Although 20 minutes is not enough to fully understand Funeral seasonsI’m already intrigued. And I didn’t expect it. The repeatable loop of agricultural simulations like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and the rest never really stuck with me. However, tracking down a mysterious killer? During the carrot harvest? With a possible supernatural threat? I would lose time in this loop.
The game begins with you taking over a run-down farm (and homestead) where it’s up to you to get the farm back up and running while befriending the neighboring residents. A few days into your farming “journey” (clearing, plowing, planting seeds, etc.), the mayor is gruesomely killed and your character decides to find out who is responsible. There’s also a sinister machine in your basement, but one thing at a time.
While you don’t know who killed the mayor (or how), I’m told that the later murders were more graphic, gruesome and, well, shown on screen. There’s a limit to gore when it comes to this cozy pixel style, however. Players can expect to see more victims if they fail to find the culprit.
One of the most intriguing parts of Funeral seasons is that there is no single, predetermined murderer. That’s not to say it’s procedurally generated: developer Perfect Garbage has created numerous “custom-written campaigns,” each of which ends with a different resident as the killer. Although not every character can be a murderer, regardless of who you romance (of course there is a romance mechanic) could turns out to be the murderer, which is a risky twist on finding love.
The game’s characters run the gamut, from tried-and-true tropes (Hari the burly farmer) to the more esoteric and mystical – hey, here’s Dante, the village fortune teller! Each character has their own likes and dislikes, which should help you investigate the truth.
As you would expect from a game that is part farming simulation, the protagonist is equipped with a shovel and other farming tools, including a crowbar. This can be used to break into homes and facilities in your cozy village, but there are repercussions if you get caught. This is both the case if you are spotted doing the act or if someone is inside the building when you enter. It’s an easy way to destroy a friendship and can even lead to someone’s death.
Funeral seasons will launch on Xbox Series X/S, Steam, PS5 and Switch 2 on August 14.
