the ~cozy game~ genre is one I'm often skeptical of, because in my experience such games tend to be narratively flat and aesthetically toothless. an easter basket color palette and an overuse of the word "wholesome" does not an original experience make

but! thanks to strange horticulture, I better get the appeal. sinking into this game for an hour or so after work has been a soothing daily endcap. a millennial dream, really: routine shuffling through stationery on an overcrowded desk and poring over a too big collection of plants. next you're going to tell me I don't have any roommates

the story and writing is exactly what it needs to be, and no more. you get to enjoy the recurring characters, especially friends, and just let the plot happen. and the plot happens, and it's fine, and it's as unobtrusive as it should be.

would very readily play another game in this format