In the world of cozy simulation games, Sugardew Island by Rokaplay stands out as a delightful blend of relaxation, creativity, and adventure. Drawing inspiration from Harvest Moon on Nintendo DS, Sugardew Island offers a stress-free, immersive escape into an intentionally uncomplicated farm shop simulator.

Once a place of peace, Sugardew Island residents and Forest Folk worked together to uphold the source of balance on the island, the Harmony Tree. Unfortunately due to human greed, the tree collapsed leaving the island in shambles and a fleeing Forest Folk. Awakening on this deserted island after a shipwreck, you realize it’s your goal to revitalize the Harmony Tree and bring peace back to the island.

Sugardew Island invites players to operate their own farm shop, nurturing crops and animals while engaging with the Forest Folk. As you sell products in your store, earn harmony to fulfill quests from the Harmony Tree and heal the island.  

Gameplay

Two main gameplay elements for Sugardew Island are farming and shop keeping. Cultivate crops to grow your farm and sell them to the local Forest Folk.

Farming is fairly simple, plant, water, and harvest crops. Use fertilizer to speed up growth or keep plants watered. Each plant has a different growth time, and some plants will produce multiple harvests. Rather than a chore, farming becomes a pleasure.

In addition to farming crops, you can raise animals such as chickens, cows, ducks, and goats. Each animal requires attention, like feeding and petting, to produce useful products such as eggs and milk. Developing relationships with these animals can improve their productivity and overall farm output.

Manage your own shop, and sell your goods to the inhabitants of the island. Each product sells for a different amount of harmony. Some Forest Folk will even try to negotiate the price. Use what you earn to fulfill quests of the Harmony Tree, or buy more seeds or animals from Trader Tomte. Gather resources like wood, stone, and weeds from the island to upgrade buildings, craft tools, and enhance your farm’s infrastructure.

Harmony Collection

Harmony Collection is a key element that drives the narrative of restoring the island to its former glory. The Harmony Tree, tasks players with gathering harmony to fulfill the collection. As players progress through, they contribute to the revitalization of the island, unlocking new areas, seeds, and upgrades. But not only are players rewarded with gameplay features, but an overall feeling of growth and community centering the game’s narrative.

Character Customization

You can also customize your character’s appearance in Sugardew Island. Each attribute has around 3-6 choices. There are no slide bars, or fine tuning. The options are very simple and really work for those who want to just focus on the gameplay itself rather than spending hours adjusting details.

Personally, I am not one of those people and need to customize it ALL. (Its why it usually takes me an hour to make my character.) I am hoping in future updates we can buy more outfits, hair ect.

Sounds & Art

The art and music style in Sugardew Island both play a huge role in conveying the game’s relaxing and laid-back tone. This ensures that players can completely be captivated into a world of farming, exploration, and community.

A delightful blend of color, charm and whimsy, makes the game radiate a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The music is often filled with soft, melodic tunes that loop gently in the background, while nature sounds evoke a sense of tranquility and nostalgia. The complimenting pair makes each interaction feel satisfying and immersive.

Overall Thoughts

If you are a fan of farming simulators, you will find the core mechanics familiar. But Sugardew Island does add its own unique flair with its shopkeeping system, island restoration, and a relaxing atmosphere designed for players who want a tranquil gaming experience.

An “intentionally uncomplicated” farm shop simulator. is how Rokaplay developers describe Sugardew Island and I can concur, its exactly the heart of the game. Sugardew Island fosters a place to relax and unwind without the pressure of complication and chaos. Whether you’re farming crops, making friends, or tending to your store, there’s always something satisfying to do at your own pace.

Digital releases of Sugardew Island _ Your Cozy Farm Shop for Steam, Playstation, and Nintendo Switch are available now. Physical releases for Playstation and Nintendo Switch are availale on Friday March 14th 2025. Xbox Series S/X release set at a later time.

Gamer Social Club would like to thank the publisher for the code.