THIS IS NOT A REVIEW! THIS IS NOT A REVIEW!

Ok, it is in a sense I guess.

Anyway, a funny thing happened to me over the past couple of days. You see, when Don’t Starve initially hit the PSN as a free PS Plus download I gave it a shot. And I HATED it. Played it once or twice and decided it’s not for me. But over the weekend, my lady decided to give it a shot. And she instantly became hooked. Why does this matter? 2 reasons. The first is that watching her play made it look fun. So I gave it a second chance and now I’m into it. I’m not as good as her, but I’m having fun. The second and more important thing? This is the very first PS4 game that she has truly wanted to play regularly. Welcome to next gen babe. I’ve been waiting.

Enough mushy stuff. For those who haven’t played the game, the entire point is to live. That’s pretty much it. You wake up in the wilderness with nothing. So what do you do? Survive. It’s essentially a strategy game, so fans of the genre will feel right at home. Those who don’t dabble in that realm may be lost, as I was. So here is a general idea of how to play.

There are things all around you that can be of use. Forage for berries. Pick grass. Grab some flint and rocks. What will these items do you say? Craft an axe and a torch. The axe can cut down trees for wood and pine cones. The torch provides a light source for the wee hours of night. Oh, about that. There is a timer that shows what day you are on and the time of day. There are 3 modes. Daytime, night, and pitch-black night. Do NOT get caught in pitch-black night without light. Instant death. Trust me.

So hopefully you get the picture. The idea is to constantly explore and find new items, which in turn allows for more advanced items to be made. Your character has 3 meters to watch for. They are hunger, sanity, and health. All 3 can be maintained by using various items. A little experimentation will reveal what works best. There are threats in the forest to watch out for, but I don’t want to spoil that part of the game. It’s fun when you encounter each one for the first time. There are also “allies” you can meet under the right conditions. I’ll let you figure that out too.

That’s about it in a nutshell. It’s a fun game once you understand the mechanics of it. I will acknowledge that it isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But I would recommend those of you with a PS4 and Plus sub at least give it a try. I mean, it’s free. Also, you know me and my support for indie gaming. Anyway, I gotta go. I’m off to figure out how to get her off this game. Quick reminder, follow us on Twitter (@OurcadeGames) or Facebook (Ourcade Games) if u like the blog. Also, use the share buttons underneath the posts. They help us a lot. *whispers* Especially reddit. I’ll see y’all later!