A Night On The Farm QA

A Night On The Farm Launch Date Trailer

With the PC launch of A Night On The Farm right around the corner, I thought it’d be fun (and potentially useful) to write up a QA for anyone interested in the game. Please enjoy, and be sure to check out the game on Steam, starting February 14, 2024!

What inspired you to make A Night On The Farm? Why a horror game?

I love horror– specifically 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s horror– I grew up with that stuff and still seek out unique experiences to this day. I knew I wanted to make a game in 3D and I thought a horror game would work well with the time and resources I could dedicate to the project.

For direct inspirations, I would have to say Sagebrush, Chasing Static, and Paratopic. Those games showed me that there’s a market for relaxed, exploration-based, first person narrative games, with lo-fi art styles, which I’m a huge fan of. I love the Resident Evil games, Parasite Eve, and some other more popular titles too, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to make something like that for this project.

What’s the plot of the game?

You play as a person who wakes up from a car crash and finds themself inexplicably drawn to the farm out in the distance. Who you are and where you were headed prior to the crash— those are questions players can determine for themselves. The first-person perspective and lack of backstory narrative is a design decision meant to allow players to project themselves into the story. What’s going on at the farm and why is the main character drawn to it? Those questions get answered by the end of the game!

How long does it take to beat the game?

About 2 hours on your first playthrough. Kind of like in Gone Home, once you know where everything is, you can do the game much faster if you choose to, on a second playthrough.

Does the game have any jump-scares?

A couple, based on feedback during the game’s closed beta. The game is more of a “slow burn” overall. Different things scare different people, so I’ll be curious to hear if any of the game’s set pieces or moments stand out to players.

What is the gameplay like?

The game has the traditional controls you’d expect from a modern first-person title. You can sprint to move a bit faster, but there’s no jumping in this game. This is an exploration game first and foremost, so you’re primarily rummaging through the environments and searching for clues at your own pace. That essentially boils down to highlighting objects in front of you and “interacting” with them. For example– opening doors, cabinets, drawers, looting keys, notes, and tapes, etc. There are some surprises later on, but I don’t want to spoil them.

I should also add that, if you pay attention to the information in the notes and audio logs, you’ll be able to find all the items needed to make it through the game’s core progression. I do not expect players to walk around highlighting every random object in the environments, in hopes of unearthing what they’re looking for. 

Does the game have any replay value?

The game has five endings along with optional collectables, so there’s some replay value in that. Also, it has come to my attention that not everyone will see/experience some of the one-time events/sequences that happen in the game. So when you play through a second time, there’s a chance you could see new things, or choose to approach your path through the early part of the game differently.

Is there any DLC or post-launch content planned for the game?

As of right now there is no plan to expand the content in the game. I feel good about the story that’s told here, and the way it’s told, and I don’t think there’s much room to expand upon it in this game. I will, of course, support the game with post-launch bug fixes and other improvements, based on player feedback. 

Does the PC version of the game run on Steam Deck? If so, how does it run?

As of writing, I don’t know if Valve will mark the game as “verified” or not. It’s definitely “playable”. I have the Steam Deck OLED model, so that’s what I was able to test it on. On that machine, the game runs best if you lock the framerate to 40 FPS. It’ll do a smooth 40 and looks nice in my opinion. The reason it’s not hitting a locked 60 FPS on that hardware is, the farm environment is very resource intensive, though I’ve optimized the game as much as I can right now. I think most PC’s will run the game at a locked 60+ FPS just fine though.

What would you tell people playing the game for the first time?

Take your time! Read the notes and listen to the audio logs; they’re going to flesh out most of the story and point you in the right direction. You’ll have the best time if you poke around, explore, and think about things as you progress. If you feel lost, remember that you can reread any of the notes in your inventory system at any time. Also, don’t forget to turn your flashlight on after you find it; the game is super dark without it! 

Are there any plans to bring the game to consoles?

Yes! But that’s all I can say right now. I’ll be able to announce more details at a later date.

Final thoughts?

I hope people enjoy the game! I know horror isn’t for everyone and neither are “walking simulators”, but for fans of spooky games, and fans of exploration-based games where you’re meant to piece together the story on your own, I think there’s a worthwhile experience here.

The PC version of A Night On The Farm can be found on Steam starting February 14, 2024!