Graveyard Keeper

Graveyard Keeper is a darkly humorous management and crafting game often compared to Stardew Valley, but with a macabre twist. Players manage a graveyard, complete numerous fetch quests, and juggle resource crafting and administration. The game offers a vast array of activities including graveyard upkeep, crafting, alchemy, and dungeon exploration. However, it has a steep learning curve with minimal tutorials, often requiring external wikis to navigate its complex systems.

The pacing can feel slow and grindy, with frequent back-and-forth travel and time-gated NPC availability that can frustrate players. The UI and inventory management are considered clunky and unintuitive, adding to the challenge. Despite these issues, many players find the gameplay addictive and rewarding once the mechanics are understood, with a compelling dark storyline and engaging crafting systems. DLCs add content but are not essential. Overall, it’s recommended for players who enjoy deep resource management and dark humor, especially at a discounted price.

Highlights

Players praise the addictive gameplay loop and the depth of crafting and resource management. The dark humor and unique macabre storyline provide a fresh twist on farming sims. The pixel art style is charming and distinctive, creating an immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack is appreciated for enhancing the mood. Fans enjoy multitasking and incremental progression, with many quests and activities to keep players engaged. The game’s complexity appeals to those who like a challenge and enjoy uncovering mechanics gradually. DLCs add interesting new mechanics and quests, further enriching the experience.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the steep learning curve with insufficient in-game guidance, forcing players to rely on external wikis. The UI is often described as clunky and frustrating, with awkward inventory and menu navigation. Travel times are long and teleportation has restrictive cooldowns, making fetch quests tedious. The game can feel grindy and repetitive, especially in the late game. Quest progression is linear and sometimes unclear, with time-gated NPC schedules causing waiting periods. Some players report bugs and crashes, and DLC content is seen as limited or buggy. Overall, the pacing and lack of quality-of-life features detract from the experience for some.