Horticular November Development Update!
Since Horticular's debut trailer a lot has changed in the game, from UI to whole mechanics, so we thought it was about time for a brand new trailer. [previewyoutube=g3UZiQZ2yms;full][/previewyoutube] We actually worked with YouTuber KatherineOfSky to debut the new trailer, so massive thanks to her for agreeing to do that! My hope with this new trailer is that if anything changes again in the future it will be easy to drop in new footage of the game and keep the general flow showing off the various elements that make up Horticular!
Alongside the new trailer we commissioned two new pieces of key art, which we have shown off previously, but we love it so much we thought we'd share it again below in case this is the first time seeing it properly. We got a nice warm feeling one, and a more bright colourful version done. We love them both and we are currently swapping them in and out on the store page to see which people are more drawn too. Which do you prefer?
We decided to enter the October Edition of Next Fest with a new demo update that brought a lot of quality of life fixes to the demo. The reception was amazing, whilst we didn't hit the top of any of the big front page charts, we got wayyyyy more wishlists than we thought we had planned for, driven by a lot of passionate new fans over on the Horticular X/Twitter account. The patch notes for the demo felt more like those you'd see on an early access game update haha. [previewyoutube=-38oHfHM5kw;full][/previewyoutube]
For this section, I will hand you over to Robert, Horticular's (only) developer! -- As were barrelling towards the winter break, Im currently wrapping up the big-ticket features and tech for Horticular. The goal is to become feature complete, taking the game into an internal Beta to spend the remaining time on polishing the experience and fleshing out content. The list of remaining work for this isnt too big, but it contains some crucial items that I thought Id share with you!
Starting on the gameplay side, Ill be diving into habitats yet again. While Im happy with their overall reception and generally being like small puzzles, habitats still dont fully feel like a first-class feature. For example, important information is hidden away in various UI elements and there is no direct player interaction. Ive also heard feedback that habitats may spawn in unfortunate places, messing up garden planning. Now, the general premise will stay the same, but Im leaning towards introducing another tool for the player: the habitat tool. While it needs some experimentation, the idea is to give the player easier access to plan habitats, while keeping the challenge and mastery of species. For instance, one option is to allow the player to mark areas as planned habitats to show planning details. This tool would also mean that I can move the hacky logic of the animal overlay (tracking a creature changes its behavior) into the dedicated tool. And since tools are all interactive, it could perhaps be used to nudge or move existing habitats for people who want more control over their garden.
While not a primary game mechanic, the Hortic Day needs some love. Truth be told, the current implementation almost hasnt changed since the initial gameplay prototype of Horticular. So Im looking forward to both introducing some quality of life (skippable pages perhaps?) and fleshing out some of its features.
You may already have tried Horticular on the Steam Deck and found that it works pretty well. However, there are some text elements that are illegible, which needs to be sorted out before the game is launched. I dont know exactly what that means in practice and I need to try some things out. It could be enough to revamp some of the UI elements, but I could also introduce an additional UI size intended for small or distant screens. Regardless, it is work that will help us launch the game on further platforms, so it will be a welcome change.
Speaking of Steam, I need to get it integrated into Horticular! This basically means getting achievements and stats up and running. Fortunately, I have already prototyped it and I hope it will be a rather quick integration.
Which leads us into modding. While Horticular is pretty easy to mod as is, I intend to fully support mods before launch. That means that it should not only be easy to make them but it should be even easier to install them, for example via the Steam workshop. For this I need to make some backend changes to how files are loaded as well as creating additional tools to make and upload mod packages. In particular, this needs to play nicely with any official post-release content, and it needs to be simple enough so that any non-technical player can just download some new animals and have them show up without fiddling with configs. I cant wait to wrap up the above so I can focus fully on the gameplay in the time leading up to Horticulars launch in 2024. ---
With the excitement around Next Fest we got some new coverage on YouTube that I'd love to highlight so you can see the game in action and support those who have supported the game by giving them a watch and a like! First on the list is Yogscast(!?!) in August this year we were selected to be in Tiny Teams 2023, and Loli, Rythian and Briony played the demo on stream! [previewyoutube=L_KHsSUGUDU;full][/previewyoutube] The Pillow Fort [previewyoutube=ECmUdKJQ3Js;full][/previewyoutube] 2DKiri [previewyoutube=pULZn5s9ifI;full][/previewyoutube] ToastBurn [previewyoutube=W1JfVPk_poY;full][/previewyoutube]
Over the Horticular Discord we have a channel to showcase community gardens that people have shared and below are just a couple of our favourites! First up we have CoffeeBean:
Here with have Cryp's heart-shaped swamp:
And finally here is cdev's neatly organised garden:
That's it for this development update, thanks so much for reading and supporting Horticular! If you haven't already, please feel free to have a play of the demo and be sure to leave your feedback!
[ 2023-11-03 10:49:28 CET ] [ Original post ]
Hey everyone, Dan here the community manager for Horticular, with what is hopefully a nice and juicy development update! What will we be talking about?
- New Trailer
- New Key Art
- Next Fest Recap
- Road To Release
- Creator Highlight
- Community Garden Spotlight
New Trailer
Since Horticular's debut trailer a lot has changed in the game, from UI to whole mechanics, so we thought it was about time for a brand new trailer. [previewyoutube=g3UZiQZ2yms;full][/previewyoutube] We actually worked with YouTuber KatherineOfSky to debut the new trailer, so massive thanks to her for agreeing to do that! My hope with this new trailer is that if anything changes again in the future it will be easy to drop in new footage of the game and keep the general flow showing off the various elements that make up Horticular!
New Key Art
Alongside the new trailer we commissioned two new pieces of key art, which we have shown off previously, but we love it so much we thought we'd share it again below in case this is the first time seeing it properly. We got a nice warm feeling one, and a more bright colourful version done. We love them both and we are currently swapping them in and out on the store page to see which people are more drawn too. Which do you prefer?
Next Fest Recap
We decided to enter the October Edition of Next Fest with a new demo update that brought a lot of quality of life fixes to the demo. The reception was amazing, whilst we didn't hit the top of any of the big front page charts, we got wayyyyy more wishlists than we thought we had planned for, driven by a lot of passionate new fans over on the Horticular X/Twitter account. The patch notes for the demo felt more like those you'd see on an early access game update haha. [previewyoutube=-38oHfHM5kw;full][/previewyoutube]
Road To Release
For this section, I will hand you over to Robert, Horticular's (only) developer! -- As were barrelling towards the winter break, Im currently wrapping up the big-ticket features and tech for Horticular. The goal is to become feature complete, taking the game into an internal Beta to spend the remaining time on polishing the experience and fleshing out content. The list of remaining work for this isnt too big, but it contains some crucial items that I thought Id share with you!
Habitat Tool
Starting on the gameplay side, Ill be diving into habitats yet again. While Im happy with their overall reception and generally being like small puzzles, habitats still dont fully feel like a first-class feature. For example, important information is hidden away in various UI elements and there is no direct player interaction. Ive also heard feedback that habitats may spawn in unfortunate places, messing up garden planning. Now, the general premise will stay the same, but Im leaning towards introducing another tool for the player: the habitat tool. While it needs some experimentation, the idea is to give the player easier access to plan habitats, while keeping the challenge and mastery of species. For instance, one option is to allow the player to mark areas as planned habitats to show planning details. This tool would also mean that I can move the hacky logic of the animal overlay (tracking a creature changes its behavior) into the dedicated tool. And since tools are all interactive, it could perhaps be used to nudge or move existing habitats for people who want more control over their garden.
Hortic Day Overhaul
While not a primary game mechanic, the Hortic Day needs some love. Truth be told, the current implementation almost hasnt changed since the initial gameplay prototype of Horticular. So Im looking forward to both introducing some quality of life (skippable pages perhaps?) and fleshing out some of its features.
Steam Deck UI
You may already have tried Horticular on the Steam Deck and found that it works pretty well. However, there are some text elements that are illegible, which needs to be sorted out before the game is launched. I dont know exactly what that means in practice and I need to try some things out. It could be enough to revamp some of the UI elements, but I could also introduce an additional UI size intended for small or distant screens. Regardless, it is work that will help us launch the game on further platforms, so it will be a welcome change.
Steam Integration
Speaking of Steam, I need to get it integrated into Horticular! This basically means getting achievements and stats up and running. Fortunately, I have already prototyped it and I hope it will be a rather quick integration.
Modding
Which leads us into modding. While Horticular is pretty easy to mod as is, I intend to fully support mods before launch. That means that it should not only be easy to make them but it should be even easier to install them, for example via the Steam workshop. For this I need to make some backend changes to how files are loaded as well as creating additional tools to make and upload mod packages. In particular, this needs to play nicely with any official post-release content, and it needs to be simple enough so that any non-technical player can just download some new animals and have them show up without fiddling with configs. I cant wait to wrap up the above so I can focus fully on the gameplay in the time leading up to Horticulars launch in 2024. ---
Creator Highlight
With the excitement around Next Fest we got some new coverage on YouTube that I'd love to highlight so you can see the game in action and support those who have supported the game by giving them a watch and a like! First on the list is Yogscast(!?!) in August this year we were selected to be in Tiny Teams 2023, and Loli, Rythian and Briony played the demo on stream! [previewyoutube=L_KHsSUGUDU;full][/previewyoutube] The Pillow Fort [previewyoutube=ECmUdKJQ3Js;full][/previewyoutube] 2DKiri [previewyoutube=pULZn5s9ifI;full][/previewyoutube] ToastBurn [previewyoutube=W1JfVPk_poY;full][/previewyoutube]
Community Garden Spotlight
Over the Horticular Discord we have a channel to showcase community gardens that people have shared and below are just a couple of our favourites! First up we have CoffeeBean:
Here with have Cryp's heart-shaped swamp:
And finally here is cdev's neatly organised garden:
Thank you
That's it for this development update, thanks so much for reading and supporting Horticular! If you haven't already, please feel free to have a play of the demo and be sure to leave your feedback!
Horticular
inDirection Games
inDirection Games
2023
Strategy Simulation Singleplayer
Game News Posts 43
🎹🖱️Keyboard + Mouse
🎮 Full Controller Support
Very Positive
(230 reviews)
https://horticular.net
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1928540
[0 B]
Horticular is a relaxing garden-builder that begins with mysterious gnomes summoning you. Their wish? For you to breathe new life into a long-lost garden, abandoned by its previous caretaker.
Enter a magical world where you build up and expand a lush garden at your own pace. In your journey, you attract adorable animals to inhabit every corner; uncover helpful upgrades; and assist quirky characters for rewards and story development—all while juggling decay and fending off corruption sent by your nemesis!
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Build and expand the garden of your dreams with hundreds of unlockable surface types and items. You set the pace and what to do next, whether it be developing a new vegetable area, progressing a lucrative story arch, or just sitting back and admiring your creation.
![]()
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Create and preserve animal habitats to attract adorable creatures. Each species has its own requirements to fulfill before they pay you a visit, so you have to plan ahead if you want them all. Should you not take proper care of your inhabitants, they may leave you in pursuit of better luck elsewhere!
![]()
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Immerse yourself in your personal garden diorama, complete with a day-night cycle and weather effects. But while a rainy and lantern-lit evening may be cozy, it is not just for show! You will find that darkness attracts unsavory characters, some animals prefer specific weather conditions, and lightning strikes loom under stormy skies.
![]()
![]()
Nurture your garden with magic. Over time, you will have to deal with unhappy animals, garden decay, and corrupted agents sent by your nemesis. But with a combination of helpful gnomes and your own magical gloves, you are sure to keep an everblooming environment.
![]()
![]()
Choose how your gardening journey develops by upgrading abilities and investing in new items. Since you make the decision, every playthrough is personal. But worry not; no choice locks you out of content, and you are able to collect everything!
![]()
![]()
Encounter multiple quirky characters writing you letters throughout the story. Each individual has their own specialty, and they frequently give you tasks to carry out in exchange for a reward. What you decide to pursue is completely up to you, and there is always something waiting to be done.
Enter a magical world where you build up and expand a lush garden at your own pace. In your journey, you attract adorable animals to inhabit every corner; uncover helpful upgrades; and assist quirky characters for rewards and story development—all while juggling decay and fending off corruption sent by your nemesis!
Build and expand the garden of your dreams with hundreds of unlockable surface types and items. You set the pace and what to do next, whether it be developing a new vegetable area, progressing a lucrative story arch, or just sitting back and admiring your creation.
Create and preserve animal habitats to attract adorable creatures. Each species has its own requirements to fulfill before they pay you a visit, so you have to plan ahead if you want them all. Should you not take proper care of your inhabitants, they may leave you in pursuit of better luck elsewhere!
Immerse yourself in your personal garden diorama, complete with a day-night cycle and weather effects. But while a rainy and lantern-lit evening may be cozy, it is not just for show! You will find that darkness attracts unsavory characters, some animals prefer specific weather conditions, and lightning strikes loom under stormy skies.
Nurture your garden with magic. Over time, you will have to deal with unhappy animals, garden decay, and corrupted agents sent by your nemesis. But with a combination of helpful gnomes and your own magical gloves, you are sure to keep an everblooming environment.
Choose how your gardening journey develops by upgrading abilities and investing in new items. Since you make the decision, every playthrough is personal. But worry not; no choice locks you out of content, and you are able to collect everything!
Encounter multiple quirky characters writing you letters throughout the story. Each individual has their own specialty, and they frequently give you tasks to carry out in exchange for a reward. What you decide to pursue is completely up to you, and there is always something waiting to be done.
And more...
- Rename inhabitants to personalize your garden.
- Measure your horticultural career during the in-world gardener competition.
- Exchange valuable plant nectar for new decorative items.
- Snap pretty pictures in the camera mode and share your creation with the world.
- Modify the game with easily accessed game data files and the included editor.
MINIMAL SETUP
- OS: 64-bit Linux
- Processor: 2.7 GHz Dual CoreMemory: 2 GB RAM
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD 620. GeForce 730. Radeon R7 240 or equivalent
- Storage: 512 MB available spaceAdditional Notes: Low settings at 30-60 FPS
- OS: 64-bit Linux
- Processor: 3.5 GHz Quad CoreMemory: 4 GB RAM
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GTX 970 or equivalent
- Storage: 512 MB available spaceAdditional Notes: High settings at 60+ FPS
GAMEBILLET
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