An upcoming cozy game that takes cues fromAnimal CrossingandThe Sims’many vampire expansions now has a demo available on Steam. As thecozy gaming trend continues, players and developers alike have searched for new angles on the classic gameplay tropes initiated by games likeHarvest MoonandAnimal Crossing. While things like farming, crafting, decorating, and romancing remain ubiquitous in the genre, they’ve been subject to all manner of twists.
That includes the addition of horror elements to the mix:recent games have embraced the concept of “cozy horror,“casting players and NPCs as everything from spirits to witches to eldritch beings. But an upcoming cozy game scheduled for a 2026 release will allow you to play as a vampire in anAnimal Crossing-inspired town, where you’ll keep a garden, craft potions and spells, and maybe even get a little closer to your supernatural neighbors. And, if you’re interested, you can try it for free today.
What Is Moonlight Peaks?
Cozy Gameplay With A Blood-Sucking Twist
Moonlight Peaksis the debut PC game by Little Chicken, an independent Amsterdam-based studio. It’s anAnimal Crossing-inspired cozy game whereyou and all (or most) of your neighbors are spell-slinging, blood-sucking creatures of the night.
InMoonlight Peaks,you’re the new vampire in town, come to build a cozy life for yourself in this haunted hamlet. You’ll harness the town’s natural resources in order to customize your environment, harvesting raw materials and turning them into furniture, decor, and other fixtures. You’ll also create and maintain a lush farm full of ingredients for the potions you brew, of course.
In addition,you’ll be able to fall in love with your supernatural neighbors. Yes, it’s a dating sim, too, and the eligible candidates aren’t all vampires, either: you’ll encounter werewolves, witches, and mermaids along the way. Depending on how you respond to them, you’ll have the chance either to befriend or romance this diverse cast of characters.
Why Moonlight Peaks Should Be On Your Radar
& How To Play The Demo Today
Moonlight Peakshas a really cute core concept: it obviously takes inspiration from classic cozy games likeAnimal Crossing,Harvest Moon,andStardew Valley, but its horror aesthetics and supernatural gameplay give it a unique twist. Its cast of characters is already enticing - I’m curious to see what it’ll do with the various powers and setbacks of its mythical creatures' lives.
If you’re into cozy games in general, thenMoonlight Peaksshould be on your radar. It’s still a ways out from release, but then again,so is the nextAnimal Crossing. And considering whatMoonlight Peaksis already drawing from the best of the genre, it could easily become your next obsession.
And, if you’re curious aboutMoonlight Peaks, but not sure if it’s for you, then there’s no need to wait. Via Steam, you’re able to play a free demo right now, enjoying a small slice of the vampiric life before committing to buying the game in full. You literally have nothing to lose but the time you invest intoMoonlight Peaks' free demo.
