Hydroneer
- May 8, 2020
- Foulball Hangover
- 19h median play time
Hydroneer is a mining sandbox game that lets you dig for resources using hydro-powered machines and primitive tools. Build your base of operations and create networks of hydro pipes to control pressure. Explore the world, discover relics, and craft various items in this tycoon-style progression system.
Reviews
- grinding1,013 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that the early stages are particularly tedious and repetitive, often involving manual tasks like panning for gold and transporting items one at a time. While some players find the grind rewarding and enjoyable, especially as they progress to automation, others feel that the lack of an inventory system and the slow pace of early gameplay detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is best suited for those who appreciate grind-heavy mechanics and are willing to invest time to unlock more engaging gameplay.
“It's fun and it's not too grindy!”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This game has a horrendously tedious start and I honestly don't want to force myself to get to the part where it gets less tedious.”
“The grinding for resources, sorting, melting is unequal to any other game and sooooo slow.”
“The initial gameplay may seem tedious: use a shovel to dig dirt, put that dirt in a bucket four times, empty that bucket into a pan, fill that pan with water, then use a scrub brush to wash the dirt away and reveal ores and precious gems.”
- gameplay919 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Hydroneer is characterized by a unique but often frustrating mechanic that limits players to carrying only one item at a time, leading to a tedious and repetitive experience. While some players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere and the potential for creative automation, many criticize the clunky controls, lack of clear tutorials, and a gameplay loop that can feel shallow and unengaging over time. Overall, the game offers an interesting concept with solid mechanics, but it suffers from significant issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
“So, if you like a 50 hour-ish sandbox game with good vibe and clean, polished gameplay, I totally recommend this!”
“The simple mechanics and creative freedom make it a relaxing yet rewarding experience for fans of simulation and crafting games.”
“The gameplay is awesome while it feels grindy at start it gets way more fun once you have machines.”
“My only complaint is that gameplay becomes repetitive far too quickly, which makes it very easy to quit out of boredom.”
“Zero tutorial, annoying multiple cursor mechanic and many other problems that I saw in less than 2 hours... how was this named 2nd place indie game of the year?”
“The gameplay itself just feels like a lot of work for no reward, and you'll end up spending just as much time googling things trying to figure out how the game works.”
- stability438 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. While some find the glitches amusing and part of the charm, many others express frustration over game-breaking issues, such as items disappearing, vehicles behaving erratically, and performance drops during resource-heavy moments. Overall, the game is considered a "buggy mess," with players hoping for future updates to address these persistent issues.
“Runs great.”
“Great game runs great on Steam Deck!”
“This game is great, happily spend hours playing and runs great on my old PC from 2014!”
“Unoptimized and buggy mess, yet the developers have the audacity to release a DLC rather than fixing the base game.”
“The game is extremely buggy and all progress can be completely lost by a random glitch that will skyrocket all your resources and tools either into space or far below the ground.”
“This game is a buggy mess and difficult to play.”
- graphics399 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the charming, cartoonish art style and vibrant colors that create an immersive atmosphere. However, several users report performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, where the game struggles to run smoothly even at reduced settings. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing, optimization remains a significant concern for many players.
“The graphics and sound design create a deeply immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay.”
“The game's graphics are visually stunning, and its intuitive mechanics make it easy to pick up and play.”
“The graphics are nice and it runs smooth, except when you try to lift buckets with hundreds of nuggets in them.”
“Mixed with the lifelessness of the world and the poor visuals, it's just not much of a game.”
“The graphics are a combination of modern and rustic, but the performance is lacking, even on low settings.”
“I didn't realize you need such a decent graphics card to run what looks to be a simple game; if the devs could include some kind of render distance or ultra-low graphics setting, that would be awesome.”
- story328 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting that there is no overarching narrative or meaningful quests to engage with. While there are some fetch quests and minor tasks, they often feel tedious and lack depth, leaving players without a compelling reason to progress beyond basic resource gathering and automation. Overall, the consensus is that the game would greatly benefit from a more developed storyline or structured objectives to enhance player motivation and immersion.
“The quests given out by NPCs that walk around the map don't alleviate the problem and are themselves also tedious.”
“I would appreciate some kind of missions, upgrades, trading, etc., that will give me a reason to continue playing.”
“It has no influence in game, there are no quests or similar fishing requirements to progress (with one infuriating exception).”
“The game is just completely and utterly empty, nothing to do but grind in order to grind faster but there's no goal to work towards or story to unearth, there's just nothing...”
“There's no overarching story.”
“It needs a reason to buy an additional plot of land, such as locally specific resources, a reason to improve the factory, more than just desire, like time constraints on some of the construction requests.”
- optimization222 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including drastic frame rate drops and stuttering, especially during late-game scenarios or when handling large quantities of items. Despite some improvements noted in recent updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for users, even on high-end hardware. Many reviewers express hope for future updates to address these optimization concerns.
“The gameplay loop is pretty rewarding, and optimization is fun.”
“With the release of 2.0 and optimization improvements, the game is not only playable, but massively enjoyable!”
“The game has a great concept with having no inventory and having to organize yourself and it's also very well optimized even though it's made by just one person, but I do see some problems with lack of polish in some areas.”
“Optimization seems to be non-existent.”
“Sadly, the jank, optimization, and lack of quality of life hampers it.”
“The game is poorly optimized and it's way too easy to bring things to a crawl just playing normally.”
- humor162 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its quirky physics, amusing glitches, and unexpected moments that often lead to laughter. Many reviews highlight how the game's bugs, rather than being frustrating, contribute to its charm and comedic value, making it a fun experience overall. The community's engagement with the game's humorous aspects, including funny item descriptions and entertaining multiplayer interactions, further enhances its appeal.
“It's mostly a physics simulator that has funny moments because it's so janky.”
“The bugs in the game aren't much of a problem; in fact, some of them are quite funny!”
“Welcome to the hilariously entertaining world of 'Hydroneer,' where digging for gold and resources has never been more comically rewarding!”
“And then another major issue is if you accidentally pick up your sorter, which in itself is not funny. There is still stuff in the sorter that is hanging mid-air, preventing you from placing the sorter back. Then you have to pick all the items one by one from mid-air and drop them in a container. Pfffff.”
“What is not funny is the lag once a small operation of drills is running.”
“You're not funny!”
- music75 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and soothing, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere and making it suitable for playing while listening to other audio, like podcasts. While some players appreciate the peaceful soundtrack, others find it simplistic or repetitive, suggesting a desire for more variety. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gameplay experience, providing a pleasant backdrop for resource gathering and building activities.
“Both the music and sound effects create a beautiful setting that helps you get sucked in for hours at a time.”
“The soothing music just melts the stress away :) 10/10”
“The music along with the gameplay will lull you into an almost catatonic state - great for stress!!”
“I honestly would not recommend this game; it uses an unnecessarily high-quality engine that looks subpar. There is no other music other than the peaceful background sounds on constant repeat, and the NPCs are annoying.”
“Poor tutorial, poorly fitting and forgettable soundtrack; nothing feels like it has weight to it. Picking up and placing objects slightly off to the right is weird and feels lazy.”
“Though I strongly suggest muting the soundtrack unless you want brain damage... a major issue is the physics.”
- atmosphere40 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is frequently described as relaxing, charming, and immersive, with a blend of medieval steampunk and whimsical elements that enhance the overall experience. While many players appreciate the soothing music and pleasant graphics, some criticize the world for feeling empty or unfinished. Overall, it offers a laid-back vibe that is ideal for players seeking a tranquil gaming experience, despite some technical issues and a lack of engaging content.
“The graphics and sound design create a deeply immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay.”
“Its serene atmosphere, satisfying progression, and extensive crafting possibilities make it an excellent choice for those seeking a tranquil and creatively engaging gaming experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is very laid back and a great way to kick back and enjoy your weekend.”
“The atmosphere of the world feels kinda soulless and unfinished.”
“No real 'atmosphere', a handful of NPCs or little Easter eggs would really brighten the world.”
“The atmosphere is too quiet.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag among users; while some praise it for being highly replayable and entertaining, others point out limitations in content and progression that hinder long-term engagement. Many players appreciate the active development and updates, hoping for future enhancements to increase replay value, but some feel that once the game is mastered, it lacks sufficient depth to warrant repeated playthroughs. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there is potential for replayability, it currently varies significantly based on individual player experience.
“Great game, period, very replayable.”
“It has genuine replayability and I love the grind.”
“✅ infinitely replayable.”
“I like the game, and think it's good value for money, but there's limited replayability.”
“There is no progression system and no replay value after you explored the already very limited building options.”
“I feel like this game does not have a lot of replay value and 12 hours in I feel like I have 'beaten' the game since 1 trip to sell my items gives me 95k currency.”
- emotional17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, initially feeling a sense of coziness and connection to the village setting, but later experiencing frustration due to tedious gameplay mechanics and technical issues. The slow progression can lead to satisfaction when resources are finally amassed, yet many users report feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned, resulting in a desire to take a break from the game. Overall, while the aesthetic is described as wholesome and relaxing, the gameplay challenges detract from the emotional experience.
“The aesthetic is wholesome and comfy, definitely a relaxing game.”
“It was a godsend, but it made me feel like I was in a beta test.”
“The game at first made me feel like I'm a part of a cozy little village of people.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and fair pricing, while others criticize the introduction of paid DLCs and ads, perceiving them as cash grabs. Overall, the sentiment reflects a divide between those who value the game's content and pricing strategy and those frustrated by perceived exploitation and minimal updates.
“Good pricing and no intrusive microtransactions, just a great game experience.”
“Max is a solo developer with no big team or huge marketing budget, focusing on delivering a great game at a great price.”
“There is no monetization scheme, just a commitment to quality and value.”
“I've seen okay games getting terrible DLCs that are really meant for a cash grab.”
“I have no clue why the devs decided that taking a few moments at the start of the game to explain how to play was out of the question, but I'm pretty upset I paid actual money to be forced into watching ads.”
“This is just becoming a cash grab that they have put very minimal effort into actually improving over the last years.”