Loddlenaut

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,516 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Loddlenaut Game Cover
Loddlenauts is one of those satisfying games that balances a clear and important message with fun gameplay and a population of adorable creatures that it is all too easy to become deeply attached to.
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"Loddlenaut is a single-player, open-world sci-fi game where you clean up an alien ocean planet as an interstellar custodian. Raise and care for adorable axolotl-like creatures called 'loddles' while uncovering an intriguing story of a spacefaring mega-corporation's abandonment. With splendid visuals, masterful soundtrack, and various gadgets to unlock, Loddlenaut offers an emotional, immersive experience, though be prepared for some grinding."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,516 reviews
gameplay123 positive mentions
grinding62 negative mentions
  • Charming and relaxing gameplay with adorable Loddles.
  • Satisfying cleaning mechanics that provide a sense of accomplishment.
  • Beautiful visuals and soothing soundtrack enhance the overall experience.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete.
  • Limited interaction with Loddles, which may feel underdeveloped.
  • Re-contamination mechanic can be frustrating as it makes previously cleaned areas dirty again.
  • gameplay346 mentions

    The gameplay of Loddlenaut is characterized by its simple, satisfying mechanics centered around cleaning the ocean and caring for adorable creatures called loddles. Players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere, charming visuals, and engaging gameplay loop, although some find it repetitive and wish for more depth and content. Overall, it offers a cozy experience that is enjoyable for those who appreciate casual, low-stress gaming, despite its relatively short playtime of around 4-8 hours.

    • “The gameplay loop is great, plus the message, theme, and setting are super important and relevant at the moment.”
    • “Loddlenaut is a charming underwater adventure that combines environmental stewardship with cozy gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The cleaning mechanics shine as the game's strongest feature, complemented by a creative crafting system that gives collected trash a second life.”
    • “The gameplay loop may become tedious after a while, even though it's not a huge game.”
    • “The biggest disappointment is that the title namesake loddles are more of a decoration than an integral part of the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is kind of repetitive, I think by design, but you can take it in little bits and have big breaks just to vibe out watching, petting, and feeding the loddles.”
  • graphics221 mentions

    The graphics of Loddlenaut are widely praised for their charming, cute, and colorful art style, which enhances the game's relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the pixelated aesthetic and the ability to adjust the level of pixelation, contributing to a cozy underwater experience filled with adorable creatures. Overall, the visuals are described as vibrant and well-crafted, making the gameplay enjoyable and visually appealing.

    • “The graphics are charming and vibrant, bringing the ocean world to life with a soothing palette and delightful creature designs.”
    • “The game's visuals are bright, colorful, and relaxing, which makes the experience of watching the once-polluted waters turn crystal clear as you clean up trash and nurture the environment feel truly gratifying and rewarding.”
    • “Loddlenaut's pixelated art style and chill soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere as you use your bubble gun to clean up contaminated plants, scenery, and loddles.”
    • “What this means is you can't customize the controls or visuals, making this an immediate, utter failure.”
    • “This very poor quality visual style is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent/interest in doing the graphics properly and trying to disguise it under the name of 'art', or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
    • “Graphics are good, story sucks, loddles are not implemented well, many elements of the game are made to waste your time, there are not a lot of upgrades to chase making all materials abundant halfway through the game, the soundtrack isn't very impressive, the game teases upcoming content and then the game is over, the cleanup gets boring real quick, the cleanup is 90% of effective gameplay, your assistant is really annoying and thinks you're a moron, lacking content, waste of time, money and expectations.”
  • story219 mentions

    The story in *Loddlenaut* is generally described as simple and brief, typically taking around 3 to 6 hours to complete, with many players expressing a desire for more content and depth. While the narrative revolves around cleaning up ocean pollution and caring for cute creatures called loddles, it lacks significant plot twists or complexity, often relying on environmental storytelling and collectible logs to convey its themes. Despite its brevity, the charming art style and relaxing gameplay contribute to an enjoyable experience, making it appealing for casual gamers looking for a cozy adventure.

    • “The story is intriguing and I'd love to explore more worlds in this game!!”
    • “The story is simple but detailed enough to follow and get invested in.”
    • “The game's core mission of purifying the ocean to create a sanctuary for the adorable loddles provides both purpose and satisfaction.”
    • “The story is bland, and the narrator just pops in to tell you that the biome is clean enough for loddles to live there or to randomly tell you something about the loddles without you ever interacting with them.”
    • “I had thought there was going to be more of a story, but getting to the end of the story mode didn't really wrap anything up.”
    • “Most flat and empty story with no depth at all; the ending is just a 3-second pan of your ship leaving a cave, and that's it!”
  • music217 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the variety and adaptability of the soundtrack, which shifts with the player's progress and different biomes, creating an immersive experience. Many describe it as beautifully composed, with a soothing vibe that complements the game's charming visuals and gameplay, making it a perfect choice for unwinding.

    • “The gentle soundtrack and soothing sound effects create a calming atmosphere that makes this a perfect game to unwind with after a long day.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the serene atmosphere, making it a truly immersive experience.”
    • “The music contributes to the relaxed, meditative atmosphere - while the music of other cozy games is sometimes so repetitive that it gets on my nerves, I listened to this game's soundtrack throughout my entire playing time.”
    • “The music doesn't stop when the game loses focus, though, which can be annoying if you need to concentrate on something else.”
    • “The soundtrack is more ambient than thematic, but it is relaxing.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere, the loddles -- I wish there was more, and hope there will be DLC in the future.”
  • emotional83 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Loddlenaut" is overwhelmingly positive, with players expressing deep feelings of attachment and joy throughout their experience. Many reviewers noted that the game's wholesome themes, charming visuals, and relaxing gameplay led to genuine emotional responses, including tears during the ending and a strong connection to the adorable characters. Overall, the game is celebrated for its heartwarming narrative and the emotional investment it fosters in players, making it a standout in the cozy gaming genre.

    • “I cried at the end because I didn't want it to end.”
    • “I really fell in love with the loddles and this game so much that I cried during the ending cutscene.”
    • “This game made me love and then made me cry.”
  • grinding66 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some enjoy the loddle farming and find it relaxing, others feel that certain tasks, particularly related to breeding and cleaning, become tedious and repetitive, especially towards the end of the game. The game is generally seen as not overly grindy, with upgrades and achievements being manageable, but some players noted that the need to backtrack and the waiting involved in breeding can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “Upgrading equipment is super easy and not grindy, since you just have to play the game and use the rubbish you collected to upgrade stuff.”
    • “No grinding for resources in this game!”
    • “Fair and not grindy.”
    • “It makes for a considerable amount of grinding not found anywhere else in the game and throws off the pace quite drastically.”
    • “The gameplay loop may become tedious after a while, even though it's not a huge game.”
    • “I wanted to give this game a recommend because I loved the demo and I enjoyed it, but it's seriously held back by things that made it feel tedious in the final third, without sufficient upgrades to 'tech out' of some of the slog.”
  • atmosphere36 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and charming qualities, enhanced by soothing music and adorable characters known as loddles. Players find the underwater setting beautifully immersive, creating a relaxing environment perfect for unwinding. The combination of minimalistic art style and gentle sound design contributes to a cohesive and enjoyable experience, making it a standout in the cozy game genre.

    • “The gentle soundtrack and soothing sound effects create a calming atmosphere that makes this a perfect game to unwind with after a long day.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the serene atmosphere, making it a truly immersive experience.”
    • “Such a cute and charming little game, I love the atmosphere and vibe of the game!!!!”
    • “The gameplay was relatively simple, and the atmosphere was among the most relaxing I've played.”
    • “The music contributes to the relaxed, meditative atmosphere - while the music of other cozy games is sometimes so repetitive that it gets on my nerves, I listened to this game's soundtrack throughout my entire playing time.”
    • “The to-dos are simple, the use of sounds and music is in a rather quiet section and adds a rather relaxing atmosphere while you're doing a job.”
  • replayability27 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed positively, with many players appreciating the updates and additional content that enhance the experience. While some users note that it leans more towards relaxation than challenge, the ability to explore, complete achievements, and engage with mini-systems contributes to its replay value. However, a few players express a desire for more content and challenges to further increase replayability, indicating that while enjoyable, the game could benefit from additional features.

    • “Although Loddlenaut leans more towards relaxation than challenge, the steady progression and satisfying visuals give it plenty of replay value, especially if you enjoy completing every achievement and fully restoring the ocean.”
    • “This game is perfectly short and sweet with lots of replayability and cuteness.”
    • “You can customize little friends, have them help you clean and farm food, adventure around the map at your own leisure, and the replay value is so good!”
    • “It doesn't have much replayability, but not every game needs that.”
    • “Overall the game was fun and the story was chill; I just have one negative, which is I wish there was some form of replayability as after I finished the cleanup there was nothing really left for me to do other than gather the loddles and get each variety.”
    • “Not really worth the money for only 4 hours of playtime and not much replayability.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical tone, with players enjoying the amusing narrative delivered through brief logs and quirky characters like Dave. Many reviews highlight the game's cute and funny elements, contributing to a relaxed gameplay experience that leaves players wishing for more. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, making the game both entertaining and enjoyable.

    • “The story, told through somewhat uninspired, but graciously brief and even somewhat humorous logs or 'holo-badges' as the game calls them, is one of Guppy Corporation.”
    • “It's cute and funny, and I wish with all my heart it could have lasted longer because it simply is one of the best games I've ever played.”
    • “I absolutely love Dave, the commentary was spot on and funny.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most users reporting minimal glitches and smooth mechanics. While a few players experienced occasional freezes, these were brief and did not significantly detract from the experience. The game runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, contributing to its enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Super cute and runs great on Steam Deck!”
    • “It's a short game, and the story isn't much, but there weren't any glitches and the mechanics were fun.”
    • “Ran into just one or two glitches where it froze for a few seconds but caught right up.”
    • “A little buggy, but it's so calming.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is highly optimized, delivering perfect performance and a polished experience with smooth gameplay.

    • “Perfect performance on deck.”
    • “The game is polished and runs smoothly.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game's monetization strategy effectively utilizes social media advertising to attract players, leading to positive purchasing experiences and satisfaction among users.

  • character development1 mentions

    While the character design is praised for its adorability, the reviews do not provide significant insights into character development, focusing instead on the simplicity of mechanics and the satisfaction of gameplay.

    • “The character design is adorable, the mechanics are simple, and the gameplay is incredibly satisfying.”
    • “The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to the story and the characters.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Loddlenaut

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 35 analyzed playthroughs

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