This Fantasy Farming Sim Is One of the Most Original in Ages

Farming and life sims often incorporate elements of magic and mystery with gameplay mechanics, fostering rich and varied playthroughs among fans. Franchises like Harvest Moon (and, by extension, Story of Seasons), Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley have masterfully executed this blend of normalcy and fantasy, establishing themselves as the top dogs in cozy gaming. However, one developing competitor has the potential to stand amongst the best of its genre.

Tales of Seikyu is an ongoing Kickstarter project from ACE Entertainment. Having reached a handful of goals promising a playable female lead, additional locations, both PC and console optimization (including Switch, thank goodness), and much more, the new “fantasy-style farming sim adventure” is planned to launch this year. We’ve yet to receive an official release date as developers continue to implement even more requests from eager players. In the meantime, there’s certainly a lot to look forward to in Seikyu, and I can’t wait to get started.

Restore a Rustic Inn in Seikyu

In Tales of Seikyu, you and your friend Kon live in a countryside inn and work to restore its weathered grounds. You are surrounded by all manner of yokai, legendary creatures from Japanese folklore, which sets you up for an enchanting life ahead.

Plenty of farming sim staples are on offer during your stay in Seikyu. You’ll spend your days nurturing and harvesting crops, caring for livestock, collecting resources, and cooking. I’m especially excited to raise some of my personal favorite farm animals, like sheep. Of course, I’m also looking forward to meeting some totally unexpected species, including the capybara and Crested Ibis. The more materials and produce you collect on your farm, the better the recipes you can whip up.

With solid stores at your disposal, your crafting skills will also be put to the test. From renovating buildings and expanding your space to decorating the farmhouse, you’ll have your work cut out for you. Aim to live a life of luxury or furnish your humble homestead with the necessities for a decidedly cozy aesthetic.

Use Yokai Forms to Farm and Complete Tasks

As you explore Seikyu, you’ll venture through divine realms teeming with puzzles. Here, you’ll find strange masks that grant new abilities, allowing you to temporarily transform into various yokai. You can use these new forms to accomplish mundane tasks and major feats in innovative ways. Morph into the Wild Boar to till your fields or take flight as the crow-like Karasu Tengu and reach new heights.

Just four shapeshifting yokai have been revealed so far, though ACE promises many more to come. I’d liken the current designs to creatures straight out of The Legend of Zelda. Each will have its uses, but I’m most excited to see which feats will be made possible with the help of the Vine yokai. Given the practical advantages offered by the legendary creatures of Seikyu, I’d wager this form could help with the fertilization of your farm. We’ll need to see what ACE has in store, though.

Date and Foster Friendships

The search for your soulmate is another enriching aspect of Tales of Seikyu. Regardless of your gender, you can romance any of the game’s eligible bachelors and bachelorettes or forge unbreakable friendships. By growing closer with the town’s 30 residents, you’ll unlock new storylines and paths moving forward.

As it stands, Seikyu’s romanceable characters are wildly diverse in appearance and trade. However, ACE is ready to add four more options and a child-rearing feature if the team can reach an upcoming Kickstarter goal. I’ve got my sights set on Shuten and Nyotengu so far. However, I’m hoping we’ll meet a standout male candidate with the reveal of the mystery romance option and any additional characters ACE is able to introduce.

In any case, romance isn’t the only path to partnership in Seikyu. You can invite friends and other players to join you on your journey, too. With a solid team, you’ll uncover the hidden treasures of the divine realms and take down formidable adversaries along the way.

With a set of five more Kickstarter goals remaining, Tales of Seikyu is shaping up to be a surprisingly unique fantasy farming and life sim in the making. As we await more details, you can follow ACE’s Kickstarter campaign, wishlist the game on Steam, and join the team’s official Discord channel for a chance to get in on alpha testing. Until launch, fantasy fans may also look forward to Mirthwood, a love child of D&D and Stardew Valley.