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 a beautiful art style and calming music that enhances the overall experience.
- It delivers a heartfelt message about the importance of disconnecting from social media and reconnecting with real-life relationships.
- The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the short narrative engaging and enjoyable.
- The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 2-3 hours, which some players feel does not justify the price.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive, primarily involving walking back and forth to interact with characters without much variation.
- The messaging about social media can come off as heavy-handed and preachy, detracting from the overall enjoyment for some players.
- story59 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a charming and lighthearted exploration of the impact of social media on personal connections, focusing on a protagonist's journey to disengage from screens and embrace real-life interactions. While many players appreciate its sweet message and beautiful art style, some feel the narrative is too short and lacks depth, leaving certain elements unresolved. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience with a meaningful message, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more complex storyline.
“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.”
“Land of Screens is a short story game about ditching the world of social media to focus on more real-world connections with your friends and family.”
“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.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and simplistic art style, which effectively enhances the storytelling experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and character designs, noting that the animations and color palettes contribute to the overall charm. While the graphics are considered delightful and engaging, some players express a desire for more interactive elements to complement the visual appeal.
“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 is amazing and the music is well done, plus all of the characters are easily lovable.”
“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.”
“The art style is simplistic and works with what is being presented, but it lacks memorability.”
“I really wanted to love this game because I love their art style and designs, but I couldn't.”
“The visuals were pretty, and while the animation style was cute, it felt lacking in depth.”
- music16 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 19 % 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 note it can be repetitive. The soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature, contributing positively to the overall experience, while the art style complements the music effectively. Overall, players appreciate the combination of cute visuals and enjoyable music, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
“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.”
“The art style is amazing and the music is well done, plus all of the characters are easily lovable.”
“The music works to bring specific moods, although nothing that is memorable.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and soft, but it lacks a lasting impact.”
“The menu music gave a good first impression, but the overall soundtrack felt short and simple.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The gameplay is largely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, primarily involving walking around and engaging in dialogue that lacks depth and impact. Players express disappointment with the limited interactivity, likening it to a series of simple fetch quests and suggesting that the addition of meaningful choices could enhance the experience. Overall, the gameplay fails to captivate, feeling more like a chore than an engaging adventure.
“The gameplay loop of interacting with characters in each environment does a decent job of facilitating its story.”
“Gameplay is primarily about walking around and talking to everyone.”
“Imagine a game with only dialogue, no platforming, no puzzles, and minimal gameplay beyond simple fetch quests and very basic dialogue trees, and that's what you've got here.”
“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.”
“Minor problems occur with pathing, and gameplay may at times feel repetitive because you spend a lot of time walking back and forth talking to different people.”
- humor3 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 witty dialogue and believable characters. Reviewers appreciate its polished presentation and find it both visually and audibly enjoyable, making it accessible to anyone familiar with social media culture.
“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?'”
“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.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its appealing design and animations, though some characters are noted to be less interesting compared to others. The cartoon style enhances the visual appeal, contributing positively to the overall experience.
“I really liked the character design and the cartoon style.”
“I absolutely loved the character design and the accompanying animations.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a beautiful art style that, while simplistic, is rich in character, complemented by a solid soundtrack and engaging, relatable dialogue. Overall, it creates an immersive experience that feels more like an interactive storybook.
“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.”
- grinding2 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 detracts from the overall experience. Many suggest that incorporating a 'choices matter' element could enhance the gameplay and reduce the monotony.
“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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, with users noting that while it provides a brief and enjoyable experience, it lacks significant content to encourage multiple playthroughs. However, its low price point makes it a worthwhile purchase for a short gaming session.
“Certainly, there's no replay value to speak of, but its full price is only $6, and I bought it on sale when it was well under the price of a sugar-bombed coffee drink.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of different endings or meaningful choices really diminishes replayability.”
“After finishing the game, I felt no urge to play it again. The experience was enjoyable, but it didn't offer anything new on a second playthrough.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by Holland's touching journey, which offers a wholesome experience that can uplift players, particularly those dealing with a breakup.
“Holland's journey is touching; I think it's a cute way to cheer up someone going through a breakup.”
“Such a wholesome experience.”
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%