The Unhomely in Gaming: A Unique Blend of Cozy and Creepy
There’s a unique phenomenon in gaming, especially within the cozy gaming space, that aligns closely with a term coined by Sigmund Freud. I’m referring to the uncanny, or more specifically, unheimlich, the original German word that translates to “unhomely.” This concept describes something that is both familiar and comforting—like home—but with an aspect that feels just slightly off.
Grave Seasons, an upcoming supernatural farm sim from Blumhouse Games, perfectly encapsulates this idea. During a demo at Summer Game Fest, the game embraced the unhomely concept, transforming a Stardew Valley-esque farming sim into a paranormal murder mystery. The killer changes with every playthrough, making it a thrilling experience for fans of both horror and cozy games.
Feels Like Home…Or Does It?
If you’ve played Stardew Valley, the opening sequence of Grave Seasons will feel familiar. In the game, you escape a soul-sucking 9-5 job by inheriting your grandpa’s farm. However, there’s a twist: you’re also escaping something else—prison.
In the demo, I was treated to a cutscene of my character breaking their handcuffs and swimming ashore to the town of Ashenridge. My little pixelated sprite emerged, soaked and dressed in an orange jumpsuit instead of my selected outfit (though my hairbow was hilariously still in place). It was a jarring contrast to the usual “inherited from a relative” farm sim setup I’d come to expect from the genre, and it immediately piqued my curiosity about the unfolding story.
My questions continued to grow when I arrived at the abandoned farmhouse that had been designated my de facto shelter; a farmhouse with occult paraphernalia in the basement, which included a large altar-like machine. Clearly, whoever had previously owned the place wasn’t just planting crops. And that mysterious vibe spilled over into Grave Seasons’ gameplay.
A Creepy Green Thumb
The next morning, I received a crash course in planting carrots from a handsome neighbor, Hari, who assumed I was the new farmer and set me up with seeds. What followed was a tutorial on navigating the various tool menus and getting started with my vegetable crop. Like in Stardew Valley, Grave Seasons lets you dig plots, plant and water seeds, and harvest wild flora. However, there were fewer areas to plant than in Stardew Valley, with only certain areas being designated for you to exercise your green thumb.
The wild plants that were up for harvest were a lot less benevolent, too. Instead of wildflowers and chanterelles, I found irritating stinging nettles and…garbage. Once my veggie patch was in place and my yard sufficiently cleared of trash, I reported back to Hari, who told me about the town’s job board and encouraged me to introduce myself to the townsfolk. Something was off, despite the bright music, cheerful colors, and vivid personalities of the numerous NPCs who brought me right back to the usual conventions of cozy gaming.
Afterward, an objective appeared on the screen that tasked me with finding a way to activate the mysterious machine in my basement. Matters became more serious when my character noted that the occult symbol in the basement matched the decorative motifs around Ashenridge. Then I noticed the detailed shovel animation while planting the carrots, which made me wonder what else might be planted in the soil.
Final Demo Thoughts and Release Date
On a meta level, Grave Seasons’ many subversions take the idea of “home,” the actual cozy game genre itself, and warp it by pairing familiarity with a dark undertone. The narrative and gameplay make for a deeply compelling experience that I can’t wait to revisit when the game launches on Aug. 14 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Blumhouse Games hasn’t announced a price.