Mandrake is a Blend of Mirthwood and Perennial Order, But a True Farming Simulation

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Primal Seed has announced Mandrake, a cozy RPG with a magical twist, which will be released on PC via Steam in Early Access. This title invites you to tend to magical gardens, explore a world rich in folklore, and uncover the secrets of a small British village. It possesses a fantasy RPG atmosphere similar to Mirthwood, blended with the unusual creatures of Perennial Order, though with fewer grotesque elements.

You play as a wizard from a forbidden lineage of horticultural mages, returning to the abandoned family manor in the village of Chandley. Here, gardening is not ordinary: you will grow everyday plants like legumes and turnips, but also mystical ones like thunder-summoning Mandrakes. Your goal is to restore the manor’s dilapidated grounds by setting up garden beds, decorations, and cozy nooks, nurturing both ordinary and magical plants from seed to harvest.

The game’s open world is brought to life by peculiar spirits and ancient forces, where you will also encounter a diverse cast of villagers, each with their own stories. Evening activities include reading ancient books by candlelight, cooking new recipes, or drinking tea with a deity in your chimney. However, the world follows the Covenant of the Hearth: lights go out at night, and the Mara, beings from another world, rule the darkness.