Gleaner Heights
- February 21, 2018
- Emilios Manolidis
- 3h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam"Gleaner Heights" is a single-player Role Playing game with a beautiful story, good gameplay, and splendid music, but be prepared for a lot of grinding. In this game, you'll manage a farm, grow over 40 crops, tend to animals, and explore underwater caves filled with treasure. The game also offers various activities like fishing, crafting, and cooking, creating a well-rounded experience.
Nintendo Switch
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Windows
Xbox One
Linux
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Reviews
- Unique blend of farming sim and dark mystery elements, reminiscent of classic Harvest Moon games.
- Engaging character interactions and storylines that unfold as you befriend townsfolk.
- Challenging gameplay with a variety of activities including farming, mining, and combat.
- Clunky controls and awkward interface that can hinder gameplay experience.
- Slow pacing and tedious mechanics, particularly in mining and inventory management.
- Limited character dialogue and depth, making it hard to connect with NPCs.
- grinding444 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting it as tedious and slow, often requiring significant time investment for minimal rewards. While some enjoy the repetitive nature of farming and find it addictive, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience, especially when coupled with low item drop rates and limited inventory space. Overall, players suggest that those who appreciate grind-heavy gameplay may find enjoyment, but it may not appeal to everyone looking for a more balanced farming sim experience.
“It's just too tedious, too slow, and too repetitive.”
“A lot of grinding with little reward.”
“Since there are no quests, there isn't anything to drive you, and all the other activities, such as farming and mining, just absolutely suck.”
- story326 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in this farming sim is a mixed bag, featuring dark themes and a slow-paced narrative that unfolds through character interactions and side quests. While some players appreciate the mature and intriguing plot reminiscent of Twin Peaks, others find it disjointed and lacking in depth, with many feeling that the gameplay mechanics hinder story progression. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of farming and horror elements, but its execution leaves much to be desired, often requiring players to invest significant time to uncover the narrative.
“This game is also a piece of art with really nice dialogues and story.”
“The storyline is very intriguing, and it combines two of my favorite things, farming RPGs a la Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, etc. & David Lynch vibes.”
“The atmosphere and vibe (especially at night, woo is it creepy) of the town has me hooked, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of the mysterious plot unfold to see what kind of ending I get.”
“Yes, the story of this game includes rape, sexual cheating, paedophilia, blackmail, various forms of violence, and suicide.”
“The characters are forgettable, the gameplay loop is boring, and the story is glacially paced and unlikely to be worth it given the hours of tedium it takes to progress in it.”
“I was extremely dissatisfied when I finished the main story.”
- gameplay130 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this farming RPG is reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, featuring typical mechanics such as farming, mining, and befriending townspeople. While many players appreciate the addictive nature of the farming and crafting systems, others criticize the interface and some mechanics as clunky or frustrating, leading to a slow and sometimes tedious gameplay experience. Overall, the game shows potential with its unique themes and story elements, but it requires further refinement to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay of farming, fishing, mining, and making friends with villagers is satisfying and addictive as expected from this genre and kept me playing for many hours.”
“Yes, it is super fun and has the perfect blend of simplistic but addicting gameplay the farming simulation genre provides.”
“There's enough crop variety to keep things interesting, the mechanics are solid with everything feeling tight and well put together.”
“Unfortunately, I was unable to even get to the main gameplay due to the terrible interface.”
“The characters are forgettable, the gameplay loop is boring, and the story is glacially paced and unlikely to be worth it given the hours of tedium it takes to progress in it.”
“The first problem is that the gameplay loop is such a slog.”
- graphics74 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming 8-bit aesthetic and artistic effects, while others criticize the outdated visuals and graphical glitches. Many comparisons to "Stardew Valley" highlight that the graphics fall short, with complaints about character designs and overall clarity. Despite these issues, some players find the graphics suitable for the game's tone, though there is a consensus that improvements are needed.
“The artistic graphics are seriously good.”
“The graphics, controls, environment, and models are all solid and I have no complaints with them.”
“It has charming 8-bit graphics with some artsy effects, like on foggy nights you can go out, but barely see the nose in front of your face.”
“Ok, this game is 3 years old and is the jankiest, unclear piece of rubbish I have ever played. I have green lines coming through the ground, and options for graphics (screen size) are limited.”
“Even for a pixel game (I was comparing it to Stardew Valley, which is what made me want to play it), the graphics are bad.”
“I came for a Stardew Valley fix, but the awful graphics turned me off... I thought I could stomach it, but sadly they're so old school that even an old badger like me can't enjoy a game so simplistic in its visual aspect.”
- music64 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it to be a fitting backdrop that enhances the atmosphere, particularly during nighttime and in the mines. However, many criticize the lack of variety and repetition, noting that the soundtrack can become forgettable and monotonous over time. Overall, while the music contributes to the game's unique charm, it falls short of the more dynamic soundtracks found in similar titles like Stardew Valley.
“The music does the game justice, and I really like the subtle unnerving twangs of sound that accompany each day.”
“The music sets a nice mood, and the art style is consistent and very pleasing.”
“The music is superb, and the graphics have that charming pixelated look to them.”
“The soundtrack and sounds are absolutely forgettable.”
“The music is the second lowest point of Gleaner Heights.”
“There is no variance like in Stardew Valley, which has about 3 songs for each season.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dark and unsettling elements, which contrasts sharply with the typically cheerful tone of the farming simulation genre. Players find the eerie vibe, especially at night, captivating and refreshing, enhancing their engagement with the mysterious plot and characters. Despite some minor gameplay issues, the overall atmosphere is described as spectacular and immersive, drawing players into its creepy yet dreamy world.
“This is a really solid farming game with interesting characters, a fantastic atmosphere, and some of the darker stories found in the genre.”
“The atmosphere and vibe (especially at night, woo is it creepy) of the town has me hooked, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of the mysterious plot unfold to see what kind of ending I get.”
“So far I'm loving this game and the atmosphere it comes with; talk about creepy and dreamy.”
“It's mostly small scenes triggered in cryptic ways that bring the atmosphere down, revealing small or big flaws in the way the villagers conduct their lives (quite a few should end up with the perpetrators in jail, by the way).”
“It’s got dark content that most would find unsettling, especially in the farming simulation genre, where most games of the genre have stuck with a 'happy, carefree' atmosphere.”
“- atmosphere makes me feel scared to be outside at night”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its outlandish and sometimes dark elements, blending adult themes with unexpected comedic moments, such as amusing cutscenes and quirky character designs. While some players appreciate the humor as a refreshing twist on the farming sim genre, others question its sensitivity regarding serious topics like systemic racism. Overall, the humor adds a unique layer of intrigue and surprise to the gameplay experience.
“I wasn't expecting it to be as 'adult' as it was, but for me it was a funny surprise.”
“I enjoyed that slow unlocking of different crops as it felt like my farm was progressing and the animal mating cutscene was quite hilarious to listen to.”
“Mystery, intrigue, scandal, dark humor, secrets...definitely not your standard farming sim.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a forgiving penalty for dying and allows players to progress at their own pace, with time freezing indoors and during certain activities. However, it suffers from minor glitches, including graphical issues and frustratingly slow character movement, particularly when entering and exiting buildings. Overall, while the core gameplay mechanics function well, the stability is marred by these bugs and design flaws.
“There are also some glitches; when you open the doors, sometimes you can get earraped, and it's just so frightening.”
“There are some minor graphical glitches, and the controls could be better designed, but as I said at the beginning, the farming, which is the core, works fairly well.”
“My two biggest gripes with this game are that (1) it is so slow— I mean literally, even when your character is running, it takes so long to get around anywhere that it's just frustrating, and a lot of entering/exiting buildings gets buggy.”
- character development8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in Gleaner Heights is noted for its dark, eerie, and complex narrative, although the character designs have received criticism for being unattractive and lacking detail. Despite the graphical shortcomings, players may find themselves acclimating to the simplistic character aesthetics over time.
“The character development is dark, eerie, and complex.”
“The character design was ugly, to say the least.”
“You can also get used to 'squint-eyed', non-detailed character design in the end.”
“The only bad graphical thing about Gleaner Heights is that most of the character designs suck.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a lack of emotional depth in the game's narrative, comparing it unfavorably to classic horror films and other media known for their emotional resonance. Critics argue that the story fails to build tension and invest players due to its nihilistic portrayal of characters, which detracts from the potential for meaningful engagement. Overall, the emotional impact is seen as underwhelming, with a call for a more nuanced storytelling approach.
“Everything ever made by Tim Burton, tons of classic horror movies ranging from Alfred Hitchcock to... well, hell, to be honest, I'd argue even Jason has more emotional depth than most of your NPCs.”
“Most importantly, this could have still worked if they had at least delivered the story appropriately, with a good build-up, taking their time to ramp things up. Perhaps toning down the 'every neighbor is a terrible person' nihilistic shtick, which doesn't help getting invested at all.”
“They treat it like the small vignettes common in the genre, but which can't work when you have a serious story to tell instead of just having cute or touching moments.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is described as unconventional, blending farming simulation with surreal elements reminiscent of Twin Peaks. While it may not deliver AAA performance, the graphics are commendable for a one-man development team, and players seem to appreciate the unique experience over technical perfection.
“Farming sim meets mysterious Twin Peaks surrealism... I've not chosen to play this game because I want AAA performance and in-depth farming mechanics. (Got a lot of farming going on though, and honestly the graphics are great considering the one-man team behind it.)”
“So after an admittedly intriguing opening scene that reminded me quite a bit of a black lodge performance, I was prepared to dig in and grind it out.”
“[*] Performance is... strange.”
“Performance is... strange.”
“Farming sim meets mysterious Twin Peaks surrealism. I've not chosen to play this game because I want AAA performance and in-depth farming mechanics. (Got a lot of farming going on though, and honestly the graphics are great considering the one-man team behind it.)”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through character leveling and customization, along with multiple endings influenced by player choices in a choose-your-own-adventure format. Players can enjoy varied experiences with each playthrough, enhancing the overall longevity of the game.
“Lots of replay value as well with its choose-your-own-adventure type story choices.”
“You can level up and customize your character as you go, and it has different endings and immense replay value.”
“Lots of replay value as well with its choose your own adventure type story choices.”
