The Japanese-themed gardening simulator, Niwa - Japanese Garden Simulator, developed by Niwa Studios, is now available for free Early Access on Steam. The Early Access phase is scheduled for one year, aimed at gathering player feedback and refining the core gameplay elements.
Interestingly, the game features various Japanese landscape photos during loading screens, along with quotes from Toshitsuna Tachibana, the author of the oldest Japanese gardening book "Sakuteiki," paying homage to traditional Zen gardening.
According to the game's official Steam description,
Niwa - Japanese Garden Simulator is a gardening simulator set in Kyoto, Japan, the birthplace of zen gardens. By playing Niwa - Japanese Garden Simulator you will learn authentic Japanese gardening techniques and how to apply them to realistic reproductions of historical locations in the city. You will learn the basic elements of traditional garden composition: stones, plants and water. Then use these techniques to create your own gardens.