Summary
Those looking for a cozy management sim similar toStardew Valleybut with some unique twists might want to check outTraveller’s Rest.Traveller’s Resthas been in early accessfor some time now, but it is regularly being updated with new and interesting content, making it an exciting game to watch.
Traveler’s Restis quite an impressive product from a small independent team. It initially launched into early access in 2020 and has since grown to include several additional features, areas, characters, and mechanics. In some ways, it’s reminiscent ofStardew Valley’s famous development story, asTraveller’s Restbegan as a one-person project that has now ballooned into something much greater thanks to steady growth and community support. Developer Isolated Games is looking to keep building the game, further polishing its progression, simulation, and social systems over time, but it is already quite an achievement.
Traveller’s Rest: A Medieval Spin On the Stardew Valley Formula
Traveller’s Rest’s Setting Informs Its Gameplay and Tone
Most management sim orStardew-esquecozy games take place in a small townor some vague fantasy setting, butTraveller’s Restis doing something a bit different. Set in a more traditional medieval village, players are tasked with running a bustling inn patronized by hundreds of customers looking to either blow off some steam at the tavern or find a place to rest their heads for the night. The character, gameplay mechanics, and lore ofTraveler’s Restall seem to be informed by this medieval setting, making it a unique title in the cozy management space.
Traveler’s Restisn’t fully grounded in reality, though. Just like inStardew Valley, supernatural elementswill appear inTraveler’s Rest, and players can expect to engage with magical happenings and creatures, adding a sense of mystery and intrigue to the game’s world. Still, the core of the game, at least at this stage, appears to be built around more grounded, slice-of-life gameplay in keeping with genre conventions.
Traveller’s Rest Is More Than Just a Stardew Valley Re-Skin
It should be immediately apparent thatTraveller’s Restis drawing some inspiration fromStardew Valley; the retro pixel art, gameplay loop, and even the general layout and theme of the user interface are all reminiscent ofConcernedApe’s wildly successful indie. While the similarities between the two titles are certainly noticeable,Traveler’s Restis doing plenty to carve out a unique identity for itself.
Beyond the setting,Traveler’s Resthas some fundamental features that set it apart from not justStardew, but many other management games as well. Many of these features stem from the game’s premise: as an innkeeper, players are tasked with upgrading, expanding, and operating a customer-facing business, which offers a lot of gameplay and narrative potential in and of itself, with micromanagement and social-sim gameplay playing a greater role than in a game likeStardew Valley. The customer-facing nature ofTraveler’s Rest’s gameplay may actually make itmore likeHaunted ChocolatierthanStardew Valley, but specific systems like beer-brewing could still make it one-of-a-kind.
Isolated Games is promising to keep expandingTraveler’s Restthroughout its early access period, and the developer has some ambitious goals for the final version. Some features Isolated Games is planning forTraveler’s Rest1.0 include:
Isolated Games' plans for customer interaction seem particularly interesting, as they have the potential to invert the video game cliché of receiving quests and rumors from an innkeeper, putting that power into the players' hands instead. At any rate, while there are several indie games inspired byStardew Valley,Traveler’s Restlooks like one of the most promising, with a unique setting and solid understanding of the genre’s best qualities, making it a must-watch title.
Stardew Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
