I recently had the pleasure of playing Tiny Garden by Ao Norte. Instantly, it sparked a flood of nostalgia, reminding me of the time spent as a child playing with my Polly Pocket toys. The tiny encased garden with plants, and adorable decor felt like a modern take on those compact worlds I adored. I was transported to a time where there was magic in the small things. A carefree moment of joy creating my perfect world.
Starting with only a small bit of land and seeds, in Tiny Garden it’s your job to create your own palm sized personal garden. Unlock new seeds, decor and tools by turning the crank and watching your plants grow.
Gameplay
Tiny Garden’s gameplay is (mostly) uncomplicated in the best way. Plant seeds, turn the crank, collect produce. But there is a caveat. Each plant has its own way of doing things, and if you’re not paying attention or performing things in the right order you might have to start steps over.
Plants prefer certain terrain, and have their own growth time. Some even change the terrain of tiles in its vicinity, which can make or break your growing plants. Paying attention to these small details will help you arrange your plots.
Trade grown plants for seeds, tools and, even unlock new collections. Your currency is plants, so by growing many different kinds, you’ll have more of a chance to buy decor, colors and stickers along with seeds for your pocket garden.
Unlocking tools helps reveal hidden terrain types. With fountains, compost, and more create the perfect environment for your plants.
Although there is a method to playing, Tiny Garden has no time limits. No pressure. You don’t even have to grind to get collections. You can simply garden at your own pace.
Storyline
Rather than a storyline of events, Tiny Garden instead shares letters filled with affection and shared dreams from loved ones that share bits of information about your character’s life. Sometimes they come with a few extra pieces of produce, which is a bonus especially when trying to buy a new collection.
Some letters can be opened with the purchase of decor, and others by completing a puzzle. Although it won’t tell you what piece of decor opens a letter, adding an element of surprise when it happens.
Customization
Tiny Garden allows the player to customize their palm sized personal garden. As you progress in the game, a new level of your pocket home is unlocked, three in total. Each empty and ready for you to decorate. Trade grown produce for furniture to furnish your home.
You can also buy stickers, colors and atmospheres to decorate your adorable world. With so many options, the combos are endless!
Sound and Art
The gentle chirp of a bird, hum of bees and overall nature add to the relaxing realism of Tiny Garden. Paired with calming tones of guitar, flute, and xylophone, the immersive experience is truly enhanced.
The art is bold and colorful, and brings life to the screen. Although it’s more cartoon than realistic, the whimsical feel adds to childhood reminiscence.
Tiny Garden scratches the itch of nostalgia, while fostering carefree gameplay. And no matter how you play, this palm sized personal garden makes you appreciate the small details.
Tiny Garden is ready to harvest now on Steam.
Tiny Garden was reviewed on PC. Gamer Social Club would like to thank the Developer Ao Norte and Publisher Super Rare Originals for the code.
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