Highlights
- Bloomtown: A Different Story is a narrative-driven JRPG with monster taming, featuring an art style and storyline similar to Stardew Valley.
- The unique twist in Bloomtown is its exploration of the supernatural, with a parallel world called the Underside filled with demons.
- While it's not officially labeled as a horror game, Bloomtown features a peaceful American town being targeted by someone or something while its protagonists must save the town from demonic creatures.
On August 23, Twin Sails Interactive showcased three games at GamesRadar's Future Games Show, one of which included Bloomtown: A Different Story. Bloomtown is being marketed as a narrative-driven JRPG complete with monster taming. Still, there's no doubt that the art style and storyline are quite similar to Stardew Valley. There is, however, a unique twist presented in Twin Sail Interactive's upcoming title that could pique the interest of those who enjoy horror.
While Bloomtown is a separate entity, the developer of Stardew Valley has commented before that he has "never had an issue" with fans creating games inspired by his own. After all, Stardew Valley was created because of influences from the Harvest Moon franchise. As such, games with similar concepts are very common but Bloomtown takes these familiar aspects and fully delves into the supernatural.
Bloomtown Explores the Dark Side of Simulation RPGs
Though it's been speculated that Stardew Valley is set in the early 1990s, based on the technology available, Bloomtown is confirmed to take place somewhere in the 1960s. Some have even called the latter a crossover between Stardew Valley and Stranger Things, which so far seems to be an apt description. Comparable to the Upside Down, there's a whole new world to explore filled with demons called the Underside.
Bloomtown isn't officially labeled as a horror game, but players shouldn't be fooled by the facade of a peaceful American settlement or the cute pixel graphics. It's been confirmed that the once-cozy town is being targeted by someone or something, as children begin to disappear. The summary on Steam details that the protagonists, Emily and Chester, must set out to save the town "from the demonic creatures that live in the hearts of its residents".
A post from the game's Twitter account debuted the second-ever gameplay trailer of Bloomtown, which offers a more detailed look at the narrative and how combat works. Though this video only lasts around thirty seconds, it does reveal pertinent information. It was already known that Bloomtown is coming to PC and console, but audiences now have a Q2 2024 release date to look forward to.
Despite the fact that Stardew Valley has several unsolved mysteries, the game primarily focuses on repairing the farm and forming relationships with residents. Of course, there are some elements of magic seeing as there are wizards, witches, forest spirits, and monsters that might be considered otherworldly. ConcernedApe has been reportedly working on his first game since Stardew Valley, called Haunted Chocolatier, but the second title will involve ghosts and confectionary sweets rather than turn-based combat and demons.
Unfortunately, Haunted Chocolatier still doesn't have a release date. In the meantime, it could be very worthwhile for fans of Stardew Valley to keep tabs on Bloomtown: A Different Story. Though it takes inspiration from retro JRPGs as well, it should scratch an itch for those who enjoy feeling a tinge of fear in their life simulations.
Bloomtown: A Different Story releases in Q2 of 2024.
