[Echoes of the Plum Grove] – How About Some Relaxing(?) Today

『Relax and unwind

with adorable characters』

💎 First Impressions

How much time do you spend playing games each day?

These days, not only are mobile games more popular than ever, but even AAA titles are frequently released as cross-platform games. As a result, it’s become increasingly common to sneak in a bit of gaming during your commute—or anytime you're home.

With so many games focused on “saving the world,” it sometimes feels like having just one life isn’t enough to keep up.

But playing non-stop can lead to burnout.

The games you once enjoyed start to feel like chores, and there comes a point when you just don’t want to pick them up anymore.

It’s not the same as gaming fatigue—it’s more like you're just too worn out to do anything at all.

Or maybe you’re simply exhausted from real life.

For those of you in that situation, I’ve brought a game designed to help you rest.

I know it sounds strange—recommending a game when you don’t feel like gaming—but trust me on this one.

It’s a cozy game that’s here to give you the break you didn’t know you needed:

Echoes of the Plum Grove.

⌚Gameplay

『Build your own joyful

island life, one step at a time』

While articles started popping up around 2022 about the rise of cozy life sims, the genre itself has always had a steady demand.

Take Animal Crossing: Wild World, released for the Nintendo DS in 2005—it was a huge hit that helped drive console sales.

Then there’s Stardew Valley, released in 2016, which became popular for both its polished design and its passionate fanbase.

(Of course, both of these games have their fair share of players who enjoy them in... less relaxing ways—but let’s not dwell on that.)

The game we’re looking at today, Echoes of the Plum Grove (or just Echoes for short), is another entry in the cozy life sim genre.

There’s no need to compete, and in fact, the more harmonious your relationships are with the people around you, the better.

That’s one of the core traits of the genre—but more on that in a bit.

Your journey begins with a voyage by sea.

Drawn by tales of a new world beyond the horizon, you board a ship and set off—only to be caught in a violent storm.

Having drifted from a shipwreck, you survive as the only survivor and are barely restored by the help of a family.

With nowhere else to go, you begin a new life on the island, supported by those who took you in.

It’s a surprisingly somber start for a cozy game—but that’s okay.

This is your story, and you’ll shape it with your own hands. Let’s take a closer look at what the game has to offer.

The kind island residents go out of their way to help you.

Quentin Whitfield, who works at the town hall, kindly offers you a plot of land to settle on.

As you meet people around town, you’ll find that while everyone has their own personality, most are more than happy to welcome you.

If you’re used to fighting enemies or feel weighed down by the pressure of saving the world, don’t worry—you won’t need to do any of that here.

As long as you pay a modest weekly tax of 50 gold, you're free to do whatever you like.

As long as you don’t destroy the island,

you can do whatever you want

After signing the papers at the town office and officially receiving your land, you’re free to live however you please.

And maybe I should have mentioned it already—this game is a life simulation.

It may not be as vast as a full-fledged open-world game, but it offers more than enough to explore and enjoy within the island.

All you need is a bit of motivation to ask yourself, “What would be fun to do today?”

The developers clearly understood that too much freedom can be overwhelming for many players.

That’s why they added a quest system to help guide new players.

You can pick up quests from the town hall bulletin board or receive them through conversations with other residents.

Whether you follow the quests or not—

that’s entirely up to you

Even after accepting a quest, there’s no pressure to complete it. In fact, you don’t have to accept any quests at all if you don’t want to.

Are there penalties for ignoring them? Not in this game. At most, you might feel a little guilty for letting someone down—but that’s about it.

Honestly, it’s one of the most forgiving systems I’ve ever seen in a game—and I loved it for that.

If you’re not yet familiar with the layout of the town, try opening the map.

Each facility on the island operates on its own schedule, and you’ll need to visit during those hours to use them.

For example, if you want to buy clothes, you’ll have to visit the clothing store between 9 AM and 5 PM.

Oh—and don’t forget, they’re closed on Mondays!

You can also fast travel by clicking on signposts marked on the map.

Unfortunately, you can’t teleport directly to buildings, but it will take you close enough to get there easily.

Just keep in mind that traveling this way still consumes in-game time, as if you had walked there yourself.

<Weeds… they all need to go>

Now that you’re getting the hang of things, it’s time to decide what to do next.

Personally, I felt the urge to decorate my home. The patch of land in front of my new home was cluttered with weeds and trees, and I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

Some dandelion-like weeds could be pulled out by hand, but for most of the work, I needed tools.

The starter tools wore out quickly, so I stopped by the blacksmith’s shop to buy a sickle and an axe—and got to work.

I sold the weeds and wood I cleared for some extra cash, too.

Ignoring hunger and fatigue, I spent the entire day cleaning up my lot.

By the end, everything that had been cluttering the space—grass, weeds, trees, rocks, and even overgrown bushes—was gone, and it felt incredibly satisfying.

I didn’t do it for a quest, nor was I obligated to—but the sense of accomplishment I felt was undeniably real.

There’s still plenty more you can do on the island.

You can go mining in the hills, fish in the pond or swamp, construct buildings, craft tools, or join in on community events to socialize with others.

If you're ever unsure how to do something, open your inventory and check the tutorial tab. It offers guides for many different activities you might want to try.

The game doesn’t explain everything up front like some others do, but when you need help figuring out how something works, the tutorial is a handy tool.

As you spend more time doing various activities, you’ll start leveling up related skills too—so don’t be afraid to try something new!

Before you know it, you’ll find yourself feeling right at home.

📌 Final Thoughts

『For when you want to set aside

obligations and just unwind』

I spent an entire hour pulling weeds in front of my house—and I couldn’t help but wonder, "Wait, is this relaxing?"

But when I think about it, it’s been a long time since I got that deeply absorbed in a game without following a quest or chasing a goal.

Most games rely on stories, narratives, or missions to keep you immersed and offer a sense of achievement. But sometimes, it’s worth taking a step back and ask yourself what really makes a game fun.

Maybe it’s chasing squirrels for no reason. Maybe it’s the satisfying crunch of landing a flashy skill combo.

Whatever it is—this game gives you the space to rediscover it.

It gave me the time and space to reflect—and that, in itself, might be the clearest sign that it’s truly a cozy game.

If it ever goes on sale, I’d personally love to add it to my collection.

A peaceful island life and a story that’s entirely your own—this was Echoes of the Plum Grove!

▶ Visit the Store Page

🎁 Bonus Event for Readers! 🎁

To thank you for reading to the end, we’ve prepared a Flake giveaway!

Leave a comment below by May 29 23:59 (UTC+9), and we’ll randomly select 10 participants to receive

🎁1,000 Flakes🎁!

We look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Thank you.