Unveiled in August last year and featured in the recent Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase,Lightyear Frontieris an upcoming farm simulator with a twist. Players get to do their planting, crafting, and exploring in a robot suit. It feels likeStardew Valleywith mechs, but the game also shares similarities with another title:No Man’s Sky.
The farming simulator does indeed have the relaxing feel ofStardewValley, but its gameplay is reminiscent ofNo Man’s Skyand its mechanics - and that’s not a bad thing. The unexpected combination seems to work well for the upcomingindie game.
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The Premise of Lightyear Frontier
Lightyear Frontieris set on an alien planetwhere players can build their own farmstead. There are a number of crops available — from normal wheat stalks to strange corn-like plants with colorful kernels. As stated above, players go through farming duties with the help of their specialized mech suit, which streamlines processes like seeding, watering, and harvesting. The suit itself, as well as other pieces of equipment, can also be modified and upgraded.
Aside from farming, players also have the option to explore the alien planet.Lightyear Frontierfeatures an open world, so there are plenty of secrets for players to uncover. That said, there’s no need to worry about combat or survival elements. The team behindLightyear Frontierhas expressed that the game will provide a “low-stress, combat-free experience” — agame to help players relax.
Similarities to No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky, in contrast, has hostile NPCs and some survival elements. However, it features a similar aesthetic. Both games make use of bright colors and pepper their game worlds with different kinds of landscapes. And of course, both titles feature mechanical equipment and alien technology. In other words, the world ofLightyear Frontiercould believably be atype of planet inNo Man’s Sky— one of the safer ones, at least.
Aside from the overall aesthetic, the game’s map traversal also looks familiar sinceNo Man’s Skyreleased the Exo Mech update. This update allows players to pilot an Exocraft known as the Minotaur. It’s a mechanical suit similar to the one seen inLightyear Frontier, and it functions quite similarly. The mech suit makes planetary exploration and resource gathering a lot more convenient — factors that also makeLightyear Frontierastandout farming simulator.
These key resemblances are what makeLightyear Frontiersocomparable toNo Man’s Sky— thus, “No Mech Sky.” However, these don’t take away from the game, but rather add to its charm. The vivid world and the emphasis on exploration are perfect for a game set on an alien planet. Couple that with novel farming mechanics, andLightyear Frontieris sure to provide a unique experience.
Lightyear Frontierdoesn’t bring anything new to the table, per se. It takes the aspects thatplayers loved fromStardew ValleyandNo Man’s Sky. However, the way it merges these things is what makes it so intriguing. The clever mix of farming, robots, and exploration is an excellent setup, potentially making it one of the more distinct indie titles of recent years. Hopefully, it’ll have the content to back it up — namely, a lush world worth exploring, an interesting story about the alien planet’s ancient inhabitants, and, of course, fun farming mechanics.
As of now, there have been no announcements of an officialrelease date forLightyear Frontier. But the game’s trailer from the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase reveals that it will arrive in Spring 2023 with an early access build. Players who are interested in trying the game early should keep an eye out for further announcements.
Lightyear Frontieris currently in development.
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