Pixel Sundays: Slime Rancher – A Charming Journey Through the World of Slimes
Immerse yourself today with me in the world of Slime Rancher. A world where you are a farmer of a very special kind.
Summary
- The Origin of the Slime Rancher Franchise
- Gameplay and Mechanics – A World Full of Slimes
- Graphics and Sound Design – The Magic of Slime Rancher
- The Influence of the Slime Rancher Franchise on the Indie Gaming World
- Future of the Slime Rancher Franchise
- Conclusion
This week in our Pixel Sundays article, we are covering a so-called farming game. But it won’t be as traditional as the Farming Simulator, because it’s not primarily about field cultivation, but about keeping and breeding slimes. You will learn all about it here.
The Origin of the Slime Rancher Franchise
The Slime Rancher franchise began in 2014. That year, developers Nick Popovich and Mike Thomas founded the indie studio Monomi Park in San Mateo, California.
Popovich, the original artist and designer of the game, began developing Slime Rancher in his own apartment. However, his programming skills weren’t the best, so he used external code to create a prototype of his game. Later, he brought Mike Thomas on board as the technical lead, who became responsible for programming. Together, they worked eight hours daily on their project without many overtime hours to avoid overburdening the team.
In January 2016, Slime Rancher was finally released in Early Access on Steam, receiving a lot of positive feedback. The official release took place on August 1, 2017, for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Xbox One. Later, versions for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch followed.
This positive reception was reflected in the sales figures. By May 2017, the game had sold 800,000 copies. By 2019, the number of players had grown to over 15 million.
This success paved the way for a sequel. Slime Rancher 2 was released in Early Access for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on September 22, 2022. The second game continues the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau on the mysterious Rainbow Island, bringing new content and mechanics.
Gameplay and Mechanics – A World Full of Slimes
But first, let’s talk a bit about the gameplay. Starting with the classic first Slime Rancher, the gameplay concept is quite simple. Like in other farming games, you are gifted your own ranch at the beginning, but there’s almost nothing there. You have a vacuum-like tool to collect slimes and other materials.
With this tool, you can gather slimes and place them in an enclosure. There, you can feed them with food that you grow yourself or find in the world, and in return, you get plorts. These plorts can be sold at the market for money, which you can spend on farm upgrades and expansions. You can also combine two types of slimes with plorts, which results in slimes that give you two different plorts when fed. However, be careful not to overfeed your slimes with a third type of plort – this could have catastrophic consequences.
There’s a lot to explore in the world, including many small puzzles to solve. This makes the world more engaging, offering plenty to discover while exploring. Solving puzzles also rewards you, adding to the sense of accomplishment.
You can also research rare slimes and their plorts to unlock new, useful items for your farm. This provides a goal to work towards, with a reward for completing it. This grind is essential in games to prevent players from finishing everything too quickly and losing interest. For research and upgrades, you’ll need money, which leads us to the game’s economy. The prices of plorts vary depending on the type of slime and the market’s daily fluctuations.
Slime Rancher 2 introduced several new features. For instance, a research system expanded the inventory from 4 to 6 slots, making the game more convenient and easier to manage. Additionally, brand-new slime types were introduced, and the farming system was expanded.
The world grew larger, with multiple islands separated by loading screens. While the predecessor had no loading screens, the brief wait times in Slime Rancher 2 reveal expansive and beautiful new areas. The controls were also slightly improved, and you could personalize your ranch more. Research was made a bit more convenient as well.
Graphics and Sound Design
During the development and design of Slime Rancher, Popovich placed great importance on creating a relaxed and colorful game. He used a bright color palette and designed the various slimes with unique colors and gimmicks. However, it’s not just the slimes that stand out. Even the animals, like the chickens that roam the world as food for some slimes, are humorously designed.
The game’s environment is generally very detailed, creating an inviting atmosphere. This makes the world ideal for exploration, as there is so much to discover, and everything looks charming. The various areas are all uniquely designed and adorned with cute little details, ensuring the experience never feels dull.
In Slime Rancher 2, this style was retained and even slightly refined. The lighting was further improved, making certain locations stand out more, adding a much stronger, sometimes even mysterious, vibe. The environment was also made more detailed in the second installment.
Now let’s briefly discuss the game’s soundtrack. It shines with soothing melodies, creating a very relaxing atmosphere. The slimes produce sound effects when they jump and make their own unique slime noises. However, the developers ensured these sounds are not intrusive or annoying but blend harmoniously into the calm world.
The Influence of the Slime Rancher Franchise on the Indie Gaming World
Slime Rancher is clearly a niche game. Its focus on collecting and nurturing slimes is not something commonly seen in other games. However, it successfully combines the popular farming genre with exploration in a vibrant world. This unique mix appealed to a wide range of players, making it a huge success despite its unconventional concept.
This game inspired other developers to create unconventional games as well. One example is Astroneer, a space exploration game where you explore new planets. It also features a mix of exploration, research, and resource collection.
Slime Rancher has demonstrated to the indie gaming world that success can come from any concept, no matter how unconventional. This encouraged creative thinking among developers, leading to the realization of many new ideas. Of course, not every game becomes successful, but you can never know until you try.
Future of the Slime Rancher Franchise
Naturally, one might wonder what the future holds for the Slime Rancher franchise. The plan seems quite clear for now. The focus is on further developing the second installment, which is still in Early Access and receiving regular updates. Most recently, on December 12, the “Into the Labyrinth” update was released, introducing new slimes, gadgets, and a labyrinth.
However, this won’t be the last update before the full version of the game eventually launches. When the full version is released, you’ll find out on AllKeyShop, where you can also compare prices to buy it at the best deal. After that, a third installment might follow, but that is still many years away.
The community also plays a major role in the game’s future. Monomi Park greatly values player feedback. They adjust content to meet player preferences, and some player ideas are even directly integrated into the game. Overall, the future of the Slime Rancher franchise looks very promising.
Conclusion: What Makes Slime Rancher So Special
The Slime Rancher franchise has brought a unique experience to the gaming world. With its charming aesthetics and innovative gameplay, it has built a large fan base. The game’s relaxing nature has made it one of the most well-known indie games, which players can enjoy repeatedly. It has also proven that niche concepts can be hugely successful.
The combination of farming simulation and exploration/adventure elements is particularly noteworthy. The sequel has so far lived up to expectations and is not being developed solely to make quick money. The developers aim to create a sequel that players love and enjoy.
If you’re eager to play Slime Rancher, head over to AllKeyShop now, where you can always find video games at the best prices. Additionally, there are exclusive discount codes, and you can view a price history.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
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