Chillquarium

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,022 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Chillquarium Game Cover
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Chillquarium is a soothing idle game where you purchase, raise, and sell fish to earn profits. Unlock booster packs to discover rare fish, create feeding frenzies to accelerate growth, and collect unique fish with color variants. Customize your aquarium and enjoy day-night cycles as you unwind in this peaceful game.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,022 reviews
gameplay29 positive mentions
grinding69 negative mentions
  • gameplay208 mentions

    The gameplay of Chillquarium is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, primarily revolving around buying fish packs, feeding fish to accelerate their growth, and selling them for profit. While some players appreciate the relaxing, idle nature of the game, many criticize the repetitive mechanics and lack of depth, noting that it often feels more like a screensaver than an engaging game. Overall, the gameplay loop is seen as shallow, with a desire for more interactive features and meaningful progression.

    • “The gameplay loop is very satisfying - get fish, raise fish, sell fish, get fish.”
    • “I really enjoy the style and amount of fish there are; though I will admit the gameplay is a bit simple.”
    • “This game honestly has so much potential, mixing the addicting mechanics of an idle game with the peaceful, relaxing scenery of a virtual fish tank for your room.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very simple and extremely linear: buy packs of baby fish, put them in the tank, wait for them to mature, sell them to buy better packs of better baby fish.”
    • “With no other mechanics beyond buying packs and selling fish, the gameplay gets stale fast.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly figuring out how to make money efficiently with your fish, which I do enjoy, but it's not quite intricate enough to be satisfying.”
  • music175 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and soothing qualities, making it an ideal background for players looking to unwind. However, many users note that the soundtrack can be repetitive, with a desire for more variety in tracks. Overall, while the music enhances the tranquil atmosphere, some players recommend options for reducing its frequency or adding more diverse tunes.

    • “The music is wonderfully relaxing, the art style is fabulous, and the fish are well-designed.”
    • “The gentle movements of the fish along with the soothing background music set the atmosphere for concentration and relaxation.”
    • “The music is calming, changing the lighting is cool, and I like the 'chill' mode where the HUD is disabled.”
    • “The music is quite repetitive.”
    • “It's not because the music is bad or anything—quite the opposite, actually—it's because there's only a handful of short tracks in the game, and they get repetitive very quickly when they're all playing in a loop one after the other without a break.”
    • “I would love an update with more music added (it can get kind of repetitive, even on the lower play setting) but otherwise literally no notes.”
  • graphics134 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, featuring well-designed fish that balance a whimsical aesthetic with realistic traits. While some players note that the visuals may not meet high expectations for a calming aquarium game, the overall presentation is considered engaging and relaxing, making it suitable for casual play. However, there are calls for improvements in certain graphical elements and more variety in decorations to enhance the visual experience further.

    • “The graphics are nothing short of turtle-y amazing, with vibrant colors and fluid animations that make every fish and plant come to life.”
    • “From the moment you start Chillquarium, you'll be reeled in by its stunning visuals and soothing sounds.”
    • “I love the simple but cute graphics; all of the fish look exactly how I'd imagine a cutesy version of their real-life counterparts to be.”
    • “The graphics are as simple as it goes.”
    • “However, I would really like to see an improvement on the art style of the game, as all the assets look like artificially upscaled pixel art.”
    • “The fish graphics are meh, customization is minimal.”
  • grinding71 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and reliant on RNG, particularly when attempting to achieve 100% completion. Players find the early stages manageable, but the late-game grind for rare fish variants becomes monotonous and frustrating, often requiring repetitive clicking and micromanagement. While some enjoy the chill nature of the game, many recommend it only for casual play rather than for those seeking a more active or rewarding experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The 100% for this game is unquestionably and brutally grindy in a way that is entirely based on RNG, and it involves a bit more active playing too.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and unrewarding, lacking the depth and strategy that could make even the simplest idle games enjoyable.”
    • “It's so tedious going for golden or rainbow.”
  • monetization26 mentions

    The game is praised for its complete lack of microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without the pressure to spend additional money. Users appreciate the one-time payment model, which contrasts sharply with many modern games that rely on in-game purchases and ads. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as a refreshing change that enhances the game's accessibility and enjoyment.

    • “It's rare to find a game that values the player's experience over monetization, and Chillquarium accomplishes this brilliantly.”
    • “The low cost of entry and the lack of in-game purchases make it an accessible and enjoyable option for anyone looking to unwind without breaking the bank.”
    • “This game is well worth the price and there are no microtransactions.”
    • “There is so much missed opportunity in this game, it seriously feels like a cash grab.”
    • “Unlike other idle games that encourage you to get the most of something as quickly as possible (in some cases in order to convince you to engage in microtransactions), Chillquarium encourages you to build your aquarium at your own pace.”
    • “Another huge plus is the complete and utter lack of microtransactions that could have riddled this game like so many others.”
  • story19 mentions

    The game lacks a traditional story, with many users noting the absence of quests or narrative elements. Players describe the experience as more of a casual, open-ended activity without clear objectives or rewards, leading to a sense of aimlessness. Overall, the game's focus is on collecting and managing fish rather than engaging with a structured storyline.

    • “Moral of the story, you never know what life holds in store for you, and if I would have given up when all the odds were stacked against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “The getting new fish and growing your tank feels kind of secondary, like just a thing for you to do, like a never-ending side quest that only really ends when you want it to. It's one of those games where you can either experience the whole game in 1 hour or a few hundred (probably thousands if I'm being real). It's your own little fishy journey and the fish will always be there in the chillquarium, chilling.”
    • “There also seems to be some sort of quest system, but I for the life of me could not find a menu or anything telling me what my current quest even is; maybe this was a bug?”
    • “There's nothing to do, no reward for active play, no reason to keep the game open, basically no upgrades, no quests aside from the tutorial, and no story.”
    • “No story, no mechanics like buying something to help you feed the fish, no busywork side tasks like cleaning the fish tank or anything, no hunger meters for the fish to keep track of.”
    • “The getting new fish and growing your tank feels kinda secondary like just a thing for you to do like a never-ending side quest that only really ends when you want it to or I guess till you fill out the fish dex.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily derived from its whimsical and charming portrayal of fish, with players enjoying the amusing animations and quirky mechanics. Many reviews highlight the lighthearted nature of the game, describing it as a "funny fish game" that provides a relaxing and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor is characterized by its playful and cute elements, making it a delightful idle game for players.

    • “I don't know what to say other than I have become bewitched with the pretty fish bouncing around my screen and the funny numbers that go up when I clock out of my job and come home to force feed these lil suckers that make more than I'll ever dream of.”
    • “Progression is slow, but that's expected for a game where the main appeal is to sit back, relax, and feed funny fish idly.”
    • “I just love these funny little fish!”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhanced by soothing music, gentle visuals, and a serene ambiance. Players appreciate the art style and sound design, which together create a tranquil experience ideal for concentration and unwinding. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a delightful blend of peaceful elements that contribute to its charm and appeal.

    • “The gentle movements of the fish along with the soothing background music set the atmosphere for concentration and relaxation.”
    • “Overall a lovely game with a relaxed atmosphere with simple controls and rewarding gameplay.”
    • “It's not as 'addicting' and sometimes the pace is sub-optimal, but the relaxing atmosphere and pretty graphics make up for it.”
    • “The calming soundtrack, the gentle ripple of water, and the serene ambiance create an atmosphere of pure tranquility.”
    • “The game has a very non-intrusive atmosphere.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartfelt and wholesome nature, providing players with a comforting and relaxing experience. Users appreciate the charming art style and the daily engagement it encourages, highlighting the game's ability to foster a sense of community through responsive updates. Overall, the game evokes feelings of joy and satisfaction, making it a delightful escape for players of all ages.

    • “This game is so wholesome and simple, but still makes you want to log in every day to check up on your tanks and roll for more fish.”
    • “The fish are sweetly drawn, it has a wholesome and comforting feel.”
    • “I started Chillquarium on September 9th, 2023, and I got the last of the upgrades on November 14th, 2023, and I'm happy to say that this game is perfectly good and wholesome.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Players express a lack of replayability in the game, citing long wait times for fish maturation and upgrades as major drawbacks. Many feel that without additional content, such as new stages or fish, there is little incentive to return, while a few suggest potential for speedrunning as a way to engage with the game again. Overall, the current state of the game limits its replay value significantly.

    • “I'm not sure of the replay value, but I think you could try to speedrun it or something, like how fast you can get everything or how quickly you can collect all painted/gold/rainbow items.”
    • “🎮 Replayability 🎮”
    • “I also don't see any replay value; I've uninstalled it now and I don't expect to return to it unless there are more stages added, more fish, etc. There's nothing else I can do, no other way to play it.”
    • “For the other things, lowering the amount of time it takes for fish to reach maturity, as well as the time it takes for them to generate money would help to make the game more playable. In its current state, the game takes hours upon hours to 'complete', but most of this time is spent waiting for things to happen, rather than actually playing the game.”
    • “Content-wise, I think two things would really make the game go far and significantly increase the replayability.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized due to frequent freezes during transitions, such as tank transfers and list sorting, which disrupt gameplay. Users also report glitches that can lead to lost progress and clunky, buggy menus, indicating a need for improvements in overall stability.

    • “When transferring from one tank to another, or sorting a list, the game freezes in order to load in the new content. Instead of loading it in the background while you're playing, it just freezes your game every single time to do what you want it to do.”
    • “Deletes progress and glitches.”
    • “Also, the menus are surprisingly clunky and buggy for a menu-driven game.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its lightweight performance, allowing for a smooth experience despite a slow early progression. The vibrant art and engaging ambiance contribute positively to the overall enjoyment.

    • “The progression early on is fairly slow; however, the fantastic art, extremely lightweight performance, and ambiance of the many colorful fish make this an instant win.”
    • “Save all of that efficient analysis and optimization for the real world.”
    • “The game's optimization is a mess, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
    • “I expected better performance; the optimization feels rushed and incomplete.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

29hMedian play time
70hAverage play time
12-135hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

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