There’s something of a museum, as Billweather the sailor will give you items like quartz and recipes for turning in the first of each item you find. You might also have to harvest things from the animal spirits you place or flowers and trees you planted. You start with a shovel, but eventually also get tools like a dowsing rod, fishing rod, machete, and pickaxe to find relics with memories, fish, fauna, and ores. Since these quests involve items, it means a large part of your time each day is spent acquiring materials. I encountered one that said I’d have to have Francesca “recycle” a root vegetable to make it a roasted root vegetable, when you actually give it to Flamey and have the bonfire burn them to make the dish. Also, you might want to double check the hints. That prompts a marker to show up and lead you exactly where you need to go. Since the quests to bring solace to the undead involve getting items to meet their needs, you’re constantly scouring spaces for items that might not be immediately visible.Įach quest item does have hints attached, but I’d typically give Charlotte the Ranger the 100 coins necessary to exactly pinpoint where items are. Items are layered on top of each other, not offering clear perspectives until you’ve moved into a space and look close. The downside is it can be difficult and impossible to see things whether your surroundings are grayscale or vibrant. As your Spirit Scout interacts with ghosts and meets their needs, color and light return to the island. The idea of life returning is present in the presentation. This summons up more of the lost parts of the island and souls. As you work your way into their hearts-literally, as each spirit has five heart indicators above their heads and you have to run errands to make them like you-you get logs to feed to your anthropomorphic bonfire. If you’re lucky, you can get that job done that day, but it isn’t uncommon for missions to take multiple days. Each one has about one quest per a day, asking for items. You start with very few ghostly bears lurking about. After an incident leaves you trapped, they become your new neighbors and you commit to restoring the island and meeting their needs.Ĭozy Grove is a game that isn’t designed to be played in long sessions, which is as much of a bane as it is a boon. The place is devoid of color, life, and warmth, with only specters lurking about. Your latest assignment is the island of Cozy Grove.

You’re trained to aid them and sent on assignments to get them to move on. Fortunately for you, you’re a Spirit Scout. They have unfinished business and need help. While it accomplishes that, there are many ways in which the design decisions can make it feel more limiting and a “lite” version of a life sim.

Back when Siliconera spoke with Spry Fox’s David Edery about Cozy Grove, he emphasized how Animal Crossing helped shape it and the team wanted to use it to build up certain areas they felt Nintendo’s life sim might not have covered. There are some games clearly inspired by other titles.

Cozy grove reviews