I don't know about you, but there’s something refreshing about a game that invites you to relax, slow your mind and nurture life. Tiny Garden, developed by the talented dev team at Ao Norte, promises to be just that "” a peaceful experience where you can create your own personal garden in a small, adorable world.

Tiny Garden is all about growth. Players start with a tiny patch of land and a few basic plants, gradually expanding and customizing their garden as they explore new ways to grow different kinds of plants. As you progress, you’ll unlock new tools, seeds, and décor to personalize your space. Whether it's a prickly cactus or a field of corn, the possibilities are endless. All you have to do is turn the crank.

Gameplay

The overall charm of Tiny Garden lies in the simplicity of gameplay. There are no complex mechanics to master, just use the crank on the side of the garden to progress gameplay.  Each turn evolves your plants. It might take a few turns to fully grow your plant, but see what secrets each plant has to discover.

Now this doesn't mean there isn't some type of puzzle to Tiny Garden's game play. Not only does each plant have its own growth schedule, but its preferred terrain too. And not every plant can grow on every terrain. Some plants even change the terrain of surrounding tiles. Pay attention to plant preferences so you can plan your garden layout accordingly. It might take a few turns to get the hang of it.

There is no currency in the game per say, but you can trade grown plants for seeds. A cactus unlocks a carrot seed, and a carrot seed a turnip and so on. Sometimes you need a few kinds of plants to unlock a certain seed and even the next collection. Each collection unlocks new seeds, decorations and tools for you to discover.

Features to Look Forward To

Plant Variety: A wide array of plants, beautiful flowers, and bountiful produce to discover. Each with its own growth pattern, land preference, and specialties.

Customization: Customize your tiny ball home with various decorations, including furniture and wall décor. Unlock stickers to decorate the outside of your tiny garden. 3 tiers in all to make it your own. 

Relaxing Gameplay: No time limits, no pressure. Just a peaceful, low-stress experience where you can focus on your garden and watch it grow.

I'm really excited for the full release of Tiny Garden. The developers at Ao Norte have taken (in my opinion) the best features of a cozy game and simplified them even more, creating a game where the relaxing journey is held in high regard.

Because the market for farming simulators is so highly saturated, it sometimes feels that instead of focusing on what makes a cozy game exactly that, some devs turn to what could make their game different from the rest. Adding unnecessary mechanics and confusing storylines. Ao Norte developers beat to their own drums, and instead stripped it all away, leaving behind a nostalgic and relaxing escape. A game that doesn't need to have bells and whistles to be different. 

Whether you're looking for a charming farming game or a way to pass the day, Tiny Garden is shaping up to be the perfect virtual retreat for foliage lovers and cozy gamers alike.

Keep an eye on Tiny Garden as it blossoms on April 8th 2025, but you can play the demo on Steam until March 17th.