Is "slow life" becoming a trend?

[BearlyAlive]

I just watched todays Nintendo Direct and noticed a trend that isn't just about games. There's a surge of life simulation games. Blame Stardew Valley for copying Story of Seasons/Rune Factory for that. It's gonna be the next grand trend after open worlds, heed muh prattling.

But I've also noticed that there had been a steady rise of feel-good slice-of-life mangas and web/light novels. Does this mean the trend finally moves on from Isekai as well? Yeah, no. It's cheap likes, who would miss this...

What's your take on this? What do you think are the reasons for the rise or lack thereof? And is it really the current gen being so entitled that they need to create new lives so they don't feel so useless?

 

[Moonpearl]

Probably a desire for a less stressful life. The news has been nothing but deadly worldwide virus, out-of-control climate change, and globally far-reaching war for years now. The cost of living is going up and up, with seemingly no end in sight. Lots of strikes and protests wherever you look.

It would be no surprise if people are seeking the long-lost dream of peace and simplicity in their escapist media.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Most people who read/play slice of life tend to be a bit older… at least from what I’ve seen (this is anecdotal).

Most of us who have consumed a lot of media want slower paced games after awhile I suppose.

if we are talking about cultural trends through, we’re in a society that wants to control our every thought. Wanting to leave this society that does that is a form of escapism.

 

[Sebas_Guzman]

Yeah, Slow Life has had a major surge in manga adaptations, which is indictive of a massive surge in slow life web novels. It's only now that the trend is becoming noticeable because the slow life anime adaptations have started appearing. Slow Life is enough of a trend that it shows up in the titles of new series.
Game wise though, slow life has always been there in many different forms. What's happened is that there are more indie players. If we were to go back though: harvest moon, Animal Crossing (AC espescially), the sims, my sims, stardew valley, a game out since 2016 and itself inspired by Harvest Moon.
Anyway, these properties were always there.
The Isekai trend is still there though, and isekai might have led to slow life's initial momentum since slow life isekai was a thing. Honestly, isekai will probably never leave since it's a very reader-friendly genre

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I enjoy those things as well when I really want a calm peaceful life where I can write in the woods or plant a garden without worrying about tomorrow but can't because it's too difficult to imagine. Though I can imagine it now and I'm pushing for that goal constantly so I'm not too big of a fan of those games and shows currently.

 

[CarburetorThompson]

I bought stardew valley but haven’t played it yet. My character is still in the city, is probably a top paid exec with three ex wives and a yacht by now. You gotta have that sigma valley grindset, only way to win is not play the intro.

 

[Snowyflakes]

I think that slice of life is just relaxing, and many people are searching for something to help them calm down and forget a bit about what is stressing them. While some prefer to go on a vacation somewhere (or anything, for that matter), others don't find the same pleasure in doing so or lack the finances for it. Therefore, reading or playing a game that manages to offer them some peace of mind, just through its slow pacing, became the best option.

 

[BlackKnightX]

Given how difficult life seems to be for a lot of people nowadays, it makes sense people would want some distraction or escapism. And what’s better than escaping into a world where there’s not much conflicts going on and where we can just go around having fun all we want? It’s just so fun, safe, and peaceful. And best of all, pretty relaxing after a rough long day.

 

[lnv]

What's your take on this? What do you think are the reasons for the rise or lack thereof? And is it really the current gen being so entitled that they need to create new lives so they don't feel so useless?

Since in Japan, when you are sick, you have to first use vacation days, then when out of vacations days can you use sick days.

So it is more like their lives are so stressful they are looking for escape

 

[RepresentingSilence]

You will own nothing you will work in zeh cube you will eat zeh bugs you will sleep in zeh box you will only be allowed to socialize with approved citizens

*hands video game simulating owning things working the land cooking fresh foods and sleeping in your own private home in your bed with your loving spouse and the dog and cat at the foot of the bed*

And you will be happy

OR ELSE

 

[RepresentingCaution]

My first thought upon seeing this was slow food, which was a big thing several years ago. The idea was to get people into cooking more and eating healthier. I grew up that way anyway, so it was a bit eye-opening to learn that it wasn't common.

 

[TheTrinary]

Keep in mind, these are huge billion dollar companies whose only purpose is to make money. It takes 2-3 years to make a game on a normal cycle.

So was there a major simulation game released 2-3 years ago? Oh look, Animal crossing on the switch was released 2.5 years ago and sol 40 MILLION copies. On a single console.

Viola. It's 2.5 years later and companies who want money are marketing games to the people who bought 40 M of one sim game.

 

[gaylolis]

i do notice that in a lot of trending chinese webnovels, everyone suddenly wanted to farm. i guess it's true in a way.

in addition to that, there's a lot of them which basically implies escaping from modern society. like survival games, turning the world into a game or stuff.

regardless of escapism, i couldn't enjoy it if the story is boring af.

so far i feel the best one of its kind is hatarakanai futari. a story about NEET siblings living their own slow life. i highly recommend it.

 

[NotaNuffian]

... I get why slow life is a thing, but I'm probably not going to enjoy it.

Because I'd rather slaughter the nine generations of goblins than doing weekly weed pulling.

My idea of a slow life is genocide of creatures weaker than me.

 

[StrongArm]

To be honest... I wouldnt know. I never read slow life stories. I cannot read about paint drying or grass growing. I need SOMETHING to happen.
I think a good story involves conflict. Wether its romantic, physical, political or whatever.

The other issue i have with those stories is that NOTHING bad ever happens in them, the protagonist accomplishes every task easily, fortune and romance just fall into the lap of the protagonist without them ever having to work for them.

Now im not saying slice of life is bad. There are some very well done slice of life's.
A good example is 'Onani Master Kurosawa' It was a slice of life that was about highschool, and not much really happened in the story, but the emotional tension could be cut with a knife in that manga. You experienced character growth and obstacles. Lessons were learned, and the human experience was explored.

Slow Life Stories might just be escapism in its purest form, now that i think about it...

Most people who read/play slice of life tend to be a bit older… at least from what I’ve seen (this is anecdotal).

Most of us who have consumed a lot of media want slower paced games after awhile I suppose.

if we are talking about cultural trends through, we’re in a society that wants to control our every thought. Wanting to leave this society that does that is a form of escapism.

NEVER!!!! I could be 99 years old and i would still crave barbarians crushing the skulls of their enemies!!!

 

[gaylolis]

... I get why slow life is a thing, but I'm probably not going to enjoy it.

Because I'd rather slaughter the nine generations of goblins than doing weekly weed pulling.

My idea of a slow life is genocide of creatures weaker than me.

you might have a dream job in pest control :D

 

[Icanica]

It's escapism with a hint of "imagine what your life would be with some friends, a kind wife in a small city". But I do like it every so often. Sometimes you get burned out on serious stuff and have to get into the opposite. It's probably why Hiyao Miyazaki seems like such a serious, depressed person even though his art is super wholesome while Junji Ito is incredibly wholesome in real life.

 

[Zone_Q11]

I can't exactly relate. I limited the novels I read on a daily basis, and the current ones I read are:

1. [KR] Action x Fantasy (Game) x Weak to Strong
2. [KR] Drama x Fantasy (Game) x School Life
3. [JP] Fantasy (Game) x Antihero Protagonist x Kingdom Building
4. [CN] Comedy x Supernatural x Misunderstandings
5. [JP] Isekai x Fantasy (Game) x Strong from Start
6. [KR] Action x Tragedy x Weak to Strong
7. [JP] Action x Adventure x Overpowered Protagonist
8. [KR] Psychological x Hidden Identity x School Life
9. [JP] Isekai x Action x Strong from Start

Even though [2], [5], [8], and [9] have moments of Slow Life, they are always temporary, inbetween moments of action.
...as you can see, I am very much into escapism.