Skip to content

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin

Edelweiss · Nov 10, 2020

PC · PS4 · Switch

Teen

About

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is the forthcoming title from Edelweiss, the two-man team behind acclaimed indie darlings such as Astebreed (2015), an anime-styled mech shoot-‘em-up. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin combines side-scrolling action with deep crafting and farming simulation. Players take on the role of Sakuna, a spoiled harvest goddess banished to a dangerous island with a group of outcast humans. As she explores the beautiful, forbidding environments of the island, she will also find a home in a mountain village, proving herself worthy of her title by harvesting rice and bettering the lives of humans. In addition to being a fresh take on Japanese mythology and a love letter to action games, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an ode to rice and an engrossing simulation of the craft behind the agriculture.

Trailers & screenshots

Scores by platform

PC

Critic 7.8 (8 critics) · Gamer 8.8

8.0

PlayStation 4

Critic 7.7 (15 critics) · Gamer 9.2

8.1

Nintendo Switch

Critic 8.1 (31 critics) · Gamer 9.4

8.4

Critic reviews

  • Gaming Route

    Marshall B · Sep 20, 2021

    7.0
    It’s a refreshing title for trying to combine a simulator type game with hack and slash gameplay. Yet it is bogged down by the tedium and repetitiveness of both parts of the game. Aesthetically it’s quite pleasing, and Sakuna is a great character, but be aware it’s going at its own pace for better or worse. On the plus side, the game is surprisingly lengthy. Also, I don’t recall experiencing any bugs or performance issues.
    Read review from Gaming Route (opens in a new tab)
  • WorthPlaying

    Cody Medellin · Jan 12, 2021

    8.5
    Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin works well on all levels. The action segments are a treat thanks to their fast pace, since they deliver an experience that matches up with other fast-paced action titles. The farming segments are interesting because they're so involved and go into so much detail that the title surpasses all but the most dedicated farming simulator titles.
    Read review from WorthPlaying (opens in a new tab)
  • GameSpot

    Heidi Kemps · Dec 02, 2020

    8.0
    Its rewarding and engaging sim gameplay, exciting freeform combat, and just the way it feels like a warm and comforting experience while you play it are what makes it one of the best life-sim style games to release in quite some time. Whether you're big into action, simulation, or both, Sakuna's journey of redemption is one well worth taking.
    Read review from GameSpot (opens in a new tab)
  • 3rd-strike.com

    SebastiaanRaats · Nov 18, 2020

    8.5
    Sakuna is a fantastic game that neatly hybridizes two genres that couldn’t be much farther apart from one another. The amazing character designs and beautiful soundtrack further elevate a game that offers solid gameplay with a decent amount of strategic depth that will keep you occupied for dozens of hours. Although the game might not appeal to a mass audience, we expect this one to become a niche classic that will be fondly remembered for years to come in the same vein as Okami or Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and we highly recommend picking this one up.
    Read review from 3rd-strike.com (opens in a new tab)
  • NintendoLife

    Kate Gray · Nov 16, 2020

    7.0
    Lovers of Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon may not find this game to be exactly the kind of farming they enjoy – it's more like, you know, actual farming, with all the tiny changes in fertiliser recipes and water temperature that farming requires. But for anyone who needs to practise mindfulness, patience, and appreciation for the small things (all 2,000 of them), Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin may just be the therapy you need.
    Read review from NintendoLife (opens in a new tab)
  • TheGamer

    Sam Watanuki · Nov 14, 2020

    10
    Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is an absolute delight and comes highly recommended, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the platforming, RPG, or farming and crafting genres. I have the game for PlayStation 4, but I will most definitely be picking it up for Nintendo Switch as well, as the rice farming process offers up a meditative experience that I’d like to play just for a few minutes before bed to unwind.
    Read review from TheGamer (opens in a new tab)

See all critic reviews

Advertisement

Gamer reviews

  • JeCon

    Jan 17, 2023 · Switch

    9.0

    Combat Farmer!

    This game is addictive thanks to its immersive and fun gameplay. The combination of its 2D side-scrolling fast-paced fighting and 3D farming mechanics is very engaging. It has a great story supported by characters with individual skills and origins. Though its combat and farming mechanics may get repetitive but it doesn't hinder my interest and excitement through each progression. This game really need many hours to play to appreciate its glory.

    Read review by JeCon

Read all gamer reviews

Related games

Rate this game

Contains spoiler

to rate this game.