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Hokko Life

Hokko Life is a worthwhile experience for fans of Animal Crossing or Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, just do not expect any online connectivity in the near future.
65%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
story, grinding
66% User Score Based on 2,856 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchXbox OneXbox OneSteam DeckSteam Deck

About

"Hokko Life is a single-player Business Role Playing game with great gameplay, stunning visuals, and memorable music, but expect some grinding and bugs. In this cozy community simulation, customize your new home and craft furniture in the workshop, while helping to build and decorate homes for villagers. The recent Desert Islands Distractions Update adds tropical life and archaeology excavations for even more diverse creativity."

Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
Hokko Life screenshot
+2

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,866 reviews
gameplay70 positive mentions
story46 negative mentions

  • Charming graphics and cute character designs that evoke a cozy atmosphere.
  • Extensive customization options for furniture and the ability to share creations with the community.
  • Relaxing gameplay that allows players to progress at their own pace without real-time constraints.
  • Slow pacing and tedious early game that can lead to boredom and frustration.
  • Lack of engaging character interactions and personality among villagers.
  • Bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and hinder progression.
  • story
    514 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Hokko Life is minimal and often described as simplistic, lacking depth and character development. Players are thrown into a rural town with no backstory, primarily engaging in fetch quests for villagers, which can feel repetitive and uninspired. While the game offers a cozy atmosphere and opportunities for creativity, many reviewers express disappointment over the lack of a compelling narrative or meaningful interactions with characters.

    • “To sum up the story, you show up to a small rural town with only a couple of shops and villagers, and you help bring it to life by planting flowers and trees, building houses, bridges, and staircases, destroying rocks and chopping down trees that may be in the way, all of the things you could expect from a truly unique and original video game.”
    • “I am loving it and look forward to seeing where the story takes me.”
    • “It's got a fun story, interesting characters and I love the ability to create my own furniture and place them on angles if I please.”
    • “The story is extremely simplistic, to the point that the player character doesn’t even have a backstory before stepping off the train to this town.”
    • “There's no real story goal as to what you need to do to progress.”
    • “The characters repeat dialogue a lot and whatever they do say feels extremely bland, the interactions feel useless because of it, and the missions are really just repetitive fetch quests, so nothing with story and nothing that progresses any sort of friendship with the animals.”
  • gameplay
    435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this title has drawn mixed reviews, with many players noting its strong resemblance to "Animal Crossing" but criticizing it for being slow-paced and repetitive. While some appreciate the relaxing nature and crafting mechanics, others find the lack of engaging content and clunky controls detract from the overall experience, leading to boredom and frustration. Overall, the game offers a cozy life simulation experience, but it struggles with pacing and clarity in its mechanics, leaving players wanting more depth and guidance.

    • “If you like relaxing gameplay, you will like this.”
    • “The mechanics are fun and the core gameplay is interesting and rewarding.”
    • “Hokko Life is a well-developed cozy life sim that feels familiar enough to settle right into but has plenty of unique mechanics and creative freedom to keep even seasoned life sim players entertained for many hours of gameplay.”
    • “Quite honestly, this game seems to be for very young children only. The graphics are adorable at first, but the gameplay is repetitive and becomes boring very fast.”
    • “Due in part to attempting to provide 'constant' gameplay a la Stardew Valley and eschewing real-time progression like its inspiration, it has a lot of things to do; it's just that none of said things are enjoyable and the characters you do them for are written very poorly.”
    • “The gameplay loop grows old.”
  • grinding
    406 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early stages where resource gathering feels slow and unfulfilling. While some appreciate the variety of activities available, such as farming, fishing, and crafting, they often feel that the progression is hindered by excessive grinding for materials and tasks that can become monotonous. Overall, players suggest that while the game has potential, it may not be the best choice for those seeking a relaxing experience without the burden of grinding.

    • “Not grindy, especially with errands and the villager donation box that can be unlocked pretty easily.”
    • “It's really cute, there's many items in the game, it's not too grindy, the villagers are sweet.”
    • “However, it becomes boring as you play since you'll be left with grinding.”
    • “One of the biggest grievances I've seen in other reviews is the grindy aspect of the game, which, yeah, you have to spend some time grinding tasks (planting trees, smashing rocks, etc.) to unlock new features, which can be a bit annoying to people that are wanting to get settled in and start thriving right away.”
    • “The game is slow and needlessly grindy.”
  • graphics
    332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the cute and charming art style reminiscent of titles like Animal Crossing, while others criticize the character designs as lifeless or uncanny. Some players appreciate the vibrant environments and detailed decorations, but note issues such as graphical glitches, poor optimization, and a lack of polish. Overall, the visuals are seen as appealing yet inconsistent, with potential for improvement as the game continues to develop.

    • “I really like the graphics as well, very well done and soothing!!”
    • “The game has very good graphics, it is even interestingly made and it is very nice that you can create your own different designs.”
    • “With its adorable cartoon graphics and laid-back vibe reminiscent of Animal Crossing, this game introduces the joy of farming into the mix.”
    • “I couldn't believe how bad the graphics looked.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, the mechanics are even worse.”
    • “The graphics looked very unpolished.”
  • music
    190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and ambient, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that many players enjoy. However, some users find it repetitive and limited, with suggestions for more variety, such as seasonal themes. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its calming qualities, it can become dull over extended play sessions, and the lack of volume control options is noted as a drawback.

    • “Art is super cute, music is relaxing, an overall cozy experience :3”
    • “The music is super relaxing and I never get tired of it, it just makes me feel so calm and happy.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing! The animations, the music, the dialogue, it is so pleasant, beautiful and charming, and cozy.”
    • “You spend a lot of time there and the music is so dull it hurts my brain.”
    • “The characters and town are lifeless, the controls are clunky and the soundtrack lands with a thud.”
    • “As of now the music is kind of limited, but fixing the pacing of the game should always be prioritized.”
  • stability
    140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting a significant number of bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some users have noted that the game runs smoothly without major issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" with frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and quest-related problems. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game shows potential, it is currently plagued by stability issues, particularly in its early access state.

    • “Runs amazing, no glitches or bugs so far.”
    • “Pros: it's not buggy, graphics are fine.”
    • “If you want to wait for this game to be bug-free, wait until early access ends, I'd say.”
    • “It would be fine if the game wasn't a buggy mess.”
    • “The game is disappointing, full of bugs and glitches.”
    • “There’s quite a few issues and glitches that add up to it being nowhere near to a $20 game.”
  • character development
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the character designs to be unappealing or uncanny, often comparing them to creepy dolls or characters from horror games. While some appreciate the customization options and the freedom to decorate, the overall consensus is that the character designs lack the charm and personality found in similar games like Animal Crossing, leading to a less engaging experience. Additionally, the writing and narrative depth are seen as lacking, further detracting from character development.

    • “I think a lot of what carries Animal Crossing is the really cute character designs and their wild personalities, along with the absolutely boggling amount of dialogue they have.”
    • “There's tons of decoration options, the ability to customize yourself, as well as a lot of freedom to just do as you please (though you have to unlock certain things throughout it). Some of this game also stands out as unique, such as character design, furniture building, and the ability to free-hand decorate any house or any area at any time.”
    • “They were interesting character designs; some I liked more than others.”
    • “Some of the character designs are a little uncanny, and the playable character customization could use a little bit of work in my personal opinion.”
    • “The character design options are few and not good at all.”
    • “The original character design for the game was so cute and now it's big head mode with weird humanoid bodies.”
  • atmosphere
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, charming, and relaxing qualities, with many players enjoying the vibrant characters and excellent soundtrack that enhance the experience. While some critiques mention a lack of beauty in the atmosphere, the overall sentiment highlights its potential as a calming environment reminiscent of games like Animal Crossing, making it enjoyable for casual play. The ability to engage at one's own pace further contributes to the game's appeal, despite being in early access.

    • “The game has a cozy and charming atmosphere, and I love that I can play at my own pace.”
    • “This game is fun, addictive, enjoyable, and has a really calm and relaxing atmosphere to play.”
    • “I understand it's early access but I feel like atmosphere is important in these kinds of games.”
    • “The game is very charming, and the atmosphere is very calm as you build up this little town.”
    • “A big point of these types of craft/farm games is the atmosphere.”
  • humor
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its quirky villagers and their amusing antics, such as their obsession with paint-related quests and the humorous bugs that add charm to the experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted jokes and references, including the "Stardew Valley" meme, which resonate well within the community. However, some feel that the humor doesn't quite reach the levels of similar games, like Animal Crossing, but still find it enjoyable overall.

    • “Btw, lots of this game's villagers are obsessed with paints 🤣 I find it funny that lots of quests are always about paints.”
    • “The villagers are hilarious.”
    • “Otherwise, this is the only thing that actually had me in a laughing fit with my friend in a call as I crafted masterpieces.”
  • emotional
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the wholesome community and relaxing gameplay, many criticize the lack of depth in character interactions and emotional attachment, describing the villagers as bland and the story as mundane. The absence of meaningful relationships and engaging narratives detracts from the overall emotional experience, leading to a perception of soullessness in the game's world. However, for those seeking a light-hearted, casual experience, it may still provide a comforting escape.

    • “From Robert, the game's creator, all the way down to average, everyday players like myself - there's such a wholesome, friendly vibe that it's hard to be anything other than happily relaxed while designing something and talking it over in Discord with other community members, or asking for help when you've run into a snag with your save!”
    • “I find the gameplay loop relaxing too, as I mentioned above. From catching fish to insects, it is nice to take a break from heavier games to soak in a heartwarming setting.”
    • “Wholesome interactions, intricate furnishing design tools, infinite town design possibilities, and a very enthusiastic community.”
    • “Not much to do, boring story, mundane tasks, and to top it off, too many trite repetitive conversations with the cutesy, sugar-coated AI.”
  • optimization
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, particularly on the Nintendo Switch, where players have reported significant performance issues and lag, especially with increased in-game elements like plants. While some users experienced smooth performance on higher-end PCs, others noted that even on lower settings, the game can overheat and lag on less powerful hardware. Overall, many players acknowledge the game's early access status and express hope for future optimization improvements from the indie developers.

    • “The game runs smoothly even on my computer and only lags a tiny bit for a short time when something spawns near me.”
    • “However, I do recognize that the game is in early access and being developed by a small indie studio, so I expect that the devs will eventually add better optimization to the game.”
    • “Even on the lowest settings, a computer with a good GPU will heat up significantly, and I would imagine that computers with less powerful GPUs would lag greatly; the game is in desperate need of graphical optimization.”
    • “Also, a little more optimization would be nice, since the game gets laggier the more plants I put in the world.”
    • “Even on lowest settings, a computer with a good GPU will heat up like no tomorrow, and I would imagine that computers with a not-as-good GPU would lag greatly; the game is in desperate need of graphical optimization.”
    • “(Also, the game doesn't even run at 60 FPS using the Steam Deck. I needed to lock the framerate to 45 to get mostly stable performance.)”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as deceptive and exploitative, with many users feeling it is a blatant cash grab that fails to deliver on the promised customization features. Reviewers draw unfavorable comparisons to Animal Crossing, suggesting that the game lacks the depth and effort expected from a title in the life/farming simulator genre.

    • “This was a rather deceptive way of advertising the game; at least Animal Crossing showed you were going to be working to build everything by yourself with tools before you even have the option to customize.”
    • “Feels like an effortless cash grab for money; to copy such an amazing game (Animal Crossing) and turn it into this is astonishing.”
    • “This just feels like a cheap cash grab to profit from the Animal Crossing/life/farming simulator genre.”
  • replayability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts significant replayability due to its lack of a definitive end game, allowing players to continuously build and craft. Additionally, the randomly generated map layouts for each playthrough enhance the experience, making it infinitely replayable.

    • “It has huge replayability value, not only because it doesn’t actually have an end game (you just keep building and crafting ad infinitum, plus the map layout is randomly generated for each playthrough).”
    • “🔲 infinitely replayable”
    • “It has huge replayability value, not only because it doesn’t actually have an end game (you just keep building and crafting ad infinitum, plus the map layout is randomly generated for each playthrough).”

Buy Hokko Life

6h Median play time
8h Average play time
2-15h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

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