Charming Slice-of-Life Game Vivarium Captures Classic Anime Vibes

One of the standout surprises from the recent Xbox showcase was the reveal of Vivarium, a charming slice-of-life game that channels the aesthetic of a beautiful early ’90s anime.

This game is absolutely adorable! From what I gathered, it takes place in a world nestled within an abandoned terrarium, where a child named Jenny explores a rural town brimming with nature. Jenny embarks on various adventures around the town and discovers a tree sprout she hopes will flourish. The game features delightful anthropomorphic animal characters, hints at a farming and crafting system, and possibly a mystery waiting to be unraveled.

What truly captivates me is the art style: it genuinely resembles an anime, not just in its animation but also in its presentation. The dialogue appears like subtitles, and the UI is minimal, with only a clock in the top-right corner reminiscent of Animal Crossing. It seems there’s a thoughtful design behind the animated snippets that play between gameplay segments, giving the impression of watching a slice-of-life anime about a kid enjoying summer vacation.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until 2027 to dive into Vivarium, but it will be available on Xbox and PC when it finally arrives.