Chinese Parents

About

Chinese Parents is a single player survival role playing game with a comedy theme. It was developed by 墨鱼玩游戏 and was released on September 28, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Chinese Parents" is a simulation game where players manage a Chinese household and guide their child's education and upbringing. The game follows the child's growth from elementary school to college admission, with a focus on traditional Chinese parenting values and sacrifices made for academic success. Players must balance resources, make educational decisions, and maintain family relationships to ensure their child's prosperity.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,874 reviews

gameplay56 positive mentions

grinding38 negative mentions

gameplay
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet addictive loop that involves guiding a character through life stages, with a focus on stat-building and decision-making. While the generational mechanics add depth and replayability, many players find the gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly after a few generations. Overall, it offers a casual experience with a mix of humor and cultural insights, though some mechanics may feel poorly executed or confusing.
- “The gameplay is addictive, the progression is deep and engaging with countless branches and the comedic factor is on point.”
- “It's incredibly addicting and has one of the best core gameplay loops I've seen in a while.”
- “An incredibly addictive simulation game with charming characters, simple yet challenging gameplay and plenty of humor and references to go around!”
- “While it provides a deep dive into the pressures and expectations of growing up in a Chinese family, the gameplay can become quite monotonous.”
- “The gameplay is very simple, so don't expect any challenging puzzles if that's what you want.”
- “The gameplay is poor; the game is a simple grind similar to bad mobile games.”
humor
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its relatability and charm, particularly among players with a Chinese background, as it cleverly captures the nuances of growing up with Chinese parental expectations. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend funny moments with deeper cultural insights, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. While some players note occasional confusion in gameplay and minor technical issues, the overall comedic experience is deemed engaging and addictive, often leading to laughter and nostalgia.
- “On-point, true to growing up with Chinese parents, very cathartic and funny.”
- “It's a fun look at being raised the Chinese way (as well as being an implicit hilarious criticism of some of the more over-the-top issues that come up).”
- “I will give the developers/writers many kudos for great dialogue from the parents and from other characters in the game - super funny, and exactly what I would expect from overachieving parents.”
replayability
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings, generational mechanics, and a variety of unlockable traits and minigames. Players appreciate the fresh experiences each playthrough offers, although some note that it can become repetitive after several generations. Overall, if players enjoy the game, they find the replay value to be substantial, with many routes and options to explore.
- “With so many endings to collect, this game has a very high replay value.”
- “The gameplay also by its nature provides itself a high degree of replayability, even offering the player the option to go on to the next generation as a member of that family, affecting outcomes based on your last game and what your previous character was good at.”
- “I sincerely and highly recommend it, the replay value is nuts.”
- “My biggest issue with the game is that while it is replayable, it is also far too redundant.”
- “Would like to see a lot more diversity/modding to increase replayability.”
- “One playthrough takes about 2 hours more or less; some of the stats will be inherited to your next generation, so the replayability is there for you to try out different aspects of life for your kid.”
story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
79%
4%
The game's story is a blend of relatable themes, particularly for players from academically focused backgrounds, and features unique storylines for various characters and occupations. However, many players feel that the narrative lacks depth and becomes repetitive over multiple playthroughs, with gameplay often overshadowing the story elements. While some appreciate the cultural insights and humor, others desire more substantial side stories and character development to enhance their engagement.
- “Very enjoyable and will entertain you for hours on end if you find the story relatable and enjoy simulation and visual novel type games.”
- “Each job/occupation has its own unique storyline and each spouse you can take on has their own unique story line.”
- “I really like the story-rich part of the game, it really makes me remember my time growing up, definitely recommended.”
- “Much more gameplay rather than story focused.”
- “The story is okay the first playthrough, but is simply the same over and over again, and you are forced to do multiple playthroughs if you want to have a successful character.”
- “Building relationships isn’t presented in a narrative storyline fashion; rather, it is actions like everything else, and without the story breaks from the gameplay, I fail to stay invested to the same extent.”
graphics
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
52%
6%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming and simple 2D art style that many players find appealing, though some note inconsistencies and a lack of polish. While the visuals are often described as quirky and fun, there are criticisms regarding the execution and translation quality. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable despite some areas needing improvement.
- “The game uses simple 2D graphics that are charming and easy on the eyes.”
- “The soundtrack, the colors, and the art style is a spectacular mix and fits really well together, making a well-rounded game that you can and want to play for up to 50 generations!”
- “After spending 20 hours and 11 generations, overall fun game, the graphics are cute, and the UI is clean and easy to understand.”
- “A half-decent English translation, confused art styles, and a lack of guidance/explanation for mechanics outside the gem fragment mini-game make for a poor showing.”
- “However, the graphics are obviously drawn but the creators, who, how can I put this mildly, are not very good at drawing.”
- “The graphics involve a lot of memes and weirdness that repeats itself, so expect yourself to do a lot of text-skipping, especially from the 4th or 5th generation since the main plot doesn't change no matter the choices.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its cute and relaxing qualities that enhance the emotional depth of the experience, while others find it repetitive and not particularly strong, leading them to mute it during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a pleasant complement to the game's visuals and themes, though it may not be memorable for all players.
- “The soundtrack complements the overall feel of the game, adding depth to the emotional moments.”
- “The sound design is an absolute gem, featuring a music score loaded with character and personality, and tactile UI interaction sounds that make the game pleasing to interact with on an essential level.”
- “I loved the music, overall attitude, and art.”
- “Also, the music made me tired.”
- “Music: 5/10 (not its strong point and I muted it on my 4th or 5th playthrough)”
- “So I have 46 hours in this insane fun little game... I have to say I thought I would play it a few hours... get bored and well for the price nothing lost... I was so wrong... this game sucks you in... you click away and the next thing you know hours have rolled past... there are things in it that make me crazy... I hate the music.”
grinding
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and unbalanced, particularly for players aiming for full completion. While casual players may find it manageable, those seeking to unlock everything will likely experience significant repetition and frustration, especially after the initial learning curve. Overall, the game is recommended primarily for those who enjoy grinding mechanics, as it can become excessively grindy and monotonous over time.
- “For a casual player, it's not an issue, but when you're trying to dive deep and unlock everything you can, it becomes more than a bit tedious.”
- “It was fun at first, but after you get the hang of it, which probably takes about 2-3 playthroughs, approximately 5-6 hours, the game becomes extremely grindy and repetitive.”
- “Seriously, if you don't have the mindset to struggle through this kind of grinding, just stay away from this game, because it gets really repetitive really fast and you're constantly struggling to get your stats up to the point where you'll get a good ending.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Chinese Parents" resonates deeply with players, often evoking tears and reflections on personal experiences related to parental expectations and cultural upbringing. The game balances humor with poignant moments, creating a heartfelt narrative that many find both enlightening and impactful, while the soundtrack enhances these emotional experiences. However, some players also express discomfort with certain harsh themes, leading to mixed feelings about their engagement with the game.
- “The soundtrack complements the overall feel of the game, adding depth to the emotional moments.”
- “"Chinese Parents" is an engaging, enlightening, and sometimes emotionally intense simulation game.”
- “Charming, funny, and heartbreaking real look at parental expectations.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences notable stability issues, including random freezes and visual glitches, particularly during the first writing exam. While players can force quit without losing progress, the lack of autosave can lead to significant setbacks if the game crashes. Overall, the game feels buggy and could benefit from additional polish and quality of life improvements.
- “After around 20 minutes of playing, the game seemingly freezes during the first writing exam.”
- “Game doesn't autosave; if your game freezes, your whole progress is down the drain.”
- “A bit buggy, lacking some quality of life elements and polish.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
60%
30%
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with players noting that every action can be strategically planned for maximum efficiency, especially over multiple generations. However, some users have pointed out existing English translation errors and certain unoptimized elements that detract from the overall experience, though the game remains solid and playable.
- “5 generations later, the power gaming is real and every move is optimized with no motion wasted.”
- “In its current state, it has some English translation errors and a few unoptimized parts, but otherwise solid and playable.”
- “5 generations later, the powergaming is real and every move is optimized with no motion wasted.”
- “You have to balance your studies with leisure activities to make sure your parents are pleased with your performance, while not getting too stressed.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised as its standout feature, with reviewers highlighting a smooth gameplay experience that complements a solid and immersive tone.
- “The best part of this game is the atmosphere.”
- “Gameplay moves smoothly, atmosphere and tone are solid.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized, with users likening it to low-quality advertisements found on dubious websites, suggesting a lack of genuine game design and integrity. Overall, the approach is viewed as exploitative and detrimental to the gaming experience.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players are highly impressed with the character development in the game, describing it as outstanding and engaging, making it a must-buy for fans of this aspect.
- “Wow, outstanding! I've never gotten hooked on a game like this before. This is a must-buy if you appreciate character development.”