Super Farming Boy takes a clever, charming, and creative twist on the farming sim genre we all cherish.

Reviews

Aug 13

If you unexpectedly woke up in the middle of a farm, completely lost and confused, you’d likely end up asking yourself a lot of questions. “What happened last night?” “How much did I have to drink?” “Did I eat that plant I wasn’t supposed to eat?”

I found myself asking these very questions during my Super Farming Boy playthrough, except I wasn’t the one waking up in the middle of a farm. It was Super, the endearing protagonist with superpowers.

I’m past the point of wondering what LemonChili Soft had in mind (or for drinks) before coming up with this idea, because Super Farming Boy is nothing short of an addictive fever dream I keep dreaming of playing over and over again.

*The color palette mimics Super Farming Boy’s casual and goofy tones.*

Super Farming Boy’s visuals possibly hit every dopamine and serotonin-inducing part of my psyche, and its art direction gives a nod to my favorite magazine cutouts and stickers that come to life. No, seriously, crops in the game come to life when they move around and follow Super as he walks and flies around the farm. How can you not be charmed by such casual tones?

The soundtrack, too, mimics a vintage era of cartoons. I’m not one to compare games when it comes to visuals (*cough*Cuphead*cough*), but this one sure seems to stand on some strong, rubber hose animated shoulders of giants who crafted an aesthetic so beloved by gamers.

Even the soundtrack’s jazzy vibes hit the mark every time an important story sequence takes place. Yet, some serious, real-world-inspired problems trouble the world of Super Farming Boy. If you wanted to teach your kid about taxes, I think this game could serve as an opportunity.

The idea of this game is to plant crops, harvest them, and then pay a hefty sum to KORPO®©TM. He’s a mean, arrogant, and selfish dude, and if you read between the lines (really hard), you can notice that the villain is, in fact, corporate greed.

(Hah, it’s fun to write for my website since no editor will take that out because their bosses said so.)

Anyway, speaking of corporate greed, Super needs to do everything in his metaphorical and literal power to plant crops as the seasons pass, in hopes of paying taxes until a certain someone can be saved. Without any spoilers, let’s dive into how all of this works!

Ah, the beauty of games that combine narrative and mechanics.

The gameplay loop stays simple: you plant seeds. You water the crops. Then, you mix and match patterns to harvest them. This way, you earn unique combos that score you money, as well as a “fever” mode that… well, makes the game go a bit crazy.

Crops dance, the world has a lot more color, the soundtrack grooves to your rhythm, and the warm, cozy feeling in your heart appreciates Indie games for their existence. Super Farming Boy’s goofiness is its strength! It cleverly engages you with the world, without reducing the importance of tasks.

*NPCs and buildings fill up the world without being too intrusive.*

As I checked my mail and moved around regularly, I was encouraged by creatures of this colorful universe. Some were there to help me, some warned me against seasonal changes, some suggested ideas for new crops, and possible architectural expansions. After all, Super Farming Boy isn’t just limited to Super and his responsibilities.

He can fly around, talk to others, and build a new tomorrow. Why? For whom? You’ll have to play the game to find out. However, my favorite part about the game rests in its core mechanics: harvesting crops. When I was able to find the right combinations, farming felt less like a task and more like a championship.

There are many instances when multiple crops turn into one giant crop, and you need to harvest the smaller crops around it to hit the big one! Once the big crop’s HP goes down, you can harvest. As the game progresses, this loop quickly becomes a cycle that you’ll learn to love and tackle through different seasons and crops.

*See the big corn and its HP? This is possibly the most vegan-friendly boss fight I’ve ever encountered in my gaming journey.*

All of this convinces me that Super Farming Boy has a solid foundation in place. LemonChili Soft has planted the right seeds here, and I’m curious about where the game goes next. I do want more world events, smoother exploration, and challenging tasks to be a part of the experience.

At the time of writing, the game’s polish and performance also seem to show a lot of promise. I haven’t encountered any game-breaking bugs other than my poor farming skills and unpredictable combo-forming powers.

If you’re into games like Stardew Valley, Binding of Isaac, and Cuphead, I think Super Farming Boy will reap the rewards of thoughtful chain reaction and combo mechanics for you.