What could be better than enjoying the soothing pixelated meadows of Stardew Valley? How about working on a farm that feels like it’s really there?
That’s what you’ll do in Land of Amara, a new VR farming simulator inspired by the smash hit indie game as well as older series like Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. Developed by Paw Stamp Studio, Amara uses a clever mix of first and third-person cameras as well as unique interactions created with VR in mind and a crisp, clean art style for its own promising spin on the farming genre. 10 minutes of gameplay just surfaced online, which you can see below.
Though VR is no stranger to imitations, Land of Amara looks like a genuinely thoughtful expansion of what’s come before. While you’ll have a miniature farmer to direct, for example, many of the game’s interactions are carried out using motion controls, adding an element of god simulation in there. Crops are watered using giant cans and animals are hand-fed. Meanwhile, you’ll go into first-person to interact with other characters like merchants and operate machinery.
It all looks well-considered and hugely promising, though there’s a long way to go before we’ll get our hands on the finished product. Paw Stamp says the game has been in development for about three months now and hopes to have an early testing build available soon before building new areas and features. The studio intends to launch a patreon campaign to help fund the project as it starts to expand on features going forward.
