Behind Glass: Aquarium Simulator

About

"Behind Glass: Aquarium Simulator" is a PC game that allows players to design and simulate their own aquariums with lifelike fish, crabs, plants, and decorations. The game features a 3D aquarium engine, realistic 3D effects, and the ability to display the aquarium on a secondary screen. Players can choose from 102 species of fish and crustaceans, create hybrid species in the crossbreeding lab, and share their creations on the Steam Workshop.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Behind Glass: Aquarium Simulator screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews

graphics15 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and realistic fish animations create a soothing and immersive experience.
Highly customizable tank design options allow for creative aquascaping and experimentation.
Regular updates from developers show commitment to improving the game and adding new content.

Fish behavior lacks diversity, making it feel more like a screensaver than a true simulation.
Limited variety of fish and plants currently available, with requests for more species and features.
Some users report technical issues and bugs, particularly with the game's interface and functionality.

graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
25%
13%
The graphics in this aquarium simulator are widely praised for their beauty and realism, with many users noting the natural animations of fish and plants that enhance the overall aesthetic experience. The game stands out among similar titles for its comprehensive and visually stunning representation of underwater life, often leading players to mistake it for a real aquarium. Additionally, it runs smoothly even on less powerful hardware, making it accessible without sacrificing visual quality.
- “The graphics are great, the animations of the fish and also the plants look natural.”
- “After trying a few other similar games on the market, I would say this one is the most comprehensive in terms of aquarium simulation, with the most realistic graphics and fish behaviors.”
- “The realism captured by the graphics and animation is fantastic, and the features and options for customization allow for endless hours of enjoyment.”
- “There is always a risk of getting ETS2, where in 10 years neither modern graphics nor real simulation appeared, in fact.”
- “The graphics and fish behavior are so unreal; when I send a video of my tank to other people, they thought it's a real tank!”
- “Most of the games I have played in the past were quite cartoonish in graphics, and you have to complete tasks and quests to advance to other tanks and fish, which makes it seem more like a job.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The music in the game is generally praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall experience of creating and observing virtual aquascapes. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack, although some have noted difficulties in managing the music settings and have expressed a desire for more music options, including the ability to add custom tracks. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's tranquil atmosphere.
- “This is one of my favorite relaxing games... the soundtrack is really nice, they're always updating the tutorials and honestly -- it's helped me a lot in creating the tank I want for my real fish friends.”
- “Once you have added the fish and everything is running stable, you can hide all menus and enjoy your beautiful creation with some relaxing music.”
- “The background music is soothing and is nice to aquascape to.”
- “- 2D mode music keeps playing unless you untick the box before closing the game.”
- “- Music and sounds are difficult to turn off and on; they are also not pleasant.”
- “- Add more music sounds.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
56%
33%
The gameplay is a blend of elements from racing and simulation games, reminiscent of titles like Forza Horizon and BeamNG, but lacks depth and realism. Players feel that the absence of mechanical objects and maintenance features detracts from the overall experience, leaving the game feeling incomplete and less engaging.
- “It's as if Forza Horizon, Car Mechanic, and BeamNG were one game, which no one is doing yet for obvious reasons.”
- “Even if they don't add anything to gameplay, the ambiance and the look just feel like they are missing something without the water filters and whatnot on the tank.”
- “Currently, there are no mechanical objects like filters, scrubbers, heaters, etc. Again, you don't have to actually maintain the aquariums, but it would be nice to have some of those objects even if they were just for show.”
- “I would say the game isn't all too realistic gameplay-wise.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players noting the absence of a compelling narrative or goals to sustain interest. Some suggest that incorporating a realistic storyline, such as breeding and selling fish, could enhance the experience, while others find the existing short campaign insufficient. Overall, the consensus is that the story is minimal and fails to captivate players.
- “The game has a short story campaign that adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “Adding a storyline that reflects real-life activities, like breeding and selling fish to upgrade tanks, would enhance player engagement.”
- “Most of the games I have played in the past were quite cartoonish in graphics, requiring players to complete tasks and quests to advance, which can feel more like a job.”
- “Doesn't have any goals or story to keep players invested for long periods of time.”
- “Add a storyline, make it realistic to what people do in real life, breed and sell fish to upgrade your tanks.”
- “Has a short story campaign.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the realistic and amusing behaviors of the fish, such as neon tetras swimming in groups while occasionally veering off, and catfish sinking or clinging to surfaces. Additionally, players find entertainment in the ability to create comically bizarre fish hybrids in the breeding lab.
- “You can also create some pretty funny abominations using the breeding lab.”
- “I find the fish movement to be pretty accurate; for example, neon tetras swim in groups but also go out of their way sometimes, which is pretty funny, and catfish mostly sink to the ground or stick to the walls.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an almost unrealistic commitment, akin to needing a second life to manage it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have reported stability issues, including glitches related to item management and freezing during simulation mode, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. There is a desire for features like an "item reset" button to address these problems.
- “Because of glitches with escaping items, I would really love an 'item reset' button.”
- “I also can't seem to play simulation mode as it freezes for me unfortunately.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, ensuring smooth performance and a seamless gaming experience.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, making for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “I appreciate how well the game has been optimized; it runs flawlessly on my system.”
- “The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, ensuring minimal lag and quick load times.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is positively highlighted, as players appreciate the cross-platform availability and the promotional advertisements that encourage them to engage with the game on different devices.