Intro
I don’t know about you but lately I have been on a low maintenance gaming kick. Let’s face it, life can be hard sometimes and playing video games that perpetuate that is not the vibe I’m after. Clocking out of work, school, life drama, you name it by clocking into a cozy low stress game is just the ticket for the person who needs rest. If this sounds like what you are after, then I might have the game for you.
The Garden Path is a soft aesthetic garden sim with a lot of mystery and low stakes gameplay. In this game you venture on to your quest to discover who wrote the mysterious and tattered note that you hold in your very hands. After traveling far, you come to a garden filled with extensive greenery, interesting NPCs, and a relaxing atmosphere that any weary gamer can get lost in. Sound interesting but not sure if you are barking up the wrong tree? Keep reading then to see if you should play The Garden Path.
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Story
In this game you play as a nameless traveller. You have travelled far to discover the identity of the person who wrote the mysterious note that has you fixated. After much travel you come to a large, wooded garden that encases the secrets of the one who wrote you the fabled note. As you venture through the garden you must tend to the plants, complete quests, and explore to discover the whereabouts of the one known as “The Old Gardener”.
The story in this game sounds ominous but it’s relatively cozy for what it is. The NPCs range from humans to forest animals and the land in which you roam perpetuates that of a hike through low laying woods.
The sound of birds fills the air as you explore this lovely cluster of lands that make up the garden. While it takes time to gather information and bits of knowledge to uncover what you seek the game’s story does not wholly revolve around this theme as most of your time is spent running around in the woods. As you meet the NPCs you gain more knowledge about the story and the landscape before you as well as more about their particular lives within the garden. The story is a simple one and meant to coincide with the gameplay itself to create this very low stakes game.
Gameplay
The gameplay matches that of the story as playing the game is as relaxing as experiencing what goes on in the garden. Much of the gaming experience replicates that of a nature walk or a hike through the woods making exploring the map a therapeutic experience. This includes documenting plants, collecting wood, fishing, and doing quests for NPCs.
The developers intended for this game to be played in small spurts rather than binged for hours on end. If you’re looking for a game that you can completely immerse yourself in for hours than The Garden Path may not be the game for you as this game is meant to be played in the short term.
However, the intriguing aspect of this game is the capability players have be able to jump in and out without losing fear of losing your place or forgetting what you were doing when you go to play again.
This makes the gameplay less stressful and attractive to gamers looking for an experience that they can fit into their busy schedules. Gamers looking for a title that they can bing for hours on end will not find it in The Garden path. However, if you’re trying to find a relaxing game that you can play in between work, school, or even the kids, then The Garden Path is for you.
Pros
- Calming atmosphere.
- Simple gameplay
- Charming story
- Great for a weary mind
- Perfect for busy gamers
Cons
- Gamers looking to binge play may not enjoy this game.
- Can be a bit difficult to navigate at times.
Conclusion
Gentle games that create a safe and relaxing atmosphere are essential to many gamers. Sometimes it can be difficult to find great games to play that don’t wear you out and that you can fit into a busy schedule.
Gamers looking for a game that they can play for hours on end may not want to play The Garden Path. At least, not right now. But those who have a stressful schedule but still want to play a game might want to check out this game.
Ready to trod along the garden path? You can snag it below for Switch and PC.
I want The Garden Path for Switch.
I want the Garden Path for PC.
