The Indie Informer

Anyone and everyone I ran into who had played Grave Seasons at PAX East recommended it as a must-play. Once I went hands-on with it, so did I. The murder-strewn farming sim earned its place as The Indie Informer’s official Best In Show at PAX East. Unsurprising, considering its dazzling showing last summer. August can’t get here fast enough.

I don’t have much more to report about Perfect Garbage’s anticipated game. On one hand, that’s because I think we know enough about it to confidently predict it’ll be included in best of 2026 discussions. On the other hand, this latest demo was specifically structured to gear the player towards certain unfolding events.

That’s not to say I didn’t see anything new. An unfamiliar — and so unnecessarily attractive — NPC named Leilani dropped in to greet me. Even before she told me her job (the local florist), I could have guessed from the blossoms gracing her hair and the sprouts escaping from the pocket of her languishingly draped outerwear. She encouraged me to visit her shop in town, kicking off an adventure that would end in horror.

Pleasingly, my well-marked trail took me away from the farm and into the thoughtfully detailed city. Before stumbling into the commercial district, I stole a few minutes to investigate a church that felt particularly unsettling — a notable feat when so much of the game feels ominous already. Silent, stone-carved watchers with unblinking eyes pierced their unseeing gaze through my soul. Without anyone saying a word or any vital interactions, I’m convinced this will become an important space in the full release. But there’s nothing for me here now, and I was more than glad to get out.

The charming town of Ashenridge soon lulled me back into my false sense of security. Inviting thresholds, enchanting window displays, and well-appointed plazas welcomed me. But a shadow stalked behind every corner. A smile sliced across my face as I found a hidden recipe and immediately set about memorizing its ingredients.

My grin quickly slashed shut when I noticed I was standing on a trail of blood. The developer had used wholesome roots of the cozy genre, quite literally, to blind me to horror until I was directly on top of it. This moment is a perfect encapsulation of how Perfect Garbage craftily stitches the game’s seemingly conflicting thematic elements together.

The witching hour shook the town, and murder hung in the air. Leilani, wandering through the streets, was bathed in the abrupt red glow of lights. To my eyes, it appeared that a ghastly arm stretched from the gloom and dragged my recent acquaintance to a grizzly end. Her path was marked with smeared gore.

When I caught up to the crumpled body, I was able to investigate for several clues that might point to Grave Seasons‘ killer. However, the demo ended swiftly after, and I had no chance to put my knowledge to work. Players beware: This sinister sim is bound to be as disturbing as it is captivating.