Stardew Valley meets Studio Ghibli in stunning 2024 release

We’re yet to begin 2024 and I can already feel my gaming backlog quaking. The year’s gaming release schedule is already shaping up deliciously with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Tekken 8, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Star Wars Outlaws, Dragon’s Dogma 2, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Rise of the Ronin, and Princess Peach: Showtime being just a few of the exciting titles on the way.

Today though, I direct your attention to the delightful Tales of Seikyu. Developed and set to be published by ACE Entertainment, this upcoming open-world fantasy sim looks perfect for fans of both Stardew Valley and the works of Studio Ghibli. The combination of sublime landscapes and fantastical creatures ticks those quintessential Ghibli boxes. At its heart, Tales of Seikyu is a farming sim, but one with a difference. Need to water your crops? Just transform into a water blob. Need to clear some land? You can also transform into a bull.

Take a look at Tales of Seikyu in action below.

The synopsis reads, “Tales of Seikyu is a fantasy-style farming sim adventure game set in the enchanting land of Seikyu, a haven for legendary creatures from the world of yokai. The town bustles with unique inhabitants, including the lord Kyubi, Shuten-dōji, the flamboyant and perpetually tipsy bar owner, Yoji, a rebellious folklorist with a sharp wit and a deep fascination for ancient gods, and Otter Andolini, a former mafia boss who now cherishes peace at his beloved dock.”

“You and your friend Kon arrive in Seikyu, buying a house in the countryside of Seikyu with your savings, thus beginning the comfortable and leisurely pastoral life,” it continues. The shape-shifting element certainly looks as if it’ll set the game apart from other farming sims - and with 30 unique characters to engage with, I’m excited to see Tales of Seikyu’s various storylines.

Best of all, you can play in co-op and they do say that everything is better with a friend. There’s no exact release date just yet, but we do know that Tales of Seikyu is launching on Kickstarter on 12 January 2024. It’s definitely one to keep an eye on.