The Garden Path Review (In Progress) (Switch eShop)

The Garden Path is a slow-paced, meticulously-crafted garden sim game on the Switch with beautiful art but plagued by control and load time issues.

: The Garden Path is a relaxing garden sim game crafted by Louis Durrant over seven years. The game features charming artwork and quirky characters, emphasizing a slower pace. However, it suffers from vague instructions and technical glitches on the Switch. Despite these issues, it's lovingly detailed and suited for patient players.

The Garden Path aims to replicate the serene experience of gardening, with each in-game day mirroring the player's real-life time. The solo developer, Louis Durrant, has poured seven years into this project, resulting in a visually captivating and charming world filled with anthropomorphic vegetables and an inviting color palette.

Players start in a cluttered garden, guided only by brief tutorials and few hints, leading to an initially overwhelming experience. Unique mechanics like 'tones' influence harvesting outcomes, adding complexity, but often leaving players with evolving piles of twigs and weeds due to insufficient guidance.

Although the game encourages a relaxed, go-at-your-own-pace style, its enjoyment is marred by technical issues, including cumbersome controls and frequent load delays. Visitors and trading systems add depth, but inviting new residents takes considerable time, further slowed by the game's performance on the Switch. Overall, The Garden Path is a niche experience rich with love but requiring substantial patience from its players.

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