Mudborne

About

Mudborne is a single player casual management game. It was developed by ellraiser and was released on March 20, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Mudborne is a laid-back nature sim game about breeding & collecting frogs! Visited in your dreams by a mysterious deity, you begin a journey to help rediscover Her lost children.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+11

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 686 reviews

story64 positive mentions

grinding33 negative mentions

Charming pixel art and soothing soundtrack create a cozy atmosphere.
Engaging puzzle mechanics involving frog breeding and mushroom cultivation provide depth and challenge.
Rich lore and story elements enhance the gameplay experience, making exploration rewarding.

Navigation can be confusing, leading to backtracking and frustration.
Some players may find the puzzles and genetic mechanics overly complex or tedious.
Limited customization options for controls and UI may hinder the experience for some players.

story
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The story in Mudborne is generally praised for its charm and depth, weaving an engaging narrative about frog breeding and ecosystem restoration with elements of mystery and character development. Players appreciate the immersive world-building, the integration of puzzles with story progression, and the delightful character design, although some find the pacing and complexity of the quests a bit overwhelming. Overall, the game offers a cozy, relaxing experience with a surprisingly rich storyline that keeps players invested.
- “Mudborne is a great game for relaxing gameplay full of wonderful natural sounds where you get to explore the world and storyline with the books as guides in the journey.”
- “The story is intriguing and it really is a neat little game.”
- “An absolutely lovely and charming frog game on the surface, that once you get into it reveals deep intriguing genetic mechanics and an immersive story with deep lore to explore.”
- “The story is a little bare bones.”
- “I found the map nearly impossible to navigate and the quests to be somewhat unclear and spent hours wandering around trying to figure out the next place the story needed me to go.”
- “With the scribbly art style for the map, the teleport gates, and a dream world version of the map, it was kind of too much to navigate and I've lost all motivation to keep looking for that one specific mushroom that grows in one specific weather/time/climate to progress the story.”
gameplay
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
55%
2%
The gameplay of Mudborne is characterized by its deep and engaging mechanics centered around frog breeding and genetics, offering a unique blend of puzzle-solving and exploration. Players appreciate the cozy atmosphere, charming pixel art, and a well-paced progression system that encourages experimentation, although some find the reliance on menus and the complexity of certain mechanics a bit overwhelming. Overall, the game successfully combines relaxing gameplay with challenging elements, making it appealing to both casual and more dedicated players.
- “It boasts a deep and well thought out core mechanic that makes breeding and rearing frogs genuinely enjoyable, and offers a cozy sense of exploration that coalesces into a very enjoyable game.”
- “Amazing game with incredibly cute pixel frogs, set in a charming world and delivering engaging gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is a great mix of experimentation and puzzle solving, although it took me a little bit to understand what each trait meant, and I often had to look back to see the values of each frog/mushroom.”
- “The mechanics demand a reliance on a lot of menus and submenus which can get a little fiddly, but the chill soundtrack will easily soothe any of those stresses out of you as you play.”
- “That said, there is quite a bit of waiting involved in the game's main frog-spawning gameplay loop.”
- “The game can get a little arcane at times, requiring repeated experimentation to fully understand how the various system mechanics work and interact.”
graphics
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which complements the cozy and relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals, adorable frog designs, and the thoughtful integration of art and sound, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the aesthetics are considered a significant highlight, enhancing both the gameplay and the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “I love the art style too, it really fits the theme and general cozy aspect of the game.”
- “The graphics are cute, and it's a good balance of challenging but still relaxing.”
- “The graphics and aesthetics are beautifully crafted, creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere that draws you into its dreamy world.”
- “With the scribbly art style for the map, the teleport gates, and a dream world version of the map, it was kind of too much to navigate and I've lost all motivation to keep looking for that one specific mushroom that grows in one specific weather/time/climate to progress the story.”
- “I will be honest, while I love the aesthetics, it was a bit frustrating once I understood the gameplay loop.”
- “It is very similar in visuals to Apico, with a noticeably different gameplay loop.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
40%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall cozy atmosphere. Players appreciate the well-orchestrated soundtrack, which complements the charming pixel art and gameplay mechanics, making it a delightful backdrop for exploration and puzzle-solving. Many reviewers noted that the music is so calming that it can even be enjoyed while multitasking or as a sleep aid.
- “The music is very pleasant, the art style is pleasing, and the mechanics are fun to puzzle out!”
- “The music is peaceful and has the vibe of old-school Minecraft, with the constant ribbits of little frogs to keep you company.”
- “The music and ambiance are lovely and peaceful.”
- “I fall asleep to the soundtrack all the time.”
- “It's not a super long game (you can ignore a few hours of my playtime, I fell asleep at least once because the music is so chill and listening to peeping frogs makes me feel at peace) but I think it's definitely got enough to it to keep me entertained.”
- “The music is very peaceful, the pixel art graphics are so pretty, and I'm having lots of fun catching bugs, raising mushrooms, and genetically engineering frogs.”
grinding
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game, where players find it both tedious and rewarding. While some appreciate the focus on puzzles and resource management over traditional farming mechanics, others note that navigating the world and completing genetic puzzles can feel repetitive and frustrating. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of exploration and light farming, but may not satisfy those seeking a more conventional farming sim experience.
- “Almost no grinding required (though maybe that’s not a plus for everyone).”
- “My complaints would be that the genetic lock puzzles can be really tedious, same with general movement around the world.”
- “I don't expect this game to be everyone's cup of tea; it can be a little grindy here or there, and the puzzles of trying to find the specific mushroom combination to make the perfect frog can be a little frustrating occasionally.”
- “It's just a pretty tedious process to get the mushrooms you're looking for when you have no climate control tools at your disposal.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
4%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its relaxing and charming qualities, featuring cute art styles, soothing music, and engaging soundscapes that create a cozy and immersive experience. Players appreciate the rich environments and the delightful blend of puzzle-solving with a tranquil vibe, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a chill gaming experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating, with a unique charm that enhances the gameplay and storytelling.
- “It's a very relaxing puzzle game with a unique charm never seen before; it captivates you with a rich atmosphere and makes you think about the puzzles at hand while still managing to help you kick back and chill out.”
- “An absolutely delightful puzzle/exploration breed-em-up, with fantastic atmosphere and a dedicated ribbit button.”
- “The theme and art make a charming and cozy atmosphere.”
- “The graphics and aesthetics are beautifully crafted, creating a cozy and relaxing atmosphere that draws you into its dreamy world.”
- “I love the calming atmosphere and the creative frogs that you can find and create.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its charm and lightheartedness, with players enjoying the witty writing, cute narratives, and amusing details about characters, particularly the frogs. The blend of cozy gameplay with humorous elements creates an engaging experience that keeps players smiling throughout their journey. Overall, the humor is described as well-integrated and delightful, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “The game is cozy, but also challenging; it's funny. I love the diary entries and all the little details about the frogs' personalities and patterns, and everything that makes them unique.”
- “The cute little jokes really made me laugh and smile.”
- “The writing is so funny; there's a story, and the world feels mysterious and alive.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its engaging narrative and relatable characters that evoke feelings of investment and nostalgia. The blend of humor and heartfelt moments, such as the poignant storyline and cozy atmosphere, contributes to a memorable experience that resonates deeply, with some even expressing a profound emotional response, including tears. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a whimsical yet meaningful exploration of themes like classism and personal growth.
- “I found myself very emotionally invested in frog classism.”
- “Came for the simple genetic frog game, and got submerged into the full bucket of wholesome characters, detective storyline, and beautiful cozy world.”
- “I cried playing Mudborne.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting minor visual glitches and bugs, while others have noted a surprising lack of issues shortly after its release. Overall, players seem to acknowledge the presence of bugs but remain engaged with the game, even considering modding opportunities.
- “Although buggy.”
- “Some minor visual glitches due to sprite ordering.”
- “Well... I went on a mad dash to be one of the first ever to 100% the game (even if it was buggy) and now that's done I'm writing an all frogs guide, then thinking about going even further and getting into modding since there are great official guides on how to.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its engaging story and high-quality character design, highlighting the appeal of the characters' cuteness as a significant factor in their overall enjoyment.
- “The story is so enticing, and the character design is top-tier cuteness.”
- “The character development is incredibly rich, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations deeply explored.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that "Mudborne" is poised to become a highly replayable cozy game, suggesting it has enduring appeal and will remain enjoyable over time.
- “I'm confident that Mudborne will soon become another replayable cozy game that stands the test of time.”