MiniState

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59%Audience ScoreBased on 71 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Unique and engaging concept combining persistent MMO empire building with strategy and social interaction.
Active and responsive developer frequently updating and addressing bugs in the early access phase.
Strong community and alliance dynamics that enhance strategic depth and player interaction.

Severe lack of tutorial and in-game documentation, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and get started.
Game suffers from technical issues including bugs, performance problems, and server instability, including hacks and rollbacks.
Toxic community and poor moderation with controversial behavior by some staff, negatively impacting player experience.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay shows potential but is currently hindered by clunky controls, lack of clear instructions, and unresolved design issues like the missing anti-blob mechanics. While bugs and exploits are minimal and the developer is actively engaging with the community for updates, the game feels premature for release and requires further refinement to deliver a satisfying experience.
- “There are very few gameplay bugs or exploits at this stage of the game, and the developer is very open about issues. Players who join the Discord, linked in the game, can communicate directly with the developer to discuss any problems.”
- “The developer regularly posts updates to the game mechanics on the game's Discord, ensuring ongoing communication and improvements.”
- “Currently, basic instructions are missing and fundamental mechanics remain unexplained, indicating room for better onboarding and clarity in gameplay.”
- “This game could have been a good "waste of time" game to play, but the clunky controls and gameplay make this game a miss.”
- “There seems to be some issues with anti-blob mechanics at the moment.”
- “If the developer doesn't introduce an anti-blob mechanic of some sort, I could see the game slowly but surely being strangled to death by a few alliances or one.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently faces stability issues with bugs and unbalanced gameplay, including notable graphical glitches. However, the developer is active and responsive, actively working to address these problems, suggesting improvements are forthcoming.
- “This game is horrifically unbalanced and a buggy mess.”
- “It is a little buggy and bare, but I'd say it's a pretty fun game. I think the game will turn out great.”
- “A little buggy, but the developer is very responsive, active on Discord, and works hard to address player concerns.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are rough and show some bugs and glitches typical of an early open alpha release, but the game features creative visual ideas and promising elements that suggest potential for improvement over time.
- “While it's graphically rough, there are some good ideas in here and I was willing to overlook the initial issues that come with an open alpha.”
- “It's pretty rough around the edges but that's to be expected on release day; this game shows a lot of promise and I'm definitely going to keep checking in on this for a while. It has fun graphics and some interesting time ideas for a persistent 4x game.”
- “Io needs to get some of its more glaring bugs, including graphical glitches, fixed before even approaching Steam.”
- “The game has several glaring graphical bugs and glitches that need to be addressed before even considering a Steam release.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The music in the game is minimal or absent for some players, with only repetitive ocean sounds noted as irritating, while others appreciate unique music and sound effects tied to specific armies or structures. Overall, the audio experience is mixed and may feel lacking or repetitive depending on the player.
- “Some nicely placed music and sounds would be nice as there is nothing as I experienced.”
- “I did not really encounter any music; some nicely placed music and sounds would be nice as there is nothing as I experienced.”
- “No music or unique sounds, just annoying ocean sounds with a repetitive ding ding ding or whatever sound.”
- “Unique music, sounds, and effects while clicking on certain armies or structures.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently suffers from poor optimization, causing significant stuttering even on high-end hardware. It is not yet polished and may require some time before running smoothly. Players willing to tolerate these issues can still find enjoyment in its early state.
- “The game is so unoptimized, it made my computer with an RTX card that I regularly play VR on stutter terribly.”
- “If you are looking to play a finished, polished, highly optimized game, you might want to wait a few months before dipping into Ministate, but if you are willing to put up with the growing pains you should get a kick out of this.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game appears to be subtle and situational, with players finding amusement in technical or connectivity issues rather than traditional comedic elements. Overall, the humor may be more incidental than intentionally crafted.