Indie space-set RPG branded ‘The Sims Online’ as players flock to brilliant new offering

SEED is a brand-new MMORPG that sees humanity set up life on a new planet, and it’s already being hailed as “the closest we’re getting to The Sims Online”.

Developed by Klang Games, SEED is set on the planet of Avesta following Earth’s downfall; Avesta was chosen for its similarities to Earth.

You’ll guide your character, known as a Seedling, through all of the typical fare you might expect in something like The Sims.

You’ll form unique bonds, build and decorate your own home, farm the land, and more.

Uniquely, SEED doesn’t just task you with looking after your own needs. Players will shape the planet of Avesta, issuing planet-wide policies and making key political decisions and alliances.

It’s said that “every alliance, every conflict, and every decision changes the course of Avesta forever”.

What sets SEED apart from The Sims is that as an MMO, it quite obviously features online play, allowing you to connect with both friends and random strangers.

The game has launched in early access on PC. A Steam version is on the way, but for now, you’ll have to download SEED from its own launcher; all progress will carry over when that Steam version drops.

Klang Games

The game retails for $29.99 for the base ‘Starter Pack’ version. That includes one game license, one Platinum Slot, one Seedling life, and access to Cultivator Rewards, where you get more Seedling lives, slots, and more for earning XP.

A Platinum Slot essentially refers to how many Seedling saves you can manage at once.

For $59.99, players can secure the ‘Pioneers Pack’, which includes everything in the ‘Starter Pack’ plus an additional Platinum Slot, 35 Pollen, and an extra Seedling Life, as well as two exclusive in-game jackets.

Pollen is SEED’s in-game currency.

Gamers already seem pretty hyped about what SEED has to offer, flocking to its launch trailer.

“This is the closest we're getting to The Sims Online, looks cool,” one comment read, while another added, “My goodness brother... it’s everything.”

“Wow, I'm shocked. This is exactly the type of game I've been wanting for years,” someone declared.

One commenter stated, “Wow, I'm in awe of every detail, the incredible diversity and the whole concept…The beauty, the styling, and the artistic direction are absolutely stunning.”

SEED looks very promising indeed. The only thing that could affect its prospects is the inevitable microtransactions, as paying to create new Seedlings may not go down too well long-term.

READ MORE: The Next Sims Game Gets New Leak, Our First Look At Gameplay

We’ve already been hands-on with SEED - here’s what we thought:

We had the chance to go hands-on with SEED at Summer Game Fest, writing that “it stood out as one of the most intriguing indie games in the selection”.

“In the demo, I was shown an arcade. Here residents could go, spend money and play on the selection of arcade machines on offer. However, it was explained to me that you can’t just spawn in arcade machines,” we began.

“They need to be built and building them requires materials, some of which you can only acquire with materials that could only be found on the other side of the world.

“This is where the MMO nature of the game comes into play as while your plot of land may be void of metallic ores, there’s another player out there who’s main export is ore.

“Other players may buy and convert those materials into computer parts, and when combined with plastics and other creations, you eventually get the arcade machine you wanted. The whole thing is a collaborative effort spanning potentially hundreds or thousands of players.”

It’s an intriguing concept, certainly.

“We’ve spent many years creating this expansive, reactive world for our players and we could not have launched it on a more perfect day,” said Mundi Vondi, CEO and co-founder of Klang Games in a press release.

“The entire team at Klang is anxiously awaiting a host of new Seedlings to set foot in Avesta to begin building their persistent lives and societies."