The October 2023 Steam NEXT had a lot of games to offer, but if you’re into farming and gardening games, you may be a bit disappointed that there are only two offerings worth talking about. I, personally, thought we’d see a lot more. 

To be fair, there were a lot of games that had gardening elements, but these were the only two that had it at its core.

I can’t say that I’m upset with only two games, however, because these particular gardening games look amazing! One of them makes me want to step into my monitor Blue’s Clues style and never return!

Horticular

Steam tags for this game are building, simulation, pixel graphics, and nature.

inDirection Games and Slug Disco bring us Horticular, a gardening game that crosses city building with farming. In Horticular, you’ve been summoned by gnomes to restore a long-lost garden. You’ll be able to build your environment, attract animals, and enjoy a relaxing time with this garden-builder. 

You can build your garden any way you want, just be careful at night! Your nemesis has sent corrupted agents to do harm to your beautiful creation. If that sounds concerning, then don’t worry about it! With the aid of helpful gnomes and your magical gloves, you’ll be able to keep your garden thriving! 

Progress the story by helping characters or don’t! You get to choose the pace you run things! With the help of upgrades, you’ll be unstoppable!

Knock, knock! …It’s a fun gardening game.

Horticular offers dozens of ways to enjoy the game from creating animal habitats to being able to modify your game with an editor!

Personally, I’m excited for this gardening game. The art style evokes something nostalgic and the mechanics look like they’re easy to learn. 

At the moment, there is no set date for when Horticular will be released or a price mentioned for purchase. The only thing we know currently is that it’ll be released in 2024. 

If you’re interested in trying it out beforehand, there is a free demo on the Steam page to download!

Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator

Steam tags for this game are relaxing, simulation, single-player, casual, and 3D.

Stillalive Studios and Nacon bring us Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator and it is pure gardening joy. There are no gimmicks, no villains, and no stress!

In Garden Life, the entire goal is to build your garden, but it’s not as simple as just placing your seeds down! You’ll need to cultivate your plants with dedication, the right tools, and appropriate gardening techniques. 

One size fits all doesn’t work here, each seedling needs its own special care! Water, fertilize, and clip your plants to keep them healthy. Every plant is unique and adapts to its environment. 

Neighbors will stop by with gardening requests that you can help with. And you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with new plant varieties, tools, and decorations! 

Be creative! You’re free to place plants and decorations wherever you want. And if you want something new, you can breed variations to discover the full potential of your plants!

For me, I want to crawl inside Garden Life: A Cozy Simulator and never leave. It’s STUNNING. I’ve never looked at a trailer and gasped until now. I’m going to be getting this game on day 1, guaranteed. 

Shut up and take my money.

Currently, there’s no information on the price point and there’s no date locked down beyond knowing it’s coming out during the first quarter of 2024. 

Luckily, just like Horticular, there’s a demo available right now on the Steam page. So, if you’re itching to dive into this gardening game like I am, you can head over there now!