Animal Crossing meets Stardew Valley in new game you can download free

The cutest little life-sim game you’ll see this week just got a free demo, and the devs behind this one have a proven track record for providing wholesome, adorable, and well-reviewed fun.

Do you love Animal Crossing because it’s cute? Do you also love Stardew Valley… because it’s also cute?

In that case, you may want to try out Pao Pao, an upcoming casual, multiplayer management sim game from developer ArtDock and publisher Dreland Enterprises.

This one is set to drop in Q4 of this year, so you won’t have long to wait until you can play the full release. In terms of the limited release, though, that can be played right now.

That’s because the devs behind Pao Pao just released a new demo for the game, and it’s already getting incredible reviews (having garnered a “Very Positive” score on Steam, with 93% of the reviews being positive).

“Playing solo is quite enjoyable, but teaming up with friends elevates the fun. Coordinating tasks in the kitchen leads to hilarious moments (played with 2 mates)”, writes Steam reviewer gonome.

“Combination of restaurant management and sandbox exploration is promising, now it’s ok for single player. Eager to see how the full game unfolds.”

“This game is so fun! I love the aspect of Overcooked meets quests!” writes Steam user AilaLink.

“It's such a fun concept and easy to grasp. Laid back and a fun game with friends! Can't wait to explore more and made sure to wishlist this ASAP!”

I’m kind of not surprised this one is reviewing super well, considering ArtDock's last game, Penguin Helper, is also a banger, but it’s still nice to get the confirmation.

Here’s hoping the full release lives up to the demo’s potential, because this is already shaping up to be a cute sleeper hit in 2025.