Since its release all the way back in 2016,Stardew Valleyhas only continued to skyrocket in popularity. At a time whenAnimal Crossingwas taking a bit of a break, and theHarvest Moonfranchise had fallen from grace,Stardew Valleywas the perfect replacement. Takingthe farming elements ofHarvest Moon, adding more complexity, and bringing in some intricate and expansive character interactions, all packaged in a wonderfully bright pixel art style,Stardew Valleyquickly became one of the most beloved life simulators of all time. Naturally, it’s spawned a few clones over the years. However, there’s one upcomingStardew Valley-like game that looks to be adding its own fair share of charm to the mix, and it’s calledBear and Breakfast.
First announced back in 2020 during a Nintendo Direct,Bear and Breakfasttakesthe essence ofStardew Valleyand puts its own unique spin on the formula, trading out farming for running a bed and breakfast, but with a twist: the player-character is an adorable cartoon bear, and the tourists are all cute, drawn animal characters. For fans ofStardew Valley, and anyone looking for their next dose of laid-back relaxation,Bear and Breakfastlooks like a must-play come its July 28 release date.
RELATED:Stardew Valley Changed the Name of One-Person Game Development
Bear and Breakfast Has Serious Stardew Valley Vibes
Though it’s certainly got its own distinct visual style and unique set of mechanics,Bear and Breakfastis clearlyheavily inspired byStardew Valley, and that’s evident from the get-go.Bear and Breakfastsees the player control Hank, a teenage bear who’s stumbled upon an abandoned shack in the woods. With the help of his friends, Hank decides to convert the shack into a soon-to-be five-star accommodation, but there’s a lot of work to be done before opening.
Over the course ofBear and Breakfast, players will be tasked with building their own B+B,customizing every single room, floor, and wall with a plethora of furniture. To unlock new furnishings and attract new lodgers, players will need to venture into town and talk to its inhabitants, each one more colorful and talkative than the last. Some of these folks will give the player a task to complete, which will in turn unlock a special perk or new piece of furniture for the bed and breakfast. As players progress, this cycle continues, with nicer rooms equaling more customers and more customers meaning more money for new room decorations.
WhileBear and Breakfast’s art style is quite different toStardew Valley’s, it looks like it’llillicit the same calming vibes. As opposed to a pixelated art style,Bear and Breakfastis going for a more cartoon-inspired look, with character models looking very reminiscent of those found in animated shows likeWe Bare Bears. The color palette ofBear and Breakfastlooks varied and bright, with autumnal oranges, wintry blues, and forest greens all being used to capture a calming atmosphere. As the player develops their bed and breakfast, they’ll also be given the opportunity to explore more of the surrounding forest area, which appears to have its own unique art style dominated by a lot of deep purple and pink colors.
Forfans ofStardew Valley,Bear and Breakfastlooks to be a must-play. With a calming art style, a bright cast of characters, charming dialogue, a relaxing gameplay loop, and a constant sense of progression,Bear and Breakfastmight just turn out to be one of the most played Indies of the year, and is definitely worth watching on its July 28 release date.
Bear and Breakfastis releasing on June 25, 2025 for Nintendo Switch and PC.
