Summary
Indie developer Feel Free Games has just released the first official trailer for its upcoming farming adventureindieRPGLuma Island. Set on a tropical island teeming with legendary treasures, mysterious creatures, and a touch of magic,Luma Islandpromises creative farming fun for up to four players.
FromHarvest MoontoFarming Simulator, many gamers have always enjoyed escaping the hustle and bustle of their urban lives to cultivate cozy worlds from the comfort of their sofas.Stardew Valley’s pixel art and charming characters captured the hearts of gamers when it was released in 2016, catapulting the genre back into the spotlight. Through unusual settings or charismatic NPCs, there are stillmany other memorable farming gamesthat have managed to carve out their unique niche in the genre.
With gameplay combining farming with crafting, exploration, and combat, the recently announcedLuma Islandwill offer a new take on the formula. The cozy adventure game is the first title developed by Feel Free Games, a small Netherlands-based indie studio founded in 2021 by industry veterans. Instead of attempting to replicate the 2-dimensional sprites ofStardew Valley’s characteristic pixel graphics,Luma Islandwill offer players a bright and vibrant 3D world to discover, filled with “dangerous spider caves, ancient temples, mind-bending puzzles and hidden treasures.” Players will be able to either traverse the family-friendly world alone or party up with friends in four-player online co-op.
What to Expect in Luma Island
From exploring dungeons to helping the local townsfolk,Luma Islandpromises plenty of activities to keep players busy as they develop their starting caravan into a majestic mansion. Crafting will be a key part of the game, allowing players to choose from “seven unique in-depth professions each with its own progression path.” While few details have been released, this career-focused approach to crafting suggests a change from howcrafting and skills progress in games likeStardew Valley. It appears that each player will be encouraged to become a master of their chosen profession rather than a jack-of-all-trades, promoting cooperation between teammate’s complementary skill sets. In their journeys across the island, players will also discover the titular Lumas, magical Pokemon-like creatures who can accompany them on their adventures.
Feel Free Gameshas also emphasized thatLuma Islandwill be a “streamer-friendly game,” allowing anyone who has purchased a copy to “create, upload, live stream and monetize videos online containingLuma Islandgameplay.” This will likely prove a popular feature with fans wanting to share their beloved creations. Although an exact release date is yet to be announced,Luma Islandis scheduled for release on Steam in fall 2024, offering gamers a welcome distraction while theywait for ConcernedApe’sHaunted Chocolatier.
