Now that work on Stardew Valley is set to slow down as developer ConcernedApe looks to his other upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier, I've got my eyes set elsewhere – on one very spooktacular life sim, to be precise.
Neverway is a stunning new pixel-style "nightmarish life sim RPG," according to developer Coldblood Inc. With talented indie veterans heading its production, including Celeste artist Pedro Medeiros, it's hard not to fall in love with the game at first sight – especially after its recent trailer during Nintendo's Indie World Showcase. Not only does it highlight some of what sets Neverway apart from other genre gems, but it provides a release window, too.
Neverway is set to launch in 2026, which could leave mere months between now and when it arrives – good news for fellow fans of games like Stardew Valley. It ticks all the essential life-sim and cozy-RPG boxes, with crafting, combat, cooking, farming, fishing, friend-making (and yes, romance), and more, but strays from the norm with its twisted underlying story. Not only do you start a rural life on a farm… You become the immortal herald of a dead god.
