Graveyard Keeper

I really wanna love this game, but it's stressful for me to play. It doesn't explain even remotely as much as it should. I have to tab out and Google something so often, it's hard to enjoy playing it. There just needs to be more information readily available in-game. There are also some irritating things about placement. You should be able to move things around. If you place something right next to the well, you can't walk around it and it acts funky when you try to use it. One of my zombies also disappeared when I tried to place him there for work. Definitely seems like an unpolished game. Like it should be in early access still. I don't like that the quest information is so minimal and as vague as it can possibly be, and for some reason, grouped with the NPC tab. I don't understand that at all. I'll have to Google every quest in the game just to remember or figure out what it needs because all it says is something like, "Help the witch with her memory". Okay?? Help me with mine! lol!

I have finished this game twice.
There are some tricks for beginners:
1. Honey is the best food in nature. It is free to be gathered and it gives you +25 energy.
2. Make "Combo Prayer (Gold)" as soon as possible. It will give you a chance to have more money and more faith in game. The game will become easier.
3. Focus on refugees quests. Then the camp will give you more food. food = energy.

Right. This is a "On sale it's worth it" recommend. Lots of gameplay, but this might be one of the most grindy, logic-lost games i've ever played. Where other similar (stardew, terraria, ect) will give you clear paths, knowledge of what you get if you do x/y, this is just Yolo all the time.
To actually enjoy this game, ignore the fact that time passes. It's irrelevant. Just pick whatever you want to advance, and spend whatever time needs to be done. Improve your church and get your weekly donations - the rest will slowly take place as you go.
On sale, it's been worth it.

I really, really adore this game and its charm.
It is chill game with cute art and music, close to Stardew valley while you manage local cemetery.. But you are not just Graveyard keeper - in short time you discover many areas the game has - so you also became Garden Keeper, Priest, Surgeon, Miner, Lumberjack, crafter, Jewelry maker, Fisherman.. also Museum keeper, you have own pub to manage... and this all with many local characters and their little stories and interests you fulfill to complete the story. All this is adorable but also has lot of grind inside.. unless you learn how make things bit easier. And also the voiceacting is one of the best around.
As disclaimer here I liked the game already soon after release before any DLC and powerful tools how reduce grind were included, but because the game imho still suffer from poor tutorial I offer few tips to new players:
- use telportstone as often as you want. Hard to believe but I overlooked it for long time in first playthrough. It has quite short cooldown and can transport you to most key locations all over game map in no time.
- Once you get possibility make zombies, do not hesitate even though you delay your research by spending faith - each zombie make significant progress in jobs automation and even with just 2-3 you can just move them around and continuously removing tasks from own pipeline (mostly harvesting and hauling basic resources or farming) - if you focus on it you can make most production (almost) automated
- Sleep is for weak. Dont waste time on sleep (just go in bed for brief moment to remove fatigue debuff and autosave) - from very beginning is worthy to forage and cook for replenish energy instead rely on sleeping
- once you unlock alchemy, use speed potions - they are easy to make and improve game experience overall a lot
- use bodies as any other resource, carrots are easy to make and once you harvest form bodies what you need (eg blood and fat) you can just burn it - no need to consider bodies as something scarce, they are unlimited.
- take your pace, no reason to rush. You are never penalized for taking time and you really do not need to do all jobs and attend everything 100% time. If you spend full week just by farming or making wine it is totally ok, all quests and npcs wait for you,
- it is good to deal with cellar dungeon rather sooner than later. It is good source of important items and resources. Be sure you keep blood nails for Snake (maybe only way how fail the game?) rest can be cleaned and used freely.
- blue research points are in general most valuable - research of body parts and gravestones is most efficcient way how get most of those until you get better overview of all options.
- kinda intuitive but better church quality significantly increase faith gain (even for low tier prayer) while cemetery quality the money reward for each sermon - long term those 2 should be major focus.
- commercial prayer reward allow progress trader tiers if you want progress some trader for reach his best goods it is by far fastest and easiest way
And to DLCs if you own those:
- Refugees are worthy to invest and prioritize their quests, beside many lucrative rewards needed for late game quests you get access to bags expanding inventory and they also became source of unlimited cooked food in huge amounts.
- the storyline of own pub is good source of money over time and also bring lot of free alchemy recipes - good if you do not want search internet for those (though you maybe still do for alchemy components sources:p
- I found remote control of workstations via souls not very efficient but maybe it is jsut habit I came to this feature too late and I rather teleport around and do stuff personallyy

72 hours in and I've 100% the game.
Do I like the game?
Yes. Absolutely loved it.
PRO POINTS OF THE GAME :
What does it offers?
1 - Graveyard management for starters. You can spell Boobs with the graves so that's like 5 million points to Gryffindor.
2 - Funny and interesting stories, the Stranger Sin is a really great DLC for lore dump. Loved it.
3 - Fishing for those who like that...
4 - Medical students can perform autopsies here ALL the time for free without any issues,
5 - Very nice visual style and beautiful arts. The pixel art of the game is so detailed it shows the game was made with lot of love.
6 - Other than that Zombie automation.
7 - Probably other things I am missing right now.
CONS OF THE GAME :
1 - *SIGH* It's the Better save Soul DLC. The game is bugged and won't let you progress this DLC. So far I found no ingame way to help. I looked on Steam's discussion forum for previous player's saves, downloaded it and in their saves the DLC worked properly so I went and completed it.
2 - There is fishing in this game.
3 - There are areas mentioned in game like the "TOWN" that plays big into the game's story but it's not in game because the Devs didn't make it.
4 - 4-5 years on and the game bug/ glitch people have cried over still exists so the Devs have moved on and there likely won't be any patches. Any bug you encounter? You're on your own.

Welcome to the medieval world where managing a graveyard is the hippest gig in town! Move over, Stardew Valley, there's a new pixelated sensation in town, and it's digging its own darkly amusing niche. Graveyard Keeper is the game you didn't know you needed until you found yourself cackling maniacally while burying pixelated bodies.
The Good Stuff:
1. Grave Tunes:
The soundtrack is as catchy as a medieval lute solo. It's the kind of music that makes you hum along while digging graves and questioning your life choices. Spoiler alert: the afterlife has a killer playlist.
2. Pixelart to Die For:
The graphics are dead-on, pardon the pun. The pixel art is so good; you might mistake it for the Renaissance version of Minecraft. It's like you're building a graveyard masterpiece one tombstone at a time.
3. Complexity that Doesn't Bury You:
Graveyard Keeper is like life - complex, occasionally confusing, but with a lot more corpses. It strikes a perfect balance between challenging and entertaining. You'll find yourself multitasking like a pro, managing your graveyard, farming, and brewing questionable potions.
4. Stardew Valley, Meet Graveyard Giggles:
For those who love the pastoral charm of Stardew Valley but secretly desire a darker sense of humor, Graveyard Keeper is your go-to alternative. It's like the Addams Family decided to try their hands at farming.
5. Laugh in the Face of Death:
Dark humor is the game's bread and butter. From your witty donkey companion to the quirky characters you encounter, there's no shortage of morbid laughs. It's a graveyard, after all, and the humor is deader than your favorite zombie.
6. Hooked for Eternity:
The game's addictive nature is like quicksand – you're sinking in hours without realizing it. Between managing corpses, researching technologies, and exploring dungeons, time becomes a distant memory.
7. Automate the Gory Details:
Ever dreamt of automating your graveyard tasks? Graveyard Keeper has your back. Embrace the undead spirit of laziness and let technology do the dirty work. It's like having zombie minions without the ethical concerns.
The Not-So-Good Stuff:
1. Grinding:
Love grinding in games? Great, because Graveyard Keeper has more grinding than a medieval coffee shop. It's an acquired taste; some might savor the slow burn, while others may find it as pleasant as stepping on a medieval Lego.
2. Trial, Error, and Google-Fu:
Prepare for some trial and error, or a lot of frantic Google searches. The game doesn't always hold your hand, and figuring things out can be as tricky as alchemy. The learning curve is steeper than a witch's hat.
Hot Tip from the Crypt:
Looking to save a few gold coins? Head over to humblebundle.com and snatch Graveyard Keeper at a graveyard-robbing discount! It's cheaper than a medieval jester's jokes and currently on sale – because even in the afterlife, everyone loves a good deal.
So, ready to dive into a pixelated afterlife where death is just the beginning of your hilarious adventure? Graveyard Keeper digs deep, leaving you with a darkly comedic experience that's as entertaining as it is morbid.

Graveyard Keeper, a game that's less about tending to the dearly departed and more about embracing the futility of existence. You're thrust into the rotting boots of a medieval cemetery manager, tasked with the Sisyphean challenge of keeping the dead... organized. But don't let the cute pixel art fool you, this game is a digital representation of your inevitable descent into nihilism.

The gameplay is a grim, relentless slog through the mundane. Plant crops, craft goods, cut down trees, and bury bodies with the same enthusiasm you'd reserve for brushing your teeth before bed - because you know tomorrow will bring more of the same. The days blur into a never-ending cycle of decay and commerce, a metaphor for the repetitive nature of life itself.

As you toil away, the villagers, who are as charming as a plague-ridden rat, demand your services with the kindness of a tax collector. They're all too eager to offer you quests that feel as meaningless as the lives they lead. The dialogue is darkly humorous, but it only serves to highlight the bleakness of your existence as you juggle the morbid economy and their petty desires.

The crafting system is a labyrinth of despair, with recipes that seem to mock your very existence. Combine a skull with some flowers? Sure, why not add a dash of irony to your crafting concoction. The only thing growing here is your sense of dread as you realize that no matter how many bodies you bury or how many potions you brew, you're just delaying the inevitable decay of everything around you.

The game's story is a macabre tapestry of choices that lead to the same dour conclusion. It's like playing a game of chess with Death, where every move you make is met with a knowing smirk from the Grim Reaper, who's already planning his victory dance. You'll uncover secrets that make you question the very fabric of your digital being, but in the end, you're just rearranging the headstones in a graveyard that's destined to swallow you whole.

In a world where the only constants are death and taxes, "Graveyard Keeper" captures the essence of an existential crisis with unsettling accuracy. It's a game that whispers sweet nothings of despair into your ear while you play, making you wonder if you're truly in control of anything at all. Or if you're just a pawn in a cosmic game of corpse Tetris.

So, if you're in the mood to feel small, insignificant, and utterly consumed by the void, pick up your shovel and dive into Graveyard Keeper. Just remember, every day is a good day to dig your own grave and fucking die.