Rusty’s Retirement review: Peaceful living cuts through the grind
If it hasn’t become apparent yet, I’m besotted with the cosy game genre. Despite not every experience being made equal, I will always try new titles that promise to deliver the tranquil life I keep daydreaming about.
Having collected all the spirits in Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, I was in dire need of another low maintenance game to chip away at while I work. Then, as if sent by the cosy games gods themselves, Rusty’s Retirement landed in my inbox to deliver exactly what I’ve been looking for.
Having discovered how much fun can be had while an idle game runs in the background, I was overjoyed to see that this Steam title works on Mac as well as PCs. Instead of having to prop up my Steam Deck next to my computer, I can watch Rusty farm while I type.
Join Rusty in Rusty's Retirement
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Humble beginnings await you when you start the game; the different farms you can choose, etc don’t become available until Rusty has worked through some of his retirement days. Consequently, you start with a very basic farm. But that simplicity is a gift, especially if you’re trying to multitask (I say try because when I multitask I get distracted by trivial side quests).
As much as I loved working towards collecting unique creatures in other titles, having a whole farm at the bottom of my screen slowly thriving hit differently. The satisfaction I felt while powering the Biofuel machine to earn enough to upgrade my farm was irrationally intense. Despite being sat at a desk, I was able to hoe the land, sow seeds, and grow crops in blissful ignorance to anything else.
The further you progress, the greater the options to improve your farm become. Still, while your dedication is the key to unlocking all content, you’re encouraged to play at your own pace. This isn’t a race because Rusty isn’t built for speed – they’re built to leisurely tend to their land, aided by the bots they build in between harvesting the freshest crops.
And with such precise focus comes a distinct lack of narrative, which, I have to admit, I surprisingly enjoyed. Although by playing I’m working towards greater efficiency that benefits both myself and Rusty, I’m not grinding to meet the demands of NPCs; I’m free.
Where I think Rusty’s Retirement especially excels compared to other idle games is in its scope. There’s no way you’re running out of activities to complete; there’s always something that requires your attention. Being able to see its longevity planned so well in advance helps cautious gamers climb down from the fence of indecision and throw those overalls on.
While Rusty and you work, you can listen to the soothing sounds of country living and gentle background music, or mute the SFX entirely to play your own playlist instead. Lofi sounds are the ideal companion to such a relaxed experience, but the twang of a guitar string from a folk track will neatly fit as well.
My biggest issue with this game, is how cramped it feels. In truth, feeling like the game is crammed into a small space makes sense, as the idea behind the title is for it to work alongside your other activities rather than dominating them. However, that compact delivery system isn’t easy on the eyes.
Another gripe I have, albeit a small one, is the user interface; it’s not friendly enough. I’m not saying it’s a nightmare to navigate, just that it lacks finesse. This is mainly due to everything being shrunk down to fit neatly onto a small portion of your desktop, and so the issue here is once again the cramped conditions rather than the controls themselves.
Rusty’s Retirement is simplicity done well. Not only does it take a basic concept and make it enjoyable and entertaining, but without being imposing, it also highlights what makes indie devs so invaluable to the games industry. Big name publishers wouldn’t recognise the appeal of such a low participation activity, yet for cosy gamers and dreamers who want their farms only a click away, it delivers everything.
Pros: Beautiful pixel-art visuals, soothing sound effects, relaxing pace
Cons: Cramped conditions, alongside a UI that needs a little more polish
For fans of: Stardew Valley, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions, Cozy Grove
7/10: Very Good
Rusty’s Retirement is available on Steam (version reviewed). Code for review was supplied by the publisher. Find a complete guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.