Independent Philippine developer Yangyang Mobile has revealed Spirit Rancher, a cosy farming simulator that sets out to provide players with a combination of creature collecting, exploration and combat with ranch construction and automated resource management.
Rather than relying on rows of conventional crops, players will build their ranch around magical spirits discovered throughout the world. Each creature possesses distinct abilities and can produce resources, making the spirits both travelling companions and an essential part of the ranch economy. Players can explore the world, capture new spirits and fight alongside them during adventures. They can also fuse with their companions to personally harness their abilities for combat, exploration, gathering resources and interacting with the environment.
Back at the ranch, players will construct habitats and facilities designed around the needs of their collected spirits. Keeping the creatures happy improves their productivity and allows the ranch to continue growing. Automation will play a significant role in managing the resulting resources. Players can create interconnected production systems in which materials produced by one spirit become food for another, potentially forming miniature ecosystems and self sustaining supply chains. More efficient ranches will provide further opportunities to build, automate and expand.
The game will begin with a small property that gradually develops into a busy home filled with spirits, facilities and connected production networks. Beyond ranch management, Spirit Rancher pitches itself as having a story driven world with a colourful cast of characters, relationship building, player choices and mysteries surrounding the spirits and their origins.
Spirit Rancher is currently in development and is scheduled to launch through Steam Early Access in 2028.
