. Olive Town Pioneers provides that.
I must add that sometimes Cross between animals it felt like a very busy job – the obligation to check in every day, to show up to buy turnips and then sell them (why were my prices always bad?), take those Nook Miles. I resented being tied to the game by tasks. Olive Town Pioneers it is compulsively playable – I wasted a lot of time on it, in a good way – but game time is not tied to real life. I can pick it up and drop it whenever I want, and regardless of whether I spend a day, a week or a month away, no one is blaming me for leaving (and my untouched farm has not been invaded by cockroaches).
This does not mean that Story of Seasons it is better than Cross between animals– these are two totally different experiences and it’s up to you to find out which one works best. But if you run out of things to do in Cross between animals and are deeply losing that contentment you felt when you played, if you need more of a sense of accomplishment in your entertainment, then Seasons History: Olive Town Pioneers may be your favorite 2021 game.
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