I can’t believe it was four years ago that I posted about Mirthwood. Then out of nowhere a stealthy demo drops. Yes, you can now go hands-on with Mirthwood to try out the opening few days of the game. I have to assume that with a Steam Next Fest just around the corner that is why the demo has dropped. Either way, I was very happy to jump in and see what was on offer.
Mirthwood
Set out on an enchanting journey where you will face ferocious creatures, build a homestead, and make friends. Take on quests to earn fame and fortune. Whether you choose a peaceful life of farming and trade or one of sword and shield you will find lots to do as you explore the large open world of Mirthwood.
If you’re looking up Mirthwood anywhere I’m sure you’re bound to see many comparisons between Fable mixed with Stardew Valley. To be honest, it’s hard not to think that when you see it. After playing the first hour or so you can see why those two games come to mind.
Starting your adventure
In the demo, you will get an early slice of the game. You’ll make your character with a decent amount of customisation options both for your look and things like your background and personality. Some of these choices have both a positive and negative effect.
There is a little prologue section that sets up some story and from that point on you have a few in-game days to do pretty much whatever you like. Obviously, there are some restrictions as to what is in the demo. That being said, I felt like there was a good chunk of stuff to check out.
During my time I took on some quests which had me exploring a few locations and trying to track down places and people. Quests don’t have waypoints or markers of where to go. Instead, the description will let you know what area you should be heading to. Additionally, I spent some time tending to my homestead. Gathering materials to make repairs to my house. Building a few items such as kilns for smelting, kegs for brewing and more.
When visiting the main town near your home for the first time I tried making a few friends with the locals engaging in friendly chats. The conversation system lets you choose from topics such as jest, romance, and gossip. Each one then has further topics for you to talk about. Different people will enjoy talking about different subjects. As you build your relationships you may open up new topics to talk about, or even quests to follow.
Exploring the open-world was fun and I stumbled upon a few interesting places that had some puzzles to solve. Furthermore, there were bandit camps, points of interest with good loot, and more.
It’s pretty lovely
There is still some way to go with Mirthwood. It’s a little rough in some areas. The combat could do with some refinement and some of the menus still look a little ‘work in progress’. That being said, what I played, I absolutely loved. There is a charm to the game with the Sims-esque character interactions to the cosy and cartoonish style. I can already start to picture how your homestead might develop. Growing crops, decorating your space, and developing relationships will all be a big hit with many.
It’s marked for Q3 2024 release and judging by how it looks at the moment I think that could be a safe bet. My only hope is that it gets verified on Steam Deck now as I can see myself loving this on the go.
Go check out the demo for yourself – I’m not sure how long it will be live.
-Will
