Aka
- December 14, 2022
- Cosmo Gatto
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Aka" is a single-player, open-world fantasy game with a deep, emotional story and engaging gameplay. The farming system is inspired by permaculture, and players can craft various items for quest-solving or decorative purposes. Relax in hot springs, watch clouds, or take a nap on a giant Capybara while meeting various characters and completing narrative quests. The game also features mini-games and stunning visuals with a delightful soundtrack. However, be prepared for some grinding.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a charming art style that many players find appealing.
- Aka offers a relaxing and cozy gameplay experience, with a touching story that resonates emotionally with players.
- The game includes various engaging activities such as farming, crafting, and mini-games, providing a sense of exploration and discovery.
- The game feels unfinished and buggy, with many players encountering technical issues that disrupt gameplay.
- Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making tasks like gardening and inventory management frustrating.
- There is a lack of content and replayability after completing the main storyline, leaving players wanting more.
- story300 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its emotional depth and ability to evoke strong feelings, often touching on themes of trauma, loss, and healing, particularly in the context of a post-war setting. While the narrative is engaging and beautifully presented through charming art and music, some players feel that the quest structure can be repetitive and lacks long-term engagement after the main storyline concludes. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate a heartfelt, story-driven experience, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and quest design.
“The story is honestly really good and enjoyable; you learn things about many characters, and it can really pull at your heartstrings at some points.”
“The storyline involving a retiring red panda (aka) dealing with the repercussions of war is both heavy and delicately handled as it turns toward healing both the land and the hearts that live there.”
“The story moved me to tears more than once as the story of struggling to let go hit too close to home every now and then.”
“The story is also kind of lackluster, and not well explained.”
“There is very little to keep you playing the game after you finish the main storyline.”
“It felt more like a constant stream of fetch quests with a few animatics in between, instead of the emotional island adventure that it advertises.”
- graphics94 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and adorable art style, often described as watercolor and hand-drawn, which enhances the overall aesthetic experience. However, some players noted technical issues and inconsistencies, suggesting that while the visuals are charming, they may not always align with the game's marketing or expectations. Overall, the art and music create a relaxing and emotionally engaging atmosphere, making it a recommended choice for those who appreciate visual storytelling.
“The graphics and the music are beautiful, truly a treat to the eye and the heart.”
“Visually, the models are quite cute, and the art style, especially the watercolor for the illustration, is wonderful.”
“The art style balances adorableness and soothing beauty while the music is blissful.”
“It needs someone with a clear creative vision to give this a once-over and make sure all the graphic/visual design is cohesive with the overall style.”
“To top it off, the graphics and visuals were weak and amateur compared to the marketing material.”
“The graphics are decently pretty and some effort went into the story, but the gameplay just didn't connect for me.”
- music78 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to create a calming atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and may encounter technical issues, such as stuttering after prolonged play. Overall, the music, alongside the art style, is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its emotional depth and relaxing vibe.
“The soundtracks composed are really pleasantly beautiful, and definitely go with the peaceful vibe it wants to have.”
“The art style balances adorableness and soothing beauty while the music is blissful.”
“I absolutely love aka’s gorgeous art, music, dialogue, and story.”
“Music started stuttering and freaking out after the game was open for an hour.”
“The music got repetitive, nothing was helpful, the game is littered with bugs forcing restarts.”
“Some music and 'quest completed' pop-ups sound or look like stock material, like a cheap PowerPoint my boyfriend made for a uni class he really doesn't like.”
- emotional74 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narrative, which explores themes of loss, healing, and the aftermath of war, resonating deeply with many players. While some found the emotional moments impactful and moving, others felt that the buildup to these moments was lacking, diminishing their overall effect. Overall, the game is described as cute and wholesome, with a mix of touching and tragic elements that can evoke strong feelings, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate emotional storytelling in gaming.
“I began playing last night at 7 pm, and this charming, heartfelt, emotional yet cozy, calming game kept me engaged until nearly 1 am, when I had to force myself to stop playing and finally go to sleep.”
“After finishing my playthrough of aka, I'd say this is a really adorable game yet also emotionally tragic with its narrative, which deals with heavy topics of the aftermath of war and how aka has to overcome his burdened past.”
“The story is quite dark for a farming sim, but emotionally touching, standing by the message of learning to move on after distressing events like war.”
- grinding68 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is generally perceived as minimal and non-tedious, with many players appreciating the short playtime and straightforward mechanics. However, the farming system lacks depth and purpose, often feeling like an optional chore rather than a core gameplay element, as it doesn't significantly impact the game's progression or narrative. While some players enjoyed the casual, relaxing nature of the farming experience, others found it shallow and lacking in engagement compared to more robust farming sims.
“It's not tedious and you get seeds for almost every crop you grow.”
“I would recommend it if you're looking for something that isn't grindy like most other farming/life simulator games but also with an emotional story, beautiful music, and artwork!”
“I would recommend it if you're looking for something that isn't grindy like most other farming/life simulator games but also with an emotional story, beautiful music, and artwork!”
“In brief, it's a very shallow 'farming sim'.”
“Food doesn't seem to do anything, and farming is more often than not an ignorable chore in such an idyllic world.”
“The mechanics of farming feel like some thought was put into it, but the lack of an economy or even a needs system makes farming more of a tool to solve quests and puzzles.”
- gameplay62 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a variety of mechanics, including card and music minigames, alongside farming elements like companion planting, which are generally enjoyable but lack depth and purpose. While the controls can feel clunky and the overall experience is described as simplistic, the game is visually appealing and offers a heartfelt story, though it may not satisfy fans of more complex farming sims. Players noted that the gameplay can feel slow and is primarily focused on completing mini quests rather than exploration.
“There's a card minigame, music minigame, and the crop mechanics are really cool (certain plants grow well together and prevent pests).”
“I typically do not enjoy games with a lot of crafting/farming, but I found the mechanics of Aka to be straightforward and enjoyable.”
“The graphics are beautiful and I love the variety with different kinds of quests, game mechanics, and minigames.”
“The gameplay feels slow, and it's more or less not exploration-based as much as it is a series of mini quests.”
“The graphics are decently pretty and some effort went into the story, but the gameplay just didn't connect for me.”
“In terms of farming or life sim, it falls very short as most of the game mechanics, narrative, and writing are only puddle-deep for a game that doesn't consider itself early access.”
- stability16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as "incredibly buggy," with users reporting awkward controls and various glitches that hinder gameplay, such as issues with button rebinding and interactions with characters. While players find the game charming and entertaining, the overall stability is criticized for being under-polished and rocky, suggesting that it may require further updates to improve performance.
“It's pretty buggy, controls are a little weird and everything feels under-polished.”
“It is so incredibly buggy, and the progression of the game is quite rocky.”
“At the time of this review, the game is a little buggy and the controls are awkward out of the box.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Aka is characterized by its cute and often funny dialogues, which balance the game's deeper themes with lightheartedness. Players appreciate the amusing character names and the whimsical nature of quests, although some feel that certain elements lack depth. Overall, the game offers a relaxing experience filled with charming and humorous interactions.
“Dialogues are often funny and cute in addition to the sad ones.”
“I could finally play a lovely crafting & farming game where I don't have to worry about anything at all; just chilling, exploring and enjoying immersive - sometimes quite humorous - conversations with all the different characters.”
“Hehehe, funny panda man has my name.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its relaxing and cozy qualities, enhanced by soothing music and engaging dialogue. Reviewers highlight how this calming environment significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment of the game, making it highly recommendable.
“It really does create a very relaxing and cozy atmosphere, and both things contribute greatly to what makes this game so great.”
“I loved the demo, I love the atmosphere, I love the music, the dialogue, the story.”
“Fun relaxing game with a great atmosphere.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in "aka" is highly praised for its charming art and design, particularly the NPCs, which are noted for their tragic yet touching narratives. Reviewers appreciate the emotional depth and storytelling that enhance the overall experience, making it a standout feature of this indie farming sim.
“The strongest points of AKA would be the character and art design, music, and the story. I absolutely loved the character design of the NPCs and the tragicness that goes along with it.”
“If you're into a small indie game of a farming sim with adorable character design and a saddening yet touching narrative story, I'd say give it a go.”
“Like many others have said, the art and character design in this game is extremely charming.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While the game is considered replayable, its limited activities—such as the absence of fishing and a narrow range of crops—restrict options for multiple playthroughs and diminish overall replayability. Players may find enjoyment in revisiting the game, but the lack of diverse gameplay elements may hinder long-term engagement.
“It is for sure replayable, but there is no fishing, even though it looks like there should have been. There is also no reason to grow crops outside of fun and a few quests that require them, and it's only carrots, wheat, and cabbage.”
“This limits replayability and options for multiple playthroughs.”
“It is for sure replayable, but there is no fishing, even though it looks like there should have been, and no reason to grow crops outside of fun and a few quests that require them, and it's only carrots, wheat, and cabbage.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing music stuttering and glitches after prolonged play, indicating potential performance issues that may affect the overall experience.
“Music started stuttering and freaking out after the game was open for an hour.”
