Hotel Renovator
- January 24, 2023
- Two Horizons
- 15h median play time
Hotel Renovator tries to convey the highs and lows of upscaling a hotel. However, anyone expecting it to be a luxury experience with chocolates left on their pillowcases will be sorely disappointed, as many minor issues lead to a subpar stay.
"Hotel Renovator" is a game that allows you to unleash your inner designer by renovating an old, neglected hotel. You can tear down and replace outdated features, customize the hotel with over 2000 different design options, and manage the hotel to achieve 5-star reviews. Share your creations with the community and find inspiration from other players.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging building experience with a wide variety of customization options for furniture, colors, and patterns.
- The graphics are beautiful, and the game provides a satisfying sense of progression as players renovate and upgrade the hotel.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and are actively working on fixing bugs and improving the game.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including issues with quests not registering as complete and NPCs getting stuck or behaving oddly.
- The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it frustrating to navigate through the extensive options for colors and furniture.
- Random events interrupt gameplay too frequently, which can detract from the overall experience and make it feel tedious.
- story226 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story mode offers a whimsical and engaging narrative, though many players find it somewhat thin and repetitive, often feeling more like a sandbox experience. While the quests and character interactions add charm, bugs and glitches frequently disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration with mission progression. Overall, the story is enjoyable but could benefit from more depth and variety to enhance the experience.
“The story line alongside it is funny and different than usual sim games.”
“The story is cute and the chicken is something special.”
“The story is fun and engaging and there's been plenty to do.”
“The game technically has both a story and a sandbox mode, but the story mode feels like a sandbox mode.”
“The main storyline is not well thought out, guessing that grandpa's marriage to grandma was just living a lie.”
“I wish the story line was a lot more involved - I breezed through it and it felt too quick.”
- stability118 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- -2 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, many express frustration over game-breaking glitches, freezing, and a lack of developer support for fixes. Overall, the game is considered too unstable for a full release, with many recommending waiting for patches before purchasing.
“The game has a few bugs here and there like any new game, but for me, it has been almost totally bug-free with just a couple of little hiccups that were resolved either by me or the devs' patches.”
“Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, with minimal crashes and smooth gameplay.”
“I've experienced very few issues since the last update, and the developers are quick to address any problems that arise.”
“After spending too much time troubleshooting for a game I couldn’t even play, I decided to uninstall and request a refund.”
“It's full of bugs and glitches, especially if you're a completist; it really gets frustrating.”
“This game should be in early access and priced accordingly; it is full of bugs and glitches that the devs are struggling to fix.”
- graphics88 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their beauty, detail, and vibrant colors, while others report significant lag and graphical glitches, especially when adding more items or playing on higher settings. Some users note that despite the appealing visuals, performance issues can detract from the overall experience, suggesting a need for optimization. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, they are marred by technical problems that impact gameplay.
“The graphics are beautiful, the rooms are well laid out, and an amazing selection of decor and furniture.”
“This game has so much potential, it's beautiful, controls are easy, graphics and items just scream 'wow!'.”
“The graphics are gorgeous and I love the little missions.”
“Graphics are very laggy.”
“I tried lowering my graphics thinking maybe that was the issue, but even on the lowest of settings I was still somehow falling through the map.”
“It's currently littered with bugs and graphical issues.”
- gameplay75 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and enjoyment, with many players criticizing the mechanics as unpolished and riddled with bugs, particularly the floor painting and UI issues. While some appreciate the game's premise and the variety of tasks, others find the repetitive nature and lack of depth in decorating mechanics disappointing. Overall, the gameplay offers potential but requires significant improvements to enhance player experience.
“The gameplay is incredibly satisfying, and the attention to detail is impressive.”
“The gameplay was intuitive and easy to pick up, and I loved the challenge of staying within a budget while still creating beautiful spaces for guests.”
“I love House Flipper and this has similar mechanics with plenty of little tasks to do and the satisfaction of cleaning up a dirty hotel!”
“The fact that the developers have pushed out multiple DLCs without addressing these major gameplay bugs really sours me on the project and gives the impression that this is just a minimum effort cash grab.”
“The problem is that the mechanics and controls kind of suck; mouse wheel scrolling goes from single location scrolling to so much scrolling you think you're playing Wheel of Fortune. Controls are also inconsistent, where you think pressing the same button will do the same action across different contexts, but it doesn't always.”
“This game is riddled with bugs, bugs that are so disturbing to the actual gameplay.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious, with players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks such as painting, laying flooring, and managing item selection. While some enjoy the meticulous nature of these activities, many find the extensive scrolling through textures and colors overwhelming and time-consuming. Overall, the game offers a mix of tedious elements and moments of efficiency, with some players hoping for improvements through future updates.
“Renovating the place is not tedious; you get a lot of tools to do the job efficiently.”
“It’s a nice balance of not being tedious like House Flipper, where you slowly painted each individual wall panel.”
“If I could sum it up with one word: tedious.”
“The problem is, there are so many choices that trying to make a room that has visual cohesion becomes quite tedious - yes, I can have the same pattern on my bedding, curtains, rugs etc., but if I actually want to do that I have to scroll through an exhaustively long list of textures with the mouse wheel, and then find the exact shade I used elsewhere in the even longer color list, every time.”
“It is tedious, laying carpet or painting a wall; well, settle in for a nice 45 minutes while you tediously place every square of flooring or paint on the wall.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting persistent performance issues, including frame rate drops and lag, particularly in more complex environments. Despite some users noting improvements and a commitment from developers to address bugs, the overall sentiment is that the game remains poorly optimized for a title released in 2023, affecting the overall player experience. While a few players have experienced smooth performance, the majority highlight the need for significant optimization updates.
“Bug fixes and optimizations make for a much more enjoyable game now.”
“The graphics are good, the performance is good, and so far the gameplay is fun and engaging.”
“I'll admit I've run into my share of bugs and performance issues, but I can see that the developers are committed to fixing things.”
“This game has been out since 2023, and these optimizations should have been made throughout the lifespan of this game.”
“Since this has been out for over a year, I'm kind of surprised that there are still some performance and gameplay issues that are not game-breaking, but affect the player experience (clipping NPC characters, placement precision of objects is very limited, color picker tool unavailable).”
“At this point in time, this game is very unoptimized.”
- humor17 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and random events, with players finding the absurdity of situations—like a mischievous chicken and bizarre customer behaviors—entertaining, though sometimes repetitive and disruptive. While some aspects of the humor can become annoying, many players appreciate the lightheartedness and unique comedic elements woven into the storyline and gameplay. Overall, the game's humor adds a fun and whimsical layer, despite some inconsistencies and bugs that contribute to its charm.
“Funnily enough, the most silly addition to pointless events is the chicken, and yet I find that one the most funny and somewhat makes sense—a spicy chicken that's out to ruin your stuff.”
“The random occurrences that happen throughout the gameplay are really funny and keep things fresh and entertaining.”
“There are moments when you'll walk into your elevator and just see your customers walking around each other in a circle, which is lowkey kinda weird but also funny.”
- music13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players find it pleasant and immersive, others criticize the lack of a substantial soundtrack and the inability to turn off the UI music. Many users prefer to listen to their own music while playing, indicating that the game's audio does not significantly enhance the experience. Additionally, there are reports of technical issues with the music playback, such as skipping during the intro.
“The graphics are colorful and detailed, and the sound effects and music are pleasant and immersive.”
“Just put on some music in the background, a podcast, or just the radio and you'll be wondering if the sun even still exists outside of your game.”
“Music and sounds are fine, the voicing is nice.”
“No soundtrack, really the devs did not invest much into any music or sound for this game.”
“The UI music cannot be turned off.”
“Just put on some music in the background, a podcast or just the radio and you'll be wondering if the sun even still exists outside of your game.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -22 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players feeling that the developers prioritize profit over quality by releasing multiple DLCs without addressing major gameplay bugs. Many users perceive the additional content as minimal and misleading, labeling it as a cash grab rather than meaningful expansions, especially given the game's unfinished state and lack of free updates. Overall, the sentiment suggests a frustration with the monetization approach, which seems to exploit players rather than enhance their experience.
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money to enjoy the game.”
“I appreciate that the in-game purchases are purely cosmetic and don't affect gameplay balance.”
“The game offers a variety of options for players who want to support the developers without feeling forced to spend.”
“However, the fact that the developers have pushed out multiple DLCs without addressing these major gameplay bugs really sours me on the project and gives the impression that this is just a minimum effort cash grab.”
“Very disappointing and a cash grab; for such a small concept game with little interaction with customers, I would have expected at least a few free updates of furniture before forcing us to buy DLC.”
“It's clear to me that the devs have rushed this game out and they even refused to bring it out as early access, so getting a refund on this broken, buggy mess is going to be a lot harder. The devs know this as well, which makes me think they don't care about gamers but only about cash grabs.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through various styles and themes for hotel customization, allowing players to unlock new items and features. Many users find it enjoyable and relaxing, making it easy to spend hours redecorating. However, some players express concerns that a single substantial playthrough may cover most of the content, potentially limiting long-term replay value.
“There's loads of replay value because you can just keep redecorating things if you feel like it.”
“Easy time sink with replayability and just generally a fun and relaxing time.”
“This game is not worth it for replay value, and the dev team is seriously worse than EA.”
“I can certainly see me sinking many hours into this; however, my slight concern is replayability, as although you can do what you wish with the rooms, I feel you can do it all in one substantial playthrough.”
“The game has a lot of replay value, as you can try different styles and themes for your hotel, and unlock new items and features as you progress.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is negatively impacted by the presence of NPCs that frequently obstruct movement and behave erratically, such as getting stuck in lifts and floating through objects. While these issues do not affect gameplay, they detract from the overall immersion and ambiance of the game.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with its stunning visuals and sound design.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making it feel alive and engaging.”
“The ambient sounds and music perfectly complement the visuals, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you stop playing.”
“These lovely people swarm the lobby every time you enter it and get in the way if you are trying to decorate. They walk in tight little circles in the lift, get stuck in the lift walls (make sure which button you press if a hooker is stuck in there), float above the reception desk and chairs, walk through doors in the corridors, and just generally spoil the atmosphere.”
“It doesn't affect gameplay, but it does throw off the atmosphere.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome story, contributing to an overall fun and emotionally engaging experience.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every moment feel impactful.”
“I was genuinely moved by the characters' journeys; their struggles and triumphs resonated with me on a personal level.”
“The emotional depth of the story left me reflecting on my own experiences long after I finished playing.”
Critic Reviews
Hotel Renovator review – The tackier the better
is more than just another addition to the simulator genre, elevating what it means to create a property renovation game. No matter how you play, there’s a lot of satisfaction that will come as a result of seeing a room you created fully come together. While it has occasional issues with textures and NPCs, anyone who enjoys a good home makeover will have a lot of fun in this game.
85%Hotel Renovator Review
Hotel Renovator tries to convey the highs and lows of upscaling a hotel. However, anyone expecting it to be a luxury experience with chocolates left on their pillowcases will be sorely disappointed, as many minor issues lead to a subpar stay.
60%Hotel Renovator [PC] | REVIEW
Hotel Renovator is an addictive experience that gives players a fun (and at times comical) take on the hotel business. Whilst renovating and decorating takes centre stage, tending to your guests’ needs and ensuring your hotel is a success feels equally rewarding. With plenty of different tasks to complete on the way, it’s easy to lose hours making your hotel the five-star talk of the town. It does have some technical issues that can hinder the experience, and I’d be lying if I said Hotel Renovator really did something with the genre that I hadn’t seen before. Fortunately, there’s way more good than bad here, with the game standing out as a pleasant surprise that I didn’t expect to get as hooked into as I did.
75%