The New Hawthorn Cozy RPG Looks Like a Blend Between Skyrim and Stardew Valley

Near Studios, a newly formed indie game developer, has officially announced Hawthorn, an enchanting game blending Skyrim and Stardew Valley elements. With a strong focus on cozy village-building and immersive exploration, Hawthorn generates excitement among gamers who enjoy life simulation and open-world fantasy.

Former Bethesda, BioWare and Naughty Dog devs—including Last of Us artist Heather Cerlan and Skyrim lead designer Bruce Nesmith—have announced their first game project as NEARstudios. Hawthorn is described as “an intimate Skyrim sandbox meets a Stardew Valley village simulation.” pic.twitter.com/Q1m3Ko2gvK

— alex james kane (@alexjkane) October 8, 2024

For context, Hawthorn is Near Studios’ debut title, but the studio brings impressive credentials. Founded by Heather Cerlan and Jason Richardson, who previously worked at Bethesda, Near Studios is also home to developers from BioWare, Naughty Dog, and other top studios. Most notably, Hawthorn’s development includes Bruce Nesmith, the lead designer for Skyrim, which gives the game a distinct fantasy pedigree.

Described by Nesmith as “an intimate Skyrim sandbox meets a Stardew Valley village simulation,” Hawthorn aims to combine the freedom and exploration of a large fantasy world with the charm and coziness of managing a small village. The game’s announcement came alongside a short trailer and an official Steam page, giving fans a first glimpse into the whimsical world of Hawthorn.

Everything to Know About Hawthorn

Game Overview

According to the trailer, Hawthorn places players in a magical woodland village where they control small anthropomorphic creatures as they build a community, gather resources, and explore a dynamic world. The game will have events across four seasons, offering various activities, including foraging, farming, fishing, and crafting, with chances to interact with NPC villagers.

These villagers will then remember and adapt to the player’s actions, creating a lively and personalized environment.

The game will be playable solo or co-op, allowing you to build your village alone or work alongside friends. Players can pick from a range of fantasy races, and exploration is a key component, with the option to choose peaceful solutions to conflicts or more aggressive ones, depending on your style.

Key Features

While Hawthorn shares similarities with games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, it also caters to fans of exploration and survival games. Listed below are some key features of the game:

• A Mixture of Life-Sim and Exploration: Fans of Stardew Valley will enjoy the community-building and farming mechanics, while players who love adventure games like Skyrim will adapt quickly to the expansive world and the sense of discovery.
• Woodland Creatures and Fantasy Races: Play as small woodland creatures, such as mice and otters, interacting with anthropomorphic NPCs in a village built around the roots of massive trees.
• Building and Crafting: Rebuild and decorate homes in your townlet, choosing from various crafting styles to suit the preferences of your villagers. These NPCs can even help with tasks like gathering and building, taking some of the load off the player.
• Seasonal Changes: The game features a dynamic, ever-changing world that reflects the four seasons, with different activities and events available in each one.
• Single-Player or Co-op: Enjoy Hawthorn alone or with friends in a co-op mode, allowing for a shared experience in building your fairytale village.
• Fantasy Adventure: While life-sim elements take centre stage, there is also an emphasis on exploration, with Bruce Nesmith, Skyrim’s lead designer, describing the game as an “intimate Skyrim sandbox meets Stardew Valley village simulation.”

Activities Similar to Modern Life Sims and Cozy Games

Beyond its similarities with Stardew Valley and Skyrim, Hawthorn resembles the growing trend in cozy fantasy games that mix life-simulation elements with role-playing mechanics. Other titles in this genre, like Mirthwood and Fields of Mistria, offer similar experiences, where players build communities, explore fantasy worlds, and engage with unique NPCs. Mirthwood, for example, also features a life-sim set in a dangerous fantasy realm, where players must build a new life after fleeing their homes.

For instance, Hawthorn offers a variety of activities catering to different playstyles:

• Farming and Foraging: Players can grow crops, tend to their village’s needs, and forage for materials in the wilderness.
• Fishing: Instead of fishing with a hook, players can ride an eagle and swoop down over lakes to catch fish with the bird’s talons.
• Village Building: Use the materials you gather to build and decorate homes, making your village unique. In addition, keep attention to NPC preferences because keeping them happy will strengthen your community.
• Seasonal Events and Traditions: Embrace the change in seasons with festivals and seasonal traditions, adding variety and surprises to the game.

Closing Notes

Unfortunately, Hawthorn does not yet have a confirmed release date. However, players can already add the game to their wishlist on Steam and stay updated on its development progress.

With its charming mix of Skyrim exploration and Stardew Valley community-building, it’s clear that fans of cozy games and open-world exploration will want to keep an eye on Near Studios’ debut project.

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