Lakeburg Legacies

Lakeburg Legacies is an awkward, goalless mix of contradictions and impersonal systems.

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"Lakeburg Legacies" is a fantasy town management game where players build and rule their own medieval kingdom. They must balance resources, manage citizens, and navigate relationships to ensure the prosperity and happiness of their kingdom. As the ruler, players can also explore a rich storyline, make important decisions, and uncover the mysteries of Lakeburg.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 695 reviews

gameplay42 positive mentions

grinding45 negative mentions

The gameplay, art, and kingdom management system are stunning and engaging.
The relationship aspect adds depth and interest to the city management experience.
The game is charming and has a cozy atmosphere, making it enjoyable to play.

The gallery and matchmaking system need significant reworking, as unlocking content feels tedious and unrewarding.
The game can become repetitive and lacks sufficient narrative depth to keep players engaged long-term.
There are frequent crashes and bugs that disrupt gameplay, making it frustrating for players.

gameplay
185 mentions
23 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its charming art style and intuitive mechanics, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Players enjoy the generational and management aspects, but express frustration over issues like high villager turnover, limited gameplay duration, and clunky mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its potential, many feel that the gameplay loop becomes tedious over time, and improvements are needed to enhance engagement and replayability.
- “I enjoy playing this game; with the exception of Coral Island and Echoes of the Plum Grove, this is in my top 3 list of games I prefer to play. I like the generational gameplay and the sometimes chaos that villagers can create in Lakeburg.”
- “I also really enjoy the little random events that happen that kind of force you to get creative with certain mechanics in the game.”
- “The gameplay is pretty straightforward, and its simplicity is its best feature.”
- “I am glad I got this game on sale, but essentially I paid $1.00 per hour of gameplay and that is disappointing.”
- “It's a rather good game, but it seems like the more you make progress, the more unplayable it becomes due to some issues with the gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay loop is simple, but it lacks depth and becomes repetitive quickly.”
graphics
137 mentions
61 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which many players find enchanting and beautifully detailed. The visuals contribute significantly to the game's overall appeal, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players feel that while the graphics are stunning, they do not fully compensate for gameplay shortcomings, leading to a mixed reception regarding the game's depth and engagement.
- “The graphics in Lakeburg Legacies are nothing short of enchanting, reminiscent of a beautifully illustrated storybook brought to life.”
- “The attention to detail in the character design and town aesthetics is stunning.”
- “The art style and character design is beautiful and I believe it's well worth the price of the game!”
- “My laptop is by no means weak, especially for a game with just 2D graphics, but I started getting some frame drops and freezing likely due to too much information on screen.”
- “Lakeburg legacies is 100x more aesthetic than gameplay.”
- “The artwork is polished, the sound is okay, and the interface has gotten better since they put some updates in - but sadly I'm just not having fun with it.”
grinding
47 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in matchmaking and resource management. While some enjoy the initial mechanics, many report that the gameplay quickly becomes boring and frustrating, especially as the number of villagers increases. Improvements in quality of life features and gameplay depth are suggested to alleviate the monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The concept is interesting, but the game itself is so tedious and unfun to play.”
- “Despite task-assignment lying at the core of Lakeburg Legacies, the developers somehow managed to make it tedious, boring, and confusing.”
- “The game's main mechanic is fun at first but lacks depth; after a few hours, it starts to become tedious, then you reach a point where you have done everything and you need to slog out for hours to finish the run, which was just boring and removed any desire to do a second run.”
story
41 mentions
27 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is characterized by a charming yet simplistic narrative that lacks depth and variety, leading to low replayability. While players can create their own storylines and enjoy whimsical graphics, many feel the relationships and events are repetitive and fail to foster a strong emotional connection to characters, reminiscent of more complex titles like Crusader Kings or The Sims. Overall, it offers a light-hearted experience for those who enjoy casual storytelling but may disappoint players seeking a rich, intricate narrative.
- “Make your own story and then watch your people fall in love, have affairs, have kids, and work themselves to death...”
- “The game's inherent storytelling mechanic has also inspired some dramatic twists and turns.”
- “I get so attached to my kingdom's families, setting up arranged marriages and telling tales about each one based on their personalities and skills, and the story events can sometimes lead to big surprises - I cannot recommend it enough!”
- “Currently there is a significant lack of variety in landscape, story, or scenarios; therefore, it has low replayability.”
- “If you were hoping for a game where you could grow the story of family lineages and create an attachment to the individual characters, as one does with their families in The Sims, then this game will not provide you with that experience.”
- “Repetitive events, repetitive game loop, repetitive storyline.”
music
39 mentions
69 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its soothing and immersive qualities. While the soundtrack is generally enjoyable, some players found it to be repetitive over time, leading to a desire to lower the volume. Overall, the combination of delightful music and appealing visuals contributes significantly to the game's cozy and whimsical feel.
- “The soothing soundtrack complements the game perfectly, creating an atmosphere that's both calming and immersive.”
- “The art style and music are amazing, and I love the amount of detail that went into designing this game.”
- “It's been a relaxing joy to play, and a great soundtrack to boot.”
- “The music is very repetitive, if charming.”
- “I had to turn the background music off after a while; it gets old pretty easily.”
- “The music stops when you pause too long, so you sit there with absolutely no background music at all.”
replayability
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a significant point of contention among players. While some find enjoyment in exploring different playstyles, many reviewers note that the game feels repetitive and lacks depth, leading to limited replay value. Suggestions for improvement include adding more diverse content and mechanics to enhance the experience for multiple playthroughs.
- “It can get repetitive, but if you're not attached to only doing one type of playthrough, then it has quite a bit of replay value.”
- “The prestige levels seem to be there to help replayability, which worked because I want to try again to do better.”
- “The art style is beautiful and the replay value is high with different ways to approach the game.”
- “The game is unfinished and has been abandoned by the devs. What's been developed is fun, but has little replay value and is lacking the promised depth.”
- “I'd say the downsides are mostly in the replayability and payout - the game plays in a similar way each time and the social events aren't really impactful.”
- “Linearity of progression and lack of alternative decision paths makes replayability very limited.”
humor
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky character interactions, amusing character names, and unexpected situations, such as humorous character deaths and relationship dynamics. While many players find the game enjoyable and filled with funny moments, some feel that certain aspects, like dialogue during dates, could have been more creatively developed. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its cozy management gameplay, providing a lighthearted experience.
- “One of my close friends talked me into this game and I'm glad she did because it has been enjoyable, hilarious, and peaceful.”
- “The humor is wrapped in wit, and I enjoy the quirky quips that you run into.”
- “The drama is hilarious, and I love that the villagers have their own autonomy (and might cheat if their relationship has been neglected).”
stability
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with users reporting various glitches, occasional freezing, and some confusing mechanics. While many players have experienced minor bugs, they note that these issues are being actively addressed through patches, and overall, the game remains enjoyable despite its stability concerns. However, some players find the frequency of freezes and the quality of certain animations to be significant drawbacks.
- “I've run it on multiple computers, and it often freezes, usually for just a second, but sometimes I've had to close the game.”
- “The biggest minus is that the game periodically freezes for a few seconds.”
- “The game is buggy and many mechanics seem broken.”
emotional
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it aims to foster a connection with its numerous characters, many players find it challenging to become genuinely invested due to the overwhelming number of townsfolk. Some appreciate the heartwarming blend of matchmaking and town management, yet others feel that the mechanics, such as paying hearts for interactions, detract from the emotional experience, leaving them feeling somewhat detached. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but may not evoke deep emotional engagement.
- “Lakeburg Legacies is an absolute gem of a game that seamlessly combines two unique genres – matchmaking and town management – into an enchanting and heartwarming experience.”
- “In conclusion, Lakeburg Legacies is a heartwarming and captivating experience that brilliantly blends matchmaking and town management.”
- “I eagerly watched any promotional material previewing gameplay, including the Wholesome Games 2023 showcase.”
optimization
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, players report mixed experiences with optimization, noting that while the game runs smoothly on capable systems, performance issues become more pronounced in the later stages, particularly around year 70 and during specific in-game events. Some users have experienced crashes and glitches, especially when using higher speeds, indicating that further optimization is needed. Despite these issues, many remain hopeful for future improvements.
- “It runs smoothly on my computer and it's a good way to spend a few hours.”
- “Runs smoothly on my gaming PC.”
- “I'd love to change my mind, and hopefully it'll be optimized better in the near future.”
- “Getting towards the end of the game (year 70+), performance gets noticeably worse.”
- “I noticed some optimization issues as I neared around 2 hours and 30 minutes of playing.”
- “Performance-wise, I feel the game lags sometimes, especially around December 31st/January 1st each year.”
character development
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by stunning artistic designs and attention to detail, contributing to an overall beautiful aesthetic. While many praise the charm and quality of the character designs, some feel that the depth of character development does not fully meet expectations.
- “The character designs, in particular, are a testament to the game's artistic prowess.”
- “The attention to detail in the character design and town aesthetics is stunning.”
- “The devs did an incredible job at character design (and design in general).”
atmosphere
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its soothing soundtrack and whimsical aesthetic, creating a calming and immersive experience. Players appreciate the gorgeous visuals and overall ambiance, though some note that gameplay could use improvement.
- “The soothing soundtrack complements the game perfectly, creating an atmosphere that's both calming and immersive.”
- “This game is so cozy, the music is wonderful, and the atmosphere is so whimsical.”
- “It looks absolutely gorgeous, and I love the atmosphere and game concept.”
monetization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has been criticized for feeling more suited to a free mobile game with microtransactions rather than a $20 management title, leading to perceptions of it being a rushed release and a cash grab.
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers a variety of ways to earn in-game currency without having to spend real money.”
- “The optional purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to progress, which is a refreshing approach to monetization.”
- “So far, the game feels like it should have been a free mobile game with microtransactions for the resources instead of a $20 management game.”
- “If this game had been released in early access, I would be far more forgiving in my assessment, but it feels like a very rushed release and cash grab.”