Denizen

About

Denizen is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Departure Interactive and was released on April 29, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Denizen" is a single-player Role Playing game with good graphics, focusing on life simulation and grinding elements. Players can earn a living through jobs, side hustles, and helping locals, customize their residences, and relax at various locations. The game also features a smartphone system for managing tasks, finances, and entertainment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 524 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

The game has a unique concept and offers a fun life simulation experience with various jobs and activities.
The graphics and atmospheric design are appealing, creating an immersive environment for players.
The developers are actively updating the game and responding to community feedback, showing commitment to improving the game.

The game currently lacks content, making it feel repetitive and empty after a few hours of gameplay.
There are significant technical issues, including crashes, bugs, and poor optimization that disrupt the gaming experience.
Navigation is difficult due to the absence of a minimap or GPS, leading to frustration when trying to find locations.

gameplay
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The gameplay of "Denizen" is characterized by its unique blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative elements, complemented by smooth and intuitive controls. However, players have noted that the game becomes grindy after reaching a certain financial threshold, with a lack of engaging content and repetitive tasks leading to boredom in the late game. While some mechanics, like the pizza career and driving, are appreciated, there is a strong desire for more meaningful social interactions and diverse activities to enhance the overall experience.
- “Unique concept: Denizen offers an intriguing premise, blending elements of exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative-driven gameplay.”
- “Smooth controls: The game controls are intuitive and responsive, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
- “I'm really enjoying the various gameplay mechanics for this game!”
- “There's a lot of elements in the game where it seems polished with the game mechanics, business, and work you can do to earn cash in the game, but once you get above 20k, you can't really grow your money as quickly as you could in the early game. Because of this slow growth, it makes the game extremely grindy, which is unnecessary for a game like this.”
- “The gameplay is very, very boring too.”
- “Lacking things to do after a few hours of gameplay at the moment.”
story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The game's story is praised for its originality and depth, featuring well-developed characters and intriguing plot twists that engage players. However, some users express frustration with the lack of clarity in certain missions, particularly those involving the character Austin, and note that once the main story is completed, there is limited replayability. Overall, while the narrative is compelling, the execution of some missions leaves players wanting more structure and content.
- “The game’s setting and story are refreshingly original, capturing players' curiosity from the start.”
- “Narrative depth: the story is compelling and thought-provoking, with well-developed characters and intriguing plot twists.”
- “Its unique concept, atmospheric design, and engaging story make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.”
- “I tried all the ways possible and nothing; it's a disaster. No guideline, no nothing. What's the main goal? There was no story that I know of. I should have saved my money. I hate it when this happens.”
- “Austin's mission is unfinished, despite him being the first to reach out to you as soon as the game starts.”
- “Also, some quests, such as Austin's, are unclear on where to even proceed.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the atmospheric design and smooth visuals, especially for an early access title. However, there are notable concerns regarding optimization, with some users experiencing issues at higher settings and a lack of detail in player models and towns. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent, they fall short of AAA standards and could benefit from further improvements.
- “Atmospheric design: the game's art style and sound design work together to create an immersive atmosphere.”
- “Very addictive and playable, the graphics are really good and smooth, for an early access game.”
- “Has vibes of a true life sim with great graphics and relaxing gameplay.”
- “The only thing I would like in this game is better graphics and better optimization.”
- “The towns are tiny, player models are horrible for today's graphics, and there is a general feeling of loneliness due to there not being any townspeople around to converse with.”
- “Major bug in that the graphics settings don't seem to stick.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences significant stability issues, with frequent crashes and freezes reported by users, particularly after the logo screen. While some players note that minor bugs and frame rate drops are not game-breaking, these technical glitches can severely disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game shows potential but requires urgent fixes to enhance stability, especially given its early access status.
- “Every time I try to play, the game crashes or freezes.”
- “Game won't get past the opening logo; it just freezes and crashes.”
- “It always freezes after the logo screen, and the devs don't fix it.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's soundtrack is praised for enhancing the atmosphere and complementing the beautifully crafted environments. However, players express frustration with the limited selection of radio songs, suggesting a desire for more options and easier ways to add custom music. The ability to incorporate personal videos and music into the game is highlighted as a standout feature.
- “The environments are beautifully crafted, and the soundtrack complements the mood, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The music choices actually help the atmosphere in the game.”
- “The ability to copy music/videos into the appropriate folders to play in-game on the home stereo and TV is a very awesome feature.”
- “Radio - very few songs, gets annoying after a minute, too hard to add custom music.”
- “More songs on the radio (I would even buy extra DLC to have this option).”
- “I would like it better if I knew how to watch the TV and play music on the radio.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both realistic and tedious, as accumulating wealth becomes significantly slower after reaching a certain point, making it feel excessively grindy. While some appreciate the challenge and the game's relaxing nature, others feel that the lack of convenience features contributes to a tedious experience, especially when pursuing larger financial goals. Overall, the grind can detract from the enjoyment for those seeking a more streamlined gameplay experience.
- “There's a lot of elements in the game where it seems polished with the game mechanics, business, and work you can do to earn cash in the game, but once you get above 20k, you can't really grow your money as quickly as you could in the early game. Because of this slow growth, it makes the game extremely grindy, which is unnecessary for a game like this.”
- “I was excited for this game; however, lots of convenience features are missing, which makes the game very tedious and boring to play.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
62%
25%
Overall, users express a desire for improved optimization and graphics in the game, although some report no performance issues during gameplay. The consensus suggests that while the game runs smoothly for some, there is a clear need for enhancements in optimization.
- “I had no performance issues in the game.”
- “The optimization should be re-done.”
- “The only thing I would like in this game is better graphics and better optimization.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmospheric design, characterized by its art style and sound design, creates an immersive experience that enhances the unique concept and engaging story. Additionally, the music choices contribute significantly to the overall atmosphere, making it a compelling experience for genre enthusiasts.
- “Atmospheric design: the game's art style and sound design work together to create an immersive atmosphere.”
- “Its unique concept, atmospheric design, and engaging story make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.”
- “The music choices actually help enhance the atmosphere in the game.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game offers limited replayability, as completing the main story and puzzles leaves little incentive to revisit it due to its linear narrative and absence of alternative paths or endings. While some players may enjoy the fast-paced action, the overall lack of varied experiences diminishes its replay value.
- “Limited replayability: once the main story and puzzles are completed, there is little incentive to replay the game.”
- “The linear narrative and lack of alternative paths or endings reduce the game’s replay value.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as fun and occasionally hilarious, particularly in scenarios like intentionally crashing a truck loaded with items, which adds a comedic element to the gameplay. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments that enhance their overall experience.
- “It's fun and can be hilarious at times.”
- “It is hilarious to crash your truck with a bunch of stuff in the back of the truck bed... on purpose.”
- “If a dev responds to this, humor me and don't just give me a lame 'cut and paste' response.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is overshadowed by technical issues, such as a persistent camera glitch that detracts from the overall experience. Players express frustration as these bugs disrupt immersion and emotional engagement with the game.