Review: Too lazy to mow the grass? Then sit back and play this gardening sim

"Garden Galaxy" even lets you garden in bad weather. The possibilities seem endless, but the path to your (virtual) dream garden is longer than you think. — Photo: annekatran.itch.io/dpa

BERLIN: Having a garden full of flowering plants is a lot of work, if you’re lucky enough to have a garden at all.

Fortunately there are simulation games like "Garden Galaxy” that allow everyone to practice gardening in front of their computer. Unlike popular farm simulations like "Harvest Moon" and "Stardew Valley," this game comes without a story.

Instead, you focus completely on gardening according to your own preferences, giving free rein to your creativity. The more time you invest in your garden, the more vivid and bigger the project becomes.

Good planning is a big factor in "Garden Galaxy" because resources aren’t infinite and new plants and building components must be earned.

Random items appear that you can exchange for coins, which can either be invested in a growing catalogue of new components or in piggy banks to buy rarer items later.

With items like trees, lanterns, waterfalls and small houses, the selection of building elements is pretty huge. The same goes for fruits, which are plentiful, but must be well watered for good yields. A day-night rhythm and weather effects add to an already cozy atmosphere.

Despite the simple concept, "Garden Galaxy" brings a surprising number of possibilities and challenges. If you have enough motivation and ideas, you can look forward to many hours of relaxing gardening. The game is available for PCs on the Steam platform and costs around €10/US$10 (RM26.75 in Malaysia). – dpa