Stardew Valley’s Monster-Mash Cousin Has a Release Date Again

By Jake Campbell•12 October 2026

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Indie studio Perfect Garbage has set a new release date for its horror-themed farming simulator , which it previously delayed from August to an indefinite window. During Monday’s Cozy After ダーク showcase, the studio announced that the game will now launch on March 9, 2027.

The title is described as story-driven rather than goal-driven. Each of its main tales focuses on a single supernatural serial killer in a small village where the player character—a recently released convict—quietly relocates after leaving prison. The quest to stop each killer unfolds across one in-game year, and when that year ends, so does that particular monster’s story.

Players can return to town for additional rounds of murders, with all farm and decoration progress carrying over between playthroughs.

Narrative director Emmett Nahil showcased a complete set of gothic farmhouse furniture during the presentation—plush red cushions, deep purple wallpaper, and heavy lampshades. The home’s exterior features wine-red paint and dark wooden detailing, with trailing plants adding to the atmosphere. Customization extends to any building players construct; Nahil also revealed a light, airy chicken coop draped in vines and strands of lights.

Nahil said the team wanted each season to feel distinct given that every story segment lasts just one in-game year. Autumn’s presentation includes trees displaying rich earthy foliage, mushrooms sprouting in the woods, and fields full of harvests—alongside detached eyeballs. Nahil’s farmer was shown digging up a rogue eyeball while tilling the field.

The fall season also features deadly herbs to gather and the Nocturne Faire, a festival honoring the declining year with mulled wine and cider stalls plus a kiosk selling an unsettling straw doll.

Nahil and Perfect Garbage co-founder Son all this serves to push cozy gaming’s boundaries, turning accepted norms upside down and making the darker side of life less intimidating.