Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin was originally slated for release in 2019, but it appears that is no longer the case. The launch window has been moved to 2020, says developer Edelweiss and publisher XSEED games. This game was originally announced back at E3 2017 with information slowly being revealed over the course of the years. It is planned for a release on PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
This game is an indie farming sim from the same two-man team behind Astebreed. Players take on the rule of Sakuna, a spoiled harvest goddess banished to a dangerous island to live with a group of outcast humans. As she learns the island, she finds a home in a mountain village and must prove herself worthy by harvesting rice and making the humans’ lives better.
“The release has been delayed from this winter to 2020. Please accept our apologies. We know how excited many of you are for this game, and our dearest wish is to share this title with you as soon as we possibly can. At the same time, we believe strongly that we should create a game that we’re entirely proud of, without leaving any regrets,” reads the official statement from XSEED.
This is not seen as a bad thing by many fans. In a gaming culture, full of rushed releases, the fact that these developers are taking the time to perfect their game is a great thing. The developers have always wanted to work on an action RPG title, and they are excited to be bringing to life a game of that style finally.
The game has a sudden trailer, and it easily showed off its unique and gorgeous art style and genre-blending gameplay. It looks like it will mix RPG mechanics into a platforming experience that is both challenging and convincing. Mixing this with a crafting system, you get a beautiful little blend of unique game mechanics in a mystical new world.
“As she [Sakura] explores the beautiful, forbidding environments of the island, she will also find a home in a mountain village, proving herself worthy of her title by harvesting rice and bettering the lives of humans. In addition to being a fresh take on Japanese mythology and a love letter to action games, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an ode to rice and an engrossing simulation of the craft behind the agriculture,” reads the game description.
This game has the potential to be a massive success. Many games that take the risk of taking a fresh look at Japanese mythology tend to become great additions to any gamer’s collection. This is a great looking game with a possibly bright future.
Expect the release in 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC. There is no price currently for the game but it surely will be worth the money.