Gnomoria

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,170 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Gnomoria Game Cover
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Gnomoria is a single-player fantasy turn-based strategy game with good graphics and fabulous mechanics, allowing you to lead a group of gnomes to build and expand a kingdom in a procedurally generated world. With fully destructible environments and open-ended sandbox gameplay, craft items, build structures, set traps, and dig for resources, while managing a peaceful town or fending off invasions. Expect lots of bugs, high emotions, and endless replayability with various crafting mechanisms and contraption building.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,170 reviews
graphics107 positive mentions
stability105 negative mentions
  • Gnomoria offers a charming and accessible alternative to Dwarf Fortress, making it a great entry point for players interested in city-building and management games.
  • The game's crafting system and the ability to customize gnomes add depth and personalization to the experience.
  • Despite being abandoned by the developer, Gnomoria still provides many hours of enjoyable gameplay and has a dedicated modding community that enhances the experience.
  • The game is riddled with bugs and performance issues, especially in the late game, which can lead to crashes and unplayable saves.
  • There is no tutorial or in-game guidance, making it difficult for new players to learn the mechanics and navigate the interface.
  • Many players feel that the game was released unfinished, lacking promised features and depth, leading to disappointment and frustration.
  • graphics578 mentions

    The graphics in Gnomoria are generally described as simple, retro, and reminiscent of old-school pixel art, often compared to those of Dwarf Fortress but with a more user-friendly interface. While some players appreciate the charming aesthetic and find the visuals appealing, others criticize them as basic or uninspired, noting that they lack depth and animation. Overall, the graphics serve as a significant improvement over Dwarf Fortress's ASCII style, making the game more accessible to those who prefer visual representation.

    • “The graphics are simple and old-school, but are clearly made with love.”
    • “Everything about the game itself is awesome, great pixel art graphics and a deep gameplay that is exactly what you want for the dwarf fortress feel.”
    • “The graphics are appealing and you can create some very intricate, beautiful colonies!”
    • “Graphics are close to horrible.”
    • “The graphics are very primitive - I think it suits the game quite well but this may be a con for some.”
    • “For a game so unbelievably simplistic in graphics, it shouldn't have bugs at all and it has no tutorials on top of that.”
  • gameplay401 mentions

    The gameplay of Gnomoria is often compared to Dwarf Fortress, offering a mix of complex mechanics and sandbox-style management that can be both engaging and frustrating. While many players appreciate the depth and creativity it allows, they also note a steep learning curve, lack of tutorials, and some broken mechanics that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game is seen as addictive and rewarding once players familiarize themselves with its systems, though it still requires significant improvement in various areas.

    • “Tons of mechanics but a lot of fun.”
    • “Everything about the game itself is awesome, great pixel art graphics and a deep gameplay that is exactly what you want for the dwarf fortress feel.”
    • “The gameplay allows the player to be both creative and to manage production efficiently as they choose.”
    • “The gameplay can be frustrating at times and without a wiki to help, you're done for.”
    • “Gnomoria's gameplay is both slow and painful, some design decisions are not very well thought out, and there doesn't seem to be a compelling reason to play this game when compared to Dwarf Fortress.”
    • “Concept is great but the gameplay is utter shite; you can only give jobs instead of making the gnomes work, they will take care of their own needs first, and they will not work without beer (alcoholic scrubs).”
  • music156 mentions

    The music in Gnomoria has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its nostalgic chiptune style and cozy atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and annoying over time. The game offers two soundtrack options—an 8-bit version and a more modern orchestral arrangement—allowing players to choose their preferred listening experience. Overall, while some praise the soundtrack as a highlight, others suggest it could benefit from more variety to sustain long play sessions.

    • “I absolutely love the soundtrack, being very unique and cozy, matching perfectly with the game's overall tone and gameplay.”
    • “I'd also like to tack on a shout-out to the music track for this game - it's extremely pleasant to the ears, and I find it very soothing for those late-night gnoministration sessions.”
    • “Great gameplay, amazing soundtrack!”
    • “The visual quality of the game is underwhelming, there are few to no animations, I couldn't stand the music for more than five minutes before turning it off, and even with a mouse-driven interface, the management/interaction menus were not as intuitive as I had hoped.”
    • “First game in my life I had to turn off after 10 minutes of playing since, no tutorial and bad UI aside, the game boasts what has to be the worst soundtrack in game history!!!”
    • “The 8-bit style music gets old fast.”
  • stability107 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting it as "buggy," "unfinished," and "abandoned." Many players experience game-breaking bugs and performance issues, particularly in later stages, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's future development. While a few users note minor bugs that do not significantly impact gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability and lacks essential fixes.

    • “For being early access, it's incredibly bug-free too (except for some that can be easily fixed by deconstructing the workshop and reconstructing it).”
    • “The game is fairly buggy and half the features promised in the original roadmap were never included.”
    • “Unfortunately, the 'release' version is very terribly buggy, and every new game eventually becomes unplayable.”
    • “Currently it's an unoptimized, bug-ridden mess that came too soon out of early access.”
  • story66 mentions

    The story aspect of Gnomoria is largely criticized for its lack of depth and character development, with players noting that it feels more like a sandbox experience than a narrative-driven game. While some users find enjoyment in creating their own stories through gameplay, the absence of a structured storyline or meaningful character interactions leaves many feeling unsatisfied. Overall, Gnomoria is seen as a fun management game, but it falls short for those seeking a compelling narrative.

    • “Let me call her Lara, and blame me for forgetting her name if you want, but listen to me before you do because I want to tell you her story.”
    • “The complex and emotional story had me in awe.”
    • “You'll start naming things, creating the story yourself, in your head.”
    • “It's a very open build and survive game, with blocks and resources, recipes and craftables, etc. So if your aim is to have a storyline, an 'end game' crisis, characters, etc., this is not for you.”
    • “The challenge is here, but the story is missing.”
    • “There's no story that I've tripped over and the gnomes have no individuality and don't have relationships.”
  • grinding66 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious and slow, requiring significant micromanagement of gnome tasks, which can lead to frustration. While some players appreciate the depth of gameplay and the ability to automate certain tasks, many feel that the lack of engaging content and the repetitive nature of resource collection detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of rewarding progression and monotonous grinding, appealing primarily to those who enjoy detailed management and base-building mechanics.

    • “I love building things, but the core gameplay is just uninteresting, tedious, and feels slow and unrewarding.”
    • “Tedious gameplay, seems like you have to work to figure it out and it doesn't pay off.”
    • “You have to micromanage them as best you can despite only being able to designate jobs to be done, this leads to a lot of watching them do a job then designating the next tile(s) for construction or deconstruction; the larger the project you intend to build, the more tedious the process gets.”
  • optimization54 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues and game-breaking bugs, particularly in longer playthroughs. While some users suggest workarounds, such as disabling certain features to improve performance, the overall consensus is that the game feels unpolished and lacks the necessary optimization for smooth gameplay, especially on older systems. Despite its potential, many feel it was released too soon from early access without adequate optimization.

    • “There are some bugs and performance issues, but to avoid it just turn off goblin tunnelers and beetles before starting and you're good to go for a long playthrough.”
    • “You've done your sleeping quarters, you've optimized your crafts, the kingdom is stable.”
    • “I was very surprised, once you actually figure out how everything works, and get used to the easy performance design, it's a pretty awesome game.”
    • “Currently it's an unoptimized bug-ridden mess that came too soon out of early access.”
    • “Prepare to lose your colony to the 'performance death' (e.g. if you happen to block the path of attackers or your dwarfs) long before you reach the 'end game'.”
    • “My only complaint is this game desperately needs optimization.”
  • replayability44 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players noting that each session offers unique experiences and challenges. While some reviews mention a lack of endgame content and variety, the engaging gameplay and sandbox elements contribute to its addictive nature, allowing for countless hours of entertainment. Despite some criticisms, the consensus is that the game remains highly replayable and enjoyable.

    • “This is honestly one of the best games I've ever played - the replayability is amazing, each game is unique, and the difficulty level scales as you go (depending on what you set it to).”
    • “I bought this game pretty early on and I have to say this game has infinite replayability.”
    • “The highest replay value of any game I've ever played.”
    • “Gnomoria's gameplay is pretty straightforward, but there's not really any endgame, or enough variety to maintain much replayability.”
    • “If there was something that you could do in your first season that put you towards some tech faster than the other techs, then for me it would make the game more replayable.”
    • “Replayability: 5/10.”
  • humor26 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky scenarios, such as absurd combat logs and the amusing antics of gnomes, which often lead to unexpected laughter. Players appreciate the blend of simple graphics with complex gameplay, enhanced by funny names and situations that encourage creativity. While it may not reach the same level of chaotic humor as some other games, it still delivers plenty of entertaining moments that keep players engaged and amused.

    • “So a shield gnome vs a door swinging goblin, it was a hilarious combat log to read that ended with every single bone in the goblin's body broken and his lungs crushed.”
    • “In the middle of a buzzing hive of a few dozen busy gnomes, you could instantly recognize her with that funny walk style of hers while she carried crates bigger than herself.”
    • “I love seeing the little dudes run around doing my bidding, and it's especially hilarious if you save the combat logs and read those.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    Players find Rimworld to evoke strong emotional connections through its emergent storytelling and the heart-wrenching experiences of their colonies. The game's ability to create complex narratives leads to deep attachments to characters, making their losses feel particularly poignant. However, the disappointment over the game's stagnation and the inevitability of loss adds a layer of heartbreak to the overall experience.

    • “Rimworld is the only game I've played other than Dwarf Fortress that has that emergent gameplay I crave, stories that pop up in your colony, the emotional connections.”
    • “The complex and emotional story had me in awe.”
    • “It has hit its end at this point and to play and fall in love with a game just to see it stop growing is incredibly heartbreaking.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally described as cozy and engaging, enhanced by high-quality audio and a diverse soundtrack that adds to the overall experience. However, some users note that certain sound effects can be jarring and disrupt the otherwise harmonious ambiance. Overall, it is likened to Dwarf Fortress but with a more accessible and addictive atmosphere.

    • “Gnomoria's audio - both in sound effects and music - also enjoys much better quality and diversity, providing a lot of good atmosphere.”
    • “It's like Dwarf Fortress but far more approachable, with an addictive soundtrack and atmosphere.”
    • “Cozy atmosphere.”
    • “Some sounds can be particularly jarring or otherwise seem to clash with the game's atmosphere.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized, with users feeling that it resembles a cash grab due to the lack of ongoing developer support following its initial release. This has led to disappointment and a perception that the game was abandoned shortly after launch.

    • “Developer support disappeared immediately following release to version 1, and although there has been some discussion related to why, it really feels like the game was punted at best or a cash grab at worst.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

56hMedian play time
154hAverage play time
24-240hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs

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