Steam free download is the cosy tonic you need this weekend

Are you a PC gamer? Do you enjoy so-called cosy gaming? If you answered ‘yes’ to both of those questions, I have just the thing for you.

MD Studio’s delightful upcoming cosy historical gardening game The Abbess Garden has launched a free demo ahead of the game’s full release and I highly recommend you give it a whirl on Steam this weekend.

As I said, The Abbess Garden is a “cosy and historical gardening game” set within 17th-century France.

Players will assume the role of Agnes, “a young peasant who is tasked to grow plants, find and identify new ones,” as well as “help uncover a spy plot, assist others in the local community, and find a lover”.

It’s busy being ol’ Agnes.

Tending to your plants is all based on traditional gardening techniques, and there are plenty of hidden objects found throughout Agnes’ garden that help players build their collections as well as progress quests.

As for that spy plot, well, that’s all to do with the abbey Agnes works at.

“The abbey harbours many secrets and wonders of years long gone. It is now used by the mysterious Solitaires taking their lodging in the area. But one place remains forbidden to them,” the synopsis teases.

“The Abbess gave to you, Agnes, the keys to her personal and majestic garden. You have been tasked to restore the holy place. Yet more than just ragworts and critters who hide in the weeds.”

Very intriguing.

As I said, The Abbess Garden isn’t out just yet and the full game lacks a release date.

You can now sample a free new demo, though, which unlocks three chapters of the game, taking you from March to May 1643.

The full game is said to feature 25 chapters, for comparison.

In those three chapters, you’ll be able to grow five of 25 plants and encounter the ‘water need’ system; that’ll be joined by the soil and proximity systems in the full game.

There’s no time limit on the demo so you can take as long as you want with this cosy treat.

It is only playable via mouse and keyboard but controller and Steam Deck support will be implemented in the full release if you want to wishlist this one for another time.

Sounds like a title well worth giving a whirl, if you ask me.