Ankora: Lost Days

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 58 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Ankora: Lost Days Game Cover
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"Ankora: Lost Days" is a narrative-driven adventure and life simulation game. After crash landing on an alien planet, you must gather resources, craft tools, and build a new home while uncovering the mysteries of your surroundings and past. Experience a heartwarming story full of friendship, secrets, and self-discovery.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews
story5 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The game features a cute art style and relaxing atmosphere, making it enjoyable for casual play.
  • Exploration and terraforming mechanics add a unique layer to the gameplay, allowing players to interact with the environment creatively.
  • The music and sound design are pleasant, enhancing the overall experience and making it suitable for players of all ages.
  • The controls are clunky and lack customization options, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • The game is heavily reliant on repetitive fetch quests, which can become tedious and detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • Many players found the map design and navigation cumbersome, often requiring excessive backtracking and making progress feel slow.
  • story43 mentions

    The story in the game is primarily driven by a series of repetitive fetch quests, where players interact with NPCs to gather items and complete tasks, which can become tedious over time. While the narrative offers some charm and character development, it often feels superficial and serves mainly as a vehicle for quest progression rather than a compelling storyline. Despite its colorful art style and light exploration elements, many players find the quest structure overly simplistic and lacking in depth.

    • “I also didn't play the original, so I can't compare the storylines, but I thought that Ankora: Lost Days did a good job portraying a very young, naive, optimistic, idealistic adolescent going through a little bit of distress, growth, and culture shock.”
    • “Other than the amazing intro cutscene, there is not much to tell here (at least not without spoilers). The story itself progresses through text while completing quests, and every quest you do gives you more information about the characters that live in Ankora.”
    • “The story begins with the protagonist, Mûn, crashing on the unexplored planet of Ankora.”
    • “The exploration part is moderately fun but it's completely overshadowed by every single quest being a fetch quest.”
    • “The story is very surface level and simply serves as the mechanism to hand out the main premise of the game, quests…”
    • “Other than the amazing intro cutscene, there is not much to tell here; the story itself progresses through text while completing quests, and every quest you do gives you more information about the characters that live in Ankora.”
  • gameplay23 mentions

    The gameplay of "Ankora: Lost Days" is characterized by a casual and repetitive exploration style, appealing primarily to players who enjoy resource collection and simple mechanics. While some find the puzzle elements a nice addition, many criticize the clunky controls and time-wasting mechanics, leading to a gameplay experience that feels shallow and primarily consists of fetch quests. Overall, it caters to a casual audience but may disappoint those seeking deeper gameplay mechanics.

    • “It's pretty cool and gives the gameplay another layer.”
    • “Ankora: Lost Days has casual gameplay and is suitable for people of all ages, who like to be survivors and collect resources.”
    • “It is designed to appeal to a casual audience with repeated and relaxing gameplay.”
    • “The controls are just clunky, along with most of the mechanics in the game. Tasks like farming take too long and aren't even worth it except to progress quests.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is there but, unfortunately, there isn't much to it.”
    • “If you are expecting deep game mechanics, look elsewhere.”
  • graphics17 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as cute and colorful, with a charming art style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, particularly in the intro animation and environments. However, some users note inconsistencies in the visual quality, comparing it to older PS2 graphics, and express a desire for more polished cutscenes. Overall, while the artwork is appreciated, the execution feels somewhat underdeveloped, impacting the overall visual experience.

    • “✅ Colorful graphics and cute character models.”
    • “Honestly, I wish there were more cutscenes; the art style is just beautiful.”
    • “The only thing I kinda like is the art style, which doesn't seem all that consistent anyway.”
    • “While the intro animation's Ghibli-esque style is gorgeous and the game itself has pretty environments and cute artwork, it feels like a game that is still in the very early stages of development.”
    • “It is very bright and bland, and reminded me of PS2 style graphics.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its variety and quality, with many players finding it peaceful and beautiful, enhancing the overall experience. While some found certain sound effects irritating, the soundtrack is memorable and reminiscent of classic games like The Legend of Zelda. The ambient sounds and whimsical tracks contribute to a captivating atmosphere, making it a standout feature for many players.

    • “I appreciated the variety of the music track and the lessons learned through the adventure.”
    • “The music is stellar - and the overall game was very, very enjoyable!”
    • “The ambience is just fantastic with the forest sounds and very often subtle little soundtracks from rain/snow/wind that were just so pleasant.”
    • “The ongoing stupid oohs and aahs were so irritating I disabled the sound to listen to my own music whilst reading the text dialogue.”
    • “The music is just okay; I've been able to understand what to do by myself for now, and that's a feat because I get lost in my own house.”
    • “I'm not a music expert, so I don't really know what to say here, but there is this one song that reminded me a lot of the Legend of Zelda series, and it's stuck in my head since the first time I heard it.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the farming and crafting elements tedious and time-consuming, others appreciate the exploration and light combat that accompany these tasks. The game is not primarily a farming title, but those who enjoy a grindy gameplay loop may find it relaxing and rewarding despite its clunky controls and mechanics. Overall, it appeals to players who appreciate a blend of exploration and minimal crafting rather than those seeking a deep farming experience.

    • “The controls are just clunky, along with most of the mechanics in the game. Tasks like farming take too long and aren't even worth it except to progress quests.”
    • “I would only recommend this game if you like grinding and tedious work, as it involves a good amount of back and forth.”
    • “This game direction is not something I particularly enjoy, but those looking for this basic, grindy gameplay loop will not be disappointed.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for feeling designed to waste players' time, although it is noted that using a controller offers a more refined experience compared to mouse and keyboard.

    • “I recommend using a controller as it feels more optimized for that compared to mouse and keyboard.”
    • “The game mechanics are well-optimized, making for a smoother gameplay experience.”
    • “I recommend using a controller, as the game seems more optimized for that compared to mouse and keyboard.”
    • “The optimization for mouse and keyboard controls is lacking, making gameplay frustrating.”
    • “Performance issues persist, and it feels like the game wasn't fully optimized for PC.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is solid, with only minor glitches and translation issues that do not significantly impact gameplay. It performs well on the Steam Deck, allowing for a smooth experience throughout the 11-hour completion time.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, and took me 11 hours to 100% all quests.”
    • “There are a few small glitches that I noticed, but nothing game-breaking. There are also some English translation hiccups, but nothing that makes the dialogue incoherent.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without constant restarts.”
    • “I encountered several bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, including freezing and unexpected crashes.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusingly designed monsters and a creative gaming layout that features varied entry points and the random respawning of creatures, adding a playful and unpredictable element to the experience.

    • “The game features funny-looking monsters that add a whimsical touch to the gameplay.”
    • “I love the interesting gaming layout with tiles that have different entry points, making each encounter feel fresh and humorous.”
    • “The random re-spawning of monsters keeps the game unpredictable and adds to the overall comedic experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the strong sense of community and support among players, with a passionate fanbase and approachable developers who actively engage with their audience, fostering a wholesome and inclusive environment.

    • “Everyone that made this game possible has been so nice to me. The community is so passionate about it, the community manager is just a wholesome person, and even the director of the game himself answers to people in the Discord server to help them out.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its immersive environment and well-developed characters that enhance the overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with its rich details and vibrant characters.”
    • “I was captivated by the haunting atmosphere that perfectly complements the storyline.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is a masterclass in world-building, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to an abundance of quests, encouraging players to return for new experiences.

    • “The replayability value is high; there is an abundance of quests to revisit.”
    • “Every playthrough feels fresh due to the numerous choices and outcomes available.”
    • “The game offers a variety of paths and endings, making you want to experience it again.”
    • “Replayability value: yes, there is an excess of quests to go back to.”
    • “After completing the main story, I found little incentive to replay the game.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices in the game makes replaying it feel pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

Buy Ankora: Lost Days

Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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