Slime Rancher is one of those games I really can’t praise enough. It’s completely adorable, incredibly addictive, and it’s perfect to play while you chill out and listen to some tunes. I’ve invested countless hours in the game, and I’ve spent way too much time daydreaming about a Slime Rancher sequel.
At first glance, Ova Magica seems to draw inspiration from Harvest Moon. There are crops to harvest, a village full of bachelors and bachelorettes to explore, and festivals to attend. There are also creatures to collect and battle, which brings Pokémon to mind. However, the slime-like creatures — which the game refers to as blobs — look like they’re straight out of Slime Rancher.
It doesn’t hurt that Ova Magica feels like the sort of game I’d play compulsively. Blobs come from eggs, and once they’ve hatched, you’ll need to feed them your best crops in order to make them stronger. You can also recruit your blobs to help you handle your farm work. Like in Slime Rancher, your creatures can be crossbred, allowing you to create the perfect blobs.
When you don’t feel like farming, you can venture off into the world and explore. The game uses an Active Time Battle System. Like Pokémon, being familiar with type weaknesses as key. As you explore dungeons, you’ll discover more eggs and other rare treasures.
You can also spend time in the town, where you can build relationships with other characters and eventually get hitched. Most days, you’ll simply talk to characters and give them gifts, but you’ll also be able to get closer to other characters at annual festivals. The festivals are the part of the game that really has me excited; it feels like the developers are going all out to make them feel special.
Ova Magica may not be a Slime Rancher sequel — or even a spinoff — but it looks like it will satisfy my desire to raise more adorable slimes. A Kickstarter campaign is set to launch in February 2021, and the game is currently slated for an early 2022 release.
