Founders' Fortune

About

Founders' Fortune is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Dionic Software and was released on December 18, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Founders' Fortune" is a village-building simulation game where you manage colonists, build structures, and ensure their survival. With customizable designs for houses and furniture, create the settlement of your dreams. Keep your villagers healthy and happy, as their emotions and relationships affect productivity. Build a thriving community and expand your village over time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 886 reviews

gameplay35 positive mentions

grinding78 negative mentions

Charming graphics and engaging gameplay that combines elements of The Sims and Rimworld.
Unique character traits and wishes add depth to the gameplay, making each colonist feel significant.
The building system allows for creative freedom, enabling players to design multi-story homes and customize their villages.

The AI can be frustratingly unresponsive, often ignoring tasks and wandering off to do unrelated activities.
The game lacks a comprehensive tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and strategies.
Pacing issues arise as the game can feel slow, with long waits for resources and research, leading to potential boredom.

gameplay
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
69%
6%
The gameplay of *Founder's Fortune* is a blend of colony management and simulation mechanics reminiscent of *The Sims*, offering a cozy yet engaging experience. While it features a variety of activities such as building, farming, and basic combat, many players feel that the mechanics lack depth and complexity, leading to a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop. Despite its charming visuals and potential for creativity, the game is seen as needing further development and polish to enhance the overall experience.
- “Raids and threats force you to consider defensive strategies, though combat itself remains one of the simpler mechanics in the game.”
- “Founder's Fortune is best described as a cross between Banished, The Sims, and RimWorld but with a much simpler and small-scale focused gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is a lot of fun, open world, survival, town building, with little gnome people who actually have wishes and needs.”
- “The gameplay, however, is bland with the maps you start on; all the other island tribes look the same with different colors and maybe a horn or two difference from other tribes.”
- “Unfortunately, this game plays more like an 'early access' than it does a 'full release.' It definitely feels like they pushed the release earlier than they should have as there is no polish, lots of bugs, mechanics that don't work properly, etc.”
- “The overall gameplay is okay, but the whole thing feels like it could be better.”
graphics
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The game's graphics feature a charming, colorful, and cartoony low-poly art style that creates a friendly and inviting atmosphere, appealing to players who enjoy bright aesthetics. While some reviews note that the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are generally considered enjoyable and well-suited for the game's lighthearted tone. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some minor criticisms regarding character customization and occasional blurriness.
- “It adopts a stylized, bright aesthetic that gives its world a friendly, approachable charm.”
- “The graphics are very beautiful if you like bright colors and 3D detailed models, a nice change from most 2D sprite graphics of most colony simulators.”
- “The cartoony graphics are sharp, easy to look at, and would translate beautifully into a Settlers of Catan-like board game version, and the music is relaxing and whimsical enough to satisfy.”
- “The aesthetic customization of the characters is almost completely absent, to the point that you can't even remove the hats.”
- “Some of the text and graphics are blurry when there's no reason for it.”
- “The graphics are meh, especially the animations.”
grinding
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and frustrating due to poor AI management and excessive micromanagement. Players often find themselves waiting for resources or struggling to keep colonists focused on essential tasks like farming, which can lead to a sense of monotony. While some appreciate the game's potential and mechanics, many feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it a challenging experience for those seeking a more streamlined gameplay.
- “There's a 4 seasons mechanic which changes which crop you can farm and no farming in winter.”
- “Basically, it has a lot of potential but the basic function of the AI makes it frustrating and tedious to check that every single villager is doing something actually helpful rather than just standing there doing nothing or relaxing when they have a full fun meter.”
- “The icing on the cake is that the micromanagement is just... tedious.”
- “I have no idea why this game has a 'very positive' rating; I only have 10 hours on this but they were the most tedious hours I think I've ever had in a game, and that's something coming from a guy that likes strategy, colony sims, and city-building games.”
story
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
81%
12%
The game's story is largely shaped by the daily lives and interactions of its characters, creating a sense of community and personal narrative for players. However, many reviewers criticize the lack of a structured storyline, repetitive quests, and frustrating gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the emergent storytelling and character personalities, others find the game lacking in depth and coherence, leading to mixed feelings about its narrative quality.
- “All of this really feels like experiencing the whole story of a community, and that makes the selling point of this game.”
- “It’s a game where the story is written through the daily routines of its characters, where triumphs and failures belong not just to the player but to the community they shape.”
- “Colonists' personalities bring some story and life to the base building mechanics.”
- “Founders' Fortune sets no tone, has no storyline, is bugged beyond belief and plays like a dragged out D&D board match.”
- “I'll never know why the devs thought it was a good idea to make you feel like herding malevolent cats while tribes and pirates spam you with basically unfulfillable quests that lead to game-ending raids.”
- “The AI needs to be tweaked; the game needs more in terms of story and building aspects.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The music in the game is generally described as pleasant and fitting, with a relaxing and whimsical quality that complements the gameplay. However, some players find it repetitive and lacking in variety, noting that it doesn't stand out significantly compared to other titles. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the atmosphere, it may not be memorable for everyone.
- “The soundtrack is cheerful and upbeat, perfectly complementing the game’s whimsical vibe.”
- “I love the music, colors, and how you can choose which job the characters have.”
- “It looks wonderful, the soundtrack is lovely and sets the relaxing mood, and there's a skill tree to unlock new techs.”
- “Cozy game, maybe worth it for some at 70%-off but generally just a downgrade from Songs of Syx and RimWorld if you are looking for simulation and gameplay depth.”
- “The music stops for too long between tracks and I hate gaming without background music.”
- “For now, they are rather repetitive, both the music and the sound effects.”
stability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
74%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting frequent freezes, visual glitches, and minor bugs that detract from the overall experience. While many acknowledge that the game is playable and enjoyable despite these issues, others feel it lacks the polish expected from a full release. Overall, it appears that while the game has made significant progress, it still requires further refinement to achieve a more stable experience.
- “I saw this as many did, years later, on 'Let's Game It Out', and as I love the colony sim genre, I gave it a shot, expecting the antics and bugs that Josh ran into; while it wasn't bug-free, I was shocked at how far and polished the developer made this title.”
- “No buggy AI and pathfinding, the building system is easy to use and you can even move buildings after you place them.”
- “It's a very nice looking game that runs great on my old dinosaur of a PC.”
- “It freezes constantly.”
- “It honestly feels like I'm playing a beta; there are weird visual glitches, missing text descriptions, and some odd grammar errors in descriptions.”
- “As an outsider, it looks like fatigue has set in for the devs because this lacks polish and is rather buggy, which is not what I'd expect from a 1.0 release.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among users. While some appreciate the potential for infinite play and the enjoyment of starting new colonies with learned experiences, others criticize the lack of significant endgame content and limited map variation, leading to diminished replay value once the gameplay mechanics are mastered.
- “This is kind of an 'infinite' game, so there is a lot of replay value in it.”
- “I am looking forward to starting my next founder colony with all the hard lessons I've learned, so it's definitely replayable as is.”
- “I chose the relaxing, more chill gameplay, while my husband went more hardcore... oh, and the replay value is priceless!”
- “Enjoyable enough, though I am not sure how much replay value it has.”
- “The game has little to no replay value even though the map is random since you play the game the same way regardless.”
- “So there is a lot left to be done there, and with basically no map variation, there really isn't much to any replayability once you figure the game out.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Founder's Fortune" is widely praised, with players enjoying the quirky antics of the characters that lead to both chuckles and facepalms. The game's blend of absurdity, such as colonists kicking trees before using tools, adds a layer of charm and hilarity, making it an engaging experience for those who appreciate a lighthearted take on colony simulation. Overall, it offers random funny moments that enhance the gameplay.
- “These characters will have you chuckling, facepalming, and occasionally yelling at your screen as they go about their daily routines.”
- “In conclusion, Founder’s Fortune is a hilarious, engaging, and charming colony simulation game.”
- “So grab your sense of humor, roll up your sleeves, and dive into the zany world of Founder’s Fortune.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the emotional depth of the game, emphasizing the importance of managing villagers' emotional needs alongside practical resources. The personal connections formed with characters lead to a heartfelt experience, where players feel genuine sadness and attachment, especially during moments of loss. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke strong emotions and create a memorable, engaging atmosphere.
- “Managing emotional wellbeing becomes just as important as managing food stores or construction materials, and this balance lends the game a personal touch that resonates long after the first few hours.”
- “For fans of relaxed but thoughtful colony-builders—especially those who enjoy games with personality and emotional depth—Founders' Fortune offers a warm, engaging, and memorable experience.”
- “Okay, this game is heart-touching and the music is beautiful. I can't wait to see more content for this game. I have 5 characters with me and I love them so much. The more you play, the more love you'll have for them. I lost one in battle, and I was kind of sad. Then sad music started playing, and I just had to restart to have him back with his little family. This game is all about friendship, sticking together, fighting, and experiencing happiness and sadness.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while many users report good performance and smooth gameplay even on older PCs, there are notable issues such as occasional pauses and a need for further optimization. The user interface and graphics are generally well-received, contributing to a positive experience despite the optimization concerns.
- “Good performance; even on my quite old PC, it runs pretty well.”
- “The UI is user-friendly, the graphics are pleasant to the eye, and my goodness, does this game run smoothly.”
- “Great game, runs smoothly.”
- “The game needs more optimizations.”
- “Up to 7 out of 11 villagers have shown solid performance.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a pleasant and inviting atmosphere, characterized by its charming low-poly art style that is colorful and cheerful. This engaging environment allows players to immerse themselves in long play sessions without feeling overwhelmed or pressured.
- “The game maintains a pleasant atmosphere, making it easy to sink into long play sessions without feeling overwhelmed or pressured.”
- “The game's low-poly art style is colorful and charming, creating a cheerful and inviting atmosphere.”