Intro
The trend of witchy and cozy indie games is running full speed ahead with no signs of stopping. While this may seem like a small niche to some magical filled cozy games have been rising in popularity within the gaming sphere. These games generally feature fun wholesome stories, cute characters, a cottagcore witchy aesthetic, and a whole lot of magical experiences. Basically, they’re cute life sims but inundated with a more witchy aesthetic.
One game that has been gaining popularity within the witchy life sim genre is The Witch of Fern Island. This supernatural life sim gives the player a fun and warm story while also staying true to the aspects that make these types of games enjoyable. In this game you play as Abrill, a young witch who has washed up on the shores of Fern Island. Upon waking up after your rescue the mayor decides to let you live in the old mansion at the edge of town that belonged to the former town witch to continue your studies.
This game features potion making, crafting, farming, socializing (but, like, fun socializing), and a story that will make you want to keep playing to learn more. This low- stakes high fun gaming sim is a popular addition to the magical life sim genre, but is it the right game for you? This article is here to provide you with all the information you need to know if this game will fit your tastes. Ready to see if the life of an island witch if right for you? Then let’s jump in and see if you should play The Witch of Fern Island.
This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a product through one of these links, I may receive monetary compensation. This will in no way alter the opinions that I share on this website as they are all mine unless otherwise stated. Please see my full blog disclosure for more information regarding this matter here.
Story
In this game you play as a young witch who in her hubris decides to fly over the ocean in the middle of a heinous storm. This, of course, results in your crash landing on the quant little plot of land known as Fern Island. After being rescued by the locals you find your witch’s clothes ruined, your broom destroyed, and yourself stuck in a foreign place out in the middle of the ocean.
As is customary in cozy sim life games the locals decide to take a chance on you by giving you a little place to live in (in this case the former witch’s mansion) as you seek to find your bearings. As strive to finish your training and learn more about the island you soon find yourself you start to realize that perhaps the events that transpired to bring you to Fern Island may not have been as random as they might at first seem.
This game’s story plays out in similar fashion as many other cozy life sim games do. The player receives a new lease on life due to a turn of events that has transformed your new lifestyle into one that involves owning real estate, living in a charming town with interesting locals, and unlocking more about the history of the place in which you now reside. These elements and more play a key part in the story of this game and there is a lot to be said for TWOFI’s plot.
As your venture forward in your quest to become a full-fledged witch you it becomes evident that you will soon play a key role in the greater scheme of the story. While the details of this are foggy at the beginning the game gives you just enough to make you want more while also not taking away from the low stakes atmosphere of the game.
While the story is interesting it is calming enough to where you could definitely enjoy playing with a cozy cup of tea. Interesting yet fun, exciting, but relaxing The Witch of Fern Island has a story that will keep you interested without spiking your blood pressure. Those looking for a game with more adrenaline induced story might want to reconsider playing The Witch of Fern Island. However, players who want a bit more story without sacrificing coziness will enjoy what this game has to offer.
Gameplay
The Witch of Fern Island’s story is matched in magnitude by the level of gameplay. To be honest, when I first started playing this game, I was not expecting all the facets that his TWOFI had to offer. Sure, the game has baseline activities that are staples of its genre such as gardening, magic, socializing, foraging, mining, and crafting. However, this game expands on those facets to a point where it can become overwhelming if you’re not prepared for it.
] For example, as a witch in this game magic is a large factor in the gameplay. For starters you can craft magical items and potions to sell at your own stall. You can also craft the same items and give them to villagers to complete certain quests. You can use magic to aid you in your gardening to prevent weeds and to help plants grow.
Magic is also a factor within your studies as you will track your progress through a crystal ball as you gain more skills. This is only the magical aspect of the game and all of this plays a role in the game while also interweaving itself into the gameplay that is unique to The Witch of Fern Island.
Another aspect of the gameplay is the island itself. Now I don’t know about you but when I hear the word “island” I think of a small space of land with ONE biome and climate that exists within the realm of that one piece of land. Apparently, the creators of TWOFI disagree with this statement as Fern Island is HUGE with many different areas and biomes to explore. It’s overwhelming how much there is to see and find in this game, making it a job just to explore the whole map.
While this is exciting and interesting it can make things difficult if you are trying to figure out where to go for quests and the game is not great about pointing you in the right direction. Thankfully, there is an outside source for this game that can fill in the gaps as The Witch of Fern Island has its own wiki encyclopedia.
In short, the gameplay in TWOFI is varied and inundated with a lot of activities to try. If you’re looking for something a bit simpler then TWOFI may not be the game for you. However, if this is not an issue for you definitely consider purchasing this game.
Pros
- Lots of content
- Inundated and cozy gameplay
- Interesting story
- Will keep you busy
Cons
- Can be difficult to navigate without the wiki.
- Those looking for more of an adrenaline rush will not find it here.
- Many facets that do not make this game a simple one to complete
Conclusion
In saying all this, The Witch of Fern Island has a lot to offer in terms of gameplay as well as story. The amount of content that the game has to offer is intoxicating and those looking for less of a to do may want to reconsider playing this game. If that is not an issue for you then consider diving into the waters of this multiple biomed magical world and see if you should play The Witch of Fern Island.
