*Fields of Mistria* burst onto the scene with overwhelmingly positive reviews during its Steam Early Access launch in 2024, and it's easy to see why. Just three months after its debut, the game received its first major update, with another eagerly anticipated update scheduled for March 2025. Currently priced at $13.99 on Steam, the question remains: is *Fields of Mistria* worth the hype in its current state?
Is Fields of Mistria Worth It in Early Access?
*Fields of Mistria* has not only garnered glowing reviews from players and critics but also secured a spot among *The Escapist’s* best games of 2024 and clinched *Patch Magazine’s* 2024 Game of the Year award. The game is brimming with charming characters, engaging dialogue, and well-crafted questlines. It strikes a perfect balance between romance and the core elements of farm sims, such as farming, fishing, mining, and crafting. With over 100 hours of casual playtime logged, I can attest that the game offers endless content, making it well worth the investment—a sentiment echoed by many Steam reviewers.
Like its genre counterparts, *Fields of Mistria* challenges you to cultivate a new life on a farm within a tight-knit community, but it does so with exceptional flair. Unlike the often one-dimensional NPCs found in games like Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons, the residents of Mistria are richly developed, even those you can't romance. Each character boasts a variety of greetings and talking points that rarely repeat, complemented by detailed designs and seasonal outfits. For instance, Dell's fall outfit, complete with a stick poking out of her pocket, showcases the meticulous attention to detail that makes the town's inhabitants so endearing.
While *Fields of Mistria* inevitably draws comparisons to *Stardew Valley* due to its nostalgic pixel art and core gameplay, it distinguishes itself in crucial ways. The game is notably more beginner-friendly, offering tips and occasional freebies from townies to help you get started. It provides an intuitive itinerary to guide you through the early stages, encouraging you to connect with the community. This forgiving yet engrossing gameplay has also earned it comparisons to *Animal Crossing*. Quests often span multiple days, especially those involving the restoration and upgrading of community spaces like the mill and the Inn. Discovering your crush's favorite gifts and cataloging seasonal fish and insects for the museum adds layers of challenge and engagement.
The game's current content is already a fantastic value, but there's more on the horizon. *Fields of Mistria* excels at immersing players in a small yet vibrant community. With 10 romance options currently available, two more singles, including the dragon Caldarus, are set to join the roster. Future updates will increase the heart cap and events from six to ten, introducing marriage, children, and much more.
*NOTE: Fields of Mistria is currently in Early Access, and its content is subject to change. The information provided is accurate as of Version 0.12.4 and will be updated as necessary if anything changes.*
*Fields of Mistria is available to play now in Early Access.*
