50 Years
- August 26, 2016
- Jinsimer Games
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"50 Years" is a single-player, turn-based strategy game with fast-paced mechanics, allowing you to win or lose in an evening. Despite its quick matches, the game offers high replayability through tough decisions, random elements, and a focus on early-game strategy. Available for wishlisting on Steam, it aims to capture the excitement and depth of traditional strategy games in a more time-efficient package.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox
Reviews
- The game offers a good variety of civilizations, units, buildings, and game modes, providing high replay value despite its short playtime.
- It's a simple yet addictive strategy game that can be played in quick sessions, making it perfect for casual gaming.
- The minimalist art style and relaxing soundtrack enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to play.
- The game feels unfinished compared to its earlier Flash version, with fewer factions and a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics.
- Repetitive gameplay and a lack of control over battles can lead to frustration, especially with the random nature of enemy attacks.
- There is no save option, which can be inconvenient as players must complete a full game in one sitting.
- gameplay36 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and accessible, making it suitable for casual play without overwhelming mechanics. While it offers strategic depth and replay value, some players find the achievement system and resource management to be challenging and somewhat repetitive. Overall, the game is engaging and fun, particularly for those looking for quick sessions, though it may lack long-term content for some players.
“The gameplay of 50 Years revolves around making choices that have far-reaching consequences.”
“Although the gameplay mechanics are relatively simple, the focus of 50 Years lies in its storytelling and the profound questions it raises.”
“This game has great gameplay and really makes you strategize carefully.”
“The random exploration/scouting mechanic adds some kind of short-term goals that are a bit more tactical, but the gameplay is mostly strategic.”
“After a while, gameplay is pretty routine.”
“Very quick games which is nice, but for a $5 price tag and nothing really left to do but play it over and over (not really entertaining), 30 minutes of gameplay is really all I got out of this.”
- replayability32 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its variety of civilizations, factions, and game modes, allowing players to explore different strategies and challenges in relatively short play sessions of around 20-30 minutes. While some players note that the core mechanics may become repetitive after several hours, the numerous customization options and achievements keep many returning for more. Overall, it is considered a fun and engaging strategy game with significant replay value, especially for those seeking quick, strategic gameplay.
“There's a good variety of civilizations, units, buildings, religions, and game modes to choose from, so despite the short length of a game (you can win or lose in less than 20 minutes), there's a lot of replay value.”
“It has a ton of replay value and gameplay is quick for shorter play sessions, especially if you're tight on time but need something fun to play for a while.”
“It does not have a lot of replayability as it has a limited pool of units and strategies; you would have seen it all by the 3rd or 4th hour.”
“It's fun for a little bit, and has a bunch of different factions to offer replayability, but the buildings and units are the same across all factions, and the faction differences are generally minor changes in terms of bonuses the buildings provide you.”
“While each playthrough is relatively short, there is replay value in choosing different nations as they each have variations in their bonuses and play styles, and there are a few alternate versions that can be played outside the main campaign as well as higher difficulty settings for a more intense challenge.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a minimalist art style that evokes nostalgia for old-school flash games, with some players appreciating the cute and charming visuals despite their simplicity. While the graphics are not groundbreaking and have been described as basic or static, they effectively complement the game's narrative and gameplay, providing a pleasant experience overall. Some reviews note that the visuals are a significant improvement from previous iterations, though opinions vary on whether they justify the game's price.
“The first thing that catches your eye in 50 years is its striking minimalist art style.”
“The graphics are a really nice upgrade and the art style is quite charming, which helps calm the player down and prevents them from throwing their computer through the window.”
“I'm so glad to see this fun little game made with such beautiful graphics.”
“The art and music is nothing to write home about; it's an old game with a Newgrounds/Kongregate flash feel.”
“Basic visuals that are not very stunning.”
“Unfortunately, the graphical version at its current state does not justify the price.”
- music16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its haunting beauty and relaxing qualities, enhancing the emotional experience and complementing the minimalist visuals. While some reviewers find the soundtrack pleasing and chill, others feel it lacks depth and originality, describing it as simple and reminiscent of older flash games. Overall, the music is considered a positive aspect, contributing to a calming atmosphere that suits the game's recreational nature.
“The soundtrack of 50 years is a hauntingly beautiful composition that enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
“With its minimalist visuals, profound narrative, and emotionally evocative soundtrack, the game leaves a lasting impression.”
“Art is easy on the eyes and, as you see from screenshots, pretty; its nice looks are complemented by calm, relaxing music which perfectly suits the recreational purpose of this game.”
“The art and music is nothing to write home about; it's an old game with a Newgrounds/Kongregate flash feel. Still, I've always liked my games more for gameplay and mechanics than graphics, so it's a pass from me on that front.”
“You are only able to toggle the music.”
“Calm music and okay sound.”
- story6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional storyline, focusing instead on the simple premise of defending your city against barbarians in a charming fantasy setting. Players engage in automatic battles with minimal narrative depth, primarily enjoying the satisfaction of building their kingdom and raising an army over a limited number of turns. While the graphics are appealing, the overall story experience is quite sparse.
“The game itself is missing a story, but it is easy to figure out that you are defending your city against the barbarians. The setting is a fantasy world with a cute atmosphere that can really drag you in. The graphics are cute and really well drawn, but they are not over the top.”
“In the span of 50 turns, you're tasked with a simple mission - build up your kingdom and raise an army to tackle various enemies.”
“Limited opportunities for side quests and a maximum of 50 turns per game.”
“Since there are no moves in the game, the battles take place automatically, there is no plot either.”
“The game itself is missing a story, but it is easy to figure out that you are defending your city against the barbarians.”
“No storyline, just the satisfaction of winning with the nation you are using.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable and rewarding, as it allows for the attainment of all achievements with a bit of strategy. The game is praised for avoiding tedious micro-management and lengthy battles, making the grinding feel less burdensome. Overall, it offers a casual experience that can be enjoyable for those willing to invest some time.
“If 10-20 hours of quality playtime (and a bit more mindless grinding afterwards for achievements) sounds like it's worth five bucks or so to you, you could do a lot worse.”
“All achievements attainable; just need a little grinding and proper strategy.”
“Recommended for game farming.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game is stable with no freezing or unexpected crashes; however, there are notable bugs related to achievements that can lead to frustration, particularly concerning the completion of a secret year. This inconsistency detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“There is a secret year that you can get, but if you don't finish that year and you didn't achieve the very hard achievement for the nation you have been playing, it won't grant you the achievement even though you technically passed the 50th year, which is buggy and annoying.”
“Compared to his idle clicker games, this has similarities, but this is buggy and sort of strange to play, not really all that fun.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is significantly heightened by its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, which complements the profound narrative and minimalist visuals, ultimately leaving a lasting impression on players.
“The soundtrack of 50 years is a hauntingly beautiful composition that enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
“With its minimalist visuals, profound narrative, and emotionally evocative soundtrack, the game leaves a lasting impression.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by melancholic melodies and immersive soundscapes that enhance its contemplative mood. Set in a charming fantasy world, the visuals are well-drawn and cute, effectively drawing players into the experience, despite the absence of a detailed story. Overall, the combination of audio and visual elements creates a captivating and engaging environment.
“The melancholic melodies and atmospheric soundscapes create an immersive audio experience, further immersing you in the game's contemplative atmosphere.”
“The setting is a fantasy world with a cute atmosphere that can really draw you in; the graphics are charming and well-drawn, but they are not over the top.”
“The game lacks a compelling story, leaving the atmosphere feeling empty despite the cute graphics and fantasy setting.”
“While the graphics are well drawn and create a charming atmosphere, the overall experience feels shallow and uninspired.”
“The cute atmosphere and fantasy world are undermined by a lack of depth in the gameplay and narrative.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on low to lower mid-range PCs, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
“Runs smoothly, and I can't imagine you would need anything more than a low to lower mid-range PC to run this game.”
“The game is well-optimized, allowing for a seamless experience even on less powerful hardware.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how well the game performs; it runs flawlessly on my older system.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy primarily relies on microtransactions, which have received mixed feedback from users. While some appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others feel they can create an imbalance in gameplay or detract from the overall experience.
“The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
“I can't enjoy the game without being constantly bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
“It seems like you can't progress without spending real money, which ruins the experience.”
