Animal Crossing-Like Game Hokko Life To Add Farming In First Update
Indie life sim game Hokko Life will have its first major update in July since launching on Steam Early Access, and it will bring farming mechanics.
The indie life sim game Hokko Life will be getting a farming update in July. It will be the first major update for the title, which launched onto Steam Early Access on June 2nd. The game itself takes heavy inspiration from Nintendo's Animal Crossing series.
Hokko Life is the first title from Robert Tatnell, who began working on the game in 2018. Like Animal Crossing, the player controls a human newcomer to a town populated with animals. Once settled in, players can begin customizing their and their villager's homes, go fishing, and craft items. However, it has some differences from its biggest inspiration. It is a single-player title with no current plans for a multiplayer experience, and the allowed per-town villager count is also over double that of most Animal Crossing titles, with players able to have 24 animal residents.
As announced on the game's official Twitter page, Hokko Life will have its first major update in July, which will add farming to the game. While this is all that is currently known about the update, the Tweet does tease additional features being added to Hokko Life in the near future. Furthermore, it's very likely more details will be shared closer to release.
With the inclusion of farming, it will give Hokko Life a feature absent from Animal Crossing. While players have always had the ability to grow fruit trees and flowers in Animal Crossing, it has never had a dedicated farming activity. Being able to grow a variety of crops and use them in crafting, recipes, or as gifts will make Hokko Life different from similar life sims.
It's also interesting to speculate on how exactly the farming will be implemented. With no more than the announcement to go on, there are several possibilities to consider. Perhaps it will draw inspiration from fellow one-man project Stardew Valley. Given the 3D environments, it may emulate the mechanic seen in Harvest Moon or Story of Seasons. Again, more details should be made available closer to the update's release.
Hokko Life's promise for future updates and release onto Early Access shows Tatnell has high hopes for his project. It also proves that he is willing to listen to feedback from the community and build a game that appeals to a wider audience. When, what, or even how the farming update will be included is yet to be seen. But it is the first step for Hokko Life to emerge from its biggest inspiration's shadow.
Source: Hokko Life/Twitter