There’s something about browsing a plant shop that I find extremely satisfying. Like a lot of people, I picked up a few plants during the pandemic to try a new hobby. They’re even still alive! More good news: the person who sold them to me didn’t dabble in occult adventuring or host anything in the shop that could poison me. That’s not the case for Strange Horticulture, a new game that many are finding to be a cozy, carefree way to sit back, relax, and accidentally almost kill some lovely NPCs.

Bad Viking developed an incredible world worth a visit if you’re a fan of cozy, click-and-point titles. Published by Iceberg Interactive, Strange Horticulture is a bit like a mystery. It’s funny, but the vibes of the title remind me of some of my favorite guided meditation sleep stories on the Headspace app. There’s substance here, but you’re also free to fill in elements of the experience for yourself, which is easy as you lose yourself in the game.

You play a character known only as the Horticulturist, living in Undermere, a town completely enveloped by mysterious swamps and other scenic environments. As you fulfill your duties, which mainly boil down to getting people plants based on their needs, you uncover a mystery rich in occult lore and eerie history. After fulfilling enough customer requests, you’re able to explore the world around you by choosing areas of the map you learn about via context clues from letters, customers, and other explorations.

The loop doesn’t lead to a lengthy experience. I completed a run of the game in about four and a half hours. Much of the fun is learning about the plants you sell, including some that could actually poison or harm the customers. It’s great having a bit of risk involved, although the stakes never feel very high. While the game is incredibly relaxing to play, it’s also just a tad shallow. The mystery you uncover never hits a point where you’re dying to know what happens. You’re just sort of along for the ride, which is totally okay too.

This is definitely a strong seven in my eyes. A short experience and a bit of a standard plot delivery keep Strange Horticulture from being a classic. That said, we’re slowly seeing more and more of these relaxing casual titles take the gaming world, and particularly the PC and Switch fandoms, by storm. For those cozy gamers who might play things like Wytchwood for the aesthetics, this is absolutely a game for you. If you’re a bit higher on action and hands-on adventure, this is more of a game where you wind down. Nevertheless, it’s worth your time.

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Strange Horticulture

$14.99

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Cozy little point-and-click game
• Somewhat spooky yet relaxing vibes
• Great game to unwind with

Cons

• A bit shorter than you might expect
• Lacking a huge punch in its plot