Stardew Valley meets Darkest Dungeon: New Steam game launches with 97% positive reviews

Welcome to Elderfield launched on Steam on September 10 and throws Stardew Valley together with Lovecraftian horror – while acting as if the result were completely normal. In the sleepy little town, giant skeletons, undead creatures in the shopping mall and tentacles growing out of walls and farmland are apparently just part of everyday life.

At first, the daily routine looks suspiciously cozy: tending fields, fishing, cooking, searching mines for resources and decorating your own home. However, players don't just grow corn and pumpkins, but also teeth and eyeballs. There are also strange farm animals and monsters that regularly make themselves at home on the farm. Friendships and romances can be developed around town. In addition to humans, players can apparently even marry skeletons and slime creatures.

The main objective is to unravel the mysteries of Elderfield and break the seal on the so-called Stone Tower. To do so, players have to make use of practically every aspect of the game – from farming and raising livestock to exploration, crafting equipment and combat. The combat system in particular is where Welcome to Elderfield differs from traditional farming sims.

Stardew Valley meets Darkest Dungeon

Behind the cozy country life lies a surprisingly extensive turn-based RPG. Much like in Darkest Dungeon, good preparation is essential, as anyone who ventures too far into a dungeon without enough supplies will quickly find themselves back home. Welcome to Elderfield isn't quite as unforgiving, however: Dying simply resets the current day and deducts some money.

Try Hard Guides describes Welcome to Elderfield as a blend of familiar farming-sim gameplay and ever-present horror, awarding it 9 out of 10. The game is said to offer plenty of variety while integrating its turn-based combat well into the overall gameplay. Criticism is limited to a few unnecessarily cumbersome mechanics – such as taking random damage while mining or not recovering health when sleeping. The Stardew Valley competitor is also being very well received on Steam, with 97% positive reviews from around 250 ratings so far.

Anyone who wants to check out the game can pick up Welcome to Elderfield with a 10% launch discount until September 24 for $16.19 instead of $17.99. Thanks to its “Verified” status on the Steam Deck, handheld gamers can jump in as well.