Amber Isle

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 710 reviews

gameplay59 positive mentions

stability101 negative mentions

Charming and adorable art style with unique character designs.
Engaging gameplay loop that combines shop management with resource gathering and character interactions.
Strong character customization options that allow players to create their own unique paleofolk.

Numerous bugs and glitches, including soft locks that can hinder progress.
Camera controls can be awkward and lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The tutorial is lengthy and can feel overly hand-holdy, delaying the start of the main gameplay.

gameplay
179 mentions
33 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a relaxing and casual loop that involves gathering resources, crafting items, and managing a shop, reminiscent of titles like Animal Crossing but with a unique twist featuring dinosaurs. While many players appreciate the charming art style and character customization, the experience is marred by numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration. Overall, the core mechanics are engaging and addictive, but the game's current state requires further refinement to fully realize its potential.
- “I really do like how everything is set at your own pace, providing a stress-free gameplay that really allows you to pretty much play however you want.”
- “The gameplay loop is addicting, the best thing for me being that there's nothing stopping me from progressing.”
- “The gameplay is really fun and relaxing, and I definitely prefer this gameplay loop and the time progression in comparison to games like Animal Crossing.”
- “So many bugs that make gameplay feel bad, so much so that this feels like an alpha build, not a full release.”
- “Encountered a game-breaking bug in the first 30 minutes of gameplay, not including character customization.”
- “The gameplay loop is just the right difficulty for me to enjoy for hours and hours, but I feel like my resources could be better suited elsewhere, so I barely touch this gameplay loop.”
story
174 mentions
16 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and charming, featuring a variety of lovable characters and multiple quests that enhance the overall narrative experience. Players appreciate the character development and the intertwining of side quests with the main storyline, although some express frustration with bugs that can disrupt quest progression. Overall, while the story is simple and straightforward, it captivates players with its cute art style and the depth of its characters, making it a delightful experience despite some technical issues.
- “The initial dialogue between characters helps you understand their personality and the backstory of the island, and the progression of understanding how the game works feels natural and full of fun little discoveries that don't feel tiresome and don't overextend their welcome.”
- “The stories, as there are multiple smaller stories within the larger overall main story, the characters, the personalities and so on are great and I find myself continuing to find new characters with their own struggles and quests.”
- “There is clearly a lot of love and care poured into this game-- the characters, setting, and plot are pretty good, and the attachment to residents you develop and your desire to explore the rest of the isle are compelling.”
- “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.”
- “I wish I could say I enjoy this game, but I can't even get past the tutorial without getting locked inside my shop because some sort of glitch has me stuck on a loop with a quest that I can't complete.”
- “The quests are buggy as hell.”
stability
104 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from a significant number of bugs and glitches, including softlocks, visual issues, and gameplay interruptions, which many players feel detract from the overall experience. While some users report that these issues have improved with recent patches and express confidence in the developers' responsiveness, others find the game nearly unplayable in its current state. Overall, potential buyers are advised to consider waiting for further updates before purchasing.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I really want to like this game, I like the characters, the art, and the gameplay, but there are way too many game-breaking glitches, bugs, and softlocks to consider this game a 1.0 release.”
- “In its current state, Amber Isle is buggy, bordering on unplayable.”
graphics
84 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and charming art style, with many reviewers highlighting the lovable character designs and vibrant, colorful environments. However, some players have reported performance issues, including stuttering and bugs, which detract from the overall experience despite the appealing visuals. Overall, the art style is considered the standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's cozy and engaging atmosphere.
- “The art style is fantastic and lively, the characters are all so lovable.”
- “The graphics are adorable and stunning, and I love the animations and expressions on each of the NPCs.”
- “The art style, character designs, and the world itself are all so lovely!”
- “Might be good if I could run it, but somehow a Ryzen 1600 and RTX 2060 Super aren't good enough for 2560x1440. There are next to no graphics settings to make it playable.”
- “I bumped the graphics settings as low as they would go, and I was still getting the stuttering.”
- “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.”
music
46 mentions
50 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and relaxing qualities, enhancing the cozy atmosphere and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke nostalgia and its subtle variations across different biomes, although some note a lack of variety and occasional jarring moments. Overall, the music is considered a delightful and integral part of the game's appeal, contributing to its endearing character and immersive environment.
- “It's quickly become part of my routine to wind down playing this cozy game with even cosier music <3”
- “The soundtrack is a delight, and very fun. The little dino noises and ambient sounds in the background are cute to hear. While it doesn't present a lot of variety between parts of the island, it follows a nostalgic recipe where the main song becomes remixed into different tunes.”
- “The music is very relaxing and calming; I like to listen to the soundtrack when focusing on tasks!”
- “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.”
grinding
25 mentions
0 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the relaxed pace and quick progression, others find it tedious and repetitive, lacking the depth and variety seen in other farming sims. The balance between resource gathering and shop management is noted, but many feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially with UI bugs and limited activities to break the monotony. Overall, the game may appeal to fans of shop management but could frustrate those seeking a more dynamic experience.
- “There's not a whole lot to do other than grinding, doing quests, and landscaping—which can feel a tad bit boring at times.”
- “The skill tree/alternate currency progression is too grindy.”
- “It feels slow and tedious with nothing to really break up the monotony of the day-to-day.”
character development
25 mentions
32 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its unique and adorable character designs, which contribute to a refreshing gameplay experience. Players appreciate the generous customization options and the effort put into making both player characters and NPCs feel special and engaging. While there are some minor bugs and room for improvement, the overall art style and character creativity have left a positive impression on users.
- “The character designs are adorable and well thought out.”
- “Every object in the game is very creative, looks great, all the animations are fantastic, and the character designs are so good that I haven't met a single character that I haven't immediately loved.”
- “Fun and addictive gameplay loop, and the cutest and most interesting character designs I've seen in a long time.”
- “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.”
humor
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cute and witty dialogue, with players finding the interactions between characters both wholesome and genuinely funny. Many reviews highlight the amusing glitches and quirky haggling mechanics, which add to the overall charm and comedic experience. The lovable cast and their humorous antics contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players engaged and entertained.
- “The dialogue between the characters was some of the most wholesome and funny writing I've heard from just about any game I've played before.”
- “I found myself laughing at the dialogue and sound effects, and already connecting with the characters (Maple is so cute).”
- “Haggling is funny; they say 600 is too high, then say 900 is a deal.”
optimization
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing stuttering, soft-locking bugs, and visual glitches, particularly when adjusting graphics settings. While some users have managed to mitigate performance issues through settings like V-Sync, the overall consensus is that the game requires significant updates and bug fixes to improve stability and control responsiveness. Despite these challenges, players express optimism for future patches, highlighting the game's potential and charm.
- “There are also performance issues that I have been able to negate somewhat by using V-Sync on every second V-blank, thus making it much smoother at the cost of a little input lag.”
- “I haven't played that long just because of my work schedule, but I've loved every minute of it so far. Performance-wise, there are no soft locks or crashes. I enjoyed the customization and freedom to change character models and create a new one at will. It is very relaxing and chill.”
- “As of writing today, there is a patch being rolled out that fixes some of the worst performance issues, which is good, but there's a lot of jank under the hood that needs to be ironed out, ranging from a need for more accessibility/control options to economy balancing.”
- “I've been playing nonstop for days, and have luckily avoided the soft locking and bugs that many others have had issues with, but I've reached a point where my game is stuttering.”
- “However, the game suffers from a multitude of soft-locking bugs, visual glitches, and poor menu optimization on controller.”
- “But, this game needs some improvement in optimization and bug fixes.”
emotional
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming atmosphere, charming dialogue, and a lovable cast of characters. Players appreciate the engaging story and cute design, which evoke feelings of nostalgia and joy, despite some technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, it is celebrated as a cozy and delightful game that fosters a strong emotional connection with its players.
- “The art is fantastic quality and the writing is charming and surprisingly mature despite remaining wholesome.”
- “Very wholesome, and almost painfully adorable.”
- “An extremely wholesome game with loads of heart.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cute and heartwarming qualities, featuring unique characters and a relaxing environment that encourages exploration without time pressure. However, some players note that technical issues detract from the overall experience, likening it to an early access title despite the charming art style and engaging dialogue. Overall, the atmosphere is described as delightful and comforting, making it a pleasant escape for players.
- “This is an excellent game that delivers a cute atmosphere with many unique characters and diverse interactions amongst each other.”
- “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.”
- “The time mechanic really helps provide a relaxing atmosphere as I am not worried about how long I spend gathering, only about how much space I have in my pockets.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express a desire for improved replayability, contingent on future bug fixes that would enhance the game's overall playability. Many are willing to revisit the game once these issues are resolved, indicating potential for increased engagement in the future.
- “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 in a more playable state, but for now, I wait.”