Amid a sea of zombies, shooters, and high-violence reveals at today’s Xbox Games Showcase, Vivarium was one of a small handful of games that offered a decidedly cozier aesthetic. Originally revealed back in 2023, this is the first time we’ve seen the game in action for some time.
Crafted by Studio Meadowflower and Serenity Forge, the game explores a small terrarium hidden away in the sun room of a small house somewhere in rural America. But within the glass house, a whole town of activity is unfolding.
Players control 11-year-old girl, Jenny, as she navigates her days of endless summer in a world inspired by classic anime aesthetics like those seen in early Miyazaki films. Players talk to the electic (sometimes animal-like) townspeople, cook recipes, tend garden, collect stickers, decorate their home, and investigate a hidden secret to your tiny world.
Vivarium looks beautiful and approachable. The game is targeting a 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S and PC.
