Morels: The Hunt
- October 15, 2019
- Abrams Studios
- 52h median play time
Get on Steam"Morels: The Hunt" is a serene adventure game that lets you hunt for morel mushrooms and take photographs of wildlife in the southeast region of the United States. With each season, you'll unlock new areas and learn about various mushroom species, some edible and others poisonous. Earn points for your findings and use them to buy helpful items in The Shop, all while increasing your Mushroom Hunter and Photographer Levels.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful scenery and graphics, creating an immersive nature experience.
- It's a relaxing and enjoyable game that allows players to explore and collect mushrooms while taking photographs of wildlife.
- The developers are responsive to feedback and regularly update the game, improving gameplay and fixing bugs.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs, including crashes and issues with controls, which can disrupt the gameplay experience.
- Finding mushrooms can be frustratingly difficult, with some players reporting they could only find a few in several hours of play.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive and aimless, with limited objectives and a slow progression system that may not appeal to all players.
- graphics60 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and lush visuals that enhance the relaxing gameplay experience. However, some users note issues with optimization, choppy animations, and graphical glitches, suggesting that while the aesthetics are appealing, they may not meet the expectations set by promotional screenshots. Overall, the graphics are generally considered decent to good, particularly for a game of its type and age, but there is room for improvement in performance and detail.
“It has the fantastic mixture of relaxation, beautiful lush visuals, wonderful musical scores to keep you company as you travel through these gorgeous landscapes and search not only for morels, animals, mystical creatures, but more than enough quests to keep you busy... but without feeling stressed to achieve them.”
“The graphics are beautiful and it is a very relaxing game.”
“Great graphics, easy on the eyes for sure.”
“I had to turn the shadows to medium in order to see anything in the shade, and that causes weird graphical glitches.”
“Graphics and engine are about what you'd expect of this type of game and its age, but it still serves its purpose in hiding mushrooms from plain sight as much as it can; more embarrassing are the animal animations and AI, which look really weird and stupid at times.”
“Graphics-5/10- details are fuzzy and the motion blur was just horrific, even after turning it off.”
- music52 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the relaxing and ambient tracks that enhance the exploration experience, while others found the initial 30-second loop repetitive and annoying. Many users appreciated the option to choose from a variety of playlists, which can alleviate the monotony of the looping track. Overall, the soundtrack is generally seen as a pleasant addition, provided players take the time to explore the music settings.
“For music, you can choose a wide variety of nice ambient tracks to play (medieval and fantasy are my favorite).”
“It has the fantastic mixture of relaxation, beautiful lush visuals, wonderful musical scores to keep you company as you travel through these gorgeous landscapes and search not only for morels, animals, mystical creatures, but more than enough quests to keep you busy... but without feeling stressed to achieve them.”
“The game is full of lovely environments and peaceful music.”
“The music is fine, apart from the fact that there is exactly one 30-second loop that repeats endlessly.”
“The controls feel a bit clunky, and the music is really grating.”
“Speaking of repetitive annoyances, the first thing you'll want to do is head to the menu and change the music settings.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around a loop of mushroom hunting and photography, enhanced by a point system that allows players to purchase upgrades and gear, contributing to a sense of progression and longevity. While the mechanics have improved over time, some players find the experience repetitive and the implementation lacking polish, with occasional technical hiccups. Overall, it offers a relaxing, casual exploration of nature, though it may not meet everyone's expectations for depth and engagement.
“The gameplay loop of looking for mushrooms and photographing things is very well done.”
“The gameplay is very relaxing and enjoyable; the price is reasonable.”
“Recent upgrades have greatly improved the morel picking and picture-taking mechanics.”
“The implementation of everything is mediocre at best (gameplay mechanics, UX, settings, etc).”
“There are occasional gameplay hiccups here and there (I once had to load a game about ten times before it allowed my character to move) and some of the game isn't very polished (looking at you, horse animations).”
“Yes, there are ticks and poison ivy; these mechanics, while thematically appropriate, feel like contrived annoyances that you would pay to remove in any mobile game, rather than organic threats.”
- story16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, functioning instead as a simulation with a 100-day gameplay loop focused on collecting mushrooms and capturing wildlife photos. While players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere and beautiful visuals, many express a desire for more structured quests and crafting elements to enhance engagement. Overall, the absence of a story is noted, with the gameplay primarily revolving around exploration and optional challenges.
“It has the fantastic mixture of relaxation, beautiful lush visuals, wonderful musical scores to keep you company as you travel through these gorgeous landscapes and search not only for morels, animals, mystical creatures, but more than enough quests to keep you busy... but without feeling stressed to achieve them.”
“Morel: the hunt delivers on this premise with a 100-day quest to collect mushrooms and capture animal photos.”
“It is very clear that the game plot and focus have been very well planned out, yet the controls are very clunky.”
“The game has no story but gives the player 100 days to do everything I mentioned in this review.”
“Story - can't grade as there is no story - purely simulation.”
“It is a good walking simulator without the fuss of a storyline.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as "buggy," with issues ranging from graphical glitches to problematic controls, particularly for horse mechanics. While these stability problems can be frustrating, many players still find enjoyment in the overall experience, suggesting that with further refinement, the game has the potential to be a solid title.
“The game is a bit buggy in some cases.”
“Again, not a terrible game - buggy a lot of the time and the graphics are mediocre, but the general idea is quite nice and I think with some tinkering it could be a good game.”
“A buggy masterpiece.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be excessive, requiring significant time investment to earn points for essential items, which can lead to a lack of engaging content. While some appreciate the meditative quality of the gameplay, many feel that the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall experience, especially when switching focus between different tasks feels unnatural. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a barrier to enjoying the game fully, particularly at full price.
“Getting enough points to buy items that boost health or energy, plus better shoes, a raincoat, and a headlamp requires a ton of grinding.”
“Okay if you get it at a deep discount, but I would not pay full price - the grinding means you'll get a lot of hours without a great deal of content to enjoy.”
“In the same category as games like Euro Truck, House Flipper, and Viscera Cleanup Detail, it seems like the sort of game that might just be tedious, and yet there is a sort of relaxing zen to it.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as light-hearted and situational, with amusing moments such as a cat crashing a vehicle and quirky animal behaviors that can be both funny and surprising. While the game primarily offers a chill and cozy experience, it includes unexpected elements that add a touch of excitement and humor, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate a blend of relaxation and playful surprises.
“Also, a cat once smashed my vehicle into the fence, which was quite funny to watch.”
“I won't give it away, but that part of the game was not only fun, but brought some excitement... and in one instance (at least in my playthrough) some humor as well.”
“There are some gorgeous areas to explore and it's fun going back to the same places in different weather conditions. One thing I would note is that I would describe this game as chill/cosy 99% of the time - some of the animals can attack you, although there are no real consequences if they do, and some of the mystery animals are quite creepy, especially the way they move. I found them funny, but just something to consider if you are after a completely relaxing experience with no surprises. If you like Pokémon Snap or Alba, I think you'd enjoy this too!”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while procedural generation offers unlimited potential for new experiences, some players feel that once the game is completed, there is little incentive to return. However, the large and detailed maps contribute positively to its replay value for others. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some rating it as low as 3/10 for replayability.
“The game uses procedural generation to spawn mushrooms (and I think animals/insects as well), so it has by definition unlimited replay value.”
“The maps are large and very detailed, making the game highly replayable.”
“Replay value: 3/10 - once you have played it, then you have played it - doesn't offer anything more.”
“Replay value: 3/10 - once you have played it, then you have played it - doesn't offer anything more.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, while the graphics are visually appealing, they are reported to be poorly optimized, leading some users to disable certain features like table tennis to improve performance. However, others have noted that the game runs smoothly on high settings without any performance issues.
“I disabled the table tennis (just in case it affected performance); it comes enabled, I believe.”
“It seems to run very well on the highest settings for me, though I did not measure performance.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to evoke a sense of warmth and wholesomeness, particularly through its engaging activities like mushroom hunting and ethical animal shooting. The emotional experience is enhanced by the game's charming atmosphere, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a feel-good gaming experience.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its appealing quality, highlighted by impressive graphics that enhance the overall experience.
“The atmosphere is immersive, with stunning graphics that draw you into the game world.”
“The ambiance created by the visuals and sound design truly enhances the overall experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is captivating, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
