In recent years there has been an explosion in the popularity of cozy life sims. Players can’t seem to get enough, but the heavy saturation has made them all blend together into a mess of towns, crops, and farms from dead relatives. EnterMoonlight Peaks—the newest game from Little Chicken Game Company. This new indie title offers a fresh perspective on the classic genre, allowing players to stalk the night as a vampire. Of course, it includes all the farming sim mechanics one would expect, but Little Chicken adds magical twists and turns to every element of their game, available to wishlist now on Steam.
Game Rant spoke with game director Yannis Bolman and art director Mia Boas about whatcreative features players can expect fromMoonlight Peaksas well as how their cast and character creator allows for a strong representation of a diverse player group.This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
RELATED:15 New & Upcoming Farming Sims
GR: Please start off by introducing yourself. Who are you, and what do you do at Little Chicken?
Bolman:I am Yannis Bolman, the Game Director onMoonlight Peaks. I’m also the CEO of Little Chicken Game Company and one of the founders. Since starting Little Chicken, I’ve worked on all of our games in various capacities, from directing to providing designs for our games. Next to running the company, most notably I have worked as the Game Director onTraffic Jamsand doing the various car designs forREKT!OnMoonlight PeaksI’m also writing and serving as an artist doing character and creature design.
Boas:My name is Mia Boas, and I’m the Art Director forMoonlight Peaks. I moved from Denmark to The Netherlands almost four years ago now, and I’ve been working at Little Chicken since then. I have a Masters in Game Design, and do everything from 3D modeling to lighting and set dressing.
GR: Tell me the story of howMoonlight Peakscame to be. What was the inspiration and starting point for you and your team?
Bolman:We’ve been toying with the idea of doing a life sim for quite some time. We tried many different things before settling on the theme forMoonlight Peaks. The life-sim journey started out with an eighties surfing theme, living the laid-back surfer life. We also really wanted to add a multiplayer component to the life sim genre, as we felt that could also introduce some interesting mechanics. We couldn’t get the main surfing mechanic quite right and started exploring various other themes. It briefly became a life sim with a hiking theme, and we explored an animal photographing theme, but those also didn’t feel like the right direction. Mia suggested a vampire theme and it all clicked.
The Vampire themehas a lot of lore to get inspired by, while also enabling us to let our fantasy run wild, add all kinds of magical elements, and go crazy with this creepy cozy take on Life Sims. We put out a survey among life sim enthusiasts, and the results gave us the confidence that we were on the right track with the magical vampire theme. We started working on the game, and so far it has proved to be the right choice. We’re having a lot of fun defining our own take on the vampire lore.
Boas:We knew we wanted to create a life-sim, but we had a hard time deciding on the right theme for it. Initially, it started out as a surfing theme, then a hiking theme with rogue-like elements, to a fully multiplayeranimal-photographer game. For all themes, it felt like something was missing. I personally feel like there is a lack of magical-themed games in the genre, so I suggested we switch to a vampire theme. I really wanted to create a cozy, wholesome world with hidden nooks and plenty to explore, and the vampire theme just felt like a perfect fit to bring that magical atmosphere to life.
GR: How do you feelMoonlight Peaksstands out from other simulation games?
Bolman:For me, the main thing that stands out inMoonlight Peaksis the atmosphere. We settled on a night rhythm early on, as you are a nocturnal vampire. That givesMoonlight Peaksa unique feel that we don’t see in other Life Sims. We also feel that the various vampire elements we have in mind allow us to give the tried and tested tropes of Life Sims a fresh twist. Turning into a bat, using supernatural and magical elements to enhance your farming gives us a lot of opportunities to come up with cool and surprising things for the players. And the feedback we’re getting from our community helps us to hone those things further.
Boas:To me, it stands out from other life-sims by embracing all things supernatural. We really want to create a magical universe where everything goes. Another aspect of the game that I personally think sets it apart is the depth of the dialogue. It’s not just about daily activities, it’s about discovering secrets, forging relationships, and engaging in heartfelt conversations.
GR: Can you tell us a bit about the player character? What is their backstory and their goal as they set off on their adventure?
Bolman:InMoonlight Peaks,you start out as a young vampire that runs away from home after getting into an argument with your parents. More specifically, your dad, the famousCount Dracula, wants you to set forth his legacy as a feared vampire. You feel times have changed, and you can’t just keep going around biting people. After the umpteenth quarrel with your parents about this way of life, you decide to leave home to show that you can indeed live life as a vampire without hurting others. You move into Moonlight Peaks to do just that. As it turns out, the legacy of your father keeps following you around, and you have to prove that you are there to do things differently. You meet the seven founding families ofMoonlight Peaksand you find out their history is linked to your own family. The main storyline centers around helping these families to reunite and through that are able to restore your own broken family relationship.
GR: What does typical day-to-day life look like inMoonlight Peaks?
Bolman:As with most Life Sims, it’s really about finding your own daily routine. Tending to your farm, taking care of your farm animals, going on quests to help the in-game characters, taking odd jobs to unlock different rewards, and maintaining your relationships with the various NPCs are all things that would go into filling up your daily schedule. Tending to your farm as a main driver to sustain your energy levels is at the core of your daily schedule, and selling your harvested crops to the local supernaturals opens up a wide selection of decorations that you can purchase. These decorations in turn allow you toendlessly customize your home, your plot, and parts of the town. And the townies all have their various needs that they won’t hesitate to burden you with.
GR: Your Steam profile mentions various parts of the world that your character can visit. How expansive is the map? How many different areas can players expect to see?
Boas:We’ve got a few different environments in store for players, but we don’t want to give away all the surprises just yet. The main hub will be the town itself, with different shops and spots to visit. On top of that, we’re planning to add a few areas tied to the supernatural families.
Bolman:As Mia said, we want to make sure we have enough surprises lined up in the final game. While we won’t spoil the specifics, it’s safe to say you’ll be visiting the town and several different biomes that are linked to supernatural themes. With your plot with a thriving farm at the heart of this.
RELATED:6 ’00s Life Simulation Games That Are Still Fun To Play
GR: Can you tell us more about some of the life-sim activities like farming crops and building your home? How do they play a critical role in your character’s daily life?
Boas:Farming inMoonlight Peaksis a vital aspect of gameplay, as the player’s primary source of sustenance comes from cursed food. As you progress, you’ll unlock ways to optimize and automate your farming through spell casting. Alongside growing crops, you’ll have access to resource makers like herb gardens, mushroom groves, and kegs to produce a variety of foods. You’ll also have the opportunity to expand your farmland and house as you progress, unlocking new rooms and creating additional space for decoration. This allows you to personalize your living space and showcase your unique style and preferences.
Bolman:We want the player to be able to build their own legacy as a modern-day vampire. So not only a different way of life but also a customized and decorated Dracula castle that will inspire new vampire legends.
GR: Your Steam profile mentions crafting “eerie decorations.” Does crafting items play a big role in gameplay? How so?
Boas:Players can craft both practical and decorative items. Crafting practical items allows players to optimize their gameplay experience. Players can craft tools to gain greater efficiency and effectiveness in their daily tasks, or resource makers to expand their farm’s functionality. Crafting decorative items gives players the opportunity to personalize their farm and create a unique atmosphere.
Bolman:Yeah, some items might be very useful in optimizing your farming routines, while other decorations might just be there because you want to make your vampire abode look more in theme. And it’s up to the player to make this a cozy warm place or go full goth!
GR: Are there other ways of obtaining items to decorate your home?
Boas:Absolutely! Some decorative items can be purchased at various shops in town, others can be obtained through seasonal events or even gifted to the player by friendly NPCs.
Bolman:Also by fulfilling specific quests you’ll be able to get unique decorations that tie in to that quest.
GR: Moonlight Peaksfeatures a variety of characters to romance. How many characters can your player character woo? How do these relationships with various creatures (vampire, werewolf, human, etc) differ?
Boas:Currently, we have 15 romanceable characters, but we’re still looking to expand that number. Our goal is to include a diverse range of character types to ensure there’s someone for everyone, andeach character will have their own unique personality traits. Building friendships with specific NPCs can unlock various decorative items, blueprints, or other rewards that align with the supernatural inclinations of those NPCs.
Bolman:Looking at the various supernatural characters, we’re looking to make the experience with each type relate to the various characteristics of their supernatural inclinations. So expect the werewolves to be a bit more zany during a full moon, the vampires to be a bit more manipulative, and the mermaids to be enigmatic. We feel stuff like that will make engaging with the various characters interesting to explore.
GR: How do forming these relationships alter the course of the gameplay?
Boas:Players have the opportunity to go on dates with NPCs, which adds a new layer of interaction and depth to the game. Dates can unlock new dialogue options and reveal hidden aspects of their stories.
Bolman:We’re looking at various stages for relationships. As you get to know certain NPCs better, they will open up to you more. Some may need more convincing than others, depending on their inclination toward vampires or depending on the beef their family had with your dad. You will be able to marry the NPCs and also choose to turn them into vampires.
RELATED:Why You Should Play a Vampire Character in Skyrim
GR: Are players able to date anyone they want from the pool of datable characters or are there limitations?
Boas:There are no limitations, players can date whom they please!
GR: Moonlight Peakslets players customize their character with a wide range of options. How detailed is character customization? What features of one’s characters are players able to change?
Boas:Players cancustomize their character’s appearancewith features like facial features, hairstyle, hair color, eye color, and skin tone. In addition to appearance, players can also choose from a diverse selection of clothing options. These can be obtained through gifting from NPCs, purchasing at the tailor shop, or crafting by the player themselves.
GR: How do your character customization options reflect the diversity of your potential player base?
Boas:We want to provide options for everyone, no matter their cultural background, gender identity, or personal preference. Our base character is gender-neutral, and the final game will include a wide range of choices for facial features, hairstyles, hair colors, eye colors, and skin tones, allowing players to create characters that represent their own identity.
GR: As the game progresses, players will be able to unlock special vampire abilities. What are some of these abilities? How do they change the course of gameplay once unlocked?
Bolman:The bat form is already shown on most of the material we’ve shared with our community. There are a host of other abilities that we are currently testing out. The abilities will be tied into familiar vampire lore, and we’ll also add our own magical twist to them. Some abilities might not necessarily tie into what you would expect a vampire to do and have more of a magical twist to them. You’re going to become a pretty versatile vampire as you progress through the game!
Boas:While we can’t reveal all of them just yet, one ability we can share is the bat form. The bat form allows players to transform into a bat, granting them the ability to travel swiftly, reach higher areas, and utilize echolocation in dark caves. In general, the abilities open up new possibilities for exploration, navigation, and interaction within the game world.
GR: Steam also mentions spell casting and potion brewing for survival. How do spells and potions benefit the player in gameplay?
Boas:The spells and potions will add a magical touch to farming and daily life. Spells in the game serve as tools to provide various boosts and effects to optimize farming efficiency, for example by speeding up crop growth. Spells can also have effects outside of farming, such as improving fishing success or granting temporary bonuses to the player’s abilities. Alongside spells, players can also brew potions with various effects that can be used for healing, energy restoration, or other beneficial purposes.
RELATED:The Best Farming Sims That Aren’t Like Stardew Valley
GR: What is a feature ofMoonlight Peaksyou’re looking forward to sharing with your audience? What do you enjoy about that feature?
Boas:For me, it would be all the different kinds of shapeshifting. I can’t share too much about that yet, but they’ll offer new ways to interact with the world!
Bolman:It’s hard to choose one specific thing, there’s so much in there I can’t wait for players to engage with. I’m very excited about some of the abilities that will allow you to compete with the NPCs inMoonlight Peaksfor example. Also excited about this crazy snake merchant that will allow you to buy hats for your pets. Or the little vampster creatures that will hop around everywhere and randomly nibble at everything. I think the biggest thing that I’m looking forward to is sharing this unique world with players and seeing our players run wild with it.
GR: If you had to pick 3 words to sum up the overall experience ofMoonlight Peakswhat would they be?
Boas:Magical, Cozy, Adventure!
Bolman:Fun, Relaxing, Surprising!
GR: Is there anything you’d like to share that we haven’t discussed yet?
Bolman:I think what stands out to me is how much our community has interacted with us so far. Since we started sharing about the game, people online have been really enthusiastic about the setting, the characters, and the various gameplay elements that we’ve shown. We’ve felt really humbled by the attention, and we would like to nourish this and keep the community engaged with the development ofMoonlight Peaks. I think it’s a great way to make the game into something that really resonates with the players.
[END]
Moonlight Peaksis available to wishlist on Steam.
MORE:Interview: Everdream Valley Dev Talks Inspirations and What Makes Farming Sims Fun
