First Look: Shinehill
As much as I love a deep, complex, consuming game like Baldur’s Gate, sometimes I just don’t have time. This is why I look for cute quickie games to relax with.
Shinehill, from Peach Bite, checks all the boxes of an inexpensive, easy-to-pick-up, cozy game.
It’s still in early access, but I wanted to share some of my thoughts from my first look!
First Look
In Shinehill, you start as an overworked alien sent on a mission to spy on a new planet! Pick your disguise and hop on your ship to embark on your adventure. When your ship crashes, you are dropped right into the quaint little town populated by cute NPCs. Farm, fish, cook, and collect materials to impress your new friends, but be sure to keep your secret identity SECRET!
Highlights
The price point is pretty good. For those who like cheap cozy games, this one comes in just above the $10 mark at $10.99. There is plenty of content, making it worth the price.
Cozyness: Though there is some dungeon crawling and enemies to fight, the battle is pretty simple Stardew Valley type slashing. No jump scares so far, and the creatures are fairly easy to beat
Enemies respawn regularly, so you can farm certain areas to get materials like hedgehog spines or mushroom spores
Getting started with the game is easy. The tutorial flashes on screen as you play, and there aren’t “tutorial” missions to slog through, letting you hop right into the gameplay
The controls are simple, but will take a little getting used to as it avoids using the mouse whenever possible. Instead, you’ll be using the keyboard to control and interact if you are on PC
If you love mini-games, this is the game for you! There are mini-games to catch fish and collect crabs
The fishing mini-game was tricky at first, but you should be able to catch the basic fish with no trouble. More advanced fish will take some practice
There are pets! Cute pets you can pat!
The scenery looks cozy and cute, featuring a cute little town, beach, cave, meadow, forest, and mountain
Lore: As you explore the town, you’ll find interesting tidbits of lore about the residents and their mysterious culture
Decorating: So far, the decorating is pretty limited, but you can purchase house plants to stick everywhere, which is adorable
Character Customization: You can only choose two disguises that look pretty similar to customize character. At present, it doesn’t stand up to other games with great character customization. I hope the devs will add more customization in the future with options like eye color, skin color, and hairstyle. However, the game is still fun with the character’s initial appearance especially since you are really a little green alien in disguise!
Exploration: There are a few different biomes to explore, each featuring their own mobs and materials
Cooking: You will learn recipes as you explore the town, and there is a robust selection of ingredient combinations. Cooking is simple and quick, so it’s not too grindy
NPCs: the NPC’s are adorable, all with very distinct personalities, but don’t move around much. That can be a positive or a negative. Since they don’t move, they are easy to find, but it also makes the town a little less exciting
Pros: Cute, quirky characters and an intriguing storyline keeps you engaged and exploring to unlock quests. A refreshing spin on the farming genre
Cons: Not as many customization options as I would like to see as far as your costume or decorating goes
Updates
According to the devlog, the next major update is scheduled for November 27th, which will feature the finished storyline, new romance quests, new mobs, and teleportation. On the horizon, the gamedev hinted that there will be more customization coming in further updates. I hope to see clothing in the character creation, as well!
I look forward to seeing where this game goes! Find Shinehill on the Steam store