Meadow

About

Meadow is a multiplayer open world role playing game. It was developed by Might and Delight and was released on October 26, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,507 reviews

graphics354 positive mentions

story26 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and calming music create a relaxing atmosphere.
Unique communication system using emotes fosters a friendly and non-toxic community.
Exploring the vast world and collecting items with other players is enjoyable and heartwarming.

The player base has significantly decreased, making it hard to find others to play with.
Controls can be clunky and take time to get used to, which may frustrate some players.
Many animals and features are locked behind purchasing other games, limiting accessibility.

graphics
669 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The graphics of "Meadow" are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, often described as resembling a patchwork of colorful textures reminiscent of children's books. Players appreciate the serene and cozy landscapes, which contribute to a relaxing atmosphere, although some find the visuals can be disorienting or simplistic. Overall, the game's artistic design and soothing soundtrack create a captivating experience, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a tranquil gaming environment.
- “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 lag is ridiculous even when playing on the lowest graphic settings.”
music
600 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
1%
The music in "Meadow" is widely praised for its calming and ethereal qualities, enhancing the game's relaxing atmosphere and beautiful visuals. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack, which complements the exploration of the game's vibrant world and contributes to a tranquil gaming experience. While some reviews mention that the music could be more varied, the overall sentiment is that it significantly enriches the gameplay, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful escape.
- “The music and the atmosphere are amazing.”
- “The music is beautiful and I really enjoyed the journey of unlocking all of the characters and meeting new friends!”
- “The music is soothing, and though the patterns can be a bit overwhelming, the simple goals and interactions are a nice break from the everyday game.”
- “The music is mediocre, but relaxing, and you can tell the game is intended to be an overall chill experience.”
- “As much as I love the soundtracks and other games, I don't think it's worth it.”
- “I love the game's graphics and the soundtracks but this is a joke, this game will die for not having challenges, objectives and emotion... if this game continues like this, it will come to an end very soon.”
gameplay
311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The gameplay in this game is characterized as simple and relaxing, focusing on exploration, collection, and social interaction rather than complex mechanics or objectives. While it offers a calming experience with beautiful visuals and music, some players find it repetitive and lacking depth, making it more suitable for those seeking a casual, meditative environment rather than intense gameplay. Overall, it provides a unique, non-violent social experience that appeals 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 and allows for meditative nature walks and exploration and item gathering with friends.”
- “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 game is relaxing, but there is not much going on gameplay-wise besides interacting with people and collecting skins and new animals.”
- “As far as gameplay and longevity goes though, I can't imagine most people would stick around when there is so little to do.”
emotional
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players describing it as a heartwarming and wholesome experience that fosters deep connections through non-verbal communication. Many express feelings of comfort and joy, often leading to emotional moments, such as tearful goodbyes to fellow players after shared adventures. The game's charming art style, soothing music, and supportive community contribute to its reputation as a uniquely emotional and relaxing journey.
- “The first time I played it made me feel so happy and loved that I almost cried, and later that night I dreamt about running with my animal friends <3”
- “..I don't really know what to say, it's hard losing a best friend, it's like taking my breath away.. I miss having you by my side, having many adventures under the blue sky, I know we've never met, but somehow.. saying goodbye.. made me cry, and I may never know why, but it was fun having you around.. thank you for erasing my frown, thank you for changing it to a smile and from upside down.. though the meadow is ever so quiet now that you are gone.. it seems,.. as we lay down on the flowers for our time has come to an end.. and we look back on everything, forever in my quiet moments.. I will always think... about the day I became best friends, with a cute baby lynx.”
- “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.”
story
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
78%
18%
The game "Meadow" is characterized by a complete absence of a traditional story or objectives, offering players a cozy, open-world environment to explore and interact with others. While it lacks missions and narrative depth, players are encouraged to create their own adventures and enjoy the social dynamics of the game. This unique approach may not appeal to those seeking action or a structured storyline, but it provides a relaxing experience for those who appreciate free exploration and creativity.
- “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.”
- “While Meadow does not offer much up story-wise, it makes up for this with its open world and vast room for interpretation and imagination.”
- “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 want a game with a story or a challenge (beyond climbing up the side of a cliff), look elsewhere.”
atmosphere
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful visuals and a soothing soundtrack. Players appreciate the serene environment, friendly community, and the unique social interactions facilitated by a simple communication system. While some find the lack of objectives too passive, many enjoy the tranquil experience it offers, making it a perfect escape for those seeking relaxation and connection in a whimsical virtual world.
- “Meadow envelopes players in a serene virtual world where the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft ambient sounds create a soothing atmosphere.”
- “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.”
- “The music is phenomenal, and so fitting to the rest of the wonderful atmosphere this world has to offer.”
- “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.”
- “Now, if that doesn't sound too terrible to you, I can tell you the game's atmosphere, graphics, art, and music really add to the experience and can more than make up for boredom that comes from the gameplay.”
humor
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by funny interactions among players, often facilitated through amusing emotes and animations, such as spinning, jumping, and making quirky noises. Players share memorable moments, from collecting whimsical items to experiencing hilarious glitches, all while enjoying a lighthearted and friendly community atmosphere. The game's simplicity and reliance on non-verbal communication contribute to its charm, making it a delightful experience for those looking to unwind and have fun with friends.
- “About climbing the center tree to the highest branch I could find, then sleeping there for a few minutes, just enjoying the scenery...and then jumping off to the most hilarious falling animation I've ever seen.”
- “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
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
5%
89%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, especially for players aiming for 100% achievements or specific skins. While some players find enjoyment in the experience and social interactions, many express frustration with the repetitive tasks and unresponsive controls, leading to a sense of monotony over time. Overall, the game is seen as niche, with grinding being a significant barrier to sustained enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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.”
- “This can become tedious over time, which is why I wouldn't recommend playing this game for a long period of time.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game exhibits a range of bugs and glitches, including issues with character controls and occasional crashes, particularly when exiting. While some players find these glitches amusing and not detrimental to the overall experience, others feel the game is too unstable to recommend. Developers are noted to be actively addressing these issues, suggesting potential improvements in future updates.
- “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.”
- “As it is right now, it's just too buggy for me to recommend.”
- “When you exit the game or select 'go back to den', the game freezes for a time.”
optimization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
59%
33%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting poor performance across various systems, including high-end setups. Issues such as significant lag, low frame rates, and server instability are common, even with simple graphics. While some players have noted recent patches that improved performance slightly, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized and requires further updates to enhance playability.
- “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.”
- “But several days later, the dev team already rolled out some patches to improve this game's performance, and now... for me, it works.”
- “Trying to remain hopeful for better optimizations in the coming updates.”
- “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
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game offers solid replayability, rated 4/5, primarily through the collection of flowers and crystals to unlock additional playable animals, skins, and emotes. However, players express a desire for more playable characters and activities, as only a limited number are available without owning other titles from the developer. Rankings also contribute to the game's replay value, but the overall experience feels somewhat lacking in 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.”
- “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.”
- “The only things I would change about the game would be more playable creatures and some more things to collect and do.”
- “Needs more playable animals, though.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The monetization strategy of the game has sparked mixed reactions; some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, viewing it as a fair approach, while others criticize it as a cash grab, claiming that valuable content is locked behind paywalls. Overall, the sentiment reflects a tension between rewarding loyal players and concerns over greed in content accessibility.
- “It's quite fair and better than having to make those microtransactions just so you can look cool.”
- “And it seems like you might and delight are being consumed by greed, since most of the interesting content is 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.”