Donut County
- December 17, 2018
- Ben Esposito
- 2h median play time
Donut County is a short, entertaining tale of a trash panda who just wants a sweet quadcopter.
In Donut County, players control a hole in the ground, swallowing up objects and growing in size. The goal is to consume everything on each level, including people and animals, to progress to the next stage. The game features a quirky and humorous narrative told by the inhabitants of the county who have been swallowed up.
Reviews
- story1,317 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Donut County" is characterized as short, quirky, and humorous, often described as lighthearted and filled with absurdity. While some players appreciate the charming characters and comedic dialogue, others find the narrative simplistic and lacking depth, with many noting that the gameplay often overshadows the story. Overall, it offers a fun, casual experience that can be completed in about two hours, making it suitable for those looking for a light, entertaining game rather than a deep narrative.
“The story is amazing, and really throws in all elements of fun!”
“The story is cute and made me laugh multiple times.”
“The story is surprisingly in-depth for a game in which you play as a hole that eats things and gets larger, and it integrates extremely well into the gameplay!”
“The story is somewhat simple and dumb, but the characters are meant to be funny and are never really serious; which drives you away from focusing on the story.”
“The story was somehow boring and weird at the same time.”
“The story is cute, but this game desperately needs a puzzle mode and a sandbox for builders for players to make and share their own levels with the content.”
- gameplay1,202 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Donut County" is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, where players control a hole that swallows objects to grow larger, reminiscent of the "Katamari Damacy" style. While the game introduces new mechanics and light puzzles throughout its roughly 2-hour playtime, many players find the overall experience to be repetitive and lacking in depth, with some wishing for more complex challenges and longer gameplay. Despite its charm and humor, the short duration and simplistic gameplay have led to mixed feelings about its value, particularly at full price.
“Gameplay is very creative and fun to play.”
“The gameplay is fun, the dialogue is funny, and the music is nice.”
“The gameplay is simple but just engaging and interesting enough to keep you entertained for the duration of the game, the story is silly and lighthearted, and the setting was particularly fun for a resident of LA County.”
“The humour was honestly better than the gameplay as there's very little variety in the levels, and original mechanics like the catapult felt limited in use.”
“Gameplay is very simplistic, you just move the analog stick around to suck things up and use a to catapult things (once the ability is unlocked).”
“The gameplay is incredibly simple, but somewhat satisfying.”
- humor904 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Donut County" is widely praised for its quirky, charming, and often absurd nature, with many players finding the dialogue and character interactions genuinely funny. The game features a unique "trashopedia" that adds to the comedic experience with humorous item descriptions, while the light-hearted storyline and playful mechanics contribute to an overall enjoyable atmosphere. However, some reviewers noted that the humor may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who prefer more traditional or sophisticated comedic styles.
“A short but absolutely charming game with cute, likable characters and plenty of humor.”
“The humor is spot on.”
“The writing is funny and the visuals and art style are very cute!”
“The Katamari games were amazing in their sheer absurdity, and while this tries to be 'absurd' and 'random', this kind of 'lol random banana xd' humor is not funny.”
“It's just another black hole thing clone, with some unfunny dialogue that tries its hardest to be quirky and relatable.”
- music611 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in "Donut County" has received widespread acclaim for its charm and ability to enhance the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as relaxing, catchy, and well-produced, often highlighting its ability to complement the game's quirky visuals and humorous narrative. Many players have expressed a desire to listen to the soundtrack outside of the game, indicating its lasting appeal and quality.
“The soundtrack is amazing and I've already added the album to my library.”
“Very chill and relaxing, the art style is amazing and all of that is boosted by a really great OST (that also just so happened to introduce me to an outstanding musician).”
“The music is fantastic and it fits the game so well; it just adds this relaxing kickback feel to it.”
“The music was serviceable, but I'm not remembering much about it two days after playing.”
“However, apart from maybe three tracks, I found the other tracks range from mediocre to horrible, especially the level complete music which was downright horrible.”
“The music volume is either too loud or too quiet; some songs are 4x louder than others, and there are events in the game where loud droning sounds overpower the other sounds.”
- graphics567 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, colorful, and simplistic low-poly art style, which enhances the overall relaxing and quirky atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the delightful character designs and vibrant visuals that contribute to the game's appeal, often drawing comparisons to titles like *Katamari Damacy*. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players note that the gameplay can feel shallow and repetitive, despite the aesthetic charm.
“The art style is charming and there were quite a few laugh-out-loud moments at how ridiculous things were, which does not happen with me often.”
“Donut County has an amazing art style, and a great soundtrack.”
“Each level is crafted beautifully with the game's overall art style; the minimalistic style washed with easy pastel colors paints Donut County's scenery a lovely picture.”
“The graphics aren't great, neither is the gameplay.”
“The graphics are not great, the story is meh and short, and this didn't really have anything for me to tell people to play.”
“Gameplay is surface level and never goes deeper than its visuals.”
- replayability172 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits low replayability, with most players completing it in about 2-3 hours and expressing disappointment over the lack of additional modes or challenges. While some mention minor replay value through achievement hunting or the enjoyment of revisiting levels, the consensus is that the linear gameplay and short duration do not justify the price, making it more of a one-time experience. Many reviewers recommend waiting for a sale due to its brevity and limited replay options.
“Quirky and fun, short but replayable.”
“Great replayability, fun characters, charming art, and great music.”
“Relaxing, funny, and while the plot doesn't really leave room for a lot of replay value, it feels like the kind of game I'm going to go back to now and again just because it's chill and delightful.”
“Only caveat is that $13 is a little steep for a game that takes ~3 hours to 100% with little replay value.”
“However, there's almost no replayability so once you're done (which will take 2 to 3 hours), that's pretty much it.”
“The entire thing is also at most 2 hours long and has no replay value at all; and the only saving grace of this game is that the story is pretty cute, but not cute enough to justify the price tag.”
- emotional56 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, featuring charming characters and humorous dialogue that evoke feelings of joy and attachment. While some players note a lack of depth in the story, many appreciate the lighthearted themes of kindness versus greed, and the overall cute and fun atmosphere. The game is praised for its ability to deliver a satisfying emotional experience in a short playtime, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience.
“It gives the player a sense of progression and even emotional attachment to the characters, locales, and events that happen throughout the game.”
“The characters in the game were fun and unique, like the interactions/dialogue; I especially liked the interactions/dialogue between BK and Mira—they were funny but also very sweet and touching.”
“You really see how much care and effort has been put into this game; it's beautiful as well as incredibly heartwarming.”
- atmosphere40 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxing and cozy qualities, enhanced by charming art styles, excellent soundtracks, and humorous writing. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a warm, inviting environment that encourages exploration and enjoyment without the pressure of intense gameplay. Overall, the combination of visual aesthetics, music, and lighthearted themes contributes to a uniquely engaging and atmospheric experience.
“The art and sound design in combination with the surreal atmosphere and fittingly wacky writing hits the perfect balance.”
“I love this game so much... it's not very long but it has such a wonderful atmosphere and design that I've played it twice and am about to play it a third time.”
“The game has a beautiful soundtrack that perfectly fits the game’s atmosphere and it never falls out of the game’s overall vibe.”
“But my issue is that Gnog simply had a weird atmosphere, and World of Goo is weird but still has a structured plot.”
“Donut County is weirdly in the middle, where the plot makes no sense, but the atmosphere isn't quite wacky and random enough for me to look past it.”
“In the end, despite that existing, I can still recommend Donut County on the PC, but it's a very niche game that focused on a relaxing atmosphere and its charm to carry it.”
- grinding27 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the reviews indicate that the game lacks significant grinding, with many players appreciating its brevity and straightforward gameplay. However, some found the dialogue tedious and expressed a desire for options to skip cutscenes, especially when replaying levels. While the game is enjoyable for casual play, it may not satisfy those looking for extensive content or achievement grinding.
“On top of it being easy to 100%, I would add it's not tedious or too annoying either.”
“No pressure, no levels, no grinding, no stress.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Painfully shallow, no way to skip cutscenes, and tedious by the end.”
“The gameplay is probably what pulls in a lot of people, but I found it tedious after the 3rd or 4th level (it has roughly 15, depending on how you count them).”
- character development21 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally perceived as basic and one-dimensional, with many reviewers noting that the lighthearted and humorous tone limits deeper exploration of characters. While the character designs are widely praised for their charm and creativity, the overarching plot does not delve deeply into character arcs, resulting in a simplistic narrative experience. Overall, the focus on quirky humor and appealing visuals takes precedence over substantial character growth.
“Hilarious writing, wonderful character design, beautiful music, goofy and satisfying puzzles, and a heartwarming story.”
“The trashopedia descriptions are funny and the character design is lovely.”
“Everyone is pretty one-dimensional and the short length and large number of characters basically precludes any serious character development.”
“The story was a tad wavy, and character development was basic.”
“While the game has an overarching plot with character development, it stays light and silly and isn't overloaded with dialogue or cutscenes.”
- stability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed; while many players report a flawless experience with no crashes or significant bugs, others have encountered glitches that hinder gameplay, such as loading issues and level restarts. The game's performance seems to vary depending on individual setups, with some users experiencing clunky controls and graphical problems.
“Flawless controls, no glitches.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I haven't experienced any lag or instability during gameplay.”
“Ok guys, so take this review with a grain of salt (or a whole bucket of it)... I experienced a lot of glitches with the game - it wouldn't load end of chapter scenes, so I had to redo multiple levels in order to progress even though I had already finished them.”
“Some glitches forced restarts of a level when I had other people play.”
“This game looks super cute, but it's repetitive and buggy.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is highly praised, as it features no microtransactions, providing a polished and enjoyable experience without the interruption of mobile game ads. Players appreciate that it captures the fun of popular mobile game concepts while avoiding the typical monetization pitfalls associated with them.
“The game has no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
“I appreciate that there are no pay-to-win mechanics; everything can be earned through gameplay.”
“The absence of monetization pressure allows for a more enjoyable and immersive experience.”
“Cute, amazing game that has the vibe of a western Katamari Damacy and the gameplay of one of those Voodoo ads you see in between YouTube videos.”
“Well... you get a game that looks eerily similar to those Android game ads you see on YouTube.”
“Remember those Android ads for games where you play as a hole that engulfs things to become a bigger hole?”
- optimization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, with no significant performance issues or bugs reported during gameplay. Players enjoyed the experience, noting that while the scoring system felt disconnected from actual performance, the game remained engaging and well-paced.
“I didn't encounter any serious bugs or performance issues, which is impressive, considering how difficult it is to do a hole like this in a physics simulation.”
“It's fun, the plot is silly, and it feels like exactly the right length, ending before the mechanic would become tiresome.”
“Even without more achievements or high scores to unlock, I found myself going back to some of the levels just for fun.”
“However, it felt a bit silly to have the points rack up when they had no relation to your performance in the game.”
Critic Reviews
Donut County Review
Donut County is a fun, simple game where you control a hole in the ground. Yet the characters and story really make it memorable.
70%Donut County Review
Donut County's initial ideas are fun, and the game is quite hilarious. I just wish it did more with its concepts.
75%Donut County Review
Donut County's zen gameplay is backed by a charming world and quirky characters.
78%