Biotope
- July 23, 2019
- MBL Development
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamBiotope - Aquarium Simulator is a realistic game that allows players to create and manage their own aquariums, including fish and plant populations, equipment, and ecosystems. With a budget and three starter kits to choose from, players can build, breed, and trade to create unique and thriving biotopes. The quality and performance of chosen components will affect the durability and health of the aquarium's ecosystem.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a realistic aquarium simulation experience with detailed water parameters and a calming atmosphere.
- Graphics are decent, and the ability to manage fish and plant stress levels adds depth to the gameplay.
- There is potential for growth and improvement, with some players expressing hope for future updates and additional content.
- The game is plagued by bugs and stability issues, making it nearly unplayable for many users.
- Water chemistry mechanics, particularly pH fluctuations, are unrealistic and frustrating, leading to frequent fish deaths.
- The developers appear to have abandoned the project, with little to no communication or updates since early access.
- graphics17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning visuals and smooth performance, while others criticize them for being buggy, low-resolution, or lacking detail. Many users express a desire for improvements in graphical fidelity and model complexity, particularly for fish and environmental elements. Overall, while some find the graphics acceptable or even impressive, significant issues detract from the experience for others.
“The promise of ultra realistic graphics and lifelike simulations pulled me in.”
“Biotope is a very realistic aquarium simulator that has stunning graphics that are pretty astounding.”
“The graphics are great, the music is relaxing, and the game isn't heavy at all on your computer; I played this game on a Dell Inspiron laptop and it ran great.”
“First up, this game is not fun, I have refunded it and it just didn't feel good at all. The graphics were terrible, and there was next to no content provided.”
“Full of bugs, bad graphics, pretty much nothing to do.”
“Unplayable due to graphics bugs that render every tank in your save file black.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is straightforward with a brief tutorial and no confusing mechanics, allowing players to start with four aquarium kits. While it primarily focuses on managing water chemistry and completing in-game quests, it involves a significant amount of grinding, which may deter some players. Overall, it offers a fun experience once players acclimate to the mechanics, though some feel it could benefit from more diverse gameplay elements.
“The tutorial is pretty short and straightforward; there really aren't any confusing mechanics, and you have 4 starter aquarium kits to choose from.”
“After 4 hours of gameplay, you will get the hang of the game, and it is pretty fun to unlock items and complete quests.”
“The gameplay does have an element of fun to it as you try to figure out how everything works.”
“In terms of gameplay, I must remind you that it is a simulator, so if you're expecting more from it, please keep your expectations to a minimum.”
“Biotope offers in-game quests as well to keep your tank life busy, but all in all, that's pretty much it for the gameplay.”
“Lots of grinding and understanding the gameplay at first, even with the tutorial.”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story in the game is criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with missions that require excessive back-and-forth management of tank conditions and a lack of meaningful progression due to technical glitches and the absence of an auto-save feature. Players find the gameplay repetitive, primarily revolving around maintaining water quality and completing basic quests, which detracts from the overall experience.
“I expect quests or puzzles to try to save a certain number of fish before a particular time period, by controlling the complex tank environment.”
“I spent 2.5 hours finishing a mission requiring 60 days of tedious back and forth keeping 3 tanks healthy and happy, for the game to crash when I bought a Roman vase for the new mission I was given. There's no auto-save feature.”
“I am not going to spend my time doing that tedious mission again to progress.”
“Biotope offers in-game quests as well to keep your tank life busy, but all in all, that's pretty much it for the gameplay.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game initially enjoyable for a short period, but it quickly becomes tedious and frustrating, especially when faced with lengthy missions and a lack of auto-save features. Many express dissatisfaction with the repetitive tasks required to progress, leading to a negative overall experience.
“Fun for 1-2 hours, then it gets annoying and grindy.”
“I spent 2.5 hours finishing a mission requiring 60 days of tedious back and forth keeping 3 tanks healthy and happy, only for the game to crash when I bought a Roman vase for the new mission I was given. There's no auto-save feature.”
“I am not going to spend my time doing that tedious mission again to progress.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and enjoyable, though some users find it to be somewhat understated or not prominent enough. Overall, while opinions vary, it contributes positively to the gaming experience without being a standout feature.
“The graphics are great, the music is relaxing, and the game isn't heavy at all on your computer. I played this game on a Dell Inspiron laptop and it ran great.”
“The background music is barely noticeable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it easy to tune out.”
“The music doesn't fit the game's atmosphere, leaving it feeling disjointed.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent glitches, malfunctioning missions, and limited functionality in hardscape placement, leading users to advise against purchasing it due to its buggy and seemingly abandoned state.
“Don't buy a buggy and abandoned game.”
“The game constantly glitches, missions don't function properly, and the placement of hardscape is very limited and difficult to use.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express hope for improved performance as the game is still in early access, indicating that optimization is currently a concern but may be addressed in future updates.
“The optimization has come a long way since the initial release, making the gameplay much smoother.”
“I appreciate the developers' commitment to optimizing the game, as it runs significantly better after the latest updates.”
“As it's still in early access, I hope the game improves in performance in the future.”
“The optimization is lacking, causing frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I find the game runs poorly on my system, even with the settings adjusted to low.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the current graphics and atmosphere of the game but express a desire for improvements, particularly in enhancing visual diversity and expanding the variety of fish and environmental materials.
“The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its beautifully crafted world.”
“I love how the ambient sounds and visuals create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps me engaged.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and varied, making each location feel unique and alive.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
“While the graphics are decent, the overall atmosphere fails to engage me; it feels lifeless and repetitive.”
“I expected a rich and vibrant world, but the atmosphere is dull and doesn't draw me in at all.”
