Fae & Fauna Reveals Cozy Open-World RPG Coming to Steam in 2027

Aurora Arts has unveiled Fae & Fauna, a cozy open-world creature-collecting RPG planned for Steam Early Access in the first quarter of 2027. Its first gameplay trailer introduces the magical island of Saltwick, a roster of collectible animal companions, and a combat system that gives the project more scope than a traditional life sim.

What happened

Fae & Fauna comes from Aurora Arts, a small Swedish development team. The game combines exploration, role-playing, and creature collection with familiar life-sim activities such as crafting, cooking, mining, fishing, and bug catching. Players can own and decorate a home, customize their character’s appearance and clothing, and build relationships with island residents, including possible romantic partners.

The trailer showcases a cel-shaded visual style and introduces Faeons, the cats and dogs players can collect. These companions can follow their owners through Saltwick and assist in combat. Hostile creatures known as Knytt will also challenge players, with melee weapons appearing to be part of the combat toolkit.

Why it matters

Fae & Fauna is entering a crowded but commercially important corner of the Steam market. Cozy games continue to attract players who want progression and discovery without the pressure associated with competitive multiplayer, while creature-collecting RPGs offer a clear long-term hook through exploration and collection.

Aurora Arts is also positioning the game between genres rather than committing to a conventional life sim. Players will be able to create their own pets through a system involving magic and chemistry, giving the companion feature a more active role than simple ownership. The planned bonding mechanics, including the ability to pet the animals, reinforce the game’s cozy appeal while the combat and open-world exploration provide additional reasons to keep playing.

The exact gameplay loop has not been fully explained, so the balance between collecting, social activities, crafting, and combat remains an important unanswered question.

What to watch next

Aurora Arts intends to keep Fae & Fauna in Early Access for roughly two years. The planned 1.0 version is expected to expand the story, add new biomes, and deepen the Faeon bonding systems. More side activities are also planned, which could gradually push the game closer to the life-sim category.

For now, Steam is the confirmed platform and the Early Access launch window is Q1 2027. Aurora Arts has said it will explore additional platforms, potentially including consoles, after the game leaves Early Access. Future previews should clarify how creature creation works, how deep the romance system will be, and whether the open world offers enough variety beyond collecting and combat.

Key details for players

• Fae & Fauna is planned for Steam Early Access in Q1 2027.
• The game features collectible Faeons, including magical cats and dogs.
• Companions can join exploration and help during combat against Knytt.
• Players can craft, cook, mine, fish, catch bugs, decorate a home, and pursue romance.
• Aurora Arts expects Early Access to last about two years before the 1.0 expansion.

Fae & Fauna announcement snapshot

Expert View

Fae & Fauna has a strong initial pitch because its companion-focused design connects the emotional appeal of cozy games with the progression of an RPG. The biggest test will be execution: Aurora Arts must make collecting, pet creation, combat, and social systems feel meaningfully connected rather than like separate features. A well-supported Early Access period could give the studio time to establish a distinctive identity on Steam, but the game’s long development plan means future gameplay reveals will matter as much as its charming first impression.