This JRPG-inspired farming sim I've waited ages for just released, and it offers the coziest Pokemon x Stardew Valley vibes

Ova Magica early access trailer screenshot showing an anime-style scene with a young male farmer feeding a round blob-shaped brown wooly creature a carrot in front of a barn — (Image credit: Skinny Frog)

I've been waiting for a wholesome blend of Pokemon and Stardew Valley features for a long time, and it looks like I've got it now with the arrival of Ova Magica.

Ova Magica, a sweet little indie gem headed by Claudia Gorsky and her studio Skinny Frog, just released in early access on PC yesterday and it's already got a "Very Positive" rating on Steam - with good reason. The new game is as fun as it is vibrant, combining creature-collecting mechanics with good old-fashioned farming sim features that fans of all things cozy know and love. Catch bugs, craft items, hatch and raise adorable blobs, harvest crops, explore, romance - and battle.

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Players can use their blobs, cute animal-themed creatures, in turn-based fights against other trainers, much like in Pokemon. All the essentials fans of Nintendo's longtime pocket monster taming series are familiar with are there, from elemental advantages to status effects. And just as Stardew Valley's Junimos can help around the farm, blobs can, too - each one excels at something unique, whether in battle or on the farm.

It's not all about breeding blobs and tending the land, though - players can build relationships with 13 different bachelors or take their chances solo on expeditions in hopes of finding rare eggs and treasure. It's like every one of my favorite aspects of Pokemon and Stardew Valley came together - with a dash of JRPG flair to boot. If Ova Magica sounds like it's also up your alley, you can grab it on Steam right now and follow along with its early access journey.

Looking to dig into more cozy titles? Here are our favorite games like Stardew Valley.

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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.