New farming sim Grimshire isn't the cozy critter game you expect it to be

There's something so tranquil about a good farming sim. Whether it's tending to crops, fishing up a storm, or romancing the locals, these games always fuel my urge to up sticks, move out into the country, and build an army of sheep-herding border collies. At its surface, Grimshire looks to follow the genre playbook to a T, but as its name implies, it all gets a little bit Watership Down when you scritch behind its ears.

Taking its cues from some of the best farming games, Grimshire plonks your anthropomorphic created character down in its eponymous village, gives them a spade, and sends them on their way. Where Grimshire gets its name from quickly becomes clear, as it transpires that a deadly plague, which has already destroyed most nearby settlements, is now en route to kill you and your furry friends.

Cut off from the surrounding hamlets, and with impending doom on the horizon, it's your job to forage and farm the land to keep Grimshire stocked up with supplies. Mixing in beats from the best survival games, food spoils as the seasons roll on, so developing the means to preserve the fruits of your labor is critical if you don't want to make like the food and perish. This includes drying, pickling, and salting your produce, so there's scope to get creative.

Grimshire also divides its inhabitants into herbivores and carnivores, each with their own dietary requirements. I've seen Beastars, and I know how this might end if the developer Acute Owl Studio really wants to tug on the ol' heartstrings. The studio has said in the past that Grimshire won't be quite as traumatic as Watership Down, but villager permadeath is a thing here, so my Spidey-senses are nonetheless tingling.

Naturally, farming alone won't be enough to satisfy everyone's needs. Fishing enjoyers will be relieved to know that Grimshire has its own system, which looks to be far simpler in scope than the demon that is Stardew Valley's. You can also build ranches to raise livestock, which is really fucked up if you think about it.

To further support Grimeshire, you'll also get to work on various community projects that improve the village folks' quality of life. You'll need to gather up plenty of wood and stone for this, so your time has come if you're yearning for the mines.

Grimshire is out today in Steam Early Access. You can snag it when it lands right here.

If you love a darker narrative, check out our bespoke list of the best story games that are filled to the brim with high-stakes action. If you're after something a bit more chill, here are the best relaxing games around.

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