Is Sun Haven Worth It? (2024)

If you’re looking for a new farming game to get sucked into, then there’s a reason you’ve heard all the buzz around Sun Haven. Fresh out of Early Access in 2023, the farming sim uses charming pixel graphics and interesting new gameplay elements to set it apart in a populated genre.

Related: Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Sun Haven

Naturally, you might be wondering if it’s worth picking up or if it’s just like all the other farming life games out there. Check out our review and a breakdown of its cost and time expenditure to see if you might be Sun Haven’s newest resident.

Review

Sun Haven is an intricate and fun experience that doesn’t limit itself to standard farming mechanics. There’s so much to explore and enjoy as you can potentially fight monsters, delve deep into mines, discover new regions, develop friendships and romances, learn new spells, and build up a robust skill tree.

As editor Branden Lizardi mentions in his comprehensive guide to Sun Haven, this is a game that goes “far deeper into various mechanics than you might think.”

The game is compelling and comprehensive from the start, with racial traits, background options, and keepsakes that go into your build. Because there’s so much to do in Sun Haven, it can be a lot to take in at first. Thankfully, it’s done in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re pressured by time to accomplish everything at once.

It currently holds a 90 percent positive rating on Steam, making for a promising adventure from Pixel Sprout Studios.

Time Expenditure

Technically, you can play the game indefinitely if you ignore the main quest. Updates have also added an epilogue if you’re really focused on getting through the major storyline right away.

Overall playtime also depends on how long you set each day. Sun Haven lets you adjust the real-time length of each day using a sliding bar that jumps by five-minute intervals. This means each day can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 40 minutes.

If you want to get the full experience of expanding your farm, unlocking all three regions, and finishing the main quest line along with some side activities, you can expect to play the game for at least 55 hours. This could easily go up if you’re going at a more leisurely pace, especially since the main story has no deadlines.

Cost

The standard edition of Sun Haven is currently available at $24.99 on PC exclusively on Steam.

If you get the bundle that comes with Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 of its soundtrack, the price goes up to $40.97. The game has already been part of a few Steam sales since its launch, so it’s worth checking if there are active discounts on the title.

What Players Are Saying

The Fantasy Farm For Those Who Want More - Sachi Go

Sun Haven comes off like a more expansive RPG version of Stardew Valley, but it’s by no means just a reskinned copy. It’s worth diving into for the magical regions, interesting skill trees, great progression, and unique mechanics that take it beyond your usual farm life simulator. Managing up to three farms on top of your quests can be overwhelming, but it’s worth it if you take your time. Also, you can collect tons of pets, set how long each day is, and you don’t have to worry about stamina!

A Little Something For Everyone - Gabrielle Castania

As someone who's logged hundreds of hours in Stardew Valley over the years, I dove into Sun Haven eagerly and haven't been disappointed since. Every townsperson has their own quirks, your skill trees are wonderfully fleshed out in ways other games like it haven't really done yet, and the game playing out at your pace lets you set the tone for the adventure you'll have. Whether you're looking for a cute farming sim, pixel battles both physical and magical, a sense of exploration, all of the above, or something in between, just about anyone can find something to love about Sun Haven.

Plenty To Do For The Patient - Branden Lizardi

It may seem like "just another farming sim," but Sun Haven is deceptively fleshed out. The degree of creativity and consideration to the game's overall design make it stand out as one of the most noteworthy farming sims of recent years. There's PLENTY to do, regardless of what aspect of these games you prefer. Gratification will not come immediately, though. It takes time to really dig into what each major mechanic has to offer. But if you can commit that time, it's an engaging and worthwhile experience.

You'll Be Pleasantly Surprised - Sanyam Jain

Sun Haven is quite a welcoming game for all types of players. It has a main quest that's based around you saving the world, but the game doesn't put any time limit on you to finish the quest. You're free to speedrun the game or take it slow and fish for three years straight. If you love intricately designed farming simulator that'll keep you for a long time, this game is perfect for you!

Next: Sun Haven: Best Machines To Build First