Adapted from IndieGamesPlus: Grow Wild is a cozy sandbox style game in which players can discover new plants, find bugs, and watch the world change around them. The game places players into a scenic patch of land full of bugs, birds, and plants. Players discover the natural phenomena around them and document the different stages of plants and animals throughout the year. Grow Wild is a sandbox nature simulator in that everything in the ecosystem is constantly changing even when players are not actively playing.
One real life day amounts to approximately 100 days in game, i.e. changes in the environment can be notable if players pause for a while. It is also possible to customize the world by gathering seeds and re-planting them; moreover, players use a magnifying glass to find bugs and document the change of seasons. An in-game diary shows the different stages of plants and animals that players have discovered as well as purchasable tools like a shovel to move seeds. An in-game companion points out new findings in the environment and occasionally offer quests that players can earn money from. The character acts as a tutorial but is also designed to be responsive and lifelike, exhibiting as well as encouraging curiosity.