Gameplay
The core loop is social: find a companion, open a dialogue window, gift items and issue simple commands. Over time the companion unlocks extra dialogue and animations, and the game shifts from a solo survival grind to a co-operative one.
Dialogue and gifting
Interact with a companion to open a dialogue window. From there you can greet, talk or gift an item. Reactions vary with the item you hold: flowers, gold ingots, diamonds, emeralds and food are the most common inputs.
Gifting increases an affection value. As affection grows, new dialogue lines, animations and friendly behaviours become available.
Companion commands
Companions accept Follow, Stay and Guard commands. You can bring one along on an expedition, park one near a base, or set one to defend a specific area while you build or mine.
Combat and survival support
In a fight, companions attack hostile mobs, defend villagers and can heal themselves or the player when health drops. That turns straight survival into a cooperative experience without changing the underlying rules of the game.
Progression
There is no traditional quest log. Progression is time and interaction based: the more you play alongside a companion, the more her responses and animations open up.