Roots of Pacha Reviews

A very cute cozy game on par with Stardew Valley. Takes a while to get going but I loved how the villagers would help come up with ideas - it made it feel like I wasn't the only one developing the village. All the villagers have great stories and there are lots of interesting romanceable characters. Progression is slow but satisfying. It also has 4 player co-op so you can play with friends! The art is great and the music is catchy without getting annoying. There is no combat so it's especially good for people looking for a stress free experience. Even your animals can't die! Definitely pick this one up if you like farming sims/cozy games - it's worth it at full price.

Similar gameplay to Stardew Valley with a prehistoric twist. You are an adopted member of a prehistoric clan that has started a new settlement. The clan members have different specialties (buildings, tools, seed, etc.) and you work together to create new technology (like sundials, or ways to domesticate animals). It's a lot of fun to see what new developments they will come up with next.

one of the best cozy farming games I ever played, it is definitely on the same level as Stardew Valley / Fields of Mistria and Sun Haven. please give this game a try if you haven't

Many farming sims these days feel like a cheap reskin of Stardew Valley meant to cash in on the current popularity of farming sims/cozy games, but Roots of Pacha isn't one of them! The plot is an endearing journey of mending mistakes made in both the past and the future, giving a warm reminder that every action in the present is relevant and ripples out to impact others across time and distance. The theme makes Roots of Pacha memorable and the gameplay remembers to tie into it in meaningful ways. In a pre-currency world, you don't sell items for monetary reward. Instead you earn community points that advance the development of your village, lead to new innovations in crafting, and spill over into credit you can spend within the community. In outside communities you barter/exchange goods. The initial plants you gain will become domesticated over time and animals have to be tamed, a late stage plot twist allowing you to evolve both into more modern variants. The art is very polished and pretty. With the latest content update, there's a very satisfying chuck of story and assorted tasks/quests to work your way through and overall it's very well balanced. I played at a leisurely pace and it took almost 4 in-game years for me to finally check every possible thing off, which I think is [i]great[/i]. They even did what few of the farming sims I've played allows and opened up a butcher option for excess animals (which I had a lot of) while still allowing them to be harmlessly released for players who feel uncomfortable with that and giving alternative ways to get meat. My only complaint is that I wanted to keep one of every color of animal and could not build/upgrade enough sheds to do it. Roots of Pacha comes up often in lists of Best Farming Sims and I can see why! I definitely recommend this game!

SINGLE-PLAYER EXPERIENCE: This is great! The game is VERY adorable and I love the theme and the games in the festivals, and so many more interesting characters to chat with in this Stardew Valley-esque theme. MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE: Horrible - Can't stay connected beyond five minutes. For those looking to play this for the multiplayer experience, then I CANNOT recommend it due to the constant disconnects what seem to make the multiplayer unplayable. Once that has been resolved, then awesome!

Gameplay is a bit simplistic and repetitive, but the world and the characters are adorable and I really like the community aspect of the game where everyone is slowly working on improving the village over time.

Roots of Pacha is a charming and thoughtful life simulation game that reimagines the cozy farming genre through a prehistoric lens. Set in the Stone Age, it invites players to build a thriving clan not by relying on modern tools or magic, but by discovering and innovating the foundations of civilization itself. Instead of inheriting a rundown farm like in many genre staples, you’re part of a nomadic tribe settling in a new region, helping to shape everything from agriculture to social customs. This narrative twist gives the game a refreshing sense of purpose and progression. The core gameplay loop is familiar to fans of life sims: plant crops, gather resources, build relationships, and upgrade your village. But Roots of Pacha adds layers of meaning by contextualizing these actions as discoveries. You're not just planting seeds; you're domesticating wild plants. You're not just crafting tools; you're inventing them. This framing makes each milestone feel significant. Discovering animal husbandry, for example, isn’t handed to you—it’s a reward for observation, experimentation, and collaboration with other clan members. The result is a slower, more intentional pace that fits beautifully with the game’s thematic focus on community and ingenuity. Mechanically, the game is polished and accessible. Movement and interactions are fluid, the UI is clean, and the tutorial eases you into the Stone Age lifestyle without overwhelming you. There's a satisfying rhythm to the seasons, with new activities and discoveries unfolding naturally over time. Farming is simple but expands as you gain knowledge, and there’s a sense of satisfaction that comes from gradually transforming wild land into cultivated space. Beyond farming, the game offers animal taming, fishing, mining, festivals, and a relationship system that includes friendship, romance, and even clan-wide decisions that affect the community. A major strength of Roots of Pacha lies in its emphasis on cooperation—not just in multiplayer, but within the narrative itself. Clan members aren’t static NPCs; they evolve alongside you. You can influence the direction of village development, vote on new ideas, and see characters grow as they discover their roles within the group. This collaborative storytelling enhances the emotional stakes and gives you a strong reason to engage with each member of the tribe beyond the usual gift-giving grind. Visually, the game uses a detailed pixel art style that feels warm and inviting. Environments are rich with texture, and the changing seasons are beautifully represented. The prehistoric setting is full of small artistic flourishes—bone tools, stone pathways, and lush, untamed flora—that reinforce the game’s unique identity. The soundtrack, too, is gentle and atmospheric, with tribal drums and natural sounds that blend seamlessly into the gameplay. It contributes to a meditative tone, encouraging players to slow down and savor each in-game day. That said, Roots of Pacha isn’t without minor flaws. Progression can occasionally feel too slow, especially for players used to the faster pace of other farming sims. Some mechanics, like animal taming or tool upgrades, require precise conditions that aren’t always communicated clearly, which may lead to moments of confusion or wasted effort. And while the game offers a wide range of customization for your character and village, some players might find the romantic interactions and dialogue options limited compared to more narrative-heavy life sims. Despite these small issues, Roots of Pacha stands out as a thoughtful and lovingly crafted addition to the genre. It reinterprets familiar mechanics through a historical lens in a way that feels both original and educational without being preachy. More importantly, it captures the quiet joy of discovery—of turning an unfamiliar place into a home, of working together to make life a little better each day. It’s a game that values community, creativity, and patience, offering a serene but rewarding experience for players who want something more grounded and meaningful from their virtual lives. Rating: 10/10

The Good: Where to start. I used to call this one "Stardew Valley but you're a caveman." However, after playing for almost 60 hours, I can assure you it's so much more than that. I looked at the steam achievements recently. I didn't realize just how much stuff there is. I just finished the first main storyline and realized there's two more branching storylines that they added with the latest update?? I always feel like I'm improving and my days are always full. Where in other farming sims I would just water my plants and go to bed before noon, in this one I always have stuff to do and people to talk to and places to go. There's minigames I haven't even unlocked yet. There's progression and evolution and growth and I care about the animals and the people and the story. The Bad: I broke up with my caveman boyfriend to marry someone else. He hated me for a week. ): The Ugly?: There are like 10 hot people total in a cast of 40+ NPCs. I'm not complaining because that's still a lot of people. I think the animals are cute and the people are pretty cool looking and the world and the festivals and the cut scenes are all beautiful. I recommend this game to people who value a lot of gameplay and a lot of progression (I recommend this to basically everyone).

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a pure cozy game, and if you are a fan of games like Stardew Valley or Spiritfarer you will probably love this too.

I waited awhile before buying this game because I was hesitant about it being entertaining enough. Although I did wait for it to be on sale. I like the Stone Age time period of Roots of Pacha, a very unique approach. The characters of the clan are engaging; I'm even starting to dislike one character (Jelrod) and thinking about gifting him poop lol lol The racing minigame is fun and actually takes some skill. I got second place the first time I did it, so it gives me something to look forward to and work towards. Races are every other Saturday, so there's the concept of patience, as well. I like that the beginning gameplay can be completed using only 2 tools that are given to you, right off the bat. Instead of having to craft an ax and pickaxe, which is so overdone...