Xseed Games and Marvelous Inc. know their way around faming simulators–being the home to the treasured Story of Seasons and Rune Factory franchises–and one of the publisher’s upcoming titles promises to give a unique, spooky spin on the cozy genre.
Moonlight Peaks casts players as the child of Count Dracula himself as they attempt to make a life for themselves in the magical town of Moonlight Peaks. Residents include werewolves, witches, and even mermaids, whom all use their mystical abilities to humbly live in the creepy locale.
As a vampire, you’ll experience farming in a way you never have before, such as turning into a bat to quickly traverse the terrain, or cast spells to enhance your garden’s bounty. This also means that, as opposed to other farming simulators, you’ll be at the mercy of the rising sun as you’ll be doing all of your adventuring in the comfort of the night.
Hands-On Impressions
I got to go hands-on with Moonlight Peaks at PAX East 2025, and I walked away curious about its potential, but underwhelmed with what was currently on offer.
The demo walked me through the opening paces of the game, and while I appreciated the introduction to the game’s world, I did not think it offered enough variety or special qualities that I haven’t seen a dozen times elsewhere.
I first created my vampire protagonist, who had to be a girl, and consisted of only three variants. The attendant assured me that the full game will offer “dozens” of customizable options to help create my ideal bloodsucker, but exactly which parts can be customized I’m just not sure of.
I then was set about on my small plot of land, tasked with collecting wood, stone, and fiber for the mayor of the titular town. For a game that is all about the supernatural, I was disappointed that I was gathering something so mundane.
To get these goods, I selected tools from an inventory wheel that was very much inspired by Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and again I found myself utilizing things that I had in nearly every farming game I’ve ever played: a scythe to cut grass and grain; an axe to chop wood; a pick to chip away at rocks. There was a wand in my inventory, and when I curiously selected it, I saw that it was here that I could use some spells. Unfortunately, I did not get an opportunity to try out any of the spells to see how they influence this magical world.
What I did really like were the eerie creatures that populated my demo farm, which included a googly-eyed black chicken (who made me LOL for real), and a sinister appearing cyclops goat who boasted three twisted horns upon his crown. The possibilities of having fantasy creatures on your farm are limitless, and while these seemed very tame in comparison, I do appreciate the unique touch. And before you ask, yes, you can pet all of the creatures.
The art style deserves more praise for the detailed portraits of townsfolk during conversation versus their chibi-like appearance in game. Most of the game genuinely reminds me of the Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, but the more lifelike pictures of characters when speaking provides a whole new perspective on the people you’ll meet in your adventure. Again, it’s a nice touch.
Lastly, I was also able to customize my farm to a degree, but there weren’t many items that I could display. The demo generously offered some spooky decorations, like benches made of rotting wood, or a cluster of candles dripping their hot wax directly onto the floor, but as I’ve said already, these items aren’t anything I haven’t seen before.
And just as quickly as my journey with Moonlight Peaks began, the sun rose and my vampire farmer retreated to her coffin to slumber, and the demo reached its conclusion. I see a ton of potential with this title, but developer Little Chicken Game Company must lean into the things that make it different if it means to make a mark in the competitive life sim genre, and to make that a point as early into the experience as possible. With a release date not expected until at least late next year, I believe that they can do it.
Have you been following this title? Do you think it can be unique enough to separate itself from the crowd of other farming games? What kinds of mystical possibilities would you like to experience with it? Tell us in the comment section below and on our official Discord channel, and follow our social media pages for all gaming content!
Source: PAX East 2025, Moonlight Peaks
Leave a Reply