The Last Of Us Meets Stardew Valley In Unexpected New RPG
Summary
Ashfield Hollow is an upcoming indie 2D post‑apocalyptic RPG from BitQuest (listed on Steam as BigQuest Studio) that mixes life‑sim mechanics—farming, crafting, scavenging and fishing—with real‑time combat and survival systems. The game drops you into Camp Ashfield ten years after an outbreak; you build a home, meet other survivors and try to carve out a future in a quiet, dangerous world.
The demo is available on Steam now and the full release date is TBA. The title channels vibes from The Last of Us (post‑apocalyptic survival) and Stardew Valley (cosy life sim), with a retro indie feel that also recalls games like Retro City Rampage and Shakedown: Hawaii.
Key Points
- Ashfield Hollow blends post‑apocalyptic storytelling with life‑sim gameplay: farm, craft, scavenge, fish and fight.
- 2D, top‑down presentation with real‑time combat and survival mechanics.
- Demo is available free on Steam now; no full release date announced yet.
- Developer is an indie studio (BitQuest/BigQuest) — creative freedom and quirky genre mashups are the selling point.
- Comparisons in tone range from The Last of Us (setting/survival) to Stardew Valley (farming/community) and some retro indie GTA vibes.
- Can be wishlisted on Steam to receive release notifications.
Context and Relevance
This is a neat example of a current indie trend: mixing cosy life‑sim loops with bleaker settings to create emotionally interesting contrasts. Fans of farming sims who also enjoy survival tension will find the combination intriguing, and the free demo makes it easy to try without commitment.
For the wider industry, Ashfield Hollow showcases how small studios keep innovating by fusing genres — a reminder that some of the most original ideas still come from indie devs rather than big publishers.
Author style
Punchy — short, sharp and upbeat. This piece flags a charming indie surprise; not earth‑shattering, but genuinely worth a quick look if you like genre mashups or free demos.
Why should I read this
Quick and casual: if you like cosy farming sims but fancy a grittier setting, this one’s worth 20 minutes of your time. The demo’s free on Steam, so you can see the mash‑up for yourself without faff. We checked the trailer and demo so you don’t have to — neat idea, easy to test.