Indie farm life sim Stardew Valley has become a modern classic in gaming with its combination of mechanics from Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon and graphics ripped straight out of retro gaming. This success stems from surprisingly addictive gameplay, much like the similarly relaxing Farming Simulator games, though its colorful veneer likely makes it a bit more appealing than that more realistic game.
Peepaw's Farm is quite different from other farming games, and its short length stems from the fact that it's literally a farming game that hates farming. The title has quickly become something of a joke game, hearkening back to the bite-sized joke games that once flooded sites like Newgrounds. Peepaw's Farm is hands down one of the oddest titles to hit the Microsoft gaming market, but it's that sense of cynicism that makes it so appealing to fans.
What is Peepaw's Farm?
Made by Ikon Games, Peepaw's Farm is a new title to hit the Microsoft and Xbox gaming marketplace. You play as the eponymous Peepaw, a grizzled farmer whose frustrated with his inattentive daughter. Your task is to begrudgingly gather up crops and load them into a trailer for the farmer's market. Along the way, Peepaw can converse (or, at least, attempt to) with his daughter, a scarecrow and certain farm animals.
There's not really a farming mechanic. Peepaw's Farm is more about the mood of being forced to do something you don't really want to. After gathering enough produce for the market (picking it up is as simple as walking past and holding a corresponding button), Peepaw then goes off to market. That's really it; there are a few little optional side quests, such as finding Peepaw's hat or collecting a striped pumpkin, but there's no real challenge, and the game ending as soon as it begins makes it seem almost like a tech demo. This comically short playthrough time could be seen as either a strength or a weakness, but it's certainly part of the awkward charm of the game.
How Peepaw's Farm... Succeeds?
The rather mundane yet oddly fun mechanics don't last long, though this makes for replayability. Said replayability has its expiration date as well, however, as even subsequent playthroughs end rather quickly. This makes attaining all of Peepaw's Farm's achievements simple as well, making the title a boon for those wanting to increase their Gamerscore.
This bolsters the idea that the game is just a big joke, stemming from the fact that the titular farmer doesn't even seem to enjoy farming. The gag atmosphere is itself made stronger by the polygonal graphics, which resemble a cross between Minecraft and Untitled Goose Game. Given the price tag of about $5, some might argue that even that cost of entry is a bit too much for a joke. Nevertheless, Peepaw's Farm is perfect for gamers who don't actually want to farm.