"Grim Realms" is a survival simulation game where players guide a group of humans with unique traits and abilities in a grim, procedurally generated world overrun by the undead. Manage their needs, set priorities, and defend against various threats. As seasons change and years pass, humans develop and age, adding a layer of realism and immersion. Inspired by Rimworld, Dwarf Fortress, and Terraria, this game offers a rich and challenging experience.
Fun and addictive gameplay with a simple economy system and seasonal changes.
The developer is responsive to feedback and actively works on updates and improvements.
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and AI issues, making it frustrating to play.
The tutorial is lacking, leaving players confused about basic mechanics.
Pathfinding and task management for villagers are poorly implemented, leading to frequent micromanagement.
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of solid mechanics and frustrating bugs, leading to a steep learning curve that can hinder enjoyment. Players appreciate the depth and charm of the game, but many feel that the lack of a comprehensive tutorial and the presence of numerous bugs detract from the overall experience. While the game shows potential and offers engaging concepts, it requires significant polishing and updates to fully realize its capabilities.
“Overall, I like the art, the music is awesomely nice (so nice I had people poke their heads into my den to hear it better), gameplay is solid.”
“Well put together; takes a second to get it down, but once you do, the gameplay is quite smooth, peaceful, but can still be difficult at times.”
“There is a whole open world to explore and settle, with unique mechanics that allow this game to stand out from many other colony sims such as RimWorld.”
“The game is quite advanced in its mechanics, and yet the tutorial teaches you almost nothing.”
“This means that you are left with a gigantic lack of information and have to figure out most of the game mechanics through trial & error (and death).”
“Constant crashes, terrible AI, broken game mechanics, etc. I want to support the developer, but at the pace this is going, you better wait a few dozen updates before trying to do anything here.”
stability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, making basic mechanics tedious and frustrating to use. While it shows promise as a colony sim with engaging gameplay, the current state is considered unplayable by many, with players expressing that it requires significant optimization and development before it can be recommended. Despite the developer's responsiveness to feedback, the overwhelming consensus is that the game remains a "buggy mess" that detracts from the overall experience.
“The constant bugs and performance glitches have ground me down, until I can't be bothered to play anymore.”
“Currently it stands as a really good proof of concept, and excellent and imaginative twist on the colony sim genre, sadly brought down by a poorly optimized and buggy implementation.”
“Really can't recommend this game at this point, it has a good basis but it's extremely buggy at this point.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The game features a charming pixel art style that many players find cute and satisfying, reminiscent of classics like "Terraria." While the overall graphics are praised for their simplicity and quality, some critiques point to a lack of detail in enemy designs, suggesting potential for future updates to enhance customization and aesthetics. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though they may not be universally appealing.
“The pixel artwork is excellent, the music is fun, and the game runs pretty well.”
“Great pixel graphics.”
“Nice graphics, nice models, landscapes, and so on.”
“Aesthetically, it's not particularly 'pretty'.”
“Also, most of the aesthetic qualities this game has presented (especially that of the opening menu) eerily feel like that of 'Airships Conquest the Sky'.”
“The undead are quite lackluster in terms of design and class customization. I do believe that there will be future updates to further customize enemy types and art style; given a more focused approach on detail, I think this would be the next necessary path.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and buggy, particularly in farming and building mechanics, which require significant manual effort and lack automation. Many express a desire for quality of life improvements, such as automatic farming and better resource tracking, to enhance the overall experience. While the game offers enjoyable elements like exploration and character management, the grinding can feel overwhelming and frustrating at times.
“Extremely tedious and buggy mechanics for even performing the most basic of functions, e.g. building.”
“I think there are some definite quality of life improvements that need to happen; farming really should be automatic and keeping track of resources is painful the way it is currently programmed.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The game's story is described as interesting and nostalgic, with a focus on player-driven narratives and colony-building across a vast map. However, some players find the story unclear and the lack of defined factions a drawback, suggesting that while the potential is there, it could benefit from more depth and clarity. Overall, the unique storytelling aspect enhances replayability, making it a memorable experience for many.
“In my opinion, a game that builds into your own unique story is more memorable and replayable.”
“The art, sounds, lore, and story are quite nostalgic; I've more than got my money's worth out of the game and will continue to see my hours double before waiting on the next expansion of content.”
“I've been a major fan of the first Grim Nights game and its mechanics and overall simple story, but this game truly has a lot of potential.”
“Besides this, the story is quite unclear as well as faction backgrounds.”
“But given the story of the game, I can understand the lack of readily known factions.”
“Also, the game's story/goals generally go against doing a dark alignment settlement.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
22%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fun and engaging quality, contributing to a pleasant ambiance that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted the absence of music in the main menu after a minute, the soundtrack is generally described as polished and enjoyable, with many appreciating the developer's effort in creating a varied musical landscape. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's excellent pixel artwork and solid gameplay.
“The pixel artwork is excellent, the music is fun, and the game runs pretty well.”
“Overall, I like the art; the music is awesomely nice (so nice I had people poke their heads into my den to hear it better), and the gameplay is solid.”
“The music adds a wonderful ambiance, and despite its beta status, the game presents a polished and varied experience.”
“The main menu doesn't have music after 1 minute.”
“Grim Nights 2 expands upon the original title with new occupations, resources, art, and music.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly and is well-designed after initial setup, players report significant performance issues and bugs, particularly as colonies expand. Pathfinding and hauling mechanics are notably slow and require better optimization, leading to frustration and diminished gameplay experience. Some users also experienced crashes during world generation, although the game becomes more stable afterward.
“Runs smoothly, well designed.”
“I experienced a few crashes while generating new worlds, but once I got past the setup, the game appears to run smoothly and is fully playable.”
“Sadly, as my colony expanded, responsivity and performance bled away, turning the experience sour.”
“The constant bugs and performance glitches have ground me down, until I can't be bothered to play anymore.”
“Pathfinding in general is slow and buggy; hauling needs better optimization.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grim Realms is praised for its significant replayability, attributed to its engaging concept within the colony survival genre and the ability for players to create unique stories. This combination makes the game memorable and encourages multiple playthroughs.
“Grim Realms is an excellent concept in the colony survival genre and offers huge replayability.”
“In my opinion, a game that builds into your own unique story is more memorable and replayable.”
“Huge replayability.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be present, with users finding it amusing, particularly by the conclusion. Overall, it seems to deliver a lighthearted experience that resonates with players.
“But it's kinda funny in the end.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The atmosphere of Grim Nights 2 is praised for its uniqueness and significant improvement over its predecessor, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with its distinctive art style. Players appreciate the game's ability to create an engaging and immersive environment.
“I played Grim Nights 1, which caught my eye with its unique atmosphere, gameplay, and art style. This sequel seems like a brilliant and unexpected improvement in many ways.”
“The atmosphere in Grim Nights 1 was captivating, and the sequel enhances that experience with even more depth and creativity.”
“The game's atmosphere is immersive and engaging, drawing players into its world and making every moment feel significant.”