Moonlight Peaks Review (Switch 2, Switch, PC, & Android)

It’s easier to copy and paste than it is to innovate, and lately we’ve had a major problem with an influx of the same thing. Especially with games that do so well, and then the next thing, you find multiple games trying to bask in the same spotlight. Stardew Valley has been a victim of this trend. I can name so many games that follow a similar gameplay system, and don’t do much to set themselves apart. But I won’t because games like Moonlight Peaks are more deserving of the recognition for going out of its way to offer something more on top of the experience you’ve already had.

Sure, you’ll still be trying to revive a struggling plot of land. However, there is so much more distinction in the actual crops you farm and the people you meet than in Stardew Valley or any other cozy farming simulation you’ve played before. When have you been the son of Dracula in a cozy farming game? When else have you interacted with the factions of supernatural fantasy? The werewolves, witches, and more century-old communities that abide by staunch rules and practices for survival. Oh yes, the distinction even includes the resources you’ll gather of the magical kind and the activities you’ll be involved in. 

I left this game feeling absolutely fulfilled and also pleased that devs still have the decency to evolve what we’ve seen before. In my Moonlight Peaks review, you’ll conclude just as much after I’ve broken down all the ways that Amsterdam-based developing studio, Little Chicken Game Company, has far outdone itself.

I’ll Do It Myself

Is what I imagine the son of Dracula told his father after an argument about morals and wanting to do better. Rather than a life of bloodsucking and terrorizing the world, the son of Dracula, Fangs, I called him, in the customization settings, chooses to carve a different path for himself. And would you believe that the place he chooses to leave a mark on the world is an old family plot of land? It’s the last place I’d go to start over, distancing myself from my father, but I’m only a passenger in Moonlight Peaks’ story. The old family land is looking distraught, with overgrown weeds and trees, and you’re charged with clearing it all and planting a house, farm, and other creative ideas you may have for starting over. 

Nothing you need to do overnight, with the systems in these kinds of cozy farming simulation games thriving on day-to-day planning and execution. The process of clearing out the weeds takes time, as does the buying of seeds, planting them, watering, and harvesting. Before you come to building and decorating the house of your dreams. Gradually, you’ll unlock new tools and resources to accomplish the objectives Moonlight Peaks sets for you. Certainly never a lonesome journey in these games, you’ll soon acquaint yourself with the world and people around you. You’ll soon make new friends, even romance, and build a family with them. I fancy a union between myself and a werewolf just because I was always rooting for Jacob in The Twilight Saga series. 

Bringing Forth New Life

First things first, farming. It’s the bulk of your Moonlight Peaks experience. I love that the systems are slowly introduced to you. Grapes are the first order of business, which you buy seeds for, plant, and harvest. You can then begin making wine or juice for profit. However, the money you make from grapes isn’t enough to make an impact, at which point you unlock more profitable crops, and here’s where things get exciting. Remember you’re living in a supernatural world where the crops you plant aren’t always for human consumption. You’ll unlock some funny-looking crops with bizarre behavior. Some are beneficial to your farming, others are weaknesses you’ll need to adapt to.

The same supernatural crops may require magic to thrive, and that’s where the spells come in. I love the idea behind some spells automating your work for you. Rather than physically watering your crops, you might unlock a spell that breathes life into your watering cans. That’s really the special ingredient that Moonlight Peaks has compared to its counterparts. It has a supernatural charm to it that’s seamlessly integrated into the tools and resources you use. The surprises are often exciting whenever you unlock a new crop or spell, and these surprises never stop coming. Even tens of hours into your playthrough, you’re still unlocking new surprises. 

A Coffin to Lie Your Head

Take the building and decorating side of things. As rewards for your troubles, Moonlight Peaks unlocks blueprints for crafting new furniture and decorative pieces for your house. You plan the layout of your house, fit the bedroom and living room with tables and all. Then it’s time to make the space your own, and my God are the decoration items in plenty. I love that the decorations are also gothic-themed. I think that’s the connecting thread you’ll see throughout your experience that makes Moonlight Peaks so damn charming and different from everything else. You truly feel like you’re in a gothic world where vampires and werewolves are very much real. Yet, still enjoying a familiar simulation experience that honors the relaxing day-to-day tasks of games like Fae Farm, Story of Seasons, and Stardew Valley.

While exploring the ways you can make the game your own, you also have considerable leeway in customizing your character. In addition to choosing your name, you can also tinker around with your character’s skin, eye, hairstyles, makeup, and outfits. It’s not the most in-depth customization system, but it works just fine for a farming simulation game. Yet, you may find consolation in the freedom to switch up the aesthetic. You may choose for your characters to look stylized, although I prefer the default chibi look that’s pretty cute. So cute, in fact, that you’ll feel naturally drawn to befriending and even romancing some of the delightful characters you meet.

Anything for You, Love

I think you’ll find the variety of characters in Moonlight Peaks more than sufficient. The variety is immense, especially considering that they come from different factions. But even without the stark differences between the vampires, werewolves, witches, and other factions, the characters themselves are starkly different from one another. They have distinct personalities and quirks that imprint their persona into memory. Fans of cozy farming simulation games will know how important memorable characters are for motivating you to keep seeking them out for potential dates and friendship shenanigans. 

But that wasn’t at all my strongest factor about the characters. It’s how the stories you discover go deeper than the usual friendly vibes. You actually have factions that have had long-lasting conflicts, and unraveling their past as well as trying to find a way forward is a compelling part of the Moonlight Peaks experience. It gives you the excitement of wanting to unlock new cutscenes and quests through gift-giving. It’s another of the features that this game nails so well. The genuine want and need to do more. 

Sometimes More is More

The world here is huge with so many people to talk to, things to do, and places to explore. You have different biomes that have fun collectibles, which unlock more rewards, although not as consistently as I’d have liked. Still, it’s exciting to head out and know that you’ll most likely run into a floating skull to collect, a lake to fish, or a mine to gather ore and crystals. Back at home, you can try out flower arrangements or embroidery. You may even interact with animals, no, not the usual kind, but still great for milk and wool. While some of these side activities may not always be seamlessly implemented, with some clunky controls and cumbersome execution, they remain engaging ways to keep busy.

A special shoutout to the Noctura card-based game that you can ask the people, nay, vampires and all, of Moonlight Peaks to play with you. Nothing complex at all. In fact, it may be some of the most fun you’ll have while wandering around looking for the next distraction.

Verdict

In summary, even though Moonlight Peaks isn’t perfect, it definitely leaves you with no regrets for pouring tens of hours into it. Even within the first 20 hours, there’s still so much more you’ll have yet to see and discover. There’s always a surprise in store for you that comes in all shapes and forms. You have a consistent stream of rewards from the main farming and building gameplay elements. 

However, other side activities may feel disappointing after a while when the rewards run out after a while. Still, features like the Nocturna in-game card game more than make up for any downtimes. 

In truth, the pros far outweigh the cons, and even in the case of the audio-visual elements, Moonlight Peaks snags the gold trophy home with its distinct gothic-themed look and vibe.