Meadow

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"Meadow" is a massively multiplayer open-world game where players explore a vast, beautiful landscape as various animals, communicating through emotes, symbols, and sounds. With promises of frequent updates and exclusive content for previous Shelter franchise owners, the game encourages social interaction and discovery, despite a few bugs and grinding requirements. The atmosphere is highly emotional and compelling, making it a unique social experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,257 reviews

graphics177 positive mentions

story13 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and calming music create a relaxing atmosphere.
Unique communication system using emotes fosters a friendly and non-toxic community.
Exploration and collecting items provide a satisfying gameplay loop.

Limited player base can make it difficult to find others to play with.
Some animals and features are locked behind purchasing other games, which can be frustrating.
Controls can be clunky and take time to get used to, affecting the overall experience.

graphics
334 mentions
53 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, often described as resembling a patchwork or paper mache aesthetic that creates a calming atmosphere. Players appreciate the beautiful landscapes and vibrant colors, which enhance the relaxing gameplay experience, although some find the visuals can be disorienting or simplistic. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “Unlike other Might & Delight games, this one is serene and cozy, offering a beautiful landscape to explore with stunning graphics.”
- “The graphics are unique and stunning!”
- “The beautiful visuals, simple communication, and amazing community create a really calming atmosphere and a joy to play.”
- “I've played about 40 minutes because I can't play more than 20 minutes at a time without the graphics making me physically ill.”
- “The art style is not as neat and tidy as the other Shelter games and the multiplayer is incredibly lacking; the collectibles are boring and not rewarding, and the world becomes repetitive quickly.”
- “The graphics are laggy even with a GTX 1070, and graphics options are extremely limited.”
music
301 mentions
58 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and beautiful qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack that complements the charming visuals and encourages exploration in a stress-free environment. However, some users note that unlocking certain animals and features requires purchasing additional soundtracks and games, which can be a downside for some.
- “The music is beautiful and I really enjoyed the journey of unlocking all of the characters and meeting new friends!”
- “The music, the graphics, and the people all come together to make this game truly memorable.”
- “The music is fantastic, the animation is beautiful, and the game is one of a kind.”
- “One downside is that one of the animals requires you to have every game/soundtrack.”
- “As much as I love the soundtracks and other games, I don't think it's worth it.”
- “I will mention that to unlock every bit of content in this game you will need to buy all of the shelter games, soundtracks, and books (all of the DLC).”
gameplay
156 mentions
24 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this game is characterized by its simplicity and relaxation, focusing on exploration, collection, and social interaction rather than complex mechanics or objectives. While some players find the experience enjoyable and calming, others note that it can become repetitive and lacks depth, making it more suitable for those seeking a casual, non-competitive environment. Overall, the game's charming visuals and soothing atmosphere often compensate for its minimalistic gameplay, appealing to players looking for a peaceful escape.
- “The gameplay loop is simple but pleasant - be a cute little animal, explore the world, and collect stuff.”
- “The gameplay is stunning.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet highly addictive.”
- “Overall, the game offers a neutral experience that may appeal to those seeking a relaxing and picturesque environment, but may not provide enough gameplay depth for all players.”
- “The gameplay is minimalistic, yes, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do!”
- “In terms of gameplay, there isn't much for the player to do beyond collecting plants and fragments for unlockables and achievements.”
emotional
111 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players describing it as a heartwarming and wholesome experience that fosters deep connections through simple, non-verbal interactions. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of comfort, nostalgia, and even sadness during farewells, creating memorable moments that resonate long after gameplay. The charming art style and soothing music further enhance the emotional journey, making it a beloved choice for those seeking a relaxing and uplifting gaming experience.
- “This game to me is like my grandma's cooking: comforting, wholesome, made with love, and has gotten me through many tough times in my life.”
- “At the end of our little journey, we all tearfully waved goodbye to each other through emoticons and yaps before disconnecting, and afterwards I had to just sit there and absorb how warm this game made me feel in the span of less than two hours.”
- “I grew an emotional attachment to one of them in particular.”
story
72 mentions
4 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The game "Meadow" is characterized by its lack of a traditional story or objectives, offering players a cozy, open-world experience where they can explore and interact with others without the pressure of missions or combat. While some players appreciate the freedom to create their own adventures and enjoy the game's enchanting atmosphere, those seeking a structured narrative or action-packed gameplay may find it lacking. Overall, "Meadow" is best suited for those who prefer a relaxing, social environment over a story-driven experience.
- “I saw a review a while back that described Meadow as like playing a children's storybook, and that's proven wonderfully accurate.”
- “Although I've only played it a few times, I found the art style enchanting and the story sorrowful but beautiful.”
- “The textures and simple shapes used remind me of a storybook.”
- “There is no story or a main goal; it's basically a cozy virtual space for chilling with friends or random players who pass by and join you.”
- “There isn't a story, there aren't really any objectives, there aren't any NPCs, and communication is limited to a series of emoji-type symbols.”
- “If you're looking for an action-packed or story-filled experience, Meadow is likely not for you.”
atmosphere
59 mentions
58 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and serene qualities, enhanced by beautiful visuals and a soothing soundtrack. Players appreciate the friendly community and the immersive experience that allows for peaceful exploration and social interaction without the pressure of traditional gameplay mechanics. While some find the lack of objectives too passive, many enjoy the unique, whimsical environment that evokes nostalgia and relaxation.
- “Meadow envelopes players in a serene virtual world where the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft ambient sounds create a soothing atmosphere.”
- “The music is phenomenal, and so fitting to the rest of the wonderful atmosphere this world has to offer.”
- “The atmosphere is so friendly and sweet, it makes for a great escape on a bad day, reminding you that people are nicer than we tend to believe and easily forget.”
- “Calm atmosphere, but lack of gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere is so friendly and sweet, it makes for a great escape on a bad day, reminds you that people are nicer than we tend to believe and easily forget.”
- “The lack of sounds, other than the fantastic music and occasional chirp made by a fuzzy, scaly, or feathery friend, helps add to the atmosphere and ambiance of wonder that you get from Meadow.”
humor
32 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by funny interactions and playful emotes among players, creating a lighthearted atmosphere. Players enjoy amusing moments, such as silly animations and unexpected glitches, which contribute to a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The absence of voice chat encourages creative communication through emojis, leading to a unique and entertaining social dynamic within the game.
- “It's funny, positively different and somewhat relaxing, but you do need lots of patience to play this game.”
- “Playing as cute little animals, paired with their funny emotes and noises is an instant pick-me-up when you're feeling down.”
- “A very funny game with exploration and tons of lulz with other animal fellows, especially when climbing on the highest mountain point in a cool company or searching for new companions to crush monoliths with the power of thuum.”
grinding
27 mentions
4 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly for achievement hunters and those seeking to unlock new skins and animals. While some players find enjoyment in the social and exploratory elements, many express frustration with the grind required to progress, especially given the game's buggy controls and sparse player base. Overall, while the game offers unique experiences, the grinding can detract from its enjoyment over extended play sessions.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This can be a very niche and grindy game if you're going for 100% achievements, but it's a one-of-a-kind experience that has moments to truly make you feel like an animal.”
- “After unlocking all the animals, it becomes a pretty tedious grind to gain skins in between bouts of having a decent herd.”
- “All in all, incredibly tedious and pointless.”
stability
25 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by a mix of bugs and glitches, which some players find amusing rather than detrimental to the experience. While there are reports of crashes, freezing issues, and disappearing items, many users still enjoy the game and appreciate the developers' efforts to address these problems. Overall, the stability is considered suboptimal, but not enough to overshadow the game's enjoyable aspects.
- “Because really - buying other games that you are not interested in just to unlock something in an almost empty, buggy, and forgotten game is just not worth it.”
- “Plus, the newest playable animal, the elephant calf, is very buggy; all of the skins and emotes you collect on them vanish once you log out of the game.”
- “As it is right now, it's just too buggy for me to recommend.”
optimization
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance even on high-end systems. Common issues include lag, low frame rates, and server instability, particularly when multiple entities are present. While some players have noted improvements following patches, the consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and requires further work to enhance performance.
- “I play with Intel graphics, and although my performance is not as smooth as what I see in the video, the game is still playable.”
- “Trying to remain hopeful for better optimizations in the coming updates.”
- “But several days later, the dev team already rolled out some patches to improve this game's performance, and now... for me, it works.”
- “This game has horrible optimization, poor controls, no tutorial, and poor design; do not buy this trash.”
- “It's still a very unoptimized mess, but you can try to go around it by logging in to servers with less people.”
- “It's very poorly optimized; the servers seem to lag even when it says 60 millisecond ping, and has frame rate issues even on high-end machines that can run Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor like a dream.”
replayability
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability, rated 4/5, primarily due to the ability to unlock additional playable characters, skins, and emotes by collecting in-game items. However, players express a desire for more playable animals and activities to enhance the experience, as the current selection feels limited, especially for those without other related games. Rankings also contribute to replay value, but overall, there is a sense that the game could benefit from more content.
- “Replayability: 4/5 (the game is very enjoyable and fun to play, but I still feel something is missing.)”
- “Collect flowers and crystals to unlock more playable animals, skins, and emotes.”
- “Rankings also add some replay value to it.”
- “The only things I would change about the game would be more playable creatures and some more things to collect and do.”
- “It's important to note that there are a total of 10 playable animals, of which only 5, in a few cases 6, are playable for players who don't own any other Might and Delight products on Steam.”
- “Needs more playable animals, though.”
monetization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and paywalls, while others criticize it as a cash grab that restricts access to appealing content. Overall, the approach is seen as fair by some, but concerns about greed and the locking of interesting features behind paywalls persist.
- “It's quite fair and better than having to make those microtransactions just so you can look cool.”
- “It seems like you might delight in the game without being consumed by greed, as most of the interesting content isn't locked behind microtransactions.”
- “While some may refer to this as rewarding loyal fans, others declare it to be a cash grab with those animals being hidden behind paywalls.”
- “There isn't even a store or microtransactions.”