Home » The Piper of Dawn (Preview)

We had the opportunity to do a short demo run of The Piper of Dawn during our time at PAX West. The game is a mix of farming simulation and alchemy. Can these two genres work well together?

Pleasing During Business

During our demo run, we started at the beginning of the game, where, unfortunately, there was a long story-driven dialogue where you are transferred to a city that’s in a time loop. To reach this stage of gameplay, we had to make a sacrifice.

Once we gain control of the game, we can begin farming on our dedicated land, which is organized in a grid-like system. Players can grow many types of seeds, allowing us to sell them after harvesting to the townsfolk who requested them or take them a step further to produce other items that will help us earn money and more.

Time goes by quickly inside the game, so don’t expect it to be the same length as Animal Crossing. I found the routine setup for farming to be relaxing and engaging, especially due to the many variations you can create and the tools available for making specific items. It’s like running your own factory in the backyard.

In-between cropping and sleeping for the night, you can interact with the townsfolk and the game’s heroines that’ll provide some story-driven dialogue. Before the time rewind, you’ll collect diving blessing tarot cards, which can provide some assistance or something else in your daily life.

While alchemy wasn’t available by the end of our demo run, the game does offer this style of gameplay, allowing you to transform your inventory items into better items or abilities. Additionally, there are mini-games like fishing and a version of blackjack to break your routine. It’s a game you need to dedicate more than thirty minutes to to get a feel, and with it being more than just a farming simulation, it’s already delivering a positive experience.

The Piper of Dawn is set to launch on September 23, 2026 for PC (Steam). Fans can visit the game’s official Steam page for additional information and purchasing options. We appreciate the Ukiyo Studios team for giving us the opportunity to test out their game at PAX West.