Hawthorn Demo Now Available During Steam Next Fest
Hawthorn Demo Now Available on Steam
Players who enjoy cozy sandbox RPGs can now try Hawthorn for free. NEARstudios has released the game’s Proof-of-Concept Demo on Steam, giving players an early look at its woodland fantasy world during Steam Next Fest.
The demo is not the final version of the game. Instead, it represents an early prototype created at the beginning of development to show the team’s vision, atmosphere, and village-building direction.
A Cozy Sandbox RPG from AAA Veterans
Hawthorn is being developed by NEARstudios, an independent team made up of veteran developers from studios such as Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog.
The game is described as a cooperative sandbox RPG simulation where players enter a handcrafted fantasy world filled with anthropomorphic woodland animals, fairy creatures, and community-driven stories.
Players can enjoy the game solo or through small-scale co-op, giving them room to build, explore, farm, craft, and shape their own adventure inside Windermere Valley.
Rebuild a Village in Windermere Valley
The story begins in Windermere Valley, where woodland creatures once built a trading post that has since become abandoned and surrounded by rumors, fairy lights, and strange dangers.
For the player, however, the old village becomes a chance to start again. Players can recruit villagers, grow the community, decorate homes among tree roots, and help new residents settle into the valley.
The demo focuses mainly on the village-building side of the experience, offering a glimpse of how the full game may eventually combine cozy life simulation with exploration and roleplaying.
Farm, Fish, Craft, and Explore
Hawthorn gives players several ways to spend time in its world. Players can forage, farm, fish, craft items, build structures, and gather resources from the surrounding wilderness.
The valley also changes with the seasons, bringing different weather, challenges, and opportunities. The world is designed to feel alive, with shifting resources, random events, and points of interest that can change over time.
Players can also befriend or offend NPC villagers, each with their own personality and story. This gives the game a social layer where relationships may affect how the village grows.
Demo Feedback Will Help Shape Development
NEARstudios is using the demo to gather feedback from the community. The team notes that much more gameplay and content have already been added since this early version, and the visuals in the demo do not represent the final game.
The studio wants players to treat the demo as a look back at where Hawthorn began, while also helping shape what comes next.
For players interested in cozy RPGs, life sims, and community-building games, this is a chance to support the project early and share feedback directly during development.
Hawthorn has a strong hook for players who enjoy cozy games but still want deeper roleplaying, exploration, and co-op systems. The proof-of-concept demo should be treated as an early look rather than a final-quality preview, but that is also part of its appeal. If NEARstudios can build on this foundation properly, Hawthorn could become a warm and memorable sandbox RPG for players who want village life, fantasy creatures, and shared adventures on PC.
