To be honest, as an old player who has worked hard since the Symbian era, I am already a little numb to the assembly line products in the current mobile game market. Open the app store, and the screen is full of cards, combat power, and automatic path finding, which makes people feel sleepy. But I accidentally saw the game "Little Forest" a few days ago, and clicked on the words "classic three-in-one". As a result, I couldn't stop playing it.
I'm not going to brag about it, but the biggest highlight of this game is its purity. There are no lengthy mandatory tutorials, no pop-up windows urging you to recharge, and even the digital achievement system is quite restrained. It has the same texture as the stand-alone games you secretly played under the desk when you were a child, but the graphics are much more beautiful. The three-in-one synthesis gameplay is indeed old-fashioned, but "Little Forest" has worked hard on the details - the special effects of blooming flowers during each synthesis, the vivid movements of the small animals, and the rustling wind in the background all make people feel very comfortable.
It reminds me of the days when I stayed up late playing Bejeweled on a Nokia N86. At that time, there was no social system or rankings, and all I could play was the exhilarating feeling of being eliminated with a "pop" sound. The current "Little Forest" feels very similar to me, except that it has been replaced by synthesis, and it is more healing. The copywriting in the game is also very warm, not the awkward "Hello, dear player", but like an old friend talking to you.
To be honest, it is difficult for this kind of light casual game to sell well nowadays, after all, it is too "Buddhist". But on the contrary, it is suitable for those of us old players whose edges have been smoothed by life. After work, I slump on the sofa, listen to soothing background music, and watch my little forest grow little by little. I feel a sense of calm that those impetuous "chopping tools" on the market can't give me.
The only small regret is that the game is not particularly rich in content at present. You can unlock most of the gameplay in about three or four days. I hope the developer can add more copies or decorative elements in the future. After all, this kind of healing game is all about "slow life". In addition, it would be better if there could be a PC or tablet version. Looking at those flowers on a big screen would be more immersive.
In general, "Little Forest" may not be suitable for players who pursue excitement, but if you are like me and occasionally want to find a quiet corner to hide from the pressure of reality without being tortured by complicated systems, then it is definitely worth a try. After all, it is more comfortable to plant flowers all day in the game than to "plant" worries for a day in life, right? 🌼