Onyx

A little bit of backstory: I was very hesitant to buy the game at first since there was no demo and a new developer. I kept watching the trailer and thought about it more and more and decided to take a big leap and buy it for 13USD. I figured if I played a little and didn't like it I would just refund it. Fast forward 7.5 hours later and I couldn't stop playing. It's a bit of a learning curve to get started since you cant really find anything about it online of how to do anything. I ended up miraculously finding a "dropped key" and giving it to my best friend and she also can't stop playing the game. There's farming, fishing, quests, magic, multiple save files, separation between BGM and ambient effects and I can go on and on for days. There's different modes, character creation, weapons, buildings etc. I will let you be the judge of all there is to do. I go by dollar to hour ratio. If I spend 20 dollars then I should get 20 hours. I am working on 13 hours and I am not even out of spring yet :). The game is of course in Early Access but it's a decent game that I haven't had any bugs in. If you join the discord the Developer is an amazing person and usually right back to you within mins unless busy. Oh don't forget... "When you die you are dead". I can't say enough about this game. Update: I am still playing and enjoying this game for anyone is wondering ;)

Who needs a life when you have a farm full of animals that love you unconditionally? Love it here.

I am really loving playing this game. I agree with my bestie Nanners. It really feels like other games I've played before which are the exact she said. So if you like Sun Haven, 7 Days to Die, and Stardew Valley then your going to most definitely love this game. Dark Matter, you listen to your community and are willing to suggestions. I know this game will keep getting better each and every time you update the game. Cant wait to see whats to come next. <3

Onyx is an open-world fantasy life simulation and role-playing game developed and published by Dark Matter. Designed as a solo developer passion project, the game combines farming, exploration, magic, crafting, creature collection, and character progression into a flexible sandbox experience that encourages players to create their own path. Rather than forcing a strict storyline or a rigid sequence of objectives, Onyx embraces freedom and allows players to decide how they want to spend their time within the colorful world of Hyalen. This design philosophy gives the game a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere while still offering enough depth to keep long-term players engaged. The premise begins with the player unexpectedly becoming the owner of a plot of land. What starts as a simple opportunity gradually develops into a much larger adventure as players transform their property into a thriving estate while uncovering the secrets of the surrounding world. Unlike many farming-focused games that keep players tied closely to their homestead, Onyx actively encourages exploration. The land serves as a home base, but the broader world constantly invites players to venture beyond its borders in search of resources, quests, hidden locations, and new opportunities. One of the game's most distinctive qualities is the way it blends magical abilities with traditional life-simulation mechanics. Magic is not limited to combat or special events. Instead, it becomes part of everyday life. Players can use spells to influence crop growth, manipulate weather conditions, and improve farming efficiency. This integration helps separate Onyx from many similar games because magical progression directly affects both adventure and homestead management. The result is a world where fantasy elements feel naturally woven into daily activities rather than existing as separate systems. Character progression plays a major role throughout the experience. Players can customize their character and develop a variety of magical abilities through multiple skill trees. As new skills are unlocked, additional gameplay possibilities become available, allowing players to tailor their character toward their preferred activities. Some may focus heavily on exploration and combat, while others invest in farming, crafting, or resource gathering. This flexibility creates a strong sense of ownership over progression and encourages experimentation with different playstyles. The farming systems are extensive and form a central pillar of the game. Crops can be planted, cultivated, harvested, and processed into valuable products. Players gradually expand their operations by constructing new buildings, acquiring additional tools, and optimizing their land. The game does not rush players through this process, allowing farms to evolve organically over time. This slower pace contributes significantly to the relaxing atmosphere and makes every improvement feel meaningful. Crafting is equally important and offers a surprising amount of variety. Players can pursue multiple professions, including blacksmithing, alchemy, cooking, tailoring, and leatherworking. Materials gathered through exploration can be transformed into useful equipment, consumables, decorations, and trade goods. The interconnected crafting systems create a satisfying loop where exploration directly supports progression and self-sufficiency. Rather than purchasing everything from merchants, players are encouraged to build their own production networks. Exploration is where Onyx truly expands beyond the boundaries of a traditional farming simulator. The world of Hyalen contains forests, coastlines, mountains, caves, abandoned structures, and hidden areas waiting to be discovered. These locations contain rare resources, unique recipes, and special rewards that provide strong incentives for players to leave their farms behind and seek adventure. The handcrafted nature of the world helps each region feel distinct and encourages curiosity throughout the journey. The inclusion of caves and secret locations adds a rewarding sense of discovery. Valuable resources are often hidden in dangerous or difficult-to-reach places, creating meaningful reasons to engage with exploration systems. Players who invest time in uncovering these areas are rewarded with items and opportunities that can significantly improve their characters and properties. This balance between risk and reward strengthens the overall gameplay loop. Social interaction also contributes to the game's appeal. Villagers have their own personalities and can be approached through a reputation system that unlocks additional opportunities as relationships improve. Completing quests, helping community members, and building trust allows players to gain access to exclusive rewards and special content. These interactions help make the world feel more alive and create a stronger connection between the player and the community they inhabit. Another notable feature is the variety of seasonal and world events. Festivals, market days, holiday celebrations, monster invasions, and other special occurrences introduce periodic changes that keep the world feeling dynamic. These events break up routine activities and provide additional reasons to revisit different areas or engage with various systems. They help reinforce the impression that Hyalen is a living world rather than a static environment. The game also includes a range of side activities that enhance its life-simulation aspects. Fishing, animal care, pet collection, and mount acquisition provide alternative ways to spend time and progress. These activities may not be essential to success, but they add welcome variety and allow players to develop personal routines that fit their preferred style of play. Visually, Onyx adopts a colorful fantasy aesthetic that prioritizes charm over realism. The environments are vibrant, the world design encourages exploration, and the overall presentation supports the game's relaxing tone. While it lacks the visual polish of major studio productions, the artistic direction effectively captures the feeling of living within a magical and inviting fantasy world. As an Early Access title, Onyx continues to evolve through ongoing development and player feedback. Certain systems may still expand over time, but the existing foundation already demonstrates considerable ambition. The combination of farming, crafting, magic, exploration, and role-playing progression creates a surprisingly rich experience for a solo-developed project. Onyx succeeds because it understands the appeal of player freedom. Rather than forcing players into a specific role, it allows them to become farmers, adventurers, craftsmen, explorers, or a combination of all four. Its magical farming systems, extensive crafting options, engaging exploration, and relaxed pacing come together to create a rewarding fantasy sandbox. While the game remains a work in progress, it already offers an impressive amount of content and stands out as a promising blend of life simulation and open-world role-playing. Rating: 6/10

Probably one of the best cozy games I've had the ability to encounter. For an Alpha state game, it's actually better than some others I've encountered that were fully out. Personally, I don't care for zombie games, but this one really won me over because it's not all about that. There is plenty to do in this game without feeling overwhelmed. The dev is really an amazing person, always listening to suggestions/feedback about the game. Do yourself a favor and get this game.

I absolutely LOVE this game! It's super cute and it also felt alot of other games I've played like; 7 Days to Die, Stardew Valley & Sun Haven! The Devs are absolutely amazing and are willing to make room for improvement and add stuff if needed! If you want to try out this game I definitely recommend it a whole lot! Dark Matter you rock! <3

ich habe ein paar Minuten gespielt ist sehr schön aber freue mich mehr wen es auf deutsch kommt :)

Very lovely game with a charm like no other! Would recommend to anybody who wants a chill game but with a good challenge 10/10

Für ein Early-Access-Spiel ist „Onyx“ bereits erstaunlich ausgereift und bietet eine Spielerfahrung, die sich in ihrer Tiefe und Gestaltung nicht vor fertigen Titeln verstecken muss. Es ist ein Spiel, das nicht nur fesselt, sondern auch das Herz erwärmt. Wer Freude an Aufbauspielen, kreativer Freiheit und einer Prise Abenteuer hat, sollte „Onyx“ unbedingt eine Chance geben. Dieses Spiel hat das Potenzial, etwas ganz Großes zu werden – und es macht jetzt schon unglaublich viel Spaß! Leider bin ich nach wie vor der englischen Sprache gegenüber auf Kriegsfuß und warte, bis die deutsche Sprache integriert ist :D

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly Recommended! I've been having a great time with Onyx. It has a nice mix of farming, exploring, combat, and progression, and it all comes together really well. The characters are super cute, and the environments have a cozy style that makes the world fun to spend time in. The developer is active, listens to feedback, and keeps adding improvements, which is always great to see. There's already plenty to do, and I'm excited to see where the game goes from here. If you're into cozy indie RPGs with farming and exploration, I'd definitely recommend giving Onyx a try.