When I played the demo version of Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit during Summer Game Fest, the developers told me how excited they were to make a sequel. After putting the original game in players’ hands, they said they quickly realized how many balance issues there were, with inventory limits and overpriced upgrades adding far too much friction to what was supposed to be a relaxed Animal Crossing-style life sim. But as bad as the developers found these issues at launch, they didn’t stop it from growing a loyal fanbase, and Cozy Grove has more than earned the right to a sequel.
So Camp Spirit is a game that makes the most of the studio’s lessons learned to get things right from the start. Of course, a 30-minute demo isn’t enough to really get a feel for something like this. Like Animal Crossing, this is a game that slowly unfolds before you over the course of days, weeks, and months, constantly giving you new things to do as things change and new content unlocks in real time.
But that time was just enough to let me enjoy the adorable little new gameplay additions, like a puffer fish that uses the pressure washer to clean away dirty spots Mario Sunshine-style, and a hint system that keeps you from endlessly searching for the hidden items you need to progress. The developers say they focused on fewer of the game’s central spirit bears to give individual characters more time to grow in the story, and that’s great bait for the long haul.
The big question mark currently hanging over the game is the fact that it’s exclusive to Netflix. That means you’ll need a subscription to the streaming giant to play, and you can only get the game on your phone. The game’s simple actions work great on a touchscreen, and it’s a wonderful free gift if you’re already a Netflix subscriber. However, if you prefer single-purchase games on a more traditional gaming device, you’re currently out of luck.
Still, Camp Spirit seems to retain all of the endearing charm that made the first Cozy Grove a hit, and the developers are clearly working to apply the lessons they learned from the previous game here. If you want to try it out for yourself, you won’t have to wait long – Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is coming to iOS and Android via Netflix on June 25.
If you are looking for healthier Games like Animal CrossingYou know where to click.
