CorpoNation: The Sorting Process

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In "CorpoNation: The Sorting Process" (Steam ID: 215

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews

story8 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

The game features a clever and engaging dystopian narrative that critiques corporate culture and capitalism.
The sorting gameplay can be enjoyable and relaxing once players get the hang of it, with a consistent learning curve.
The art style and atmosphere are well-executed, contributing to an immersive experience.

The gameplay becomes repetitive and monotonous, leading to a lack of engagement over time.
Numerous bugs and technical issues, particularly with the Nexus device, can disrupt the gaming experience.
The story pacing is slow, and many players feel that the narrative lacks a satisfying payoff.

story
59 mentions
14 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in the game is criticized for its slow pacing, convoluted execution, and lack of player agency, leading to a sense of disengagement. While it presents a typical dystopian narrative with potential, many players found it predictable and ultimately unsatisfying, feeling that the gameplay overshadowed the storytelling. Despite some clever environmental storytelling, the overall experience is marred by bugs and repetitive mechanics, leaving players hoping for significant improvements in future updates.
- “Corponation's storytelling is done compellingly through its environment and the screens we use to interface with each other.”
- “Clever storytelling and subtle character work.”
- “A dystopian sorting game with a consistent learning curve, decent (if typical) story, and unfortunately some pretty gnarly bugs.”
- “The story had a lot of potential as well, but was such a letdown in the end.”
- “At the end of the game, I felt like nothing in the story really mattered because I had nothing to do with it.”
- “But the truth of the plot and the Ringo Corporation, which has been teased the whole game, is simply told to the player at the end of the game.”
gameplay
28 mentions
36 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive loop that can become tedious over time, with minimal changes day-to-day and a lack of engaging plot development. However, the challenge of managing increasingly complex tasks offers a satisfying experience for players who enjoy optimization and organization, making it somewhat relaxing once the mechanics are mastered. Overall, while the gameplay may not be groundbreaking, it is complemented by strong execution, visuals, and writing, making it worth the price for fans of the genre.
- “The work mechanic of the game, sorting samples, slowly gets increasingly more difficult as time goes on, but once you get the hang of it, sorting samples can actually be somewhat relaxing.”
- “The core gameplay loop introduces nuances and stacks demands quickly, creating satisfying challenges for those who love to optimise and organise.”
- “The gameplay is engaging once the first few weeks are over.”
- “Repetitive and boring gameplay with nothing much changing in between days, just doing the same thing every day with slight differences.”
- “I just found the overall gameplay loop kind of boring after a while.”
- “The idea, execution, and art are great... the gameplay is just rather repetitive - which would be alright if not for the rather dull story.”
graphics
22 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their unique art style and aesthetic, with many players appreciating the eye-catching hand-drawn visuals and lo-fi, 8-bit design that complements the dystopian theme. While the visuals are considered top-notch and enhance the overall atmosphere, some users noted that the starkness of the graphics can become tiring during extended play sessions. Overall, the combination of visuals, audio, and thematic elements creates an engaging experience that stands out in the genre.
- “I like the theming of the universe and the aesthetic of the universe they've described.”
- “An original take on the dystopian authoritarian future genre, and I really love the eye-catching hand-drawn visuals.”
- “Like Papers, Please, Corponation leans into a lo-fi, 8-bit aesthetic which, while appropriate for the theme, is stark enough that it does get tiring on the eyes after a long session.”
- “And, the low color pixel art graphics and minimalist sound suit the dystopian storyline.”
- “The atmosphere and aesthetic are the highlight of this game.”
stability
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with multiple users reporting frequent bugs and crashes, particularly related to the nexus device. Many players experienced the need to relaunch the game several times to complete sequences, indicating a frustrating and unstable gaming experience.
- “The nexus device was so buggy that I had to re-launch the game 4-5 times just to do the ending sequence.”
- “Quite buggy too unfortunately, and many of them are pretty obvious.”
- “The nexus device is also super buggy and can cause crashes.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find certain tasks, like genome sorting in the third act, tedious and unimpactful to the plot, others appreciate the grind as a fun challenge that offers opportunities for exploration. Overall, the grinding elements are intentionally designed to be tedious, allowing players the choice to engage or bypass them.
- “My main gripe is with the third act, where the genome sorting job becomes tedious and doesn't affect the plot or ending whatsoever.”
- “It's fun and tedious in the best way.”
- “Some parts of the game are tedious, and that's the point.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its top-notch mood and aesthetic that effectively reflect real-world corporate undertones. Despite some bugs that can disrupt gameplay, the immersive environment is considered a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere and aesthetic are the highlight of this game.”
- “Really enjoyed this game despite some bugs that made me have to start a day over a few times. If they can get those worked out, this would be an amazing game that I would like to replay in the future. The mood and atmosphere were top-notch, as well as the undertones of how companies really are in the real world.”
music
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, with players noting that it perfectly complements the overall experience and enhances the graphics. The soundtrack is described as enjoyable and fitting, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “Even the music just feels right for this game.”
- “Love the graphics and soundtrack.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever commentary on consumerism and capitalism, drawing comparisons to "Papers, Please." Players find the comedic elements to be consistently entertaining and engaging throughout their experience.
- “Very similar execution to 'Papers, Please', with funny commentary on consumerism and capitalism.”
- “This game is super funny so far.”
optimization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game is tied to a performance-based system where players earn rewards that are essential for managing regular expenses like food and shelter, creating a dynamic balance between earning and spending.
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to players who enjoy the sorting mechanics, despite its short completion time of around 7 hours. Overall, the value for the price is considered acceptable by users.
- “It's a short game; I completed it in 7 hours, but I don't mind that for the price. There is some replayability if you enjoy the sorting game itself.”