Cattle Country Review for Nintendo Switch

So, there’s this game called Cattle Country and, well, it’s got this tagline: “Cozy Cowboy Adventure Life Sim.” Yeah, “cozy” is the buzzword of the day, especially with the whole Nintendo Switch crowd. But cowboys? Now that’s a bit different, right? Anyway — wait, where was I? Oh, yes, let’s dive in… or whatever.

Picture this: late 1800s. You’ve got this little plot of land in a… mining settlement? You get to name both, which is nice if you’re into that. You’ll bump into some NPCs — no, really, they’ll leave you to figure stuff out. Horses tied up everywhere, buzzards doing their thing — so, I guess it’s supposed to look like the Wild West. Or kinda. Sometimes, it just looks like, I dunno, a general life sim. Conversations don’t really scream Wild West either. Maybe it’s me.

But hey! Bandits! Sometimes trees just… rustle, and wham! Bandits jump out. Fast reflexes help, but if you’re not into that, you can turn them off. Maybe that takes away some spice? But still — thoughtful, I guess.

Retro pixel art? Check. Day turns to night, seasons do their thing. Cute, mostly, but oh boy, the original Switch has some stutter issues. Music, it’s got Western vibes, but it’s kinda shy. Even maxed out, it’s meh. Like, are the birds just louder or what?

You get to do all sorts of tasks. Chop, craft — make yourself a chair, a sprinkler, a boiled egg…? Farm stuff, you know the drill. Expand a bit, get more critters. Fishing is… tricky? Might make you twitchy, or maybe that’s just my terrible coordination. Use “water traps” if you want an easier life.

Mining’s kinda cool, though. Down in the dark, you’ve got bats and snakes — fun, right? Disable if they’re too much. But the best loot is deep down, so take torches or you’ll be bumping around blind. Don’t forget food, because running out of stamina means hello, doc, and a not-so-free visit.

Relationships? Yeah, they’re big here. Chat folks up, get that town growing. Banker might help your wallet grow if you play nice. Salad lady at the saloon might build a restaurant. It’s all about giving them what they ask for. Animal Crossing vibes, honestly. Maybe not the most thrill-packed way.

But, oh, is it confusing. Friendship meters move slower than a turtle in molasses. Gave Bob his favorite thing, like, why isn’t he moving? They wander around, repeating the same thing, and I kept wondering if I missed the memo. Anyway… what was I on about?

Ah, that’s right. Progress isn’t obvious. They want you to guess what to tackle next. Hey, maybe it’s cool to find your own way, but here it can feel a tad annoying. Even after… umpteen hours, it feels like there’s more treading water than progress. My wife, who eats these games for breakfast, agrees.

And yes, there are quirks. Some I can overlook. User interface could get a revamp — and where’s the touchscreen? Yet, controlling things isn’t awful; just tiny icons everywhere. No screenshots or videos? Bummer. Glitches are another beast. Several crashes — always fun, right? Glass-crafting got patched — small mercies.

So yeah, Wild West might set this apart in theme, but beneath, it’s been there, done that. The lack of new stuff is expected yet still a bummer. A well-polished game might’ve been a different story, but alas, bugs and quirks abound. Maybe, if you’re a fan, wait for a sale? Just saying.