Lawn Mowing Simulator is Coming to Xbox This Summer

It's hard to imagine video games which emulate real world chores and tasks could ever become popular. Yet games such as Farming Simulator have proved that gamers are keen on the chance to roll up their sleeves and get their digital hands dirty. With that, gardening enthusiasts will soon be able to fully immerse themselves in some yard work as Lawn Mowing Simulator will be coming to Xbox this summer.

Announced during the ID@Xbox event over on Twitch, Lawn Mowing Simulator is exactly what it sounds like. The game is described as the most accurate when it comes to keeping grass trim. According to the trailer on YouTube, it will feature a range of licensed mowers and a slew of settings that will enable players to truly get to grips with virtual lawn care. Given this brief description, it doesn't sound like one of the weirdest simulation games out there. It almost sounds tranquil.

There isn't much else to go on at the moment. What is known is that Curve Digital will be responsible for the game which, in the past, has been known to make some interesting titles, including an adaptation of the hit TV show Peaky Blinders.

As far as house and gardening simulators go, it is a rather niche genre, though it does have its share of really popular titles. Games such as House Flipper and the aforementioned Farming Simulator have found their audience over the years. Arguably, Stardew Valley is one of the most successful, often described as a farming sim or potato 'em up, so something like Lawn Mowing Simulator will almost certainly have a fan base waiting.

One of the biggest content additions in Stardew Valley’s recent 1.5 update is Ginger Island, a new location with several new NPCs, mini-games, puzzles, and collectibles. The tropical location has already become a favorite destination for players, but what many fans likely don’t know about the new island is that it was inspired by Super Mario 64.

Stardew Valley’s 1.5 patch released on PC in December and added several new features to the game, including a new farm layout, quests, events, mechanics, and items. One of the biggest new additions is Ginger Island, where players are able build a tropical farm, hunt for collectible items, and fight their way through a volcano-themed dungeon. The new location also adds Golden Walnuts, which players can collect to unlock additional content, giving the island even more surprises to uncover.

The Golden Walnuts, as well as the island itself, were apparently inspired by Super Mario 64, according Eric Barone, the sole creator of Stardew Valley. Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, discussed Ginger Island and the 1.5 update in a recent interview with TechRaptor. He said Super Mario 64’s “open ended-ness” and use of collectible items to unlock hidden stages was one of the main inspirations behind Ginger Island.

The Golden Walnuts in particular seem to harken back to Super Mario 64’s stars. Both items enable players to unlock new content after collected, and both are rare items that are rewarded to players for defeating enemies, solving a puzzle, or exploring a location.