Kynseed

About

Kynseed is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy and business themes. It was developed by PixelCount Studios and was released on December 6, 2022. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Kynseed is a single-player business open world game with stunning visuals, an outstanding soundtrack, and a masterful atmosphere. Embark on a lifetime of adventure, raising a family, customizing your farm, and battling dark fairy tale creatures. The Big Build Update brings even more customization, gameplay gating, and story cut-scenes to this humorous, bug-filled, and wholesome story RPG.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+22

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,660 reviews

story195 positive mentions

grinding643 negative mentions

Kynseed offers a unique blend of farming, crafting, and adventure mechanics, making it stand out in the genre.
The game features beautiful pixel art and a whimsical atmosphere, enhanced by a charming soundtrack.
The generational gameplay mechanic allows players to pass on skills and items to their children, adding depth to the experience.

The game can feel overwhelming at first due to the sheer number of tasks and NPCs, leading to confusion about what to prioritize.
Some mechanics, like the crafting mini-games and combat, can be frustrating and lack clear tutorials, making them difficult to master.
The NPCs often lack depth and personality, which can make it hard to form meaningful connections and diminish the impact of the generational system.

story
923 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
75%
4%
The story of Kynseed is rich with folklore and myth, offering a unique blend of dark themes and whimsical charm that captivates players. While the prologue sets an intriguing foundation, many feel that the narrative loses momentum after the initial stages, often devolving into repetitive fetch quests that lack depth. Despite its current limitations, the game shows promise for future storytelling developments, with players eager to see how the generational mechanics and character arcs evolve over time.
- “All this lore and the story itself is woven from a lot of recognizable themes from real-world folklore and myth, and it all feels very alive and cohesive.”
- “The story is so whimsical and extremely quirky.”
- “The story itself is incredibly rich and interesting, and has a lot of content.”
- “The story is dreadfully poorly told.”
- “The dialogue and quests are quickly becoming repetitive and shallow, which is a pity because relationships are an important aspect of games like this one and a lot of people want their in-game relationships to feel meaningful and realistic - a feeling that this game can hardly offer.”
- “The main story has a lot of potential, but it feels unfinished as you advance in the storyline, and I had difficulty getting my shop to actually run.”
gameplay
707 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The gameplay of Kynseed is praised for its unique blend of mechanics, including generational gameplay, crafting, and shop management, which set it apart from traditional farming sims like Stardew Valley. However, many players find the introduction of these mechanics overwhelming and poorly explained, leading to a sense of tedium as they navigate through repetitive tasks and a slow progression system. While the game offers a charming aesthetic and engaging world, some feel that the core gameplay loop lacks depth and can become tedious, especially as the generational mechanics do not significantly impact the overall experience.
- “Genuinely good gameplay, battle, cooking, whatever system.”
- “Drawing inspiration from classic pixel art games, it combines a nostalgic aesthetic with deep, emergent gameplay systems that encourage players to create their own stories within a lovingly detailed and quirky world.”
- “The gameplay loop is fun and the pixel art is extremely charming, my only complaint is that the map isn't able to be zoomed in on, but overall can't wait to play it more when I get off work.”
- “Well, if there is one legitimate gameplay complaint that I can express, it is that a lot of the game's content is drip-fed through a story mode that goes on for quite a while if you're not entirely dedicated to completing it from the get-go.”
- “The generational mechanic is worthless because there's never a reason to play that long.”
- “The gameplay boils down to repeating the same couple of tasks over and over, the map is full of large empty spaces, the mechanics present are extremely simple, and the game lacks content in just about every department.”
grinding
650 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of "Kynseed" has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the variety of activities and the sense of progression through mini-games, many find the repetitive nature of tasks—such as farming, crafting, and managing relationships—tedious and lacking meaningful rewards. The game is often described as more of an adventure and life simulation with farming elements, rather than a traditional farming sim, which can lead to disappointment for those expecting a deeper focus on farming mechanics.
- “Definitely a grind but not tedious.”
- “After a couple of upgrades, no tedious minigame.”
- “Lots of world exploring and tasking (not grinding) to keep you busy every day.”
- “The game loop can get tedious.”
- “It's too grindy and repetitive.”
- “The farming aspect doesn't have a lot going for it.”
graphics
358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, which combines vibrant colors and intricate details to create an enchanting atmosphere reminiscent of classic titles like "Stardew Valley" and "Kings Quest." Players appreciate the calming visuals and the immersive environments that change with the seasons, enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in character designs, the overall aesthetic is celebrated for its charm and ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia and whimsy.
- “The art style is gorgeous and there's a lot of little details, mechanics, and lore to explore.”
- “The pixel graphics are really beautiful, especially the environment which comes in different biomes depending on the region.”
- “Absolutely stunning graphics, witty text, lovely soundtrack, and the best potential story and gameplay mechanics I have ever seen in an early access game.”
- “The graphics are terrible.”
- “In a game with the messiest, crappiest 2D graphics I've ever seen.”
- “I was surprised and disappointed by how washed out and bland the graphics look.”
music
312 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its evocative and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with unique themes for different areas. Many players appreciate the soothing, whimsical soundtrack that complements the beautiful pixel art and immersive world, often drawing comparisons to the beloved music from the Fable series. While some users noted occasional repetitiveness or a desire for more variety, the majority find the music to be a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The music is the best I've heard in a game for a long time - every area has its own theme!”
- “The soundtrack complements the art beautifully, with a gentle, folk-inspired score that enhances the cozy yet adventurous atmosphere.”
- “The music is charming, the art style is great!”
- “The soundtrack sounds like instrument soup and not the delicious kind.”
- “I found it eerie and strange, when midday the music would just stop for several minutes.”
- “Music really does get annoying.”
humor
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Kynseed" is a standout feature, characterized by clever wordplay, cheeky dialogue, and a mix of lighthearted and dark comedic elements reminiscent of the "Fable" series. Players appreciate the witty NPC interactions, pun-filled item descriptions, and humorous lore found throughout the game, which contribute to an engaging and enjoyable experience. However, some critiques mention that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling repetitive or overly reliant on lowbrow themes. Overall, the game's charm and comedic writing resonate well with fans of quirky, cozy life sims.
- “Kynseed is the rare game with comedic aspirations that actually is consistently funny.”
- “The humor added into the story as well, whether through lore books throughout the world or through talking with NPCs, is something that I get a real good chuckle through each playthrough.”
- “Hilarious, reference-filled writing replete with wordplay, innuendo, and dad jokes.”
- “It's not funny, by the way, unless you consider fart jokes, innuendo, and obvious references to other video games hilarious, in which case you're in for a treat!”
- “Another game with great potential, completely ruined by extremely unfunny fourth-wall-breaking cheesy developer 'humor'.”
- “Respectfully, if you're not funny, you shouldn't include humor in your game.”
atmosphere
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
33%
4%
The atmosphere of Kynseed is widely praised for its whimsical and enchanting qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics and a soothing, folk-inspired soundtrack. Players appreciate the cozy yet adventurous environment, filled with quirky characters and rich lore, which creates an immersive experience reminiscent of classic life simulation games. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is captivating, the gameplay can feel shallow and uninteractive at times.
- “The soundtrack complements the art beautifully, with a gentle, folk-inspired score that enhances the cozy yet adventurous atmosphere.”
- “Kynseed offers a captivating experience that immediately drew me in with its cozy and enchanting atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are so stunning, the music is beautiful, the whole atmosphere is just truly magical.”
- “Weird characters, weird + confused atmosphere, weird mechanics, weird story.”
- “While the scenery is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, the bits of horror and darkness sprinkled into the storyline and atmosphere make for something completely new.”
- “You can feel this game is oozing with actual research and passion bringing a whimsical folklore-like and charming atmosphere that sucks you in, the writing is quaint and the world art is superb for the feel of it.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting various bugs and glitches that range from minor visual issues to game-breaking problems. While some users found the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, many expressed frustration over frequent crashes, unresponsive quests, and a lack of polish, suggesting that the game feels incomplete and still in early access. Overall, while there are positive aspects to the game, its current state is marred by significant stability concerns that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game looks great and what is there plays well and is fairly bug-free.”
- “First off, shame on the devs for calling this buggy, incomplete mess a full release when it’s clearly still early access.”
- “This game is insanely, game-breakingly buggy.”
- “I'm currently dropping the game for the second time because random glitches can occur during your prologue days that just lock you out of progression.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of Kynseed is a complex blend of heartwarming and dark themes, with players experiencing a range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. While the generational gameplay and rich world-building foster deep emotional investment, some players find the game’s darker undertones and frustrating mechanics detract from their overall immersion. Ultimately, Kynseed offers a unique emotional journey that can resonate deeply with those who appreciate its whimsical yet sinister narrative, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its mixed tones.
- “The prologue story is amazing and emotional!!!”
- “Kynseed is more than a typical life sim; it’s a journey into a beautifully designed, whimsical, and heartfelt world.”
- “Love the game and recommend it, but I cried so much!”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the vibrant pixel art and whimsical designs, while others find the character designs awkward and lacking in personality. Although the generational improvement mechanic adds depth, many feel that the dialogue is repetitive and fails to foster meaningful connections with the characters. Overall, while the worldbuilding and environments are praised, the character development and NPC interactions leave much to be desired, often feeling unpolished and generic.
- “The pixel art style is detailed and vibrant, managing to evoke both whimsy and a sense of history in its character designs and environments.”
- “On the one side there's a traditional fantasy story, fight-the-monster, save-the-region etc., but it also tries to tie character development into a generational improvement mechanic.”
- “Character development is decent to strong, and the townsfolk have had a lot of work put into them.”
- “The character designs are a bit awkward, and I'd say too many characters are visually off-putting.”
- “However, the character designs suck; almost all the NPCs look too similar and have uninteresting personalities.”
- “The world is full of characters just to make the town feel busy, but they lack any real personality or character development.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, players find the game to have strong replayability due to its varied player choices, random events, and engaging mini-games, which can lead to countless hours of gameplay. While some users express skepticism about its replay value, many appreciate the potential for new experiences with each playthrough, especially with future updates or expansions. The game is recommended for those seeking a chill and whimsical experience that invites repeated play.
- “I've made new ones with new updates; that's the main reason for starting new ones, but I definitely think this game has a really good replay value.”
- “It also enhances replayability, since every lineage unfolds differently depending on player choices and random events.”
- “10/10 suggest this game if you enjoy something chill, whimsical, silly, and something you can come back to time and time again with replay value.”
- “Also, I can't see any replay value with this game, but if there's ever an expansion, I'll probably go for it without hesitation.”
- “Even in its early stage, I find it replayable.”
- “- replayability -”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with players experiencing occasional bugs and performance issues, particularly during complex gameplay scenarios. While updates have improved the user interface and overall performance, significant lag and stuttering have been reported, especially after extended playtime. Despite these challenges, some players remain hopeful for future fixes that could enhance the gaming experience.
- “It gets better every time - optimized UI, tying the story together, huge new content updates.”
- “It runs smoothly.”
- “Stats are leveled up by performing specific tasks and make your performance in those tasks much better.”
- “As an indie title still evolving through updates, some players have reported occasional bugs and performance hiccups, especially when managing multiple generations or complex economic setups.”
- “As much as I liked this game, I can't recommend it. I enjoyed the time I spent in the game, but around the 100-hour mark, I started to experience really bad lag and stuttering in one of the villages called Copperpot. I thought nothing of it since there is not much in this town, just visiting occasionally to get some ore. But then the lag started in other areas and towns where I had shops, making it impossible to do the mini-games to help my blacksmiths keep up with orders. I am not the only one with this issue; if I get help from the developers and they can fix this, I'll come back and change the review. But as of now, keep in mind that if you buy this game, you could run into this issue.”
- “I was going to say I did like this game despite the performance issues, but I changed my mind now.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express frustration with the monetization strategy, feeling pressured by ads that encourage them to spend real money for in-game items, which they liken to sacrificing their time and effort for trivial rewards.
- “He even sends me ads to coax me into selling more of my soul - I mean years of my life - for trinkets!”
- “The monetization is so aggressive that it feels like the game is more focused on making money than providing a fun experience.”
- “I can't enjoy the game without being bombarded by constant prompts to spend real money on in-game items.”