The Epic Store’s first free game for March (Available until March 21st) turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant. Slime Rancher a Unity driven game by Monomi Park. Their first game to be specific. Originally released on Steam back in August 2017 to positive reviews from players and critics.

Originally I had intended on streaming this game to review it. However, after completing the tutorial, I couldn’t put it down. I was sucked into the wiggly, bouncy, adorableness adventure that this game is. My whole weekend spent exploring the lands of the Far, Far Range. Collecting the unique slime’s, trying (and failing) to ranch and feed them all. Opening a lab for tools and experiments. All while trying to follow the story of the previous ranch’s owner, Hobson.

Hobson’s, and by extension the Beatrix’s (the player character), story are an underlining force in the game. Hobson’s tale told through little hologram points dotted throughout the map. His last walk around before leaving the ranch behind. While Beatrix is told through the “Starmail”. Resulting in a rather one-sided conversation with a love interest back on Earth called Casey. Both of these stories only progress as the player progresses through the world. Exploring and growing their ranch, though leave no direct impact on the world itself. However, it does leave an impact on the player, if you can get over the fact that the conversation with Casey is one sided and we as the player don’t get Beatrix’s side of it. Where-as Hob’s story is notes left for you to read. So you only get what Hob left for you.

Sweet stories to be sure. However it gets lost in the real meat of the game, which is the slime’s and the ranch. With 16 unique slime’s to capture (with 10 others that can’t be captured), an upgrade-able ranch, slime science and the tools it offers, and 8 difference areas to explore and collect all the resources to grow and expand in the order you wish.

Over 20-hours into the game already, I want to keep playing, and I can not recommend this game enough if you’re looking for a cute and fun game about exploration and slime management.

—