Alchemy Garden

So, the game is adorable and fun! It was all I had the energy for during some really rough days lately. I've found a bug or two but nothing game breaking or frustration causing. If anything, the few bugs I've found are hilarious- placed two crop spots on each other, accidentally dug a crop spot in a cuttable tree when I had the hoe and not the axe out. Had many laughs as I grew a plant in mid-air. 10/10 best bugs. I love the plant variety and I like that it DOESN'T overly complicate the potion process. There are 6 plant "types" and between 4 and 11 individual plants in each. I've enjoyed picking out a favored plant to minimize inventory clutter, but I adore the different cute flowers! I have noted spring/summer plants seem to grow fine in fall/winter, but I'm not sure if this is a bug or if that's just in relation to when the wild plants spawn.

I DO have a few critical critiques for quality of life upgrades.

1: Tool upgrades feel meh at best right now. As a looooong time player of farming sims I can admit to being a little spoiled, but how do you not increase area of effect of an upgraded hoe? How do you not decrease the number of hits it takes to down a tree with an axe? At the very least decrease the stamina drain! But JUST durability and NOT by a significant margin- MEH.

2: They HAVE to do something about stamina. There is currently NO way to upgrade it and paired with the fact upgraded tools only improve durability you can stagnate fast. Right now I feel a player can have 33 active plants before they need to eat or drink an energy potion- ASSUMING they don't sprint at all or farm anything else. As an energy potion is currently made with one of the RAREST PLANTS IN THE GAME, this can completely halt your farm. And even stamina objects get old: "Plant 33 plants, shove 9 pineapples in my gob, plant 33 MORE plants, shove 9 more pineapples in my gob," I suppose the alternative would be to keep tilled spots tilled for more than one use, but even that would have a hard limit of plants at later levels as harvesting burns stamina as well.

3: I feel the seed shop SHOULD be hard set for the first day- as it's currently possible to have 0 potions to sell during your first week if you're unlucky with wild plant spawns. Each time I've started a new game I get warriors, so I feel 2 food plant seeds and 5 health plant seeds would be a strong start. Alternatively a box with those as starter seeds in your stater shop (much like most Farming RPGs give you a few seeds to get going) could offset garbage luck with wild plant RNG.

Right now seeds are a random drop from wild plants and you can go through a whole season and NEVER get a way to regain stamina and could go DAYS without selling your first potion. As I DID because I couldn't find a single health plant and kept unlocking explorer potions. My RNG was so bad I didn't even know food plants DROPPED seeds! As previously mentioned- this can leave you without stamina and restricts your farm completely. This COULD be solved with suggestion 1, or 2- though you could still end up straight out of luck with RNG like I am,

4 Time management could use some tweaking: such as the clock could be slower and stopping time while in menus. It takes me until 16:00 to just set my garden, sometimes more, I can spend literal hours trying to find the right potion to craft in menus or find the right item in a box.

There are 24 total land plots you can buy in game. I'm using 4 for my garden. I could expand so much more but right now it's impossible- and even if all the suggestions were adopted I can't imagine having the time to use all the space for planting. I don't think it's used for decor as the game presently lacks the sort of outdoor decor that would appeal to the "Customize your garden" folks.

5: SORT BUTTON. For the love of ADHD, I need to SORT the potions I am attempting to craft in the cauldron- as there is no way in this world or any other that I'll remember 31 different recipes. It'd be AMAZING to have a sort either by ingredient type, cost, or by the "used by character type" section.

6: Badly in need of a "quick stack" or "add 10" buttons for stocking shelves or unloading in storage boxes. Having to take the potion OFF the shelf and then re-add it one at a time because the "add all" is a speed-based trigger is a pain. in. the. petunia. Additionally, split stack is always in half, and it'd be much better for everyone if they could choose how many to separate.

I'm really glad with how far the game has come since I first got it, and I like it just as is! But it would benefit from some quality polish!

Alchemy Garden, developed and published by MadSushi Games, is a cozy sandbox life-simulation that blends gardening, potion crafting, and light shop management into a relaxed fantasy experience. Instead of centering on combat or dramatic storytelling, the game focuses on the quiet satisfaction of cultivating plants, discovering alchemical recipes, and gradually building a small business from the ground up. From the moment you create your custom alchemist and step into your modest plot of land, the tone is clear: this is a game about patience, creativity, and self-directed progression rather than urgency or high-stakes adventure.
The core gameplay loop revolves around gathering ingredients, growing crops, and experimenting at the alchemy table. Seeds can be planted and nurtured in your garden, while rarer materials are found through exploration in nearby wilderness areas. Seasonal cycles influence what plants can be cultivated or discovered, encouraging players to plan ahead and diversify their harvests. Once ingredients are collected, the experimentation phase begins. Combining different components produces potions with various properties, and part of the enjoyment lies in uncovering new recipes through trial and error. The system is not overly complex, but it rewards curiosity and careful observation as you gradually build a catalog of concoctions to sell.
Running your potion shop introduces a layer of economic strategy. Customers visit with different needs and expectations, and you must decide how to price your wares to balance profit with satisfaction. Overpricing may drive customers away, while underpricing limits your earnings and slows expansion. Although the management systems remain relatively light compared to more intricate business simulators, they provide enough structure to give purpose to gardening and crafting. Watching your shop evolve from a simple stall into a more refined storefront offers a tangible sense of progression.
Customization plays a significant role in the experience. Beyond managing crops and inventory, you can decorate and expand your land with furniture, fences, lighting, and other aesthetic elements. Additional plots of land can be purchased, allowing for larger gardens and more elaborate layouts. This decorative freedom fosters a sense of ownership over your environment, turning your alchemist’s home into a personalized sanctuary. The emphasis on visual expression aligns well with the game’s relaxed pacing, encouraging players to take their time shaping a space that reflects their style.
Exploration beyond your property adds variety to the routine. Visiting the nearby town allows you to purchase seeds, tools, and clothing while accepting small commissions from villagers. These tasks break up the gardening cycle and introduce light objectives that guide progression. Venturing into surrounding areas to gather wild ingredients adds a modest sense of adventure, though the focus remains firmly on resource collection rather than combat or narrative depth.
Visually, Alchemy Garden adopts a colorful, cartoon-inspired art style that complements its cozy tone. Characters and environments are simple but charming, with soft lighting and bright palettes that create a welcoming atmosphere. The soundtrack reinforces this mood with gentle, unobtrusive music that enhances the sense of calm. While animations and environmental detail may not reach the polish of larger-budget simulations, the aesthetic remains cohesive and consistent with the game’s tranquil identity.
Where the experience may feel limited for some players is in its depth and pacing. Progression can become repetitive once the novelty of early experimentation fades, and the economic systems do not evolve into highly complex challenges. Dialogue interactions with townsfolk are relatively simple, and long-term goals are somewhat open-ended rather than tightly structured. However, these aspects also contribute to the game’s laid-back nature. It is designed less as a demanding simulation and more as a creative sandbox that invites players to unwind.
Ultimately, Alchemy Garden succeeds as a gentle, self-paced fantasy simulation that prioritizes creativity and comfort over complexity. Its blend of gardening, alchemy, and shopkeeping forms a satisfying loop for players who enjoy slow progression and personal customization. While it may not offer the intricate systems or narrative ambition of larger life sims, it provides a charming and soothing space where players can cultivate both plants and potions at their own rhythm, building a magical livelihood one careful experiment at a time.
Rating: 6/10

Its cute and fun but extremely challenging and slow. dont blast through your money because you will need it to replace your tools. trust.

Cozy Vibes, Repetitive Gameplay - Still Worth It
This game has a really cozy vibe, which I loved. You can switch between first-and third-person views, and while I personally preferred the third-person perspective, first-person is just easier - especially when you're watering plants or handling small tasks. I kept swapping back and forth because I liked the look of third-person more, but honestly, it's just smoother to play in first-person.
Watering the plants can get a bit annoying, and I often found myself hoping for rainy days just to skip it. The gameplay can definitely feel repetitive after a while. That said, for just under €9, I don’t think it’s a bad deal. I genuinely enjoyed the game.
I also agree with some of the negative reviews - they're valid - but despite the flaws, I’d still buy it again and would probably replay it from scratch. The achievements aren’t difficult to get; they just take a bit of time.
If you're looking for something cozy and don't mind a bit of repetition, this game is a solid pick. It’s affordable, chill, and will keep you busy for a while. My advice? Stick to first-person view - it makes everything easier.

DO NOT BUY THIS GAME WHEN IT ISN'T ON SALE!!!

It's really not worth it. It's clunky, repetitive, and lacks even the most barebone plot offered by games like Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon, which success Alchemy Garden obviously tries to piggyback. It's the most basic shop simulator imagineable... But still, it will do, when you want to clear your mind without stressing out about tasks for villagers or state of your farm.

Not bad, just dull. And definitely overpriced.

its cute fun and relaxing

played it before its the cutest game ever