Stardew Valley Has Competition In Free Steam Offering With Magical Twist

Witchbrook is perhaps the very first game that springs to mind when I describe something as Stardew Valley with a magical twist.

It’s not the only option though as Moonfrost also very much fits that bill.

Created by Oxalis Games, Moonfrost is yet to determine a launch date but it’s in development for PC with a free taster already available on Steam.

It describes itself as a “cosy life-sim RPG” with players inhabiting a world “ravaged by constant meteor storms”.

You’ll enjoy all of the usual activities, including farming, fishing, crafting, building, and decorating, while also partaking in some RPG fare, from adventuring to solving a grand mystery.

“One hundred years ago, the world changed forever. A second moon appeared in our skies and with it came constant meteor storms that rained chaos upon our homes,” the synopsis reads.

“We called these icy meteorites MOONFROST. In this ruined world, some of us learned to harness the power of this mysterious substance, transforming its shards into all sorts of structures, creating order from the chaos.

“They call us Frost Hunters, and we have a mission: to rebuild the world, one shard at a time. This is Moonfrost, and your adventure is about to begin!”

Oxalis Games

You Can Play Through Several Hours Moonfrost For Free

The game adopts a 3D pixel art style, so it remains very cosycore whilst perhaps elevating the immersion of exploring.

Within Moonfrost, players will befriend or romance NPCs, helping them “face their fears and flaws as you unravel your own forgotten past and uncover the truth of Moonfrost”.

Building your home is where Moonfrost begins to shine. So often, cosy games offer us a prebuilt abode that we can only decorate internally.

Moonfrost, however, boasts a comprehensive build mode where you can have a hand in constructing every element of your home; in fact, it’s got a The Sims feel to it.

Outside of improving your own living arrangements, you’ll also want to restore old buildings, design homes for villagers, and clear the streets of Moonfrost’s world.

Farming, fishing, crafting and so on all look pleasant enough, although adventuring is perhaps the most exciting activity in store.

Within temples, players will fend off enemies while looking for unique resources, perhaps even unearthing secrets about this world along the way.

While we await Moonfrost’s release date, you can enjoy the game’s new demo which, according to developers, runs for “at least a few hours” and is “four years” in the making.

“Expect at least a few hours of gameplay as you get to grips with the different systems in the game and get to know some of the Villagers,” they wrote.

You’ll be able to play through an early slice of the game, exploring Mooncraft’s world and getting to sample all of the activities mentioned above.

Whilst only available on PC, the demo supports controllers with devs actively working to improve this even further, plus Moonfrost is playable on Steam Deck.

It looks positively delightful.

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