Review: Cattle Country for Nintendo Switch

So, there’s this game called Cattle Country, right? They’re calling it a “Cozy Cowboy Adventure Life Sim.” Cozy? Everybody’s throwing that word around these days, especially on Switch games. But the whole cowboy thing, well, that caught my eye. Anyway, let’s dive in, buzzwords aside.

Picture this: late 1800s. Yeah, you get to slap your name on a character with a piece of land in some mining town you can also name. Little DIY project! You’ll bump into a few folks — non-playable ones, of course — and then, bam! You’re left to figure things out on your own. Intro yourself, roam around, typical stuff. Horses? Check. Buzzards? Check. But does it scream Wild West? Not so much. It looks almost anytime, anywhere vibe. The character art in convos? Also, kinda “meh” on the cowboy scale.

Yet, when bandits show up, oh boy, it feels Western. You’re strolling on a trail, a bush rustles, and suddenly, boom, baddies! Quick reflexes needed, folks. But fear not, if enemies aren’t your vibe, you can turn them off. A little loss of personality, maybe, but hey, your call.

Graphics are pixel retro, and you know what? They work. Day turns to night, seasons flip, little animations do their dance. Although, a bit stuttery on the OG Switch. Cute, though! The music is more on the Wild West train, but it’s quieter than you’d expect. I even cranked it up, hoping for more, but nah, still on the low side.

You’ve got tasks — oh, so many — like land clearing, tree chopping, rock smashing. Crafting? Sure thing. You’ll make sprinklers, furniture, and, wait for it, a hard-boiled egg?! Farming’s classic. Be sure to plant those seeds right or else, you know, they won’t grow. Fishing comes with a speed challenge. Water traps: yes, those are a thing here.

Mining’s probably the star of the show. You’re digging deep for treasure while battling creepy crawlies. Wanna avoid enemies? Disable ’em. Explore deep, but keep torches handy — it’s dark! Stamina’s limited, so fuel up or end up in the doc’s office. And no, it’s not free! What a surprise.

But here’s where Cattle Country gets you hooked: townsfolk. Make buddies, build your town. Get on the banker’s good side, and he’ll expand the vault. Befriend the saloon gal, and a restaurant might pop up. A board in town lists events, but getting pals means gift-giving. Reminded me of Animal Crossing, sorta. Not thrilling, but it is what it is.

Friendship’s key, right? Yet, it’s tricky. Hearts climb slowly, as if on holiday. Sometimes you wonder if you’re doing it right. They say “you’ve made my week,” but progress? I swear it hides. And finding them? They wander, repeating the same stuff, blending into their surroundings. Maybe it’s just me, but, seriously, where to next?

The game’s a bit vague on guidance, which isn’t a sin but, man, throw us a bone here. Twenty-five hours in and feels like inching forward. My life-sim-enthusiast wife agrees. Cattle Country’s fun, but once you’re done here, moving on’s easy when another shiny thing appears.

Some parts buggy, honestly. UI could be sharper, kinda miss the touchscreen. Learning controls is okay, but tiny icons challenge your patience. Plus, no screenshots or videos allowed. Lame, right? Glitches are real, too. That “Software closed” message haunts, though they did fix a crafting bug, props for that.

The Wild West is a fresh concept for this genre, but let’s face it, not much here that’s groundbreaking. Familiar, perhaps too much. Without originality, polish would save it, but bugs and quirks, man, they’re holding it back. Maybe wait for a discount, if you’re itching to cattle up.