Representation is an important part of media, including video games. Developers of The Palace on The Hill, Niku Games, seem to know this, and it shows in their game. In the current industry, where cozy games are a big hit among certain sections of gamers, The Palace on The Hill feels different. Maybe that’s because I have a soft spot for games created by Indian developers, and even though this game is just around six hours of playtime, it is special and emotionally grabs you by the end.

A Bittersweet Story

As Vir wakes up in his small room, it is the first day of his summer vacation. Stepping out, he is greeted by his father, a poor farmer who tells him they are drowning in debt, and business isn’t going well. Any kid hearing this piece of bad news on his first day of summer vacation would probably throw a tantrum. But not Vir because it is the 90s, and in rural India, kids are expected to pick up the slack and continue where their parents left off. This is the norm that Vir has probably accepted despite his dream and passion for pursuing art.

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When Vir starts taking up multiple jobs across the village, we get to meet a lot of side characters who have different personalities and interact with Vir by striking up conversations. The game does have dialogue options during certain conversations, but it doesn’t really affect the story. The beauty of The Palace on The Hill is its showcase of how a supportive community can go a long way. The villagers help Vir find new jobs that help him make money, allow him to use their equipment for crafting, and teach him new recipes to cook at the tea shop. though these don’t seem like a big deal, they still show their kindness.

Between balancing jobs and pursuing his passion for art by being the sole participant in the village school’s art exhibition, Vir is approached by Savi, his former classmate who now lives and studies in the city. A new friendship is formed, and perhaps something more? The relationship between Vir and Savi felt innocent, young, and hopeful. As they explore ancient ruins around the village to look for inspiration to help with Vir’s art, it made me realize how juggling between his multiple jobs is probably the only time Vir has felt some sort of normalcy.

I won’t spoil the ending, but the story of The Palace on The Hill felt realistic and grounded. It portrays the importance of community and hard work so well, especially by adding a lovely tribute to Indian culture. Vir’s journey teaches us a lesson that no man is too small to achieve his dreams.

A Non-Stressful Gameplay

The Palace on The Hill is ideally a management game with very simple gameplay that even a non-gamer can easily get into. Vir is able to forage resources around the village, such as wood, herbs, clay, fruits, spices, etc., and once they are collected, these resources can be used for crafting pottery, medicinal or cooking items. There are multiple jobs to be done in the village, and talking to certain villagers like a local herbalist or pottery maker who will give Vir access to their equipment where he can craft useful items.

Vir also gets a job at the local tea shop that opens for business every evening. This is where the game allows you to cook delicious Indian recipes. As I kept playing the game and spoke to various villagers, sometimes they would teach me new recipes, which would unlock the tea shop’s menu.

Even though the gameplay is simple, it is not easy to make money. As Vir is balancing all kinds of jobs offered in the village, they don’t pay much since certain objectives require you to collect a large amount of money. The fastest way that I found to make a couple of bucks was mainly selling herbs that the herbalist collected, and the second was farming. Farming is pretty straightforward – buy seeds from the provision store, plant them in the field, and you can sell the produce to the local vegetable seller once they are grown. However, it was also important to keep some for myself as I required some veggies for cooking.

Apart from farming, Vir also gets to draw and paint for his exhibition. To complete a painting, he must collect inspiration as he explores the ancient ruins and palaces. This is mainly done by walking around and finding certain spots around the area or even talking to certain people who will narrate historical stories that they know. This way, Vir is able to finish the painting using his imagination and hang it in the exhibition hall at the local school.

Vibrant Art Style

The first thing that immediately caught my attention was the stunning art style, which wonderfully depicts the gorgeous ambience and story of The Palace on the Hill. The village feels alive with hand-painted visuals, like reading a storybook.

It is all about the simple details that make you feel welcome into a world while playing a game, and The Palace on The Hill does this well. As the game takes place in the 90s, the art style matches that theme, giving the players a taste of that time period and learning about Indian culture and history. The visuals did remind me of lazy Sundays when I used to sit with my grandmother as she narrated stories with vivid imaginations.

A Warm Cup Of Tea To Soothe Away Your Worries

Ultimately, The Palace on The Hill is about family, community, hard-work, and dreams. As I played it, I realized it is a game that is not just cozy but also aspires to touch every player’s heart with a personal moral. Such is the pattern of games created by Indian studios and it is one of the reasons they will always have my appreciation.

The Palace on the Hill is a very special game. You can feel the passion and love poured into it every second, and you can feel this as you play it. Do me a favor and support this stunning art piece if you can.