Bee Simulator

Though simplistic and lacking in some variety, Bee Simulator is a great introduction to open-world games that everybody can enjoy and is also a towering celebration of Mother Nature's most vital workforce.

65%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

gameplay, stability

69% User Score Based on 744 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

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About

Bee Simulator is a single player and multiplayer casual simulation game with a kids theme. It was developed by VARSAV Game Studios and was released on November 12, 2019. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"Bee Simulator" allows you to experience life as a honeybee, beginning with tasks from the Queen and evolving into a mission to save your hive when humans threaten to cut down the tree it's located in. This game offers a unique perspective of the world from a bee's viewpoint, adding elements of adventure and danger to the simulation. With orders from the Queen and the fate of the swarm on your shoulders, you'll need to navigate a human-sized world and complete various missions.

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 744 reviews

story59 positive mentions

stability23 negative mentions

Charming and educational, providing fun facts about bees and their importance.
Beautiful graphics and a relaxing atmosphere, making it enjoyable to explore the world as a bee.
Simple controls and gameplay that is accessible for younger audiences, making it a great family-friendly game.

Not a true simulator; gameplay consists mainly of repetitive mini-games and lacks depth.
Short main story that can be completed in a few hours, leading to limited replay value.
Numerous bugs and issues with achievements not unlocking, along with clunky controls that can frustrate players.

story
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
76%
6%
The story of "Bee Simulator" is a charming and family-friendly narrative that revolves around the life of a bee and the survival of its colony amidst environmental threats. While the plot is straightforward and primarily aimed at younger audiences, it effectively combines educational elements about bees with light-hearted gameplay, though many players note that the main story is quite short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete. Despite its brevity, the game offers a variety of side quests and exploration opportunities that can extend the experience, although some players feel the story could benefit from greater depth and complexity.
- “The story is charming and can be completed quickly, but there are also plenty of optional unlockables, challenges, and side quests to keep you engaged.”
- “The game is more of a story for children and those kids who are playing this game might learn something about bees and nature in general while getting entertained by the game.”
- “The story plot in this game is good and engaging, even teaches you some good life lessons about the bees, and why they are so important, but it's too short, it should have gone on for much longer.”
- “There's not much you can do and the main story can be finished in less than 2 hours.”
- “The main story is extremely short and not very captivating.”
- “The story itself is rather short for how large a map this game has.”
gameplay
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The gameplay of Bee Simulator is characterized by its simple and repetitive mechanics, primarily revolving around flying, collecting pollen, and engaging in mini-games. While the flight mechanics are well-executed and the game offers a charming narrative suitable for children, many players find the overall experience lacks depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony. The game is best enjoyed as a short, family-friendly adventure rather than a long-term simulation, with limited replay value and mechanical progression.
- “At the heart of Bee Simulator is a narrative framework that gives structure to its free-flight gameplay.”
- “Supporting mechanics such as 'bee vision,' which highlights points of interest and valuable flowers, help guide exploration without overwhelming players or cluttering the interface.”
- “Its relaxing nature makes it perfect for anyone who enjoys immersive, low-pressure gameplay, and it’s especially great for players interested in learning more about nature.”
- “There is limited mechanical progression or replay incentive beyond personal enjoyment, which means the game is best approached as a short, pleasant journey rather than a long-term simulation.”
- “Core gameplay often relies on repetitive quick-time events for combat and flying through rings for pollen collection and races, which can get tedious quickly.”
- “The gameplay is very simple and monotone, however with much love to the story.”
graphics
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
36%
11%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed reception, with many players praising the beautiful and charming visuals, as well as the cute art style. However, some users noted issues such as lag, outdated graphics, and a lack of optimization, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered appealing, they may not meet the expectations of all players, particularly those seeking a more immersive or realistic aesthetic.
- “The graphics are beautiful, and it's family friendly.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous and cute.”
- “The game itself has beautiful graphics, fantastic music, good writing, and relaxing casual gameplay, a bit lacking in depth.”
- “Graphics are extremely laggy once you get out of the hive.”
- “Keep in mind though, you will need a higher-end PC to be able to run it, unless you want the lowest graphics which look absolutely horrible.”
- “The graphic is outdated and don't ever think that you could land on a flower to gather the nectar like a real simulator should be - flowers are just stupid checkpoints.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
43%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and uplifting qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion. Reviewers highlight the gentle melodies and sound effects that complement gameplay, with specific moments of movement accompanied by swells in the soundtrack. The music is described as whimsical and reminiscent of childhood, making it a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The audio design further supports the relaxed atmosphere, with gentle sound effects and a melodic soundtrack that enhances immersion without demanding attention.”
- “The music is mesmerizing and whimsical, like flying through a Disney fairytale movie.”
- “The soundtrack when flying around in free roam is just beautiful and very relaxing to listen to.”
- “I enjoy the bee-based facts, I am playing with the game fully muted and my own music in the background but I do think the dialogue is cute.”
- “There are some things it does well such as the music, but it doesn't make up for what you get.”
- “Meanwhile the music and art departments had a successful crowdfunding or something.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
12%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it funny and colorful, particularly enjoying the quirky interactions and NPCs. However, some reviewers noted a desire for more humor typical of simulator games, as the game sometimes takes itself seriously. Overall, the comedic elements, including amusing quests and characters, contribute positively to the experience, though the humor may not appeal to everyone.
- “A small exciting adventure for a couple of hours, which offers you to feel like a real bee, but in a more fabulous and funny way.”
- “The 'quests' you embark on are often funny with little twists and turns, and this along with other minor tasks are how you gain currency to buy new skins and such for your bee.”
- “Solid story, funny gameplay, and free roam side quests that are beyond adorable!”
- “You're not funny!”
- “You're not funny!”
- “You're not funny!”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly related to the achievement system and quest mechanics. While some players note that these issues are not game-breaking, they can lead to frustrating experiences, especially for completionists. Overall, the game is described as enjoyable but marred by stability problems that detract from the overall experience.
- “The achievements are really buggy and sometimes need reloading saves or fast traveling, but the game is very nice.”
- “This is the main negative aspect of this game in my opinion; it is pretty buggy at times, and sometimes challenges do reset or you slightly lose some progress if you go back to the main menu.”
- “Achievements not unlocking because of glitches, can't turn off motion blur without turning other post-process effects off, have to use keyboard for dance mini-game, no map screen only pointer boards, too many issues that can be easily fixed for me to recommend this game.”
emotional
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its charming and wholesome narrative, which resonates with players seeking a light-hearted experience. Many reviews highlight the heartwarming story and educational elements about bees, making it suitable for children and those looking for a feel-good adventure. While some found it lacking in depth, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully evokes positive emotions and a sense of joy.
- “Atop all of this there is a wholesome story where the sheer emotion of the bee colony is felt with every flap of their wings, truly a masterpiece.”
- “Story is heartwarming.”
- “It made me feel good.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
19%
75%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, primarily due to the reliance on quick-time events and minigames that involve collecting pollen and racing. While some achievements are considered manageable, many players note that reaching 100% completion can become a long and monotonous grind, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite the grind, some players appreciate the chill experience of flying around, though the repetitive nature of the tasks can lead to frustration.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Core gameplay often relies on repetitive quick-time events for combat and flying through rings for pollen collection and races, which can get tedious quickly.”
- “Now as far as achievements go, if you want to 100% this game and unlock all achievements, the challenges and the achievement where you're required to collect 3k pollen do get very tedious after a while.”
- “It's simple, repetitive gameplay that cycles you through the same 3 minigames over and over (if you bother to do the side content) and it was so tedious I was watching someone streaming the Zelda CDI game at the same time and said to myself 'I envy this man.'”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it infinitely replayable due to numerous unlockables, others criticize it for a limited save file system that diminishes the experience after completing the story. Overall, opinions vary, with some feeling that replayability could be improved compared to similar titles.
- “This game is infinitely replayable.”
- “There is quite a fair amount to unlock, so replayability is not an issue.”
- “Most other insect games like this one take replayability into account much more.”
- “This game has not very good replayability due to the save file limit being abysmal, and you basically just go for the 100% after you beat the story.”
- “Most other insect games like this one, from what I've seen, do take replayability into account a lot more.”
- “Overall 8/10; you'd get the extra stars if it weren't for the replayability.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive audio design, featuring gentle sound effects and a melodic soundtrack that complements the serene environments of forests and meadows. This focus on atmosphere appeals particularly to players who prioritize visuals and ambiance over complex gameplay mechanics.
- “You could really make a great game with the atmosphere of the forest, meadows, wild animals, and the realities of survival.”
- “The soundtrack and ambience of the world, however, are nice and really make for a great atmosphere.”
- “The audio design further supports the relaxed atmosphere, with gentle sound effects and a melodic soundtrack that enhances immersion without demanding attention.”
- “People who value visuals and atmosphere more than deep mechanics.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been noted as a concern, with players experiencing some bugs and performance issues, though nothing deemed overly critical. There is a suggestion that more attention to detail in optimization could enhance the overall experience, especially given the game's theme.
- “Maybe it's an optimization issue, but if you're making a game about bees, I think the detail should be directed in this vector.”
- “The game also has the expected bugs (lol) and optimization issues (nothing overly critical).”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express disappointment with the game's monetization, feeling that the advertising and title are misleading and do not accurately represent the game's content or monetization practices.
- “I'm pretty bummed as I feel like the trailer and advertising are very misleading, not to mention the game's title.”
- “While this by itself isn't a problem, it is when the advertising doesn't really hint at it.”