Tiny Garden – Low-Pressure Miniature Farming

“Farming is a profession of hope.” – Brian Brett

Overview

Tiny Garden is a casual farming sim set in a small Polly-Pocket-style toy. Players can engage in simple gardening mechanics to grow their crops and use them to decorate their miniature abode!

Narrative

Tiny Garden begins with the player being gifted a toy in which to grow crops after they enjoyed the process of farming with a relative. After this, the narrative side of the game is quite limited, but does include sporadic letters to provide light story elements and context surrounding the protagonist. There is enough narrative to emphasise the wholesomeness of the game, but it is not a major feature, and the gameplay is much more prominent.

Gameplay

At its most simple, Tiny Garden sees players planting seeds, waiting for the crops to grow, and then using the crops to buy more seeds, tools, or accessories. There are no time mechanics, and progress is made by turning a handle on the side of the toy. Different crops will require varying numbers of turns before they are fully grown.

Each plant also has specific soil requirements and will only grow in certain types of ground, whether that is arid, shaded, wet soil, or one of the other options. These can be created by planting specific crops that will adjust the soil they are in as they grow, or by using tools such as a water fountain. Often, they will only last a set number of handle turns or need to be in a certain formation to remain; this adds a puzzle-like element when it comes to managing soil types and the plants the player would like to grow. Further puzzling is available in the form of specific planting requests that, when met, will allow the player to access another letter and expand the narrative aspect of the game.

Players will need to work through the available seeds somewhat systematically, as new seeds can only be bought with specific crops, meaning that these need to be grown first. Additionally, there are farming packs available that can be bought with a collection of items. These usually include some accessories and customisation options, but also unlock a new selection of seeds in the shop. Collections include the farm selection and the wild selection, among others.

Tiny Garden allows players to customise their toy with different backgrounds, colour schemes, and stickers. These can also be purchased with crops. Additionally, the vertical section of the toy has three unlockable sections that make up three floors of a home that can also be customised with furniture and different accessories. This adds player creativity to the game and provides extra motivation to keep planting and growing plants.

Styling

Tiny Garden features a minimalist yet charming 3D art style that utilises vibrant colours and bright, cheerful lighting. Items, such as accessories and vegetables, have a plastic-like texture as if they too are part of the toy. The Polly-Pocket-style setting gives the aesthetic a whimsical feel that matches the laid-back gameplay and the light narrative elements.

The music is quite delightful and helps reinforce the relaxing nature of the experience. It features gentle melodies and sounds that could be produced by instruments such as a marimba or glockenspiel. The soundtrack matches the visuals very well and also makes the ideal background for the gameplay.

Summary

Overall, Tiny Garden is a fun and relaxing game that places little to no pressure on the player. It provides a whimsical and upbeat environment in which to cultivate and manage a little farm and customise to one’s personal tastes. Whilst there are some linear and guided elements to the gameplay, as well as progression, it maintains a subtle sandbox-style, and players are not punished for taking their time and simply enjoying the process. The game boasts minimal yet charming narrative components, a cute and colourful art style, and a delightful soundtrack on top of the fun, casual gameplay. Tiny Garden is very enjoyable, easy to enjoy in either short bursts or longer play sessions, and is suitable for the whole family. I’d happily recommend it to anyone looking for a chilled-out gaming experience, as well as to those looking for something to play with younger family members.

Looking for more gardening games? You may also enjoy these reviews:
Urban Jungle – Casually Create Luscious Indoor Gardens! – Garden Buddies – Casual Crafting, Wholesome Games, and Self-Care Tips! – Strange Horticulture: Unravel Occult Mysteries in this Plant-Based Puzzle!