Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a sandbox RPG with a cooperative mode. We play the role of a small forest animal in the game. This is the debut project of the Near Studios team, which is made up of developers who previously worked in studios such as Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog.

Plot

In Hawthorn we end up in the fantasy Windermere Valley, where years ago the animals living in the forest built a trading post.

However, it is currently being destroyed by the pests and the fairy-tale lights. The situation is not made easier by circulating rumors about mysterious reasons for leaving the village.

As one of the forest animals, we are at the forefront of rebuilding this place and its community. Local residents are prejudiced. They focus on superstitions and old legends. It's up to us whether we become friends or enemies with them.

Gameplay

The action in Hawthorn is presented from a third-person perspective. The game provides us with a vast open world, in which we can find a range of activities. In order to have access to them, we create our unique character at the beginning of the game. Apart from picking our life story and natural environment, we choose to which species of animals we belong.

The reconstruction of the village is based on farming, fishing, and harvesting crops. Additionally, in our free time from farming duties, quests from the residents of the Valley await us, as well as exploration of the surrounding wilderness. Locations change over time, which affects the resources we find in them.

Thanks to craftsmanship and profits from crops, we can decorate the houses in the village, and adapting to the preferences of the residents increases their favor towards us. Weather conditions and seasons are a significant challenge. At the end of each season, together with others, we can indulge in celebrating at a shared table.

Game modes

The gameplay in Hawthorn is focused on online cooperation. However, nothing stands in the way of embarking on an adventure alone. Thanks to random events, each playthrough is unique and encourages replayability.