e-River Cabin Journal
- July 15, 2016
- Wilderness Journal Games
- 100h median play time
Get on Steam"e-River Cabin Journal" is a survival strategy game set in the Alaskan Wilderness, where players must fight to carve out a new life over the course of changing seasons. The game offers a unique 'diary driven' experience, with daily struggles against starvation, animal attacks, and injuries. With an extensive trading card system, players can collect cards that reflect the passing seasons of the e-River park, creating a truly immersive and long-term gameplay experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers an amazing depth of gameplay with a variety of tasks such as fishing, hunting, and crafting, making it engaging for players who enjoy survival mechanics.
- The real-time aspect of the game adds a unique challenge, requiring players to plan their actions carefully and manage their time effectively.
- The developers are actively involved in the community, responding to feedback and continuously working on updates and improvements.
- The game suffers from severe balance issues, with frequent and unrealistic animal attacks that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The user interface is poorly designed, making it difficult to navigate and understand the game mechanics, which can deter new players.
- The real-time task completion can feel tedious and unengaging, as players may find themselves waiting long periods for actions to finish without meaningful interaction.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for its poor mechanics, including an ineffective energy/starvation system and imbalanced controls that hinder the overall experience. Many players find the gameplay repetitive and frustrating, with issues like a problematic interface and frequent crashes detracting from enjoyment. Despite some moments of fun, the overwhelming consensus is that significant improvements are needed for a more engaging and playable experience.
“I have clocked over 100 hours of gameplay, and although there have been times where this game has been enjoyable, it does just seem like there are too many things that prevent any actual gameplay.”
“Overall, the energy/starvation mechanic is very poor.”
“Sloppy game, poor interface, poor mechanics, horrible playability, and terrible game experience that easily sums up this 4-day experience in one sentence: this was a total waste of my time.”
“Sadly, it's awful gameplay; it crashes all the time and doesn't save properly.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that while the game has some rough and buggy elements, stability is improving over time. However, certain features, like the fast forward option, can lead to increased instability after repeated use. Despite these issues, players are optimistic about the game's potential for replayability once fully polished.
“There is a lot to learn, and there are a few rough and buggy bits... but it's getting better, and will have a huge replayability factor once it's completed.”
“So then I restarted the game and used fast forward, which only gives you 12 uses. For the next hour, I used it, and then it got very, very buggy.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game currently has some rough edges and bugs, its potential for replayability is significant due to the depth of content and learning opportunities it offers. Many believe that as the game continues to improve, its replay value will increase substantially.
“There is a lot to learn, and there are a few rough and buggy bits, but it's getting better and will have a huge replayability factor once it's completed.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story emphasizes survival and self-reliance, placing players in a solitary environment where they must navigate challenges independently. While the concept of documenting one's journey in a diary adds a personal touch, the narrative execution is described as somewhat unclear and disorganized, suggesting room for improvement. Overall, the minimalistic approach aligns with the indie team's style but may leave players wanting a more cohesive experience.
“From now on, you are completely on your own... no handholding. You have to try to survive alone and make your own experience. Luckily, your cabin is filled with books and magazines about how to survive. I also like the idea of 'writing your story' in your diary. The graphics are minimal and essential, as I could expect from an indie team of two people on their first attempt. That said, it does its job well enough for me, but it really needs improvement, as it appears somewhat unclear and a bit messy.”
“From now on you are completely on your own... no handholding, you have to try to survive alone and make your own experience. Luckily, your cabin is full of books and magazines about how to survive. I also like the idea of 'write your story' in your diary, but the graphics are obviously minimal and essential, as I could expect from an indie team of two people at their first attempt. That said, it does its job well enough for me, but it really needs to be improved, as it appears not totally clear and a bit messy.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy is perceived positively, with users noting that it is not a cash grab, as confirmed by direct communication with the creator.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the competition.”
“The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it feels like the developers are more interested in profits than player experience.”
