Idle Pins
- October 16, 2021
- Arkshija
- 440h median play time
Get on SteamTired of those incremental games where you have to buy the first highlighted upgrade without thinking? Do you enjoy the rewarding feeling after unlocking hard earned stuff? THIS-IS-YOUR-GAME! I've been working and updating this game in my free time, as a hobby, during the last two years. I want to thank the community for their support and feedback. Hope you enjoy it. Fuse two Pins to get an…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of idle and active gameplay, making it engaging for players who enjoy strategy and planning.
- The developer is active in the community, frequently interacts with players, and provides regular updates and events.
- The game is free to play and offers a substantial amount of premium currency through daily logins and community events.
- There is no offline progression, requiring players to keep the game running constantly to make meaningful progress.
- The game is heavily grind-based, with slow progression that can feel tedious and frustrating, especially in the early stages.
- The monetization model is criticized for being pay-to-win, with essential quality of life features locked behind premium currency.
- grinding58 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's grinding mechanics are a major point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and slow, often leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. While some appreciate the rewarding feeling of overcoming grinding challenges, others find the experience overwhelmingly monotonous, with progress feeling minimal and heavily reliant on time investment. Overall, the game is characterized as extremely grindy, appealing primarily to those who enjoy long, incremental gameplay.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“However, some of that is due to poor quality of life decisions that lead to extra grinding.”
“The game is extremely grindy to the point of making progress nonexistent.”
“Unreasonably grindy compared to others in the genre, while not giving engaging gameplay in the meantime.”
- gameplay53 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a slow and grindy progression, with many players finding it excessively tedious and lacking engaging mechanics. While some appreciate the unique pin mechanics and the depth that unfolds over time, others criticize the game for its monetization strategies and the need for constant attention, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of interesting ideas but is marred by its reliance on grind and pay-to-win elements.
“And in the beginning it appears to not have much - but as you play and season after season (prestige mechanic) it gets way funnier.”
“Altogether with the Discord community and the dev streams, the game has become a lot easier to get started on and is an interesting grind with its mechanics, and I will be playing for many more hours.”
“That said, reaching the milestones and unlocking stuff is rewarding, the game changes a bit as you move further, and when you get the mechanics of the pins and setups, things start to get a little more dynamic in the future, but still: expect to grind a lot, if you like this kind of thing, this game is for you!”
“This game is extremely grindy, worse than most idle games, but that makes it all the more rewarding when you finally have enough points to afford your next upgrade.”
“What you see in the first hour of gameplay is basically how the game feels for the rest of the game.”
“There is no offline progress (except synthlab which is only a fraction of the gameplay), which means this game isn't quite 'idle' - you always have to have the game open, and be on an internet connection to make meaningful progress.”
- monetization17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions and labeling it as a cash grab, particularly given the high costs associated with basic purchases. However, some users appreciate that most premium content can be earned through community engagement and events, suggesting a balance between monetization and player accessibility. Overall, while the game is free-to-play, the aggressive monetization tactics have left a negative impression on a significant portion of the player base.
“A lot of reviews touch on the microtransactions available, but there are really only a handful of things that are locked behind a paywall (mainly a few formations, and some optional boost pins) but these can all be obtained by participating in community events, and watching the dev's Twitch streams, where additional premium currency and items are given out to players on a regular basis.”
“It's free to play with in-game purchases to support the developer.”
“In-app purchases aren't in your face and the dev is pretty generous with premium currency.”
“More of an amalgam of different idle mechanics smashed into a monetization program.”
“I wouldn't punish it that much but it costs over $100 just for the basic microtransactions.”
“The monetization of this game is ridiculous.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the charming pixel art style while others criticize it as rough and outdated. There are no options for resolution or customization, leading to frustration over the low-quality visuals. Despite these shortcomings, the game's addictive gameplay and potential are noted, though many feel that the graphics detract from the overall experience.
“Pros: simple but addictive with the most charming pixel graphics.”
“The art style is charming and the different phases of the grind are well thought out - certain things will click into place just as you start scratching your head about the next way to progress.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“The content in a pixel art-style game is too rough.”
“A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
“There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
- story7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant lack of story in the game, with users expressing disappointment over the absence of engaging narrative elements and character development. Many feel that the gameplay is hindered by this deficiency, leading to a monotonous experience that fails to motivate players to invest in premium content. Overall, the consensus is that the story is either non-existent or poorly executed, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“I think a lot of these things could be quality checked to make it a more interesting start that can lead into a grind, but the story and graphics can't really hold if you're not going to drop $50 or more on the premium stuff!”
“There's no story, no sense of unlocking cool abilities besides the ability to add more pins to the board, and no active vs idle gameplay choice that might help push for higher rewards before a restart or something.”
“☑ no story”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through the developer's engaging and comedic streams, which include entertaining lotteries that add a lighthearted touch. Players appreciate the originality and fun nature of the game, noting that even negative reviews from cheaters contribute to the overall humor.
“The dev also runs short streams often, where he holds funny lotteries that we can all participate in!”
“Original, funny, and free.”
“So yeah, cheaters leave negative reviews; funny that.”
- music3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received negative feedback, with users highlighting a significant absence of musical accompaniment and sound, leading to a lack of engagement. Players feel that the game requires them to spend time idly while listening to external music or videos, detracting from the overall experience.
“To actually utilize all these ideas and put them into action, you need to spend a hefty amount of time just having the game open, doing nothing, maybe listening to music or watching videos, which aren't part of the game. This is why this review is negative.”
“There is no musical accompaniment.”
“There's also a real lack of sound and music.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including massive memory leaks and frequent crashes, even on capable systems. Additionally, there is a lack of support for in-game problems, further exacerbating the experience. Overall, many reviewers cannot recommend the game due to these severe optimization flaws.
“Performance issues on computers that should be able to run it.”
“You'll get no support for in-game problems or performance issues, and tough luck if you have any ideas for the game.”
“Can't recommend a game with such massive memory leaks; the performance is terrible, and it loves to crash your system.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report stability issues with the game, particularly noting that the auto-save feature becomes unreliable over time, and attempts to save upon exiting can lead to freezing.
“The game has an auto-save feature that stops working after a while, leading to frustrating moments when you hit the exit button and it tries to save but then freezes.”
“I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“The stability issues are a major concern; the game often freezes or crashes at critical moments, ruining the immersion.”
