Land of Screens
- February 4, 2022
- Serenity Forge
- 4h median play time
An anti-phone adventure that’s light on gameplay time yet heavy on heart.
"Land of Screens" is a Point-and-Click Adventure game that follows Holland, a social media-weary individual, seeking real-world relationships. The game satirically explores the modern world's internet culture with challenging scenarios such as attending parties with strangers or joining unfamiliar concert plans. Players must help Holland ditch her virtual life by engaging in face-to-face interactions and forming bonds with new friends, children, and even animals to the tune of synthy chiptune jams.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful art style and well-developed characters, creating a visually appealing and engaging experience.
- It delivers a heartfelt message about the importance of disconnecting from social media and reconnecting with real-life relationships.
- The gameplay, while simple, is relaxing and enjoyable, making it a great choice for a short, cozy gaming session.
- The story is quite short, leaving some players wanting more depth and development in the narrative.
- The game's message can feel heavy-handed and repetitive, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- Gameplay is limited to basic interactions and lacks meaningful choices, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game.
- story118 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Land of Screens" is a charming and succinct narrative that explores themes of social media addiction and the importance of real-life connections, following a protagonist who embarks on a social media cleanse after a breakup. While many players appreciate its lighthearted approach and meaningful message, some feel the story is too short and lacks a satisfying conclusion, leaving them wanting more depth and resolution. Overall, it is regarded as a cute, relaxing experience with beautiful visuals and a relatable message, though it may not break new ground in storytelling.
“Great story with a message that a lot of people should take to heart when it comes to using phones less and living in the moment.”
“It's a gem for the storytelling; I loved how it just shows us really stressful moments from everyday life in this lighthearted cartoony style and made the best possible outcome for it just by talking to each other and not letting your own feelings overwhelm you.”
“The story touches on the realities behind social media and the anxiety that it can bring in a way that's not overwhelming or overdramatic.”
“It feels too unfinished; maybe the point was to never know what was commented and for you to avoid social media entirely, but regardless, the game ended abruptly and lacked a complex storyline.”
“Unfortunately, the story didn't grab me and the gameplay is disappointing.”
“It feels like you can't go ten minutes without hearing some form of 'screens are bad' or 'getting sucked into social media is bad,' which yes is the plot of the story, but it's so constant it had me rolling my eyes through half the game.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and simplistic art style, which effectively enhances the storytelling and character development. Many reviewers highlight the cute animations and delightful visuals, noting that the art style adds charm to the overall experience. While the graphics are considered gorgeous and well-executed, some players express a desire for more interactive elements beyond the visual presentation.
“The visuals were so pretty, the animation style was cute, and a little detail I liked was having the speech boxes match the color palette of their respective characters.”
“The art style and animations are fantastic.”
“The art style is amazing and the music is well done, plus all of the characters are easily lovable.”
“The art style is simplistic and works with what is being presented, and the music works to bring specific moods, although nothing that is memorable.”
“I really wanted to love this game because I love their art style and designs, but I couldn't.”
“Very cute graphics and illustrations, but I wish there was more interactive activity instead of just talking.”
- music32 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the atmosphere and mood, with many describing it as beautiful, relaxing, and well-composed, though some noted it can be a bit repetitive. The soundtrack has been highlighted as a standout feature, with some users expressing a desire to hear more from the associated band. Overall, while the music may not be particularly memorable, it effectively complements the game's cute art style and simple narrative.
“It's a short, interactive visual novel with a cute art style and great music that I've already added to my Spotify.”
“The soundtrack really adds to the atmosphere and the art style is simplistic but full of character.”
“Just from the menu music, I knew I was in for a treat; the game is short, simple, and relaxing while also having a good message in its story.”
“The music works to bring specific moods, although nothing that is memorable.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and soft.”
“The soundtrack was absolutely banging, and I would have loved to have heard the band, A Pony for Princess, as a real band.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 53 % negative mentions
The gameplay is largely characterized as tedious and repetitive, primarily involving walking around and engaging in dialogue with characters, which often feels unfulfilling and lacks meaningful choices. Players noted that the absence of diverse gameplay elements, such as puzzles or platforming, contributes to a disappointing experience that fails to captivate. While the interaction loop serves the story to some extent, it ultimately leaves much to be desired in terms of engagement and variety.
“The gameplay loop of interacting with characters in each environment does an okay job of facilitating its story.”
“An anti-phone adventure that’s light on gameplay time yet heavy on heart.”
“The gameplay was also quite tedious, having to go back and forth between characters and sit through dialogue that didn't add much to the game.”
“The gameplay is tedious and could be improved with a 'choices matter' element.”
“Imagine Night in the Woods with only dialogue, no platforming, no puzzles, hardly any gameplay beyond simple fetch quests and very simple dialogue trees, and that's what you've got here.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the movie is well-crafted and relatable, effectively addressing the theme of consumerism with a light-hearted touch. Reviewers appreciate the polished writing, believable characters, and dialogues that resonate with social media users, making the film both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, it successfully combines humor with a meaningful message.
“Well-written, funny, easy on the eyes and ears, feels really polished. The characters seemed believable to me, and the dialogues should be relatable to anyone who's been active on social media.”
“And it does so in a pleasant and humorous way.”
“It's a great, funny movie about the question 'Do I really need this, or does the one that sells me this just want me to think I need it?'”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its appealing character design and vibrant cartoon style, which many players found engaging. However, some characters are perceived as less interesting compared to others, suggesting a disparity in depth among the cast. Overall, the animations and visual presentation received positive feedback, enhancing the overall character experience.
“I absolutely loved the character design and the accompanying animations.”
“I really liked the character design and the cartoon style.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find Holland's journey to be a touching and wholesome experience, particularly as a means to uplift those dealing with a breakup. However, some critiques highlight that the emotional impact is somewhat undermined by repetitive messaging and a lack of depth, alongside simplistic puzzles.
“Holland's journey is touching; I think it's a cute way to cheer up someone going through a breakup.”
“Such a wholesome experience.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a beautiful art style that, while simplistic, is rich in character, and a captivating soundtrack that complements the interactive storytelling. Players appreciate the solid atmospheric music and find the character dialogue both entertaining and relatable, contributing to an immersive experience.
“It is a beautiful game (well it's more of an interactive storybook); the soundtrack really adds to the atmosphere, and the art style is simplistic but full of character.”
“Solid atmospheric music, relatively entertaining and relatable character dialogue.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often involving repetitive back-and-forth character interactions and unengaging dialogue that fails to enhance the experience. Many suggest that incorporating a 'choices matter' mechanic could alleviate some of the monotony.
“The gameplay was quite tedious, having to go back and forth between characters and sit through dialogue that didn't add much to the game.”
“The gameplay is tedious and could be improved with a 'choices matter' element.”
“The gameplay is tedious and could be improved with a 'choices matter' element.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers little to no replayability, but its low price point of $6 makes it a worthwhile short experience for those who appreciate brief gameplay. While players may not find reasons to revisit it, the initial enjoyment can justify the cost.
“Certainly, there's no replay value to speak of, but its full price is only $6, and I bought it on a sale when it was well under the price of a sugar-bombed coffee drink.”
Critic Reviews
Land of Screens Review
Land of Screens is far too one-note for its own good, repeatedly hammering the message that screens are pure evil. Its heart is in the right place, but its execution leaves something to be desired.
50%Land of Screens (Switch) Review
An anti-phone adventure that’s light on gameplay time yet heavy on heart.
80%Land of Screens (Nintendo Switch)
50%