Bored of the typical flashy AAA releases? I was too—until I stumbled across Koi Farm, a quiet, unassuming koi-breeding simulator that turned out to be exactly what I needed. At RM8.50, I wasn’t expecting much, but this game delivered a relaxing and surprisingly addictive experience that kept me breeding virtual fish long past bedtime.
Game Overview
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Title: Koi Farm
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Genre: Casual koi-breeding simulator
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Developer: Job Talle
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Official Description:
Koi Farm is a game about playing with koi ponds. Explore an infinite number of procedurally generated koi patterns by crossbreeding your fish, and discover new mutations as you go along.
Gameplay Experience
Koi Farm keeps things ultra-simple. You breed koi by placing two adult fish in a pond, and watch as nature takes its course. The gameplay loop is minimal, but it’s backed by a deep and satisfying procedural generation system that ensures every fish feels unique.
There’s no pressure, no goals—just a collection book to track your discoveries. Unlocking pages by finding specific pattern and colour combinations gives you a gentle sense of progress, but beyond that, it’s all about personal creativity. The fact that no two koi are exactly alike? That’s where the magic lies.
Even after unlocking everything, I found myself continuing to breed just to chase specific koi designs I had in mind. It’s a peaceful kind of obsession.
Visual & Audio
The game’s art style is understated, but beautiful. It’s light on resources—perfect for any setup—and looks great in motion. The koi animations are smooth, and the UI is clean and minimal.
Audio-wise, it does the job. The soundtrack is ambient and fits the tone well, though the lightning and rain effects felt a bit jarring. Nothing immersion-breaking, just a small mismatch with the otherwise serene experience.
Standout Features
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Procedural koi pattern generation means endless combinations and unique discoveries
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Collector’s book adds a light progression system without pressure
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Relaxing sandbox mechanics allow you to play at your own pace
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Low system requirements, accessible on almost any device
What I appreciated most was the open-ended nature—this is a game you can keep revisiting, with or without goals. Seeing other players on Steam share their own koi creations added a nice community touch too.
Room for Improvement
Like many idle or slow-paced games, Koi Farm can start to feel repetitive after a while. A few extra features could extend the playtime meaningfully, such as:
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A dedicated display pond to showcase your favourite koi
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Seasonal changes to the environment to add variety and ambience
Still, for a game that costs less than a plate of chicken rice, it delivers more than you’d expect.
Verdict
Koi Farm is a quiet gem best enjoyed after a long day. If you’re looking for something peaceful, creative, and low-pressure, this might be your new favourite wind-down game. It’s not going to replace your blockbuster titles—but that’s not the point. This one’s for the chill souls.
Rating: 7/10 koi
“A soothing sandbox that turns koi breeding into peaceful art—ideal for quiet nights and tired minds.”
