Amber Isle

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,138 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • stability
Amber Isle Game Cover
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Amber Isle is a shop management and social simulation game where you run the only shop on a prehistoric animal-inhabited island. Gather, craft, and sell items to meet the needs of diverse Paleofolk customers, haggle for better deals, and customize your shop to attract more clients. With expanding floorspace, efficient layouts, and increasing popularity, bring Amber Isle back from the brink of extinction.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,138 reviews
story50 positive mentions
stability145 negative mentions
  • Adorable character designs and customization options.
  • Charming gameplay loop of gathering resources, crafting, and running a shop.
  • Engaging story with unique personalities for each Paleofolk.
  • Numerous bugs and softlocks that can hinder gameplay.
  • Clunky camera controls and UI that can be frustrating to navigate.
  • Some gameplay mechanics feel shallow and repetitive over time.
  • story295 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as charming and engaging, featuring a simple yet enjoyable narrative that unfolds through various quests and interactions with unique characters. While some players appreciate the whimsical setting and character development, others note that the main storyline can feel basic and

    • “The story is cute, funny, and engaging, and I’ve been having so much fun immersing myself in its prehistoric world.”
    • “The quests and storyline were immersive and held my attention well - there's always something to do!”
    • “The story is intriguing and the characters are well written, but the mechanics of the game feel like it's in late early access rather than a full release.”
    • “The main overarching story meanwhile is... honestly the weak point of the game, but even this is only relative to the rest of the game.”
    • “The story is just kinda flat.”
    • “The three quests for each character are also redundant, extremely easy, and leave no impact.”
  • gameplay278 mentions

    The gameplay in this game is characterized by a satisfying loop of gathering resources, crafting items, and managing a shop, which many players find engaging and addictive. While the charming art style and character interactions enhance the experience, several users report issues with bugs, clunky mechanics, and a somewhat repetitive nature to the gameplay. Overall, the game appeals to fans of cozy simulation games, though it may require further polishing to fully realize its potential.

    • “The gameplay loop is really simple but effective.”
    • “I love interacting with all the various characters on the island and the general gameplay loop of gathering items, crafting them, and running the store is so incredibly satisfying.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying.”
    • “I knew I would get frustrated with the clunky gameplay, so I decided to pass on this one.”
    • “The main gameplay loop is serviceable, but the shop and building friendship with the characters becomes stale and hair-pullingly frustrating if you want to go for all achievements, which I do not recommend doing until the game gets heavily bug-fixed.”
    • “So many bugs that make gameplay feel bad, so much so that this feels like an alpha build, not a full release.”
  • stability149 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its numerous bugs and performance issues, with many players noting that it feels unfinished and more akin to an early access title. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable and the developers are actively working on patches, the overall consensus is that the game requires significant polishing to address the various glitches and soft-locks that detract from the experience. Despite these issues, many players express hope for future improvements and still recommend the game for its charm and fun gameplay.

    • “Runs great on my Legion Go.”
    • “Runs great, full of fun but unobtrusive references, great variety of paleo life and designs.”
    • “It doesn't feel like I've played this for only 3 hours, honestly. I really enjoy running around and look forward to seeing how this ends up once it's bug free.”
    • “The game rides purely on how cute it is, as under the hood it's still a buggy, poorly performing mess that was released too early.”
    • “Currently, there are a lot of game-breaking bugs and quality of life glitches that make the game feel unfinished and seem more like it's in a beta state than a fully released game.”
    • “In its current state, the game is buggy, bordering on unplayable.”
  • graphics143 mentions

    The graphics of "Amber Isle" are widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, which features colorful environments and endearing character designs that enhance the cozy gameplay experience. However, many players report issues with bugs, glitches, and a lack of graphical options, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these technical shortcomings, the game's aesthetic appeal remains a significant draw for fans of the genre.

    • “The art style is absolutely adorable.”
    • “The graphics are adorable and stunning, and I love the animations and expressions on each of the NPC paleofolk.”
    • “The art style, character designs, and the world itself are all so lovely!”
    • “There's a complete lack of graphical settings though, just textures, vsync, and anti-aliasing, that's it.”
    • “Within the first two hours of gameplay, I've seen very many graphical bugs and was even soft locked.”
    • “I love the visuals but the game is also a fair bit buggy and honestly, this very much feels like an early access game to me, nowhere near full release.”
  • music70 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many describing it as catchy, relaxing, and fitting the game's cute aesthetic. Players appreciate the unique variations of the soundtrack that change based on different biomes, adding depth to the experience. While some find the music occasionally bouncy and potentially disruptive to the relaxing vibe, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's appeal and enjoyment.

    • “The soundtrack is wonderful and fits the theme of the game and changes to suit whichever environment you’re in.”
    • “The music is very relaxing and calming; I like to listen to the soundtrack when focusing on tasks!”
    • “The music is fantastic, along with the ambiance.”
    • “The music suffers from the same problem; it sounds like a jumble of whatever they liked the most.”
    • “I found the music and sound effects serviceable, but after a while, I started listening to other stuff while playing.”
    • “The sound design is very simple, but it works well for this type of game. The game depicts itself as a relaxing game; however, the music can be a bit bouncy at times, which can kill some of the relaxing vibes. I feel it might just need to be a touch softer.”
  • grinding50 mentions

    The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find it tedious and time-consuming—especially when gathering resources or managing inventory—others appreciate the challenge and rewarding gameplay loop it offers. Many suggest that improvements to the user interface and resource management could alleviate some of the grindiness, but overall, the enjoyment of the game seems to depend on individual tolerance for repetitive tasks.

    • “It's not grindy, and has an extremely rewarding gameplay loop.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Near the end of the game, it can get a bit grindy trying to get everything you need for those big recipes, and often I would spend nearly 40 minutes just harvesting resources.”
    • “And there's no way to search for an item in a menu; if a quest needs to craft a wooden table, there's nowhere to search up 'wooden table', so you need to mouse over endlessly hoping to find an item, which is really tedious.”
    • “It feels slow and tedious with nothing to really break up the monotony of the day-to-day.”
  • optimization43 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and bugs, even on high-end systems. While some users report that these issues can be mitigated with specific settings or patches, the overall consensus is that the game requires further optimization and bug fixes to enhance the experience. Players are advised to wait for updates before fully committing to the game, as it currently feels unpolished and in need of improvements.

    • “It has had some performance issues and bugs, but the development team has been hard at work with patches and is willing to listen to the fans with their own critiques.”
    • “I hope that I'll be able to jump back in after a few patches and that the performance and optimization improve.”
    • “The game is in severe need of options and optimization.”
    • “Massive performance issues that can sometimes leave you below 60fps even on a high-end system.”
    • “Don't get me wrong, it's a janky and buggy game, a stuttery mess with poor optimization.”
    • “It's a very unoptimized game where the lag consumes much of the experience.”
  • character development40 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its adorable and unique character designs, which captivate players and enhance their overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the variety and customization options available for both player characters and NPCs, noting that each character feels distinct and memorable. While some mention minor bugs and areas for improvement, the charming art style and engaging character interactions contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The character designs are adorable and well thought out.”
    • “Each character design is unique and memorable, with an abundance of them to visit your shop.”
    • “The massive paleo-nerd in me adores all of the character designs and is especially charmed by how scientifically accurate they manage to be to their real-life counterparts even in this cartoony art style.”
    • “Definitely not one of those games that puts in all the character design effort into the NPCs and leaves players feeling not that special with their own characters.”
    • “If you're not 100% into the janky and buggy character designer and its limitations, you will bounce off the intro before the word go.”
    • “I love the character designs, the atmosphere, the art style-- but the level of jank feels on par with an early access title, not a full release.”
  • humor32 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cuteness, with players enjoying the engaging dialogue and quirky interactions among the lovable dinosaur characters. Many find the writing to be a delightful mix of kid-friendly and dry adult humor, complemented by amusing glitches and funny scenarios, such as characters haggling in unexpected ways. Overall, the game's lighthearted tone and whimsical elements contribute to a fun and relaxing experience.

    • “The story is cute, funny, and engaging, and I’ve been having so much fun immersing myself in its prehistoric world.”
    • “I absolutely loved this game; the characters are sweet and made me laugh over and over. While the shopkeeping is a little panicky at times, I adore the comments and little opinions you get to see from the islanders who visit!”
    • “I love the old grump of a mayor, and found it hilarious when he sold me a basket and then proceeded to buy the basket back from me the following evening for more than he sold it for.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players praising its cute, wholesome atmosphere and charming characters. Many reviews highlight the heartwarming dialogue and engaging story, creating a nostalgic and relaxing experience reminiscent of titles like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. Despite some technical issues, the game's overall vibe is described as cozy and endearing, making it a delightful choice for players of all ages.

    • “At heart, it's an awesome, wholesome, really fun game.”
    • “The art is fantastic quality and the writing is charming and surprisingly mature despite remaining wholesome.”
    • “An extremely wholesome game with loads of heart.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charm, cuteness, and relaxing qualities, creating a cozy environment that enhances the experience of running a shop for adorable dinosaur characters. Players appreciate the delightful music, unique character interactions, and the overall heartwarming vibe, although some note that technical issues detract from the experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a comforting escape, perfect for unwinding after a stressful day.

    • “The game is adorable, all in all, and has a very comfortable atmosphere to it.”
    • “The game is so adorable and feeds into the cozy atmosphere of running a shop for cute dino friends!”
    • “The atmosphere is very relaxing and feels perfect after a long and stressful day.”
    • “However, while the game’s overall atmosphere is heartwarming and the characters have fantastic dialogue, there are one too many bugs that prevent it from being the experience I feel it could eventually be.”
    • “I love the character designs, the atmosphere, the art style-- but the level of jank feels on par with an early access title, not a full release.”
    • “Though I may be biased because I was a dinosaur kid and now am a dinosaur adult, even just the chill atmosphere and the personality of the characters will likely keep me playing this for quite a while to come.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players express a desire for enhanced replayability through features like an optional "sandbox" mode that unlocks all game elements from the start. Some users are currently deterred by bugs but remain hopeful for future updates that could improve the game's playability and encourage them to revisit it.

    • “An optional 'sandbox' start mode in which all the game features are available from the start instead of having to gradually unlock them tied to a storyline would be a very welcome feature for replayability.”
    • “I'm hoping that in the future these bugs get patched out and the game becomes a little more playable, because I think if that is the case then I'll give this game another chance.”
    • “I might change this review later when the game is at a more playable state, but for now I wait.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
4-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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