Lightyear Frontier Early Access Review: A Mech Game that Feels Like Stardew Valley
Lightyear Frontier isn’t your typical mech game. Instead of battle and destruction, it focuses on farming, resource gathering, and exploration in an alien world. In this title from Amazon Games and Glowmade, players navigate a beautiful, mysterious planet where farming, not fighting, takes center stage. Inspired by Stardew Valley but with towering mechs, Lightyear Frontier offers a fresh, laid-back experience in Early Access.
Beyond Earth: Farming with Mechs
In Lightyear Frontier, Earth has become inhospitable, pushing humanity to explore and colonize distant planets. Rather than conventional tractors and harvesters, players work in advanced, multipurpose mechs equipped for farming. After a rough landing damages the mech, the short tutorial guides players through repairs and introduces the five core tools. From the Harvest Vacuum for gathering resources to the Seed Cannon for planting, each tool adds versatility, with upgrades unlocking new areas and production capabilities.
Familiar Farming, Fresh Setting
At its core, Lightyear Frontier is a farming game reminiscent of Stardew Valley but with a mech twist. Players gather resources, build structures, and set up production facilities to generate more complex items. Initially, basic materials like wood and plant fibers are enough for simple structures, but as the game progresses, production chains become increasingly complex. Processing stations create oils, smelters refine ores, and assembly units combine materials for advanced elements like iron frames and batteries.
Exploring New Territories
Discovering these resources and setting up production is one of Lightyear Frontier’s most engaging aspects. Each region in the seven biomes is packed with unique resources and environmental puzzles to solve. Only by cleaning areas of toxic weeds and debris with the Vacuum and Water Cannon can players fully unlock them, revealing new resources and upgrading stations along the way.
While some weeds are easy to clear, others require upgraded tools, which are essential for progressing through tougher regions. This upgrade loop, where players enhance their mech to access new resources, keeps gameplay interesting. Enhancing the mech’s tools, increasing inventory capacity, and upgrading sprint abilities improve efficiency and add satisfaction, especially in remote areas where a faster, stronger mech can make all the difference.
Calm, Cozy Gameplay with Minimal Stress
Lightyear Frontier is a cozy game at heart, free from traditional combat or enemies. Occasional “hazard events” bring mild tension, like toxic spores threatening crops, but even these have no severe consequences if left unattended. The game prioritizes a relaxed pace, focusing on exploration, resource management, and building rather than high-stakes challenges.
The laid-back approach, however, can sometimes feel repetitive. With no overarching narrative or primary objectives beyond basic exploration and resource collection, players may miss a deeper sense of purpose. Secondary tasks like feeding animals, fulfilling resource requests, or collecting artifacts add variety but don’t feel essential, and their rewards are rarely enticing.
Co-op Mode: Farming Together
Lightyear Frontier also supports co-op play, where up to four players can team up to gather resources, build structures, and explore. Currently, joining requires a code instead of standard matchmaking, which makes connecting with friends possible but not seamless. Though we haven’t tested this feature in Early Access, the concept of farming with friends offers added potential for those who enjoy cooperative play.
A Rewarding Journey
While Lightyear Frontier’s goals aren’t monumental, the game’s satisfaction lies in the journey. Building structures, completing resource chains, and seeing a farm or production center come together provides a sense of accomplishment. The game’s peaceful vibe and creative take on farming mechanics make it a great choice for those seeking a fresh, calming gaming experience with a twist.
Get the game here.
