The demo for Ancient Farmer is just around the corner - and we’ve got some exciting updates to share before you get your hands on it! This entry in the Papyrus Chronicles focuses on visual upgrades, farming expansion, and quality of life improvements that will make your time in the demo smoother and more immersive.
Step into the sandals of an ambitious farmer in the heart of an ancient civilization. Start with nothing but raw land, basic tools, and a dream - and turn it into a thriving farm! With 43 guided challenges, you’ll master the essentials: from planting seasonal crops like carrots, grapes, and coffee, to raising livestock, gathering clay and wood, crafting buildings, and plowing with your trusted ox. Whether you're sowing your first wheat field or building a barn from scratch, every task helps you grow. This is your first true taste of ancient agriculture - and it's just the beginning.
You’ll immediately notice that the world feels more alive.
Grass, crops, trees - even palm leaves - now sway gently in the wind.
It’s a small touch, but it adds a ton of atmosphere when you’re exploring or gathering clay and other materials. Ancient Egypt has never felt so alive!
Say hello to the Sacred Ibis, a new bird you may spot near the riverbanks or flying overhead.
These majestic creatures are inspired by real Egyptian wildlife and help make the world feel richer and more authentic.
We’ve expanded the farming system to include fruit trees and wetland plants!
Planting a fruit tree works a little differently than seasonal crops:
Dig out a large space for planting
Buy and plant a sapling from a merchant
Care for it by watering and fertilizing at the right time
Once grown, use a special Fruit Picker tool to harvest!
Good news: you don’t have to replant trees after harvesting! As long as you care for them properly, they’ll continue to bear fruit in their natural yearly cycle.
Demo tree types include: Watermelon, Cotton, Wheat, Onion, Carrot, FigTree, OliveTree, CoffeeTree
We’ve also added waterside crops, such as papyrus (sellable to merchants) and sugarcane (used in cooking). These plants can only be grown near water sources, and since they’re naturally irrigated, they don’t require manual watering.
We’ve polished up several interface and gameplay elements to make the demo easier to play and more intuitive.
Detailed info windows have been moved to the bottom right corner, so you can focus on core gameplay in the center of the screen (gathering, crafting, etc.) and check stats only when needed.
A new resource bar displays your most important materials without needing to open your inventory. We’ve selected the ones we think are most useful – but if you’d like to see others included, let us know in the comments!
You'll now get alerts about important events like full inventory. In the future, this panel will also notify you about health and animal care once those systems are added.
Equipped tools now show how much durability is left. When the bar runs out, the tool breaks - so keep an eye on it and craft replacements in time!
That wraps up this edition of the Papyrus Chronicles. We hope you’re as excited as we are for the upcoming demo and all the new features we’ve introduced.
Senebty, Farmers!
— The Dev Team