Galacticare
- May 23, 2024
- Brightrock Games
- 30h median play time
Galacticare doesn’t bring anything especially new or unique to the tables besides the settings, but it’s still a worthwhile entry into the hospital management genre.
"Galacticare is a single-player Comedy Platformer where you run an interstellar healthcare company, curing quirky alien conditions while managing doctors, consultants, and facilities. Design, furnish, and upgrade your hospital, meet unique consultants, and explore their mechanics and personalities to save the Galaxy and get paid. Discover, research, and cure various alien conditions, develop relationships with each species, and unlock new skills and playstyle options as you progress."
Reviews
- Engaging and humorous writing with great voice acting that adds charm to the gameplay.
- Fun and dynamic gameplay reminiscent of Two Point Hospital, with unique alien species and diseases to manage.
- Visually appealing graphics and animations that enhance the overall experience.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and lacks significant challenge, making it feel too easy for experienced players.
- Several bugs and performance issues reported, including UI glitches and game-breaking bugs that can hinder progress.
- The requirement to decorate extensively can feel tedious and detracts from the core hospital management experience.
- story106 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging humor and unique character development, making it a standout feature in the management genre. While the narrative is entertaining and well-voiced, many players find the gameplay too easy, lacking significant challenge or urgency as they progress through the missions. Overall, the story mode offers a fun and light-hearted experience, with a smooth level progression that keeps players invested, despite some repetitive elements and minor bugs.
“The voicework is amazing, and the storied missions are a good deal of fun.”
“The story and charm are there, making the gameplay engaging and enjoyable.”
“The design, storytelling, voice acting, and worldbuilding are all a major step above what has been in this genre before.”
“The writing is poor except at the end that really made me giggle, and the story after the concert chapter felt boring, except the prison which I thought there was going to be a challenge but no, after that it is back to being boring, and most tools that you unlock felt useless.”
“While there are significant visual things related to the story which happens outside of your station, most of the time you will be receiving exposition on what's happening (verbal reactions) in terms of plot.”
“The only thing negative I have to say is that I sometimes get the same quests 4 or 5 times in a single hospital, which breaks the immersion a little for me.”
- humor103 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its sharp writing, engaging voice acting, and charming character interactions, often drawing comparisons to classics like "Theme Hospital" and "Futurama." Players appreciate the clever and satirical elements, with many noting that the humor is both funny and accessible, avoiding forced or cringeworthy jokes. Overall, the game successfully combines lightheartedness with a unique sci-fi twist, making it a standout in the genre.
“The writing in this is so sharp and funny, the voice actors are great.”
“It's funny, has great voice acting and a lot of charm.”
“Brilliantly funny writing and a surprising amount of content for what appears to be such a small game.”
“Full of unfunny millennial writing with the same bro comedy as 'wha?!'”
“It's not funny”
- gameplay66 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
“The gameplay is easy to learn, poppy, and never feels particularly confusing as you get deeper into the maps.”
“While the core gameplay is the same (here's a funny disease and the room to treat it, build it, repeat), a bunch of smaller mechanics, tons of decorations to be creative, the space theme, art design, and soundtrack work really well together and elevate it above a simple clone/remake to create a unique and well-rounded game.”
“It's a fun successor to the genre, with engaging gameplay, witty humor, and a great aesthetic.”
“The gameplay gets a bit repetitive after a while though.”
“The gameplay loop for every single level is copy-paste rooms until you can deal with the footfall.”
“The vibes, writing, and overall presentation is fantastic, but it's not enough to make up for the ultimately shallow gameplay.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and aesthetically pleasing style, featuring colorful visuals, smooth animations, and a whimsical art direction that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted minor glitches and performance issues, the game's graphical polish and engaging design elements contribute significantly to its charm and fun gameplay. Overall, the combination of great visuals, clever humor, and a unique setting makes it a standout in the management sim genre.
“The visuals and overall feel of the game are so vibrant, pulpy, and fun in a way that really elevates this game for me.”
“Galacticare also has the advantage of being a newer title, with all the graphical bloom and crisp rendering you’d expect from that.”
“The artwork and animation are stellar, and it's full of quirky characters and witty commentary.”
“The fps is very low even on the lowest graphics settings.”
“It's similar to those mobile tycoon games but with better graphics and no ads.”
“Graphically, the UI, soundtrack, animation, music, and voice acting are absolutely top notch.”
- music18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players noting its calming nature and effective integration with the game's visuals and themes. While some found the soundtrack to be somewhat limited, it was generally described as pleasant and non-intrusive, contributing positively to the atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with requests for a dedicated release of the music.
“Fun game with amazing music.”
“The writing is great, the visuals are great, the music and voice acting are great...”
“Graphically, UI, soundtrack, animation, music, and voice acting are absolutely top notch.”
“The wound design is well thought out, the voice actors are fitting, effects sound great, but I have to admit that I am not a fan of those sirens in the soundtrack that pop up every now and then.”
“There's not that many noticeable soundtracks, but what's there never got irritating.”
“My only real complaint would be its lacking a soundtrack that keeps me interested, which is pretty minor.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it features impressive graphics and runs smoothly on mid-tier systems, many players report performance issues, particularly in crowded areas and after unlocking additional content. There are calls for better resource utilization and quality-of-life improvements, such as disabling repeated dialogue, to enhance the experience further. Despite these concerns, the game remains enjoyable for many players.
“Graphically looks great, no bugs I have encountered, runs smoothly, good audio and music, and in general the moment-to-moment play is kind of fun.”
“While performance may drain in a busy populated space station and I wish there was a better way to make staff prioritize a type of job instead of locking them to a specific room, neither hardly bothers me from the hours of entertainment this game has given me so far, and I greatly recommend anyone with an interest in these types of games to pick it up if they can.”
“Could do with a few optimizations/QoL improvements like an option to disable repeated dialogue, but nothing too major.”
“Game-breaking soft locks and atrocious performance reported by most players suggest this one needs more time in the boning chamber.”
“Performance is also not the best; the game seems to not utilize the system resources properly.”
“I noticed some stuttering after I unlocked three additional rooms.”
- stability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some players have managed to play without issues, the consensus suggests that the game is currently too unstable for a smooth experience, prompting recommendations to wait for further updates before purchasing.
“I played through the orientation with no glitches or issues.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I've had no performance drops during intense moments.”
“The only problem is that it often crashes and sometimes freezes, which honestly got worse with the latest updates.”
“As of now, it is a buggy mess that is just technically functional.”
“But while it isn't super buggy, the bugs it does have completely break the game.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the gameplay is generally casual and charming, the need to complete numerous tasks and expand can become tedious and repetitive over time. Some users appreciate the lack of overly complicated or time-gated challenges, but still note that certain achievements and unlocks may require more effort than necessary, leading to moments of boredom during extended play sessions. Overall, the game is best enjoyed in short bursts to avoid the grind feeling overwhelming.
“It is not grinding but forces you to complete the many tasks for the level, and each level gets harder.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It has been a long while since I played a game that wasn't grindy, overly complicated, or stuffed with challenges that aren't actually hard to figure out but just so overpowered or time-gated that it either comes down to dumb luck or how much time you have to pour into the game with either active or idle gameplay.”
“It is a little tedious getting up to 5 stars as it's just a matter of continuing to expand and expand, sometimes forcing the expansion to get the throughput.”
“Galacticare overall, however, is a fun game to play, yet sometimes repetitive and it does get boring and tedious if being played for a long time, but is a great sci-fi simulation game to play in short bursts!”
“It has been a long while since I played a game that wasn't grindy, overly complicated or stuffed with challenges that aren't actually hard to figure out but just so overpowered/timegated that it either comes down to dumb luck or how much time you have to pour into the game with either active or idle gameplay.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express uncertainty about the initial replay value after completing the campaign, but they are optimistic about potential future updates, such as a map editor and sandbox modes, which could enhance replayability significantly. Additionally, the option to engage in multiple sandbox missions contributes to a more varied gameplay experience.
“I'm not sure how great the replay value is going to be upon completion of the campaign; but knowing the studio that made this (or at least their earlier title, War for the Overworld), it's not unlikely to receive a map editor, a more replayable form of sandbox/challenge mode, and/or workshop mod support.”
“Afterwards, you can play multiple sandbox missions; so there is really a lot of replayability.”
“The replay value is quite low, as the main campaign doesn't offer much variation.”
“Afterwards, you can play multiple sandbox missions; however, they feel repetitive and lack depth.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return for a second playthrough.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fun and lighthearted tone, reminiscent of classic titles like Evil Genius and Dungeon Keeper. Reviewers highlight the engaging writing and animations that contribute to an overall enjoyable experience.
“The humor, writing, and atmosphere are fun.”
“If you've ever thought, 'Man, I wish games with the levity and genuinely fun atmosphere of games like Evil Genius and Dungeon Keeper were still being made today,' look no further than this company.”
“Great atmosphere and animations.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by fun and engaging character designs, complemented by in-depth lore for each species and character. While the gameplay may feel slightly repetitive, the snarky humor and charming aesthetics contribute positively to the overall experience.
“The character design is fun, and there's in-depth lore for each species and character.”
“You can expect snarky humor, a fun if slightly repetitive gameplay loop, and charming world and character design.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
“I was hoping for a deeper exploration of the characters, but they remain one-dimensional throughout the game.”
“The interactions between characters are often predictable and fail to evoke any real emotional response.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game suggests it was originally designed for mobile, evident in its clunky UI and shop layout, which hints at potential microtransaction features; however, players appreciate that there are no ads or microtransactions present, making it feel more like a premium experience akin to a mobile tycoon game with improved graphics.
“It's similar to those mobile tycoon games but with better graphics and no ads.”
“The game was clearly designed with mobile in mind, but thankfully there aren't any microtransactions.”
“It really looks like the game was created to be a mobile game, but at the last minute they changed it to PC. You can see evidence of this in the ugly UI of the main menu and map. Even the purple shop looks like it could have been built for microtransactions; thankfully, there aren't any.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to squeeze money out of players rather than enhance the gaming experience.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many users find the game to be emotionally impactful, particularly noting that it becomes touching towards the end, evoking a strong emotional response.
“I even found it to be a bit touching towards the end.”
Critic Reviews
Galacticare PC Review
Galacticare doesn’t bring anything especially new or unique to the tables besides the settings, but it’s still a worthwhile entry into the hospital management genre.
86%Galacticare review
Galacticare is a simple, imaginative management sim with a lot of personality. And really, what more do you need?
80%