Blockland
- December 16, 2013
- Eric Hartman
- 54h median play time
Blockland is a open-world, non-linear sandbox game featuring single-player and multiplayer modes, where players can build and create structures using toy-block-style bricks, with plenty of humor but also known for its bugs. Players control a tiny minifigure and have the freedom to design and construct without set goals, either online or through a local area network. The game encourages creativity and exploration in a virtual world.
Reviews
- gameplay135 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Blockland is characterized by its sandbox building mechanics, allowing players to create and customize using a Lego-like system. While many appreciate the fun and modular building experience, others criticize the clunky controls and outdated mechanics, leading to a mixed reception. The game thrives on community-driven content and custom servers, but some players find the overall experience repetitive and lacking in updates, making it less appealing compared to newer titles like Minecraft and Roblox.
“Fun building mechanics, easy to host public servers, incredibly modular, and evokes the feelings of classic Lego building.”
“The gameplay is really good; you can make a server with or without a password. If you want to play with your friends only, I would recommend using a password, but if you want to make a public server, then I wouldn't use a password.”
“You can pretty much do anything you want in this Lego building environment, and in terms of its building mechanics, you will find none better than Blockland.”
“The overall gameplay has remained the same for eight years, and has grown stale.”
“Building mechanics in this game are mediocre at best and you'd have to download a ton of add-ons to make building things work.”
“The controls and gameplay are awful.”
- graphics109 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are outdated and blocky, reminiscent of early 2000s titles. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and the potential for enhancement through shaders and community add-ons, others criticize the lack of optimization and the removal of traditional maps in favor of improved visuals. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant aspect of the game, but opinions vary widely on their quality and impact on gameplay.
“The graphics are 10/10 and I have never seen anything like it.”
“The visuals look gorgeous (especially with shaders on), the physics are a treat to see, and each server level has a completely different atmosphere.”
“The graphics may not be the best, but for an old game engine it sure does impress me.”
“The graphics are disgusting, the lighting is screwy, the community is increasingly toxic, and the physics are terrible.”
“The downside is that the graphics are way out of date, and the vehicle mechanics are also pretty bad.”
“Even though the graphics are pretty outdated, the playstyle and game itself is really good.”
- humor50 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with many players finding it hilarious and entertaining, especially in the context of its community and various gamemodes. While some reviews highlight the presence of immature humor and offensive content, others celebrate the game's ability to generate laughter through its quirky mechanics and creative possibilities. Overall, the game is seen as a fun and funny experience, particularly when played with friends.
“You see, I always loved your sense of humor.”
“Even at an older age, you can have so many laughs with this game; it is just hilarious!”
“This game's highlight is the community; you choose one of the many community-made gamemodes, join a server, and you're automatically in for the most hilarious experience of your gaming life.”
“The humor in this game feels forced and falls flat, making it more cringeworthy than funny.”
“I expected some clever jokes, but instead, I got a series of bad puns that just didn't land.”
“The attempts at humor are so over-the-top that they become annoying rather than entertaining.”
- story45 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed perspective on the game's story aspect, with some players noting a complete lack of a structured narrative, while others highlight the immersive and engaging storylines found in specific community-created content. Many users appreciate the depth and emotional development in certain scenarios, contrasting with those who feel the game offers no meaningful story at all. Overall, the experience seems to vary significantly based on individual player interactions and the community's contributions.
“The plot is deep and amazing.”
“An immersive story line that keeps you coming back, a nailbiter from the beginning to the end; you won't have a dull moment.”
“I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys story-rich games, with a deep narrative and a rich backdrop that immerses you completely.”
“There is no story, but players will encounter aggressive monsters they can fight using swords and bows.”
“It provides no storylines or campaigns to play with.”
“Story: 10/10 - there is no story, but for some servers, there are sometimes quests and paths to reach some goal.”
- music30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the custom music options available through add-ons and specific servers, while others criticize the lack of in-game music and sound effects. Notably, the game's soundtrack has been praised by some as superior to that of other titles, but technical issues and a sparse audio experience detract from the overall enjoyment for many users. Overall, the community-driven music features are seen as a highlight, but the base game suffers from significant audio shortcomings.
“Weird but fun, I like racing with CTR music on.”
“This game's soundtrack composed by Jesper Klyd is much better than COD's soundtrack will ever be, hands down.”
“Music: 10/10 - in some servers there is good and awesome music.”
“Join the server, and spawn in this fog-filled canyon with no music or sound for some reason.”
“This is bad: ugly visuals, no music or ambient sound, barely any sound effects, and if there are any, they are bad. Clunky controls make it tedious.”
“Well, I always get errors when music loads; it crashes my game every time. I can't play it again. I'm sorry, try to fix it.”
- optimization22 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag, with many users reporting significant performance issues, particularly with graphics and shaders that are poorly optimized. While some players note that the game can run smoothly on lower-end systems, others express frustration over outdated engine limitations and the removal of maps in favor of unoptimized graphics. Recommendations for better hardware, such as increased RAM and a capable CPU, suggest that the game struggles to utilize available resources effectively, leading to a less enjoyable experience for many.
“I recommend more memory and a CPU with good single-thread performance (I'd say a 3.0 GHz Core 2 Duo at the minimum for a large amount of add-ons and bricks with 6 GB of RAM or more, 8 GB preferable; anything above will just be redundant or used for background tasks as the game can only utilize 4 GB. 6 GB or more will just allow the game to be mostly stutter-free) running fast dual-channel memory at 800 MT/s or more, with speed mattering more than latency.”
“It's also really optimized and could literally be played on your grandmother's computer.”
“Building is also very well optimized as you can do a number of moves with the ghost bricks to get them where you want and how you want quickly and efficiently; there exists a macro system where you can 'save' the moves you do to a block so you can replicate patterns like stairs and stuff like that without much of a hassle.”
“Outdated, poorly optimized, and a community that grows smaller every day all make it an unattractive game for the personality type that would be interested in a fun, unrestricted multiplayer sandbox.”
“I just wish they wouldn't have swapped maps for these ugly non-optimized shadows that even manage to lag an RX 580.”
“Another thing I hated is when they removed maps and replaced them with shaders that less than half the community can run because of how poorly optimized it is.”
- stability22 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, especially on Mac systems, and various glitches that can detract from the overall experience. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the charm, others express frustration over the game's unfinished feel and lack of updates. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "laggy," with stability issues that can severely impact gameplay.
“I had fun with the game, but now I can't even play it because it freezes when I start it up, then I have to restart my computer.”
“But after a lot of playing, I couldn't even play it anymore due to glitches.”
“Was good back in 2008, still just as buggy and feels unfinished and abandoned.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive investment of time to achieve meaningful progress. The controls are frequently criticized for being clunky, which adds to the frustration of grinding activities like building and leveling up. While some players find enjoyment in the variety of game modes available, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a monotonous experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Building is tedious and unfulfilling, and so far, every game mode has been boring.”
“Controls are tedious and placing simple arrangements of blocks is quite time consuming.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its wholesome simplicity and the endearing values of its community. Many reviewers recount personal experiences that evoke strong feelings, with some mentioning tears shed during gameplay due to its immersive storytelling and character development. Overall, the game resonates on a profound level, prompting reflections on relationships and personal memories.
“I shed a tear before the night's over.”
“Touching this game again is like talking to a father that randomly disowned you many years ago just to befriend him.”
“I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for an immersive storyline and emotional character development.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling misled by the advertising that does not accurately represent the gameplay experience. While a few users appreciate the value for the price, others criticize the promotional materials as deceptive and suggest that the game falls short of expectations. Overall, there is a sense of disappointment regarding the alignment between the game's marketing and its actual content.
“Initially I was a little disappointed, as I found the website to be misleading advertising for the actual experience.”
“Whatever this trailer is advertising, it sure as hell does not have it.”
“Thank you for the game, but it is not guaranteeing what it is advertising.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its unique, vibrant, and varied environments, reminiscent of LEGO worlds, which contribute to a fun and lighthearted experience. However, some players note a decline in the variety and richness of the atmosphere in recent years, particularly with a reduced player base. Overall, the visuals and physics enhance the immersive quality, making each server level feel distinct.
“Love the LEGO-like worlds and atmosphere.”
“Nothing currently comes close to this game's unique atmosphere.”
“The in-game servers and content don't have the same variety or atmosphere as they had when I first bought the game 3 or 4 years ago.”
“Surprisingly, the game's atmosphere is more calm with a reduced player base.”
“The visuals look gorgeous (especially with shaders on), the physics are a treat to see (especially if you blow up a building made up entirely of small blocks), and each server level has a completely different atmosphere.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players noting that no two sessions are alike due to a wide variety of community-driven gamemodes and creative possibilities. Despite some recent development slowdowns, the game's completeness and extensive content have led to high replay value, with many users logging hundreds of hours. Overall, it is highly regarded for its replayability, scoring around 9.5 in this aspect.
“Replayability is at its best here and it’s guaranteed that no two sessions will be the same.”
“There is a wide variety of game modes that are present within the Blockland community and it is highly replayable.”
“Replayability = 9.5 (addons can turn this game into anything)”
“The community is what you make it; development has been in a slump recently, but this game is complete and has provided a lot of replayability and room for creativity for me and a lot of the friends I made on this game.”
“Replayability = 9.5 (addons can turn this game into anything).”
“It has lots to do and replayability.”