Arriving from Melbourne developer Studio Drydock, Wylde Flowers is a farm/lifestyle management sim that started its life earlier this year exclusively on iOS as part of Apple Arcade. Now venturing onto the PC and Switch, this pleasantly cosy experience is ready to bewitch many a new player, bringing with it a surprisingly long campaign full of rich character and a huge amount of voiced lines.

Taking on a familiar trope of the genre, game protagonist Tara inherits a family farm from her grandmother that moves her from the hustle and bustle of city life to the more quaint pastures of a humble farming township. Looking after her grandmother in the early stages of the game, Tara gets to know the townsfolk whilst discovering mysteries that bubble away under the surface. If tending to crops, fishing by the beach, and exploring the local mines weren’t enough, Tara also becomes involved in a coven of witches who gather at night on the outskirts of town.

Instant comparisons to games like Stardew Valley can and will be made, though a stronger focus on narrative and dialogue allows Wylde Flowers to really set its own identity. A Fully-voiced cast with a surprising amount of non-repeated lines keeps the charm strong as you get to know the fleshed-out characters around you. Add to this a series of constantly evolving events that move the game into magical new directions, and you begin to see the blueprint of what a really competently designed farming sim could look like if its main focus was story instead of gameplay.

Wylde Flowers is a masterclass in the wholesome. The casual nature of the game and a complete lack of combat or skill-based, mechanical interactions means its playable by almost everyone. A removal of time-pressures associated with the changing of seasons and the spoiling of crops merely adds to that casual and accessible nature. It might not be to everybody’s taste, I for one would have loved to have been challenged on occasion, but I can also appreciate that not every game is made with me in mind, and that’s okay.

Equally wholesome is the diverse and accepting representation within the cast of characters. Multiple ethnic backgrounds are respectfully depicted, as are different sexualities. Protagonist Tara’s sexuality can be shaped by the player, pursuing different love interests and even responding to questions from NPCs as you fill in choices about her past. It’s just nice to inhabit such an idyllic and accepting environment, complete with pride flag hung at the entrance of the town hall.

The game will occasionally touch on more serious subject maters, including the death of a prominent character, though it’s always handled lovingly.

Wylde Flowers has impressive longevity. It may not be the kind of game you play over and over again, though tens of hours in and you’ll still be seeing new content. I was constantly shocked when my daily conversation with an NPC brought about brand new dialogue never seen before. Wylde Flowers spoil the player in this regard, with a much more advanced dialogue system than your average game of the same style.

With a whole lot of heart and a huge amount of story content, the game is every bit as enchanting as its witchy premise.