Guardener (2022)

Developer: Sokpop Collective
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Indie, Strategy
Rating: 4.1 of 5, 151 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.5 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

You are a garden gnome defending your colorful vegetable patch from waves of enemies, balancing farming and combat through the seasons.

arcadecolorfulcutestrategicfast-pacedsurvivalbase-buildingtower defense

What players say

Players praise the charming pixel art and clever concept, but many report a persistent bug where units get stuck in the house during healing, breaking runs. The game is described as short (under an hour for a run) and surprisingly difficult, with janky controls that make hectic moments frustrating.

Screenshots

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More by Sokpop Collective

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.