#farming simulation

The themes of community and self-discovery in Stardew Valley remind me of the bonds forged in our beloved anime series, where every character has their own struggles and triumphs. It's like watching a charming slice-of-life unfold right before our eyes! Each season brings new adventures, from planting crops to attending heartwarming festivals, and the way those characters evolve is like witnessing the blooming of a cherry blossom tree—full of grace and wonder. 🌸

I absolutely love how the game allows us to express our creativity, whether it's in designing the farm layout or building friendships with the quirky townsfolk. It’s a reminder that sometimes, all we need is a little time in the sun (and a little rain) to see our dreams flourish! 🌻💖 So, what’s your favorite moment in Stardew Valley? Did you make a lifelong friend with a certain bachelor or bachelorette? Or perhaps you found the perfect fishing spot? Let’s chat about our adventures in Pelican Town!

Publisher Serenity Forge and developer CINNADEV have announced cozy narrative farming simulation game Delphinium for Xbox Series and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store). It will launch in 2027 with Xbox Play Anywhere support. It is playable for the first time this week behind closed doors at the ID@Xbox press event at Game Developers Conference 2026 in San Francisco.

Here is an overview of the game, via Serenity Forge:

About

High in the mountains lies a village for people with nowhere else to go. Population: nine. Soon, it will be ten. Haiyan never meant to come back. Years ago, she left this village to follow her older brother, a rising figure in a movement to rebuild their war-torn homeland. She never cared much for the cause, only for him. When his ambitions finally caught up with him, he was executed. The movement collapsed. And the life Haiyan had built around him vanished overnight. Months later, she wakes up back in the mountain village she once called home—grieving, directionless, and unsure who she is without the person she spent her life following. Delphinium is a narrative-driven experience with farming elements. Tend crops, fish mountain streams, cook meals, and help restore a quiet village of outcasts, each carrying their own past. As Haiyan forms relationships with the villagers, hidden connections between them unlock new conversations, conflicts, and choices that shape the story. Over time, Haiyan must decide what kind of future she wants to build, whether to root herself in the fragile community growing around her, or leave the village behind and discover who she is on her own.

Key Features

Story-Driven Rural Life – Planting seeds, preparing meals, and helping your neighbors aren’t side activities—they’re how Haiyan rebuilds her life. Every task deepens relationships and advances the unfolding narrative. The connections you nurture—or neglect—unlock new dialogue, shift alliances, and shape the direction of the story.

A Village Shaped by Connection and Conflict – Every villager carries their own regrets, rivalries, and hopes. Form bonds, uncover hidden links between characters, and decide whether to bring people together, or encourage independence, as the story branches.

Evolving Narrative – Your choices shape connections, unlock new story paths, and influence how Haiyan’s journey unfolds.

Expansive Crafting and Cooking – Discover and create over 200 recipes and craft furniture to personalize spaces around the village.

Engaging Minigames – Fishing, cleaning, and more are brought to life with charming, skill-based mechanics.

Watch the announcement trailer below. View a set of screenshots at the gallery.

Publisher Announce Trailer

A scary outlaw

I flip it over

“Farming simulator”

My partner said “Both sides of the south” lmao

archie

a veterinarian! watching him try to help funbucket and the injured bird he found was so sweet and heartwarming, I can absolutely see this kid growing up to be a vet so that he can help out all the animals on his home island. (this is one of those niches on coral island that I'm kind of surprised goes unfilled, like in a real life version of the game, if your animal gets sick you have to get medicine from jack and hope it works.) I can also see him dabbling in the engineering side of things, specifically geared towards 1) making domesticated animals more comfortable in their environments and enclosures, and 2) prosthetics and other medical devices to improve animals' quality of life.

oliver

I know he idolizes that one tv detective, but I just can't see him becoming a cop. I think he wouldn't really take after his mom OR dad, instead completing the trifecta of the catching skill by becoming an ocean critter specialist. this is partly because I can see him thinking of learning about science and the ocean as solving a mystery/piecing together a puzzle, and with so much of the ocean still unexplored, there's a lot of strange new discoveries to make.

valentina

definitely tricky, but I think she'd be an interior designer who does professional surfing on the side. she's definitely enough of an overachiever (just like her mom) to juggle both. unlike her mom and aunt, I just can't see her settling down to run the inn, at least not right away, but I CAN see her learning a lot about how to decorate rooms from her time growing up there. she'd probably also have a whole host of hobbies. even if she's not a fashionista like her dad, I bet she still has an artistic flair. maybe she'd ask dippa to mentor her in painting or something.

zoe

Elliott wakes up to the soft embrace of the morning sunshine, its glowing rays gifting a sweet warmth to his face. He stirs, the golden sunlight coaxing him awake. Looking to the side, he notices that his beloved farmer is not resting next to him, and just as he starts wondering what has become of them, he hears a commotion happening outside. He jolts out of his slumbering state and sprints to the front door. "Darling, are you alright!?" He shouts in panic as he swings the front door open.

"...ahh?" He stares at you, baffled, even blinking a few times as if trying to process the sight before him. "What? They got out. " You say with a smile, knowing why he's giving you that 'what-am-I-even-looking-at' look. You have one chicken tucked in your shirt and two other wriggly chickens under each arm.

"I thought you were in trouble," he sighs in relief while wiping the sweat off his brow, eyes flicking from the wriggling chickens to your amused expression. "I mean, I guess I am egg-speriencing some trouble," you say, trying to hold back your laugh. "You never fail to charm me, my love." He smiles, your smile contagious as it spreads to him.

Elliott steps toward you and gives you a comforting kiss on your forehead. His warm lips against your skin stir a feeling so indescribable that you can’t help but look away, a rosy hue spreading across your cheeks. "I'll handle it from here. Why don't you take some time for yourself today? You certainly deserve to rest every now and then. You're always so occupied with improving and looking after the farm—the least I can do is this."

Elliott offers to take on the job of rounding up all the chickens and returning them to their coop, his enthusiasm evident as he steps forward.

"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" you ask, your worry clear in your tone.

"Of course, darling! Chasing chickens is really no trouble at all for me," he reassured you. You entrust him with the role of the chicken herder and make your way inside your medieval-style home. You walk over to the kitchen to grab a quick bite. On the wooden kitchen table sits a bowl of freshly picked fruit that you gathered the day before. You grab a pomegranate, then plop yourself onto the cloud-like sofa and sink into relaxation. Just as you started taking pleasure in doing nothing for a brief moment, you hear Elliott exclaim, "Oh no!" followed by a big SPLASH.

Your head jerks up just in time to see him floundering in the pond, his arms flailing as he tries to regain his balance.

"Well, this is certainly not how I planned to spend my afternoon!" he calls out, his voice muffled by the water, before he emerges with a look of bewildered amusement. As he emerges, a crab is found in his pocket.

"Oh wow! This is quite a formidable crab--" "We should eat it," you said quickly.

Elliott looks at you with wide eyes, mouth slightly agape and eyebrows furrowed, as he couldn't believe what you just said.

"Don't look at me like that. I was thinking about turning it into crab cakes. You love crab cakes, don't you?" you ask, already knowing the definite answer while smirking.

Elliott takes a deep breath, his gaze shifting between the crab and the thought of a delicious crab cake. He looks at the crab, then at you, then back at the crab. His internal struggle is obvious, but as his stomach growls, he gives a reluctant sigh. "...I do love crab cakes." "I knew it; you can't refuse crab cakes. Especially not the ones that your lovely wife is about to cook for you," you say as you chuckle.

Elliott gently presses his lips up against yours. A mere gentle brush that feels warm and sincere. "How could I ever refuse your cooking, my love?" he says with a warm smile.