Moondrop
- July 28, 2023
- Joshua Galecki
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreMoondrop is a single-player Role Playing game with heavy grinding aspects, offering around 4 hours of playtime. The game features skill-based farming on an ever-changing mountain, where players must match and grow exotic crops to hold back the mists and rebuild an abandoned village. Players can earn profits from the finicky mistberry crop and unlock new upgrades with returning villagers.
Reviews
- The game combines farming and roguelike elements in a unique and engaging way, offering a fun and addictive gameplay loop.
- Players appreciate the balance and challenge of the game, with good replay value and rewarding mechanics for managing progression.
- The charming retro graphics and laid-back soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere, making it enjoyable to explore and build up your farm.
- The game suffers from bugs and clunky mechanics, such as items disappearing from inventory and difficulty in managing resources effectively.
- Some players find the time constraints and RNG elements frustrating, leading to situations where progress feels unfairly gated.
- The lack of a comprehensive tutorial and underdeveloped help system can leave players confused about game mechanics and objectives.
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Moondrop is characterized by its unique blend of farming simulation and roguelite mechanics, offering players a fresh take on both genres. While it features traditional farming elements like upgrades and crafting, the game introduces procedural challenges and puzzles that keep the experience engaging. However, it may appeal more to those seeking a roguelike experience rather than a conventional farming simulator, as the game lacks typical NPC interactions and has a limited timeframe for each farming run.
“I'm recommending it, but with a caveat, because this game is more oriented for people who want a roguelike experience rather than people who want a farming simulator experience.”
“It's a farming game with metaprogression, and your farms, at least initially, only last something like 10 days; it describes itself as roguelite, which isn't quite right, but isn't quite wrong, either - it sits uneasily between multiple genres, and succeeds at being its own thing.”
“While the game initially manifests as a typical progression through the upgrade tree enabling faster/better farming and debris removal (watering can upgrades, axe upgrades, etc.) it quickly reveals a meta-progression around the building up of a small mountain town.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as unique and compelling, featuring innovative mechanics like seed-growth and town management that enhance progression, despite some rough edges and clunky elements. Players appreciate the variety and depth offered through activities like treasure hunts and fishing, making it a rewarding experience, though it may not be the most thrilling. Overall, it stands out in the rogue-lite farming sim genre and is worth exploring for those interested.
“Took a second to get used to the new seed-growth mechanic, but discovering new ways to manage progression was really rewarding.”
“It is certainly rough around the edges, but it introduces enough unique and fun mechanics to the genre that I'd recommend it if rogue-lite farming sim sounds interesting to you.”
“Treasure hunts, fishing, etc. it offers a surprising amount of variety and depth, which is fitting because even the core farming gameplay has an interesting wrinkle based on adjacency bonuses for various types of plants and seeds.”
“However, the gameplay feels really primitive.”
“It's a little rough around the edges - some mechanics are hard to figure out, and some things feel a little clunky, but it's an experimental new game from a new indie developer and it's worth supporting.”
“It's not the most thrilling gameplay experience, but it's really rather unique and worth checking out.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story revolves around managing a plot of land within a limited timeframe, where players engage in puzzle-solving to enhance their farming experience. Players can unlock new areas and complete side quests, adding depth to the gameplay and allowing for exploration beyond the main farming objectives. Overall, the narrative is centered on growth, both in terms of crops and personal achievements through various challenges.
“I enjoyed building my farm and doing side quests on the mountain trail.”
“In addition to this, there are side quests and goals that can be taken on during a given farming 'run', if you will.”
“Completing two puzzles three or four times in a row in order to unlock some things, and the ability to stay a little bit longer at your plot (and unlock the final maze area).”
“The story feels disjointed, with a plot that lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
“The narrative is repetitive, requiring players to complete the same puzzles multiple times to progress.”
“Side quests and goals are present, but they don't add meaningful context to the overall story.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by very low pixel quality and a lack of zoom, leading to a clunky control experience. However, some users appreciate the charming retro aesthetic and simplicity of the visuals.
“The game has a charming retro feel with simple graphics.”
“The visuals are stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the world to life.”
“The art style is unique and beautifully crafted, making every scene a visual delight.”
“No zoom, very low pixel graphics, and the controls just feel clunky.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game well-balanced and challenging, contributing to its strong replay value.
“Well balanced and challenging with great replay value.”
“The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and unlockable content, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The laid-back guitar soundtrack enhances the gaming experience, creating a relaxed atmosphere that encourages players to experiment and learn new strategies with each run.
“The laid-back guitar soundtrack is especially nice, and it always feels like you're learning something new to try out in the next run.”
