FROM ASHES, BLOOM

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 466 reviews
  • gameplay
  • optimization
  • graphics
FROM ASHES, BLOOM Game Cover
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Protect the oldest tree on Earth from Humanity Tear through hordes of enemies Sow trees to help you Active Tower Defense rogue-like gameplay Personalize your creature with new attacks Huge amount of upgrades Various of starting situation with unique skins A never seen before character with 10/10 procedural animation Play as an invincible mass destruction weapon

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 466 reviews
gameplay15 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • The game is free and offers a fun, simple tower defense experience with engaging mechanics.
  • The visuals and character design are charming, making it a relaxing game to play.
  • It has a good variety of gameplay modes and upgrades, providing replayability.
  • The game frequently crashes, especially in later levels with many projectiles on screen.
  • Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making tree placement and interactions frustrating.
  • The difficulty is unbalanced, becoming too easy once players understand the mechanics.
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as simple, fun, and engaging, with a satisfying loop reminiscent of tower defense games. While players appreciate the mechanics and artistic style, many note a lack of clarity in the controls and a tendency for the game to become too easy after initial challenges. Additionally, performance issues, including crashes and slowdowns, have been reported, particularly in later levels, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The gameplay loop is a good time; it reminds me of a blend between Plants vs. Zombies and Two Timin' Towers.”
    • “Simple, fun gameplay that hits the basics of what a game should be.”
    • “A unique twist on tower defense games, with simple but undoubtedly fun mechanics.”
    • “The contrast with these mechanics comes in how unclear they are at first and how easy they become for the challenge aspect.”
    • “Despite the visual and mechanical simplicity, there appears to be some element of the game's design that taxes the engine to the point of failure as you progress in the levels independent of system specs.”
    • “The full crashes are a much more serious issue, as there doesn't appear to be any save mechanic that allows you to resume from a prior checkpoint.”
  • optimization19 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting performance issues, crashes, and a lack of optimization options, particularly in later levels. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable, they emphasize the urgent need for performance fixes and a potential low graphics mode to accommodate less powerful PCs. Overall, improved optimization is seen as essential for enhancing the gaming experience.

    • “Fun easy gameplay, needs a couple of performance fixes and it'll be great.”
    • “This game is amazing and I love it so much, but you would need a really good PC to play in the later levels because of all of the projectiles. Hopefully, they can make it more optimized or something like that, or a low graphics mode for people with lower-end PCs.”
    • “Great chill tower defense roguelike. The noticeable flaw I can give as of current is optimization. I had the game crash 2 times in the middle of my ~10 runs, and for some reason, if I play Tanuoki, the game inexorably freezes immediately at the start of the run. Other than that, I had a lovely time playing.”
    • “I think that's the only thing this game lacks, it doesn't have many optimization options.”
    • “Kind of unoptimized though, and for me will crash after 20 waves pretty frequently.”
    • “Not sure if it's due to my AMD CPU, but the game never made it past level 8; optimization is urgent.”
  • graphics14 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and simplicity, with a minimalist art style that effectively conveys gameplay elements. While some users appreciate the relaxing visuals and find them engaging, others note performance issues on lower-end PCs due to a lack of graphics settings. Overall, the art style is described as clean and interesting, contributing positively to the game's appeal.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and, despite being extremely simple, I could see myself playing this for hours on end.”
    • “The creature you play as is an unconventionally adorable little bean, and despite the super simplistic art style, it does an amazing job at conveying what each thing does.”
    • “A very interesting idea wrapped inside a minimalist but beautiful art style, that doesn't cost you anything!”
    • “The art style is too rough, but I really love this project.”
    • “There are no graphics settings, so I got low frames when I planted more than a row of trees.”
    • “You would need a really good PC to play in the later levels because of all of the projectiles, and hopefully they can make it more optimized or add a low graphics mode for people with lower-end PCs.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly when it comes to collecting ashes and planting trees, which can feel like a chore rather than an engaging activity. This repetitiveness has led some to stop playing, despite the game's potential for providing a cathartic experience.

    • “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Like other reviews mention, collecting ashes is annoying, as is gathering seeds for trees, which becomes tedious.”
    • “Overall: nice game to take out frustrations with human trash, but I inevitably stopped playing because it became tedious.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and absurd elements, featuring a comical creature that delights in chaos while also engaging in unexpected activities like tree planting. Players appreciate the blend of dark humor and whimsical antics, such as creating amusing birds and interacting with a humorous tree blob, which adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise destructive gameplay.

    • “I love the animation for our funny little creature hellbent on causing as much death and destruction as physically possible.”
    • “I wish a funny little dude was planting trees in real life; instead, I just get black lung from going outside.”
    • “You can make funny birds.”
  • story4 mentions

    The game's story is minimal, with some users expressing a desire for additional contextual narrative between levels to enhance the experience. However, the lack of a substantial storyline is noted, and technical issues like crashes hinder progression, further detracting from the overall narrative engagement.

    • “And if you wanted to add a few sentences of text between levels that add some contextual story, that'd be awesome. Hit me up if you want assistance with that - I'd be happy to help in that regard.”
    • “No story.”
    • “While fun, there are repetitive crashes preventing me from progressing any further past the second mission.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game offers a moderate level of replayability, featuring various challenges and modes that encourage players to return. While some users find it enjoyable and worth revisiting, others feel it may not have extensive replay value.

    • “With different challenges, there's a lot of replay value here.”
    • “Lots of replayability with different modes.”
    • “Short, but enjoyable, with some replayability.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its fitting atmosphere, particularly when paired with intense gameplay. However, some users note that the music can be repetitive, which may detract from the overall experience.

    • “I also like the visuals, sounds, and the music.”
    • “Played with doom music in the background.”
    • “I really like it, though the music is repetitive.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express frustration with the emotional impact of frequent crashes during critical moments in the game, describing the experience as heartbreaking. They suggest that implementing more frequent save points could alleviate some of this emotional distress.

    • “It's just heart-breaking; it crashes too often.”
    • “It always seems to be right when it's the most exciting part. It would be less heart-breaking if it at least saved every ten rounds.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized as relaxed and easygoing, making it a suitable choice for players looking for a chill experience. Despite its low difficulty, it still offers an enjoyable environment.

    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of its world.”
    • “The ambient sounds and stunning visuals create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
    • “With its serene environment and calming music, this game offers a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels too bland and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
    • “The overall ambiance is underwhelming, leaving players feeling disconnected from the game world.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers suggest that character development could be enhanced by introducing more unique designs for unlockable characters, advocating for changes beyond just headgear, such as variations in color, shape, and additional features like the number of eyes.

    • “The character development in this game is truly impressive, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to their personality.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that impact their growth and relationships with others.”
    • “The variety in character designs and the ability to customize them really enhances the overall experience and makes each character feel distinct.”
    • “The character development feels very shallow; most unlockable characters are just variations of the same design with different hats.”
    • “I wish there were more unique character designs for the unlockable characters instead of just changing headgear. It would be great to see different colors, shapes, and features.”
    • “The lack of creativity in character customization is disappointing. It would be nice to have more diverse options beyond just switching out hats.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game has effectively eliminated ads typically found in app store titles, enhancing the user experience while integrating monetization strategies.

    • “This game has combined those and removed the ads that would otherwise be seen if it was a game from the app store.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to make in-game purchases, which ruins the overall experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game has notable stability issues, with users reporting crashes during gameplay, including two crashes out of ten runs and immediate freezing when starting a specific mode. Despite these problems, players still enjoy the overall experience.

    • “Great chill tower defense roguelike, but the noticeable flaw I can point out is optimization. I had the game crash twice in the middle of my ~10 runs, and for some reason, if I play the Tanuoki game, it freezes immediately at the start of the run.”
    • “The game is fun, but the stability issues are frustrating. I've experienced multiple crashes and freezes that ruin the experience.”
    • “While the gameplay is enjoyable, the frequent crashes and performance issues make it hard to fully enjoy the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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