Vivarium: Everything We Know

What small world we live in, when there’s an entire galaxy out there? Who knows what mysteries lie beyond what we’ve always known to be real and true? That’s the pickle jar we find ourselves in the upcoming life simulation game, Vivarium. 

Unlike other life sims you may have played before, Studio Meadowflower decides to use an old-school anime aesthetic instead. The end-result is a breathtaking early ‘90s, hand-illustrated, cozy life sim adventure. It’s simply timeless to be revisiting the past, yet feel so present in it.

I’ve broken down all you need to know about Vivarium from across all official channels.

What is Vivarium?

You might have guessed it already. Vivarium does, in fact, take place in an aquarium. Well, a terrarium rather, with plants and a functioning ecosystem. Imagine that. A life simulation game where day-to-day living goes on as usual. But all of it is confined inside a transparent container. Are the folks inside the container aware that they are trapped inside a container? Do they live full lives regardless? 

What stood out to me the most was the aesthetic, dotted in a cel-anime visual style. How life goes on inside the terrarium also carries a lot of mystery that instantly intrigued me.

I love the Steam description of the game that you’ll be entering a world where the summer season never ends. Certainly, a glimmer of hope for possibly more fulfilling lives than you can imagine. Anyway, this life sim adventure is well on its way, with the devs currently developing and designing the key aspects of the game.

Story 

Inside the terrarium, the summer season is in full swing. Practically a beautiful summer that never ends. You’re an 11-year-old girl called Jenny with a home you sleep in. Outside, a warm day awaits. Sunlight casts its golden rays through your window, inviting you to explore a tiny world.

This tiny world has other residents you’ll interact with. Their energy bounces delightfully against your own brightness and energy. Together, you’ll create stories around your day-to-day life.

Soon, though, you’ll discover stories bigger than your own, those ridden with the mysteries about your world. The terrarium has its secrets that, in the day-to-day living, begin to unfold. “A hidden truth,” the Steam page calls it.

You may think of your home as the “perfect” world. As the story goes on, though, you discover secrets. They are nestled in a non-linear narrative, where your progress is determined by the choices you make.

Gameplay

It’s a simple life that Jenny leads. She carries out her chores and meets her dear friends. Your world is set in a charming neighborhood, full of charismatic characters. Every character has an individual story, which branches out with every interaction and creates dynamic storylines.

Some of the characters you’ll meet are a reclusive woman who, over time, will begin turning into something else. There’s a shopkeeper known for their daily album recommendation. You also have a postal worker who tells funny jokes and spends his time chugging beer at the bar. Mind you, he’s an actual fish that can talk.

Animals are talking characters in Vivarium, adding to the spice of the folks you’ll meet. Some are nosy, like the retiree who likes to birdwatch, but may be watching others a little too closely instead. You’ll run into a fortune teller as well, whose fortune telling begins to reveal a little too much.

Like most life simulations, the days in Vivarium go by as they do in real-life. You’ll have an actual calendar that keeps you accountable. Every day has the potential to uncover new secrets, but it’s also the chance to advance your story, chat with characters, or discover more of the mysterious plot. 

Single-Player

It seems the game will have some kind of single-player structure, leading you down major story paths. However, they’ll be locked behind progress, which will be time-based. 

Night-time is also packed with things to do, though on the more calming end. You may learn new cooking recipes, for instance, or take care of your garden. You could craft useful items and decorate your home to feel as cozy as you like. Collectibles will be present, including stickers, vinyl records, and classic novels. Meanwhile, some of your craftable equipment may need repairing before a new day begins.

An interesting detail is that there’s, indeed, a “doomsday” of sorts in this world. You notice that the little sprout in the terrarium has been growing bigger. You wonder if it will grow big enough to break through your world’s borders.

Development

Studio Meadowflower, in partnership with Serenity Forge, has only recently announced Vivarium as an upcoming hand-drawn anime adventure. The big reveal was at the Summer Game Fest, followed by an Xbox Games Showcase of the trailer. 

Trailer 

The Vivarium reveal trailer literally melts your heart. It’s charming in every sense of the word, showcasing some of the characters and scenarios you’ll be playing through. It’s a pretty revealing trailer, showcasing cutscenes, dialogue, and hints about where the story might lead. Just because the game is set in a terrarium doesn’t mean its world isn’t pretty huge. Characters live in their own houses, there’s a bar where your friends meet up for a beer, forests you can run through, all inside a glass container.

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Even though Vivarium has only just been announced, the devs urge you to add it to your wishlist on your platform store of choice. At the moment, I don’t know when the exact release date will be. Studio Meadowflower has left that detail out of their announcement. 

However, they do confirm that the game will be coming to the Xbox Series X/S and PC platforms. Even more so that it will launch on Xbox Game Pass on Day One of launch, as well as support Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere.

For more information on the editions and any other unconfirmed details, be sure to follow the official Vivarium social media handle.