【Game Highlights】

Offered by Playrix, Farmscapes is another popular puzzle title for players on both iOS and Android devices.  Following a similar concept of Homescapes and Gardenscapes, this mobile game also features on estate renovation where players solve various puzzles to achieve each specific goals that eventually lead to the completion of the reconstruction of a farm. Although puzzles are the main feature in the game as well as other titles alike, Farmscapes also waves in a storyline while players navigate through the estate.

The goal of the game is to rebuild and help a farm thrive, yet the progress is made through solving puzzles. Ideally, players rebuild their farm one area at a time which enables them to follow a coherent game narrative that tells a mysterious story in itself. However, if players do not particularly fancy the building and decoration part of the game, they can only just focus on the puzzles.

Besides, there are also various mini-games available if players just want to take a bite-size game session. Meanwhile, they can also discover some of the fun but hidden levels with objects. Indeed, the well-designed puzzles can keep quite a lot of players occupied while they are playing.

Furthermore, just as other Playrix titles, Farmscapes is also well-designed with highly interactive game interface and customizable features. Players enjoy a lot of freedom in decorating their own farms. To do so, they are offered with numerous items and objects to create a personalized farm.

【How to Play】

The basic method of playing Farmscapes is not different from that of other mainstream puzzle games. Players can start their game right away, particularly when they have some experience in playing other titles alike. The puzzle-solving adopts a classic match-3 concept. By combining and clicking 3 identical objects, players can remove “bricks” and earn level goal tokens. When a specific game goal is achieved, players clear a level and complete a small task or a part of a larger one.

There are of course some power-ups that can boost the game progress. If players intend to clear a whole row and a column of objects, they can use a firecracker. Alternatively, they can use bombs to remove a larger area of bricks at proximity of the explosion. Furthermore, a propeller can even help remove all the objects in certain color same as that of the propeller. These tools are extra boosters that can effectively speed up the game progress. Players can either use those tools separately, or they may combine the use of them together, which creates an even more powerful clearing effect.

As for the rewards, player can get horseshoes, coins and energy. It should be noted that the same number of horseshoes will be earned regardless of the moves taken in clearing a level. Another tyle of reward is coin. Likewise, players can earn coins by levelling up, or by connecting their game account to their social media platforms. However, players can earn more coins if they clear a level with less steps. Energy is not a reward but a life-saver for gamers. If a level is won, no energy will be earned, yet when a level is lost, so is one energy. If players lose too much and their energy (“lives”) are running low, they need to refill it.  

【Pros and Cons】

This game is beautiful in its gaming feature designs with numerous visually pleasing and customizable items. Besides, it is also highly interactive as players can connect the game to their social media account and share with gaming community. On the other hand, it is also flexible for players to decide whether they follow the storytelling or not. For those who simply have less interest in decoration and renovation, they can focus on the puzzles and mini-games that are sufficient in entertaining them.

The drawback of the game is that some players may be randomly kicked out of the game at the end of each level. And they may find the reloading time rather long and they are not brought back directly to the area where they got thrown out.