Diorama Builder
- November 20, 2020
- Virtual Arts Studio
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Diorama Builder" is a game that lets you construct and display dioramas in a LEGO-style voxel format. You can choose from various scenes and interact with them once built. The game features special music for each diorama, providing an immersive experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a relaxing and satisfying diorama building experience, perfect for unwinding after a long day.
- The voxel art style and interactive elements of the completed dioramas add charm and enjoyment to the gameplay.
- Players appreciate the game's low price and express eagerness for more content and dioramas in the future.
- The game currently has a limited number of dioramas, leading to a short overall playtime and a desire for more content.
- Some players find the controls and mechanics a bit clunky, which can detract from the overall experience.
- There are concerns about the game's lack of updates and potential abandonment, as it has been in early access for an extended period without new content.
- music19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and thematic qualities, enhancing the relaxing experience of completing diorama puzzles. Each level features a unique soundtrack that complements the scene, making it enjoyable to play while listening to the music. However, some users noted that the music can become repetitive after extended play.
“Each level feels unique and also has a unique and fun song to go with it.”
“The music is very soothing and I especially love how after you have completed each puzzle that you can interact with it for even more effects!”
“The soundtrack matches the theme of each scene, a nice touch.”
“The music becomes annoying after 5 minutes; something chill like the Dorfromantik theme would have fit better.”
“The soundtrack for each diorama is different (and themed towards the scene in question), but it can feel repetitive over time.”
“While the music is soothing, it lacks variety and can become tiresome during extended play sessions.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a satisfying blend of seek-and-find mechanics and 3D model construction, providing a relaxing and immersive experience. While some players find the click-and-drag mechanics and limited model variety frustrating, many appreciate the calming background music and addictive nature of the gameplay. Overall, it is well-received for its simplicity and beautiful design, with hopes for future content expansions.
“This game provides inspiration -- by making it fun (and part of the game mechanic) to construct 3D models from various parts.”
“With calm background music and somewhat addictive gameplay, you definitely lose your sense of time passing until you complete your diorama.”
“Really loved all about this game, everything is just so beautiful and well designed, from the easy and fluid mechanics to the gorgeous scenarios.”
“Very far from being interesting, with annoying gameplay mechanics and lousy camera view control.”
“On the negative side, I dislike the 'click-and-drag' mechanic (there are probably around 2,000 pieces all told doing some very rough maths) and at times it was very difficult to find which piece was missing from the actual level to be able to move on to the next.”
“Some might find the gameplay loop tedious, but you get what you pay for and more.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics feature charming voxel art that enhances the overall experience without overwhelming players with flashy effects. While some may find the graphics a bit clunky, they are generally well-received for their detail and aesthetic appeal, particularly for fans of miniature assembly. Overall, the graphics are considered a positive aspect of the game, contributing to its unique charm.
“Sometimes I feel that voxels are a detriment to aesthetic, but this game uses them in a really nice way that genuinely complements what you are building.”
“Nothing fancy as far as graphic tricks go to try and confuse gamers with flashy graphics instead of actual quality, just subtle touches that improve the overall experience.”
“Amazing game to those who love assembling miniatures; the sets here are very detailed in beautiful voxel graphics.”
“The graphics are a little clunky, but I think overall it's charming and takes up a lot less space than actual dioramas - worth it and would recommend.”
“Nothing fancy as far as graphic tricks or the like go to try and confuse gamers with fancy graphics instead of actual quality, just subtle touches that improve the overall experience.”
“Sometimes I feel that voxels are a detriment to aesthetic, but this game uses them in a really nice way that genuinely compliments what you are building.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding, with some finding it tedious and repetitive, while others appreciate the depth it adds to the gameplay. There is a desire for a more segmented approach to larger tasks, suggesting that breaking them down could enhance the experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant commitment that may not appeal to everyone.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Some might find the gameplay loop tedious, but you get what you pay for and more.”
“I would actually like if some of the bigger pieces were divided into smaller parts— as tedious and repetitive as that sounds, I'm here for the minutiae of the process.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features no overarching narrative, but each of the four dioramas presents its own unique story, with particular praise for the crime scene set, which engages players in unraveling a mystery. The attention to detail in the designs enhances the storytelling experience.
“Right now there are 4 dioramas to complete, and you can tell that a lot of care went into the designs. My favorite is the crime scene set because I enjoyed trying to work out the mystery of what had happened. That said, each set does tell its own story.”
“There is no story.”
“While there are four dioramas to complete, and a lot of care went into the designs, the overall narrative feels lacking.”
“Each diorama tells its own story, but the overall experience lacks a cohesive narrative.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game has significant replay value, with hopes for future updates or expansions that could enhance this aspect even further.
“This game has incredible replay value.”
“Fingers crossed this becomes a thing, as it will add massive replayability.”
“Fingers crossed this does become a thing as it will add massive replayability.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report excellent stability, noting no crashes, glitches, or issues with getting stuck or losing items, indicating a smooth and reliable gaming experience.
“No crashes, no glitches, no random instances of being stuck or items disappearing—nothing.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced multiple glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users express frustration with the game's optimization, noting that it runs poorly even on systems that exceed the recommended specifications. This has led to a sluggish performance that detracts from the overall experience.
“I would really like it more if it was better optimized. It runs like a slug on my PC, and I have more than what it says it needs, so I don't know.”
