An examination of Apple Arcade exclusive ‘Japanese Rural Life Adventure’ as a narrative of unexpected renewal.

Exploring the World of Japanese Rural Life Adventure

For the third time in less than two years, I have COVID-19. Whenever an illness has forced me to stay in bed, my comfort food has been gaming. In 2009 I played through all of Assassin’s Creed II in a feverish, swine flu-induced haze. When I was sick with COVID for the first time, I jumped into Red Dead Redemption 2 blind, and found a story about sickness and human mortality. Now, during one of the most stacked years in recent gaming history, I find myself under the covers not with Starfield, Spider-Man 2 or any of the other big fall releases. Instead, my bedside companion is a small Apple Arcade exclusive called Japanese Rural Life Adventure.

The Beauty of Community in Japanese Rural Life Adventure

I discovered this gem through an X account that tweets about upcoming indie games. I took one look at Japanese Rural Life Adventure and knew I had to play it. The game features a beautiful pixel art style, and a pastoral setting evocative of anime classics like Only Yesterday and Wolf Children. What I didn’t expect to find was a heartwarming experience about the importance of community.

Longing for Simplicity in Japanese Rural Life Adventure

Longing for a simpler life is something that pervades Japanese Rural Life Adventure – not just its setting, but also its mechanics and the scale of its gameplay. For all the time I’ve put into the game, I have not become a farming mogul. At most, it’s possible to plant and maintain four fields for growing rice and produce, alongside a few fruit trees. In fact, there’s only so much “work” for your character to do in a single day. And the days, compared to those in Stardew Valley or recent Harvest Moon entries, are long, adding to the sense of a slower pace of life.

Game Development and Social Commentary

GAME START, the developer behind Japanese Rural Life Adventure, did not originally intend to create a game addressing the challenges facing Japan’s rural communities. According to Fujita, the focus was on creating an enjoyable game experience that allowed players to escape from the realities of everyday life. However, the theme of “village regeneration” was incorporated into the game to add elements of growth and development, making it more appealing to players.

Building Community in Gaming

Unlike other games in the genre, Japanese Rural Life Adventure places a strong emphasis on community-building. The player’s actions are centered around improving the unnamed town, highlighting the importance of collective well-being. This unique focus on community not only sets the game apart but also adds a fresh and compelling aspect to the gameplay experience.

Tasks in the game, such as the restoration project, are not just about completing objectives for rewards. The sense of accomplishment comes from seeing the tangible results of one’s efforts, such as organizing a summer festival or beautifying the town with lanterns and decorations. These moments of community celebration and improvement serve as the driving force behind the player’s actions, reinforcing the value of collaboration and revitalization in the game world.