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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Newcomer : A Language Learning RPG screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive way to learn languages through dynamic conversations with NPCs, enhancing the learning experience beyond traditional methods.
It provides excellent grammar explanations and contextual translations, making it easier for players to understand and use new vocabulary effectively.
The game is engaging and fun, appealing to both adults and children, and serves as a great supplementary tool for language learning alongside other resources.

The requirement to create an account before playing is seen as intrusive and annoying, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck where it complicates the user experience.
There are several bugs and issues, such as problems with the save feature, unresponsive voice-to-text functionality, and inconsistencies in translation tasks that can hinder gameplay.
The game currently lacks depth in its story and content, with some players finding the quests repetitive and the combat system tedious, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The story in the game is largely criticized for being simplistic and lacking depth, primarily consisting of basic fetch quests with minimal motivation or content. While some players appreciate the casual nature and the introductory mechanics, many feel that the overall narrative is underdeveloped and repetitive, with significant plot issues and missing quests.
- “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 motivation to kill enemies, so I've been trying to avoid them to get the quests done.”
- “There is no story.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and artistic integration, with some users appreciating the 8-bit style. However, there are suggestions for more intense and thematic music during combat scenarios, as well as technical issues regarding the audio settings. Overall, the combination of music and art enhances the gaming experience.
- “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 have more scary, exciting, and intense music.”
- “I would suggest more challenges with selecting the right articles and words that look similar but have different meanings.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are praised for their simplicity, cleanliness, and nostalgic 8-bit style, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. While the art style is generally well-received, some users express a desire for it to remain functional and not hinder gameplay. Overall, the visuals enhance the gaming experience without overwhelming it.
- “The graphics are simple, nice, and clean.”
- “I love the graphics and atmosphere.”
- “I like the 8-bit graphics and music.”
- “I'm fine with the art style, but it should not make the game hard to play.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
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 variety, especially in its early access state.
- “The gameplay is cute, and learning is pretty easy.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to cumbersome combat mechanics and excessive text navigation that detracts from the overall enjoyment. The repetitive nature of asking for information and the difficulty in managing dialogue contribute to a lack of fun in the grinding experience.
- “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 of gigantic and hard to read text... every time... I know it's about learning, but this is not fun, it's tedious.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent game freezes impacting overall gameplay experience.
- “It just freezes the game up.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it unplayable.”
- “I experience constant lag and instability during gameplay.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers consistently praise the game's graphics and atmosphere, highlighting them as standout features that enhance the overall experience.
- “I love the graphics and atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”