Amber Isle

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 162 reviews
  • gameplay
  • stability
  • graphics
Amber Isle Game Cover
Starting at €24.99Buy now
Get on Steam

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.

Play Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 162 reviews
gameplay14 positive mentions
stability15 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming art style and engaging character customization, allowing players to create unique dinosaur characters.
  • Gameplay is fun and relaxing, combining elements of shop management with exploration and interaction with lively characters.
  • The game has a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of Animal Crossing, making it a delightful experience for fans of life simulation games.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including soft locks and issues with controller support, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • The tutorial can be overly long and tedious, making it frustrating for players who want to dive into the game without excessive guidance.
  • Some UI elements are clunky and unintuitive, leading to confusion during gameplay and making certain actions feel cumbersome.
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is generally praised for its cozy and engaging loop, centered around shopkeeping and character interaction, reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley. Players appreciate the well-paced mechanics, character customization, and the relaxing atmosphere, although some report issues with bugs and crashes. While many find the gameplay addictive and enjoyable, a few express disappointment with certain aspects, suggesting room for improvement in the user interface and overall engagement.

    • “The gameplay loop feels really good, concise yet engaging.”
    • “Very addictive gameplay loop, with just the right amount of relaxing and fast-paced management.”
    • “I love the gameplay because it's really relaxing and fun.”
    • “My only complaint so far is that the game keeps crashing randomly but frequently in the middle of gameplay.”
    • “It bewilders me that you could release a game that, at its core, has a gameplay loop of money spent vs. money gained, and yet have the math so strange.”
    • “But overall the game premise was boring, characters were boring, gameplay was boring, idea was boring.”
  • stability15 mentions

    The game currently suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, particularly with controller support, animations, and shop interactions, leading to a somewhat unstable experience. While many players find these issues manageable and express confidence in the development team's ability to address them, potential buyers are advised to wait for patches if they are sensitive to game stability. Overall, the charm and fun of the game shine through despite its bugginess.

    • “The shop is extremely buggy and there are other bugs that need to be patched, but the game is so charming that it can be overlooked (since the bugs will probably be patched out soon).”
    • “You are constantly stuck on objects, stuck in screens, clipping through yourself when emoting, and overall buggy.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and colorful art style, charming character designs, and lively animations, contributing to an overall pleasant visual experience. However, some users noted issues with bugs and average graphical performance, as well as a clunky user interface that could benefit from refinement. Despite these drawbacks, the game's visuals are generally considered a highlight, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

    • “The artwork is extremely pleasant, and the style is consistent and coherent.”
    • “Characters are charming and endearing, graphics are colorful and pretty, and you can see how much love has been put into this game.”
    • “The graphics are adorable and the NPCs are full of life, not only in their commentary but also in their movements and actions.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphical settings could also be a little confusing in terms of FPS for some, and I wish there were a little more fine-tuned options there.”
    • “The game has average graphics and average sound design.”
  • story12 mentions

    The game's story is described as cute and engaging, featuring charming characters and an overarching narrative that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players have encountered issues with quest progression and repetitive dialogue, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these challenges, the customization options and foraging elements contribute to a rewarding and addictive management simulation.

    • “It's a fun management sim that is actually addicting, with an overarching story.”
    • “The characters are adorable and the storyline is fun to play and very rewarding!”
    • “The story, style, and gameplay are all amazing so far and I'm very excited to play more!”
    • “I failed to visit the forest at all once I unlocked it, went right to bed, and now I have to start over because it's impossible to invite Nellie, a required story quest.”
    • “As well as the tutorial not highlighting exactly what it wants from you, there are no sidebar quests to tell you what it needs sometimes.”
    • “I have had the visitor quest conversations repeated several times despite having already gone through them.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and calming qualities, enhancing the overall cute and relaxing atmosphere. While some players appreciate the fun and quirky soundtracks, a few suggest that certain bouncy tracks may disrupt the intended relaxation. Overall, the music complements the charming art style and character design effectively.

    • “This game overall is very cute, I love the animations, the art style, and the music.”
    • “The music is amazing.”
    • “The characters are well written with unique and quirky personalities, the soundtrack is very catchy and calming, and the character creator has a lot of depth!”
    • “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.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with users reporting performance issues such as stuttering, glitches in character movement, and instability in frame rates. While some players enjoy the experience on devices like the Steam Deck, they still note occasional performance hiccups. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization for both keyboard & mouse and controller setups, alongside potential improvements in resolution and lighting.

    • “Maybe a higher resolution for higher performance PCs and some lighting editing would be great!”
    • “I've been playing the game all day (since it came out lol) and I really love it so far - it does have a few performance issues (walking is a bit glitchy, especially on the left side of the map, and my character's long tail wags like crazy during dialogue for some reason) but the characters are really cute and nicely written.”
    • “I also noticed weird performance and the impossibility to cap your FPS, so they're not super stable for me.”
    • “I also feel like this game is not optimized for keyboard & mouse or controller.”
    • “It's definitely a bit clunky and has some bugs/performance issues here and there currently but I'm giving it time to update.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the balance between tedious tasks and progress, others feel it becomes monotonous and restrictive. The ease of resource gathering is noted positively, but technical issues, such as bugs in the character creator, add to the frustration. Overall, the game struggles to engage both dedicated fans of the genre and younger audiences.

    • “I turn into such a min/maxing farming machine without any time to talk to locals or chill.”
    • “It feels slow and tedious with nothing to really break up the monotony of the day-to-day.”
    • “Feels very restrictive and not as polished as other farming sims on the market.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the witty dialogue, amusing sound effects, and the charming antics of lovable characters, particularly a funny dinosaur. The lighthearted tone and playful interactions contribute to a fun experience, making it a standout feature that enhances player engagement. Overall, the humor effectively complements the game's crafting and character dynamics, creating a delightful atmosphere.

    • “I found myself laughing at the dialogue and sound effects, and already connecting with the characters (Maple is so cute).”
    • “Plenty of fun humor, lovable characters, and freedom to arrange things how you wish, given the resources of course.”
    • “The dialogue had me laughing right from the get-go too.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Amber Isle is praised for its emotional warmth and wholesomeness, offering players a relaxing experience as they manage a shop and connect with charming villagers. The game's heartwarming themes and engaging gameplay create a deeply enjoyable atmosphere that players find addictive and endearing.

    • “Amber Isle is a wholesome, relaxing game where you manage a shop and connect with other paleofolk (villagers) with the objective of restoring Amber Isle.”
    • “An extremely wholesome game with loads of heart.”
    • “It's extremely wholesome, engaging, and relaxing.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is consistently described as relaxing, making it an ideal escape for unwinding after a long and stressful day.

    • “The atmosphere is very relaxing and feels perfect after a long and stressful day.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Players appreciate the character designs and styles, noting their distinctiveness and appeal. While some minor bugs have been reported, they are generally seen as manageable given the game's recent release.

    • “I love the style and character designs; they are very well shaped, and I can't wait to see all of them. Of course, there are a few bugs, but this game just came out, and the ones I've come across are small and easily fixable on my end!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Amber Isle

Play time

5hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games