A new indie game on PC is looking to recreate some of the simple joys of the iconicAnimal Crossingfranchise.Hokko Lifebrings players into a charming village with a mix of residents, human and otherwise, and features activities like crafting, fishing, home design and bug catching.
It doesn’t take long to see thatHokko Life’s aesthetic and cozy vibe is taking influences from the long-running Nintendo franchise, butwarm-hearted games likeAnimal Crossingaren’t a common sight in popular gaming. The project’s resemblance to a modernized take on the early installments of the series is impressive, especially since it’s all being made by one developer: Robert Tatnell, a former team member at Lionhead Studios and Ninja Theory.
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Tatnell hasn’t confirmed a release date forHokko Life,but plans to put the game into early access on Steam sometime in 2020, with a full release in the first half of next year. Fans ofStardew Valleymight also find a lot to like here; the farm simulation title resonated with fans of theHarvest Moonfranchise that were clamoring for a new take on its genre, and was also a one-man passion project for much of its development cycle.
Hokko Lifeisn’t the first game in 2020 to bring PC players its own spin on a Nintendo’s classic.Creature collecting RPGTemtemmade waves by combiningPokemon’s familiar mechanics with the shared world of an MMO, and fans piled in strongly enough to break the game’s servers at launch. Mixing in recognizable gameplay with new elements here and there could be enough for games likeHokko LifeandTemtemto create their own niches alongside the franchises that originally inspired them.
Animal Crossingfans are already looking forward to the release of the latest title in the series,New Horizons.The Switch game is set to bring the beloved franchise back with the first new installment in eight years, following 2012’sNew Leafand several spinoff games. Anticipation for the new game is high, but reports thatNew Horizons’s save data will be console lockedhave worried some players.
Hokko Lifewill be released on Steam in early access in 2020.
