Virgin River Is a Sims Game for City Dwellers in Love with Country Life
Photo Courtesy of Netflix
Yuppies and country bumpkins; those two retro terms are good descriptions of the population that makes up Virgin River, a bucolic, small town nestled somewhere beyond San Francisco and before northernmost Crescent City. Of course Virgin River is fictional and based on a series of books by Robyn Carr so none of that matters. Yet Netflix show writers seem to have fun by having the characters talk about (fictional) nearby towns with similar names such as Salt Creek and “something”-springs (Full disclosure, this writer recently worked for Netflix’s fan website, and this was and still is a favorite show).
In Virgin River there are picturesque lakes, creeks, springs, and streams. Everyone meets at the local diner/restaurant/bar that happens to serve perfect burgers and gourmet food prepared by a chef who could have his choice of job at any Michelin-listed restaurant. Well, he actually did but that’s another story.
The characters’ homes have modern add-ons while remaining retro and cozy. Houses are nestled along winding roads and up slight hills for privacy. The weather is perfectly chilly/autumn-like or perfectly spring. There are places for picnics and a coffee truck that sells homemade pastries. Watching the show is cozy, but don’t you wish you could actually live there? What if Virgin River was a Stardew Valley meets The Sims game that allowed us to play out the beats of the show, just like this, for full immersion? (Metaverse here we come?)
Let’s call it Virgin River: Origins because come on—we know there will be additional games in this cozy franchise. You play as surgical nurse Melinda Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge, now voice acting) who’s recently moved to the town after her husband’s death. Hope McCrea (Annette O’Toole), the mayor of the town, welcomes you at the rustic cabin Melinda purchased, but it’s in major disrepair. We’re talking a full rebuild. Then Mayor Hope wanders off. Good luck!
The player then goes for a frustrated walk and stumbles across “Jack’s Bar,” a large restaurant/bar combo. Inside, you meet the handsome owner, Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson). He looks at Melinda a moment too long as she sits at the bar. Do you return the long look? Of course you do! And then Jack offers to help rebuild the cabin.
But first, Melinda has to go to work at her new job as a nurse to the local Dr. Mullins (Tim Mathison), aka Doc at his office/clinic. He shows off what looks like a house converted into offices (he kept the drapes!) yet fully equipped with everything he needs to help patients—except perhaps not enough coffee brewing. You can choose to tell Doc about the cabin or remain without shelter, but if you select the former (which is canon), Doc takes you to the mayor’s house.
Mayor Hope’s house sits on a short hill and up flat stone steps. She welcomes you with warm hospitality. The decor in the living area is somewhere between early 20th century and Waverly, but with a state-of-the-art kitchen complete with steel refrigerator, large island, and Chesapeake-style windows to look out as one holds their coffee mug. Like what you see? You can also go upstairs and see the many bedrooms, choosing one to make your own.
Melinda will always find good food at Jack’s, which is consistently packed with customers—but never too many to form a line. Jack is usually there; however, you have also tasked him with rebuilding your cabin. So while Melinda settles into living with Hope and handles the stress from Doc Mullin’s cranky chauvinism, Jack has enlisted his staff cook, John aka “Preacher” Middleton (Colin Lawrence) to hold down the fort while he grabs some buddies to remodel the cabin. (Players can adjust the nearby stream and level of romantic moonlight.)