You may never have asked yourself, “What do you get when you cross Stardew Valley, retro graphics, and Ukrainian folk horror?” But Podoba Interactive answers that question with its newest title, Dread Fields.
A Fresh Start
If you had the opportunity to escape modern life and move to a quiet, remote farmhouse, wouldn’t you take it? More and more lately, I find myself yearning for that very experience. The neighbors might be a little odd, and sure, that guy who keeps trying to take the farm off your hands is creepy, but the sunshine, fresh air, and freedom are such a far cry from the stress of city living that I think I could overlook it.
Daily Rituals
When you arrive at the farm, there’s an abundance of chores, and you waste no time getting to work. A little black cat named Chicha supervises your efforts, her bright orange eyes burning with curiosity. Every once in a while, you even toss her some milk and fish guts from the day’s harvest. As you settle into your peaceful days on the farm, things slowly begin to seem… off. Chickens go missing, strange sounds pierce the night, and you start to wonder if the local folk tales and stories surrounding Dread Fields might be true after all.
Dark Clues
Life in Dread Fields is certainly not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. As night falls, you begin to wonder if you should have taken that creepy farmer up on his offer to buy back the property. Alongside your crops, you start uncovering dark secrets and mysterious rites, and you can’t help but ask yourself whether they were left for you to find on purpose.
The Mystery Continues
It took me approximately two and a half hours to complete Dread Fields, but I found myself thinking about the story long afterward. Whether it was the result of a few translation hiccups or simply clues I missed, I never felt like I fully understood the mystery at its core. I enjoyed the ambiguity to a certain extent and discovered the hidden objects and secret rooms that help uncover the story, but by the end everything still felt mysterious—and even a little anticlimactic.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing and thought the atmosphere was spot on. Some of the jump scares felt a little cheesy, while others were excellently timed. There were moments where certain scares felt unnecessary and others where I actually wished the game had leaned into them a little more. Regardless, I genuinely enjoyed my time with Dread Fields.
At only $7, I would absolutely recommend Dread Fields to anyone who’s a fan of indie horror, especially mystery-driven narratives. While the ending didn’t completely land for me, the unsettling atmosphere, rewarding sense of discovery, and unique blend of cozy farming mechanics with Ukrainian folk horror make it an experience that’s difficult to forget. Even after the credits rolled, I found myself thinking about its mysteries and piecing together the events of the story. There’s a surprising amount of charm packed into this delightfully surreal adventure, and for the price of admission, it’s well worth taking a trip into its cursed countryside.
