Newcomer : A Language Learning RPG

About

"Newcomer: A Language Learning RPG" is an immersive game designed for English speakers looking to improve their Spanish, French, or Italian skills. It offers beginner to intermediate language learners the opportunity to practice communication through visits to vibrant villages and interactions with native speakers. The game includes features such as chunk translations, unlockable words and phrases, and pronunciation practice to help players form meaningful connections with the target language.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Newcomer : A Language Learning RPG screenshot

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews

music4 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique approach to language learning by allowing players to interact with NPCs and solve problems, enhancing immersion.
The AI-driven conversations provide a dynamic and engaging experience, enabling players to express themselves freely in their target language.
The game is fun and quirky, making language learning enjoyable while providing useful resources like immediate translations and a phrasebook.

The requirement to create an account before playing is seen as intrusive and frustrating, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck.
Combat can feel tedious and repetitive, with quick respawn times for enemies and a lack of variety in challenges.
There are several bugs and issues, such as problems with the save feature, inconsistent translations, and a lack of depth in the story and quests.

story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The game's story is criticized for being overly simplistic and primarily consisting of fetch quests, lacking depth and motivation for combat. Players note that while the casual nature of the narrative is enjoyable, it ultimately feels basic and underdeveloped, with significant content missing and some quests even absent. Overall, the story fails to engage players, leaving them wanting more substance and coherence.
- “I decided to choose French (as I know the least compared to the other available languages), the intro worked well to familiarize me with the general mechanics of the game and set the story in motion.”
- “I also enjoy the very casual nature of the game; the general story is to do some repairs with side quests to solve certain issues.”
- “I find the story provides just the right amount of curiosity but isn't too dramatic or overdone.”
- “The quests so far have been fetch quests; nothing fancy.”
- “There is no story.”
- “Fix broken portals by go and fetch with fights in between... the quests are literally 'I've lost the key to that door', 'I lost my dog'...”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and artistic integration, particularly the nostalgic 8-bit style. However, some users feel that the combat music could be more intense to enhance the excitement. Additionally, there are technical issues with the music not unmuting properly after being muted.
- “I also love the choice of art and music.”
- “Great music and art.”
- “I like the 8-bit graphics and music.”
- “The music doesn't unmute after you mute and remute, in the same region.”
- “Combating could possibly have more scary/exciting/intense music.”
- “I would suggest especially in Italian more challenges with selecting the right articles and words that look similar but have different meanings.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are generally praised for being simple, clean, and aesthetically pleasing, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. While the 8-bit art style is appreciated, some users express a desire for it not to hinder gameplay. Overall, the visuals are well-received, enhancing the overall experience.
- “I love the graphics and atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are simple, nice, and clean.”
- “I like the 8-bit graphics and music.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The gameplay is described as cute and easy to learn, with an effective introduction that familiarizes players with the mechanics and story. However, some users find the combat to be dull and feel that the gameplay lacks depth, especially given its early access status. Overall, while the initial experience is engaging, there are concerns about the long-term appeal of the mechanics.
- “I decided to choose French (as I know the least compared to the other available languages), the intro worked well to familiarize me with the general mechanics of the game and set the story in motion.”
- “It's very early access and at 0.4 hours I've only completed the first town and have yet to visit the second, but I doubt the mechanics will be different there.”
- “The gameplay just felt a little off to me, and I found the combat to be boring.”
- “The gameplay is cute, and learning is pretty easy.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, primarily due to cumbersome pagination and repetitive dialogue requirements during combat. The need to navigate through extensive and difficult-to-read text to gather information detracts from the enjoyment, making the experience feel more like a chore than a fun challenge.
- “Combat is very tedious.”
- “The pagination is making battles very tedious.”
- “You have to actually ask what he has on offer... and if you go back to him and forgot the answer, you have to ask again... and you can't just ask, you have to build a phrase, going through pages and pages and pages of gigantic and hard to read text... every time... I know it's about learning, but this is not fun, it's tedious.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent game freezes being a common complaint. This has negatively impacted the overall gaming experience.
- “It just freezes the game up.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Users consistently praise the game's graphics and atmosphere, highlighting them as standout features that enhance the overall experience.
- “I love the graphics and atmosphere.”

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