For the first time in a decade, I'm playing a farming sim that isn't Stardew Valley. It's called Fields of Mistria, and since picking it up for $14 on my Steam Deck two weeks ago, I've spent 34 hours building a new life – and, er, ignoring my real one – in the titular town of Mistria. There are familiar comforts. I farm, fish, raise livestock, try my hand at artisanal crafts, and brave monster-infested mines; befriending townsfolk by forcing eggs upon them.
But Fields of Mistria's RPG roots run deep. While in-game days are still measured by strict 2AM bedtimes and limited stamina, you're otherwise free to spend your time however suits, with no deadlines on quests or townsfolk requests. Combined with the fact that there's so much to do – with many trainable skills to achieve the overarching goal of raising Mistria's reputation – Fields of Mistria lays out an easy-going vibe and sticks to it, offering a world I can't resist slowing down for.
