September continues to be a packed month for releases, and developer Chris Cote and Kwalee are adding to it with the announcement that their Lovecraftian “cozy horror” RPG Welcome to Elderfield will be launching on September 10. Coming to Steam, this farming simulator tosses in some Eldritch horror as you manage your farm, befriend or romance the locals, investigate mysteries, decorate your home, and of course, seek the Old Gods.
To prep for the full game, you can take the demo that’s available now for a spin, which allows you to explore one area of the town, the farm and ranch, the first dungeon (the local mall), and several additional locations.
Everything in Elderfield is unsettling, from the haunting, horror manga-inspired visuals to the dark, lofi soundscapes composed by Dated. Despite the strange creatures lurking just outside your home, those who wander into Elderfield rarely find a reason… or option, to leave.
As one would expect, you’ll have plenty to do in Elderfield (this is a farming sim, after all). Cultivate your land, harvest your crops, and stop the growth of unruly tentacles. Manage a variety of strange, otherworldly livestock, grow useful crops like corn, pumpkins, teeth or eyeballs, and hope that beings from the woods don’t wander onto your farm. You can also customize your home and character, befriend the odd townsfolk (or even marry one), go fishing, spend your afternoons mining, or forage through the surrounding wilds.
For those who prefer a relaxing horror sim (odd as that may sound), you can choose the cozy difficulty, which offers a more laid-back experience. For those who crave a challenge, you can bump up the difficulty to better engage the Old Gods.
Speaking of which, Welcome to Elderfield also features a deep turn-based combat system, where you must utilize gathered resources, strategic buffs and your equipment to survive encounters with ancient, Lovecraftian horrors.