Doloc Town was yet another game where the conversation between myself and Dayna Eileen began with her saying, “Got another cutie game…” This honestly happens so frequently it almost feels like we should have our own category of “cute indies,” or at the very least we may need to start a podcast together.
Joking aside, Doloc Town did pique my interest because there really aren’t a lot of side-scrolling farming sims (or crafting games for that matter) that amassed broad appeal that I can think of outside Terraria. It’s a bold direction to attempt for a game that requires a lot of planning and spatial management, but Doloc Town definitely wants to try bold things for an experience that is genuinely different.
Doloc Town puts players in the role of a young scavenger named Proti (although that can be changed) who wakes up on a small farm after apparently suffering a large fall. Memories of their time growing up in Doloc Town push them to return in search of a mysterious “Eden” that existed before the world became an inhospitable wasteland. By working together with the inhabitants of Doloc Town, Proti may be able to find the lost Eden and restore the world to its former glory.
Immediately, Doloc Town sets itself apart from any other game in the genre with its setting. Setting a farming sim in a post-apocalypse creates a vibe and atmosphere that adds a layer of seriousness to the game, without subtracting from the playfulness and wholesomeness of it. In a way, it actually kind of reminds me of Fallout, in that even with its post-apocalyptic trappings, it still manages to be fun and lighthearted.
And it’s not just its atmosphere that makes it stand out. Doloc Town absolutely nails the fundamentals of the farming sim, while also packing in a lot of content and gameplay. It’s part farming sim, part platformer with some light bullet-heaven elements sprinkled in. Players can take the game day by day, growing and selling crops, getting to know the townsfolk, or just spend the day fishing thanks to a pretty generous clock and an intuitive building system that utilizes two-dimensional space in really interesting ways.
However, there’s a pretty large world to explore outside of the town that utilizes some pretty fun and fluid platforming controls. Players will need to explore to gather better resources for crafting, but need to be on the lookout for dangers both living and mechanical if they want to make it home safely.
“Doloc Town definitely wants to try bold things for an experience that is genuinely different.”
After a few initial quests, players will gain access to a combat drone, which makes combatting enemies a lot easier, although players are unable to attack with tools while using it. It plays into those aforementioned bullet-heaven elements where players need to move around areas, being aware of their surroundings and staying away from enemy attacks while their combat drone methodically takes them out. With time and upgrades, the drone will become even more effective, so it really makes for a satisfying build-and-attack combat mechanic.
And Doloc Town’s post-apocalyptic setting adds unique elements to the farming gameplay that really make such a different kind of experience. Acid rain will eat away at crops (as well as do damage to players without the proper equipment), scorching suns make plants require more water, and rolling thunderstorms give players a chance to harness lightning to power various devices. With enough time and effort, players can both harness and alter the world’s climate to benefit their farm, which works for both storytelling and gameplay.
Visually, Doloc Town has a really cute chibi pixel art aesthetic that makes everything look squishy and bouncy and provides a real counterbalance to the post-apocalyptic setting. Environments are bright and colourful and incredibly detailed while also maintaining a lot of visual diversity—from lush forests to barren deserts. The visuals are backed by a cheerful and laid-back soundtrack that ranges from poppy and adventurous to chill Lo-fi that really gets you in the mood to build and farm.
There’s a lot to love in Doloc Town both for what it does differently and what it does regularly. It’s got a lot of heart and a lot of interesting ideas, while existing as a genuinely good farming sim in its own right. It’s a shame it’s not on Nintendo Switch, because a 2D side-scrolling farming sim would be perfect for Nintendo’s handheld hybrid—both in theme and gameplay. If you’re looking for something as cute and satisfying as Stardew Valley with some Fallout vibes, then definitely give this one a look.
