Steam's new farm life sim comes directly from the former Stardew Valley developer.

Harvest Moon may have been the inspiration.But ConcernedApe's stardew valley When it was released in 2016, it set a new standard for farm life simulations. Nearly a decade later, the game continues to be recognized as one of the most influential games in the genre, exceeding player expectations and proving that independently developed games can rival big-budget releases in terms of depth, post-launch support, and cultural impact. At the same time, it has now become a blueprint that traces its roots to almost all modern cozy living simulations. In fact, the soon-to-be-released farm life simulation steam In fact, ConcernedApe's debut hit has deeper roots than just about any game it was inspired by. stardew valley developer

sunlit city Another individual developer with a history of participating in post-launch development with ConcernedApe, Mr. Podunkian's new farm life simulation. stardew valley. At first glance, the upcoming game looks very similar to: stardew valley However, this is to be expected considering the developer's previous work. Nevertheless, for Steam sunlit city It may have similarities with stardew In terms of visuals, gameplay, and design, the city setting, customization possibilities, and quality of life features may be enough to set it apart from the games that have dominated the farm life simulation genre for nearly a decade.

Sunkissed City is being developed by former Stardew Valley developers.

Arthur “Mr. Podunkian” Lee was not initially present when Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone was working. Stardew ValleyBecause it was actually created from scratch by just one person. However, while Barone was working, when he needed a team to help update the game after its release. haunted chocolate shopMr. Lee contributed his expertise. Particularly involved in development Stardew Valley Updated from 1.4 to 1.6 Lee joined the team in 2019 and helped Barone not only troubleshoot the farm life sim's post-launch issues, but perhaps more importantly, help build its biggest content update.

Time with Mr. Lee Stardew Valley It only lasted about three years, as he split from Barone in 2022 and focused on it full-time. sunlit city—According to its Steam page, it's “a life simulation set in a vibrant, sunny beach metropolis filled with funky vibes and quirky characters.” Naturally, expectations for future urban farm life simulations may be high. stardew valley But it was also created by one of the previous developers. But if Mr. Lee has something to say, sunlit city It is most likely not intended to replace or duplicate. stardew valley-Similar to the game, but taking lessons learned over years of post-launch development and applying them to a different kind of space. Above all, this unique farm life simulation feels like an evolution of: Stardew Valley More than just a copy.

The Sunkissed City is the Stardew Valley of urban sandboxes.

If you still lack that looks and charm, sunlit city I feel like I have everything Stardew Valley Fans love more than that. As a farm life simulation, it features traditional genre-specific systems such as DIY gardening with plants and crops, fishing, foraging and exploration, NPC relationships and romance mechanics, home customization, and various village activities. but, sunlit city With an urban twist stardewAdds more depth and quality of life through the formula.

Take a look at the features of Sunkissed City at a glance

• farm life simulation It is set in a vibrant seaside metropolis called Apollo City.
• urban gardening These include DIY gardening using plants and crops.
• fishing When fishing, we have a quality of life system that shows you a silhouette of all the fish you can currently catch based on location, time and weather.
• Gathering and Exploration Around the city, such as parks and natural attractions.
• Dive into a monster-infested sewer and other adventurous side activities.
• Meeting and Building Relationships With quirky city folk and NPCs.
• Gifts and Social Engagement To deepen the bond with the character
• Romance Options And personal story development.
• In-depth character customization There are clothing, patterns, colors and styles.
• Home Customization It features furniture, wallpaper, flooring and decorative touches.
• Online and local co-op Multiplayer to play with friends.
• Difficulty and accessibility options Customize your experience to suit different skill levels.
• village activities Visiting cafes and parks, interacting with wildlife and more.

one of the clearest ways sunlit city evolve Stardew Valley's gameplay is built from the ground up, incorporating lessons learned from years of improvements since launch. The system has gone through several updates for improvements. stardew instead sunlit cityThe basis of. Fishing is the most obvious example. A built-in visual system takes the usual guesswork out of minigames by conveying exactly what you can catch under certain conditions. The same philosophy applies to customization, relationship tracking, and accessibility options, aiming to respect players' time while maintaining the sense of routine and progression that defines the genre.

where sunlit city But what really starts to separate is in the way we rethink the space in which the loop exists. Instead of concentrating everything on one isolated farm, the proceedings spread out into parks, cafes, public spaces, and an interconnected urban environment that feels busier than any neighborhood. stardew valleyThis is Pelican Town. Gardening becomes something players are woven into city life, and the social system feels more naturally integrated into everyday play rather than something to check off on a schedule. In addition to deeper customization, optional combat-focused activities like sewer diving, and flexible difficulty and accessibility options. sunlit city There's already a lot to do.

All things considered, sunlit city It certainly looks like a game made by someone who has been watching something for years. Stardew Valley It was right and it could have been smoother from the start. The urban environment provides a familiar farm life gameplay loop. Stardew Valley A new coat of paint, quality-of-life improvements make you feel stronger from the start, and the overall structure hints at the developers knowing how long players tend to live in these worlds. It's still questionable whether it will ultimately have the same staying power, but it already feels like a confident step rather than a safe review.

sunlit city Currently scheduled to launch steam In 2026.