| Mirthwood | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Mirthwood is a fantasy life-sim that allows you to choose your own enchanting journey. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Mirthwood Review Overview
What is Mirthwood?
As a life sim, Mirthwood offers an open-ended experience without a rigid narrative, allowing you to shape your own journey. While the premise revolves around escaping a war-torn continent to forge a new life in unfamiliar lands, the game’s lore remains minimal, giving you the freedom to create your own stories. Whether you focus on homesteading, farming, or exploring the vast world, Mirthwood provides the tools to craft whatever life path you envision for your character.
Mirthwood features:
⚫︎ RPG Medieval Fantasy
⚫︎ Farming Sim
⚫︎ Open World Survival
⚫︎ Adventure Game
⚫︎ Immersive Sim
⚫︎ Crafting System
⚫︎ Fishing System
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Mirthwood's gameplay and story.
 Steam |
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| $24.99 |
Mirthwood Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Great Sense of Progression Vast and Mysterious Open-World Exploration Beautiful Art Style |
Constant FPS Drops and Bugs Horrible Combat |
Mirthwood Overall Score - 80/100
Verily, Mirthwood doth take the cozy charm of Stardew Valley's life-simulation and grant it a darker, more ambitious twist, allowing players to delve into a vast and wondrous fantasy realm where they may explore, build, forge friendships, and carve their own tale. The game’s grand scope and rich atmosphere doth draw thee in, yet 'tis hard to disregard the pests and frequent drops in frame rate that oft break the spell of immersion. Though the life-simulation elements are merry and engaging, the combat doth leave much to be desired. Still, for a game wrought by but two humble creators, Mirthwood is a mighty feat, even with its rough-hewn edges.
Mirthwood Story - 8/10
The story begins with your character escaping to a new land after your homeland is devastated by war, leaving your family behind. Mirthwood captures a sense of freedom and adventure, allowing you to shape your journey as you like—it truly feels like a choose-your-own-adventure book. There’s no set path here; whether you want to settle into a peaceful farming life or embark on thrilling quests as a hero or villain, the choice is yours. The world is rich with hundreds of stories from people across the land, and you have the power to influence their fates.
Mirthwood Gameplay - 8/10
Mirthwood may be marketed as a cozy game, but its ambitious scale and depth might feel overwhelming for fans of this genre. However, once you overcome this, this game offers an impressive array of paths to explore, whether you choose to be a farmer, a carpenter, a fighter, or any combination that suits your story. There’s a lot to dive into, making each playthrough feel unique with the endless choices it provides. That said, while the life-simulation aspects shine, the combat leaves much to be desired—it’s clunky and just annoying, and I hope future updates bring some improvements.
Mirthwood Visuals - 8/10
The game’s art style is stunning, reminiscent of classic fantasy children’s books with its beautiful lighting and a unique, oil-painting aesthetic. However, the UI could use some refinement—text size is quite small, making it difficult to read anything, and the menu navigation feels a bit clunky. The map, in particular, is challenging to interpret and could benefit from a clearer design.
Mirthwood Audio - 8/10
Mirthwood’s soundtrack is wonderfully immersive, perfectly capturing the feel of a darker fantasy world. The music ranges from soft, soothing melodies to haunting, atmospheric tracks that gradually draw you in, adding depth to the game's ambiance and enhancing the sense of exploration and wonder.
Mirthwood Value for Money - 8/10
This game certainly justifies its $25 price tag, especially for players who crave more challenge and freedom in their cozy games. Fans of Stardew Valley, in particular, will find a lot to love here, as Mirthwood offers feels both familiar and fresh.
Mirthwood Review
'Tis A Darker Stardew Valley
Mirthwood is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious and unique cozy games out there, and credit goes to Bad Ridge Games for crafting such an expansive fantasy world. While the developers have mentioned that the game was inspired by Stardew Valley, Mirthwood stands out as a darker, grander take on the life-sim genre. Though it’s not without its flaws.
Frame Drops and Bugs Can Ruin the Fantasy
Right from the start, I have to mention that the game’s inconsistent FPS has pulled me out of the fantasy experience more times than I’d like. One moment, the gameplay is smooth, and the next, the frame rate dips noticeably.
Additionally, I’ve run into several bugs, like being unable to accept quests or cook certain items. These issues are the game’s biggest setbacks, and I really hope the developers address them in future updates. However, there’s one more major problem that I’ll get into.
Combat is Absolutely Atrocious
Exploration is a major highlight in Mirthwood, filled with lurking threats like bandits, thieves, and eerie nighttime creatures. While it’s exhilarating—and sometimes downright frightening—it can also be frustrating since, more often than not, I’d prefer to avoid fighting altogether.
Enemies are damage sponges, and the combat system is incredibly clunky, with slow attack animations and a guard mechanic that’s more frustrating to input than useful.
Many times, I ended up cheesing my way through fights by circling enemies and landing hits while they constantly blocked. I really hope the developers rework the combat to make it faster and more manageable, as the current system feels unnecessarily sluggish.
Fantasy is not Dead
Setting aside the combat issues and bugs, Mirthwood nails the fantasy vibe beautifully. From the start, I was drawn into its world. During the prologue, you customize your character, choosing their occupation, social class, and land of origin. It’s reminiscent of Stardew Valley’s setup, but here it feels even more immersive as your choices shape your character’s background rather than just location.
While these stats aren’t restrictive, it’s helpful to align your choices with your goals—for example, picking peasant and farmer roles if you plan to focus on farming, as it makes your character tire less easily and boosts crop growth. These early options add so much depth, subtly guiding your chosen path without boxing you in.
After being separated from your family when your village is ransacked, you escape by boat to a new land. You meet a plague doctor who provides guidance through quests, but the game’s open design allows you to ignore him and explore at your own pace. Still, I’d recommend following the initial tutorial until you settle into your homestead. That’s when the real adventure begins.
Mirthwood delivers a classic life-sim experience akin to Stardew Valley, with its day-night and seasonal cycles allowing you the freedom to spend each day as you choose. Whether you’re interested in farming, adventuring, exploring, trading, socializing, or building your homestead, the game opens up a range of lifestyles, giving you complete control over how to live out your fantasy life. In my case, I started by building up my home and forming relationships with the townsfolk—a feature that’s impressively detailed.
Interactions feel meaningful, reminding me of The Sims and Harvest Moon, as you can give gifts, have friendly conversations, or even trash-talk. However, it's best to keep on good terms with others since positive relationships offer unique benefits.
I genuinely enjoyed the life-sim elements, especially farming and upgrading my home, which provide a real sense of progress. The freedom to shape each day is what makes Mirthwood so engaging, and it’s incredibly rewarding.
A Vast World to Explore
Mirthwood currently features six unique regions, and the map is massive. Before you dive into adventuring, I highly recommend checking the quest boards or finding quests scattered around—having a goal makes exploring far more purposeful and helps you avoid feeling lost in this vast, challenging world. The wilderness is filled with dangerous creatures, but it’s equally rewarding, offering unique items and surprises, like rare collectibles or even a unicorn.
That said, venturing into the unknown can be risky, as death comes easily here. It’s best to properly prepare and equip your character beforehand, which will make the journey less daunting and amplify the thrill of exploration. The combination of risk and reward makes each adventure exciting and keeps the world engaging.
Is Mirthwood Worth It?
A Great Game for Fantasy Lovers
Despite its flaws, Mirthwood offers an impressive and immersive experience that can easily suck you in for hours. It’s the kind of game that sparks creativity and encourages exploration, making it perfect for those looking for a more expansive life-sim experience. With updates and new features on the horizon, this game is only set to improve, making it one to watch.
| Steam |
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| $24.99 |
Mirthwood FAQ
Is Mirthwood Coming to Switch?
Unfortunately, Mirthwood isn't available on the Nintendo Switch yet, and there’s no announcement about a possible port at this time.
How Many Professions Can You Choose From in Mirthwood?
You can choose from one of these seven options:
⚫︎ Herbalist
⚫︎ Tinkerer
⚫︎ Farmer
⚫︎ Actor
⚫︎ Criminal
⚫︎ Fighter
⚫︎ Ratcatcher
Game8 Reviews
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Mirthwood Product Information
 |
|
| Title | MIRTHWOOD |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 6, 2024 |
| Developer | Bad Ridge Games |
| Publisher | V Publishing |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | RPG, Adventure, Simulation |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | RP |
| Official Website | Mirthwood Website |
