Gnomoria
- February 22, 2016
- Robotronic Games
- 56h median play time
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.
Reviews
- Gnomoria offers a charming and accessible alternative to Dwarf Fortress, making it a great entry point for new players interested in city-building and management games.
- The game features satisfying and addictive gameplay, allowing players to build and manage their own gnome kingdom with a variety of crafting and resource management options.
- The modding community is active, providing additional content and features that enhance the gameplay experience.
- The game has been abandoned by the developer, leaving many bugs and unfinished features that detract from the overall experience.
- There is no tutorial or in-game guidance, making it difficult for new players to learn the mechanics and navigate the interface.
- Performance issues arise in the late game, with significant lag and crashes occurring as the kingdom grows and more entities are present.
- graphics290 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple, retro, and reminiscent of early 90s pixel art, which some players find charming while others consider them outdated or lacking in detail. Many reviews highlight that the game serves as a more accessible alternative to Dwarf Fortress, offering a graphical interface that makes it easier for newcomers to engage with the gameplay. However, opinions vary widely, with some praising the visuals for their appeal and others criticizing them for being basic or poorly animated.
“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.”
“The graphics are simple multi-layered isometric.”
- gameplay200 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Gnomoria is often described as addictive and satisfying, with a strong emphasis on management and building mechanics reminiscent of Dwarf Fortress, albeit simplified for accessibility. While many players appreciate the depth and creativity it offers, there are criticisms regarding the lack of tutorials, some broken mechanics, and a steep learning curve that can make initial experiences frustrating. Overall, the game provides a solid foundation for fans of the genre, but it still requires significant improvement in mechanics and content to reach its full potential.
“Very addicting and satisfying gameplay!”
“The gameplay allows the player to be both creative and to manage production efficiently as they choose.”
“Deep and complex gameplay and beautiful pixel graphics make Gnomoria a fun and exciting game to play!”
“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.”
“No tutorial or any decent explanation of game mechanics.”
- music78 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative 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 suggest switching to the orchestral version for a more pleasant experience. The game offers options to customize the soundtrack, which some players enjoy, but the limited variety has led to complaints about it becoming tiresome during extended play sessions. Overall, while the soundtrack is praised for its charm, it may not hold up for everyone over long periods.
“I absolutely love the soundtrack, being very unique and cozy, matching perfectly with the game's overall tone and gameplay.”
“The music is great, and I love the fact there are so many options to choose what kind of game you want to play.”
“The characters are quirky and fun, and the music fits the game perfectly.”
“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.”
- stability53 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative 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 loss of progress. While some users note minor bugs or improvements, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability problems that detract from the experience.
“For being in early access, it's incredibly bug-free, with only a few minor issues that can be easily resolved by deconstructing and reconstructing the workshop.”
“The game runs smoothly without major glitches, making for a stable and enjoyable experience.”
“I've encountered very few bugs, and the overall performance is impressively stable for an early access title.”
“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.”
- story33 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Gnomoria is largely criticized for its lack of depth and character development, with many 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 much to be desired. Overall, Gnomoria is seen as a fun management game, but it falls short in delivering 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 dig into the earth, mine precious minerals, and face unknown dangers in the quest to see your kingdom thrive and grow.”
“However, instead of complex character interaction and dynamic story creation, you get a cute wave defense game with a more accessible (albeit slower) user interface.”
“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.”
- grinding33 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth of micromanagement and the rewarding nature of skill progression, many find the gameplay tedious and slow, often requiring excessive watching and minimal engagement. The limited farming options and lack of diverse content lead to a sense of monotony, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of building and farming mechanics, but the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
“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.”
“And then there was my complete and utter lack of patience for the tedious micro-management and brutal difficulty of that particular game.”
- optimization27 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues and bugs that can lead to game-breaking scenarios, especially 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 suffers from significant optimization shortcomings. Despite its potential and enjoyable gameplay, the lack of proper optimization detracts from the experience, particularly on older systems.
“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.”
“Had potential, but buggy as heck and suffers severe performance issues in the later game.”
“This is a notable problem with indie games not being properly optimized to work with multiple cores or just not having tight code.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative 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 or variety that could enhance replayability, the majority highlight the addictive gameplay and the potential for countless hours of entertainment. Regular updates and the sandbox nature of the game further contribute to its enduring appeal.
“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.”
“Loving this game - it has everything I want in a game - immersive, addictive, and replayable.”
“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.”
“The game has so much more potential, but as it stands now, it's completely playable and replayable.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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 similar games, it still delivers plenty of entertaining moments that keep players engaged.
“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.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative 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 game's ongoing bugs and the developer's decision to cease updates contribute to a sense of heartbreak for players who have invested emotionally in their worlds.
“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.”
“I love this game and sometimes I get overemotional towards some gnomes and their deaths.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as cozy and engaging, enhanced by a diverse and high-quality audio experience that includes an addictive soundtrack. However, some users note that certain sound effects can be jarring and may clash with the overall ambiance. Overall, it offers a more approachable alternative to similar games like Dwarf Fortress.
“Cozy 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.”
“Some sounds can be particularly jarring or otherwise seem to clash with the game's atmosphere.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for feeling like a cash grab, as developer support dwindled shortly after the initial release, leading to concerns about the game's long-term viability and commitment to players.
“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.”