No Place Like Home

Clean up the earth and rebuild society in a more harmonious manner.

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"No Place Like Home" is an agricultural simulation game where players return to their family's abandoned homestead and must restore it to its former glory. The game features chicken-launching puzzles, various crops and animals to tend to, and a charming suburban aesthetic. Players will need to manage their resources and time to bring the farm back to life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,653 reviews

story151 positive mentions

grinding673 negative mentions

Charming and relaxing gameplay with a satisfying trash-cleaning mechanic.
Cute art style and adorable animals, including the ability to put hats on them.
Good variety of quests and exploration opportunities, making it engaging.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.
The story feels rushed and lacks depth, especially towards the end.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with small stack sizes and no sorting options.

story
841 mentions
18 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "No Place Like Home" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it simplistic and lacking depth. While some appreciate the environmental themes and the premise of cleaning up a trashed Earth, others criticize the execution, noting that the plot feels rushed and the quests often lack clear direction or meaningful rewards. Additionally, numerous bugs and quest-related issues have led to frustration, detracting from the overall narrative experience.
- “The story is charming and the characters are adorable.”
- “I love the story, the mechanics, and the overall tasks of the game.”
- “The story is cute but sometimes the player can do quests out of a different order than what is intended.”
- “The plot ends in a way that frankly severely cheapens an already very heavy-handed message by making the garbage-riddled earth very much your personal problem, and said end literally had me laughing incredulously at how utterly dumb it was.”
- “I finished the game before I decided to write my review in hopes that something would change, that there would be some good qualities as I do enjoy my farming sim style games, however the ending was almost the worst part and the story just wasn't really there.”
- “The downside, I feel like after all the effort put into following the story line, the ending was very rushed and was kind of a let down for all the build up that was given.”
grinding
677 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some find the repetitive tasks of cleaning trash and managing farming enjoyable and therapeutic, others feel that the gameplay becomes tedious and lacks depth, particularly in the farming mechanics, which are often overshadowed by the cleaning elements. Overall, players who appreciate a casual, grindy experience may enjoy the game, but those seeking a more engaging farming simulation might find it lacking.
- “You can do as much or as little as you like, and I really enjoy that it's not farming-oriented, so it doesn't feel like a grind like other similar games.”
- “Tiers could start with mud, then wood, then brick, advancing as you get higher levels. I love the questing; it is not too tedious but does need a bit of polish. I would love to see multiplayer added.”
- “No grinding for better tools or watering one plant at a time until halfway through the game.”
- “Game should be called 'trash clean-up simulator' 90% of the 25 hours I played this game was cleaning up trash... the other 10% was collecting animals and farming (if you can even call it that)... I was at 2.1 hours before anything could actually be accomplished and after an hour in I was going to request a refund.”
- “The farming is not too much and the animals are very cute! However, farming, animal husbandry, and cooking makes for fun and relaxing gameplay, but the majority of gameplay is centered around vacuuming and drilling through huge piles of waste.”
- “The farming aspect is a disappointment. It feels like a simple farming game, but the farming mechanics are difficult and needlessly time-consuming.”
gameplay
426 mentions
25 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "No Place Like Home" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth. While the core mechanic of vacuuming trash is satisfying and offers a relaxing experience, the overall gameplay loop can feel tedious and grindy, especially as players progress. Additionally, various technical issues and clunky mechanics detract from the experience, leading some to suggest waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game.
- “The gameplay loop in a nutshell is explore > remove trash > manage your homestead > repeat.”
- “The core game mechanic of vacuuming up trash to clear areas where you can build up your farm is really enjoyable.”
- “I like the simple yet good fighting mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is unsatisfying and boring.”
- “The gameplay feels incredibly bland as most of it is vacuuming up a bunch of garbage, putting it into a machine for refining, repeat.”
- “I completed the main story at a very leisurely pace (and repeating some sections) in 32 hours, and while I mainly enjoyed it, I think most people would find the gameplay lacking or tedious, as well as too short for its cost.”
graphics
340 mentions
39 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the cute and colorful art style reminiscent of titles like "Stardew Valley" and "My Time at Portia." However, numerous reports highlight issues such as graphical glitches, choppy performance, and high resource demands that can lead to lag, even on lower settings. While some players find the visuals charming and enjoyable, others express disappointment over the game's graphical fidelity and optimization, suggesting that improvements are needed for a smoother experience.
- “The graphics are colorful and the music is soothing.”
- “The graphics are really nice, bright, colorful, and have a cartoonish look rather than realistic.”
- “The graphics are cute and play is pretty simple.”
- “The graphics look unfinished.”
- “The graphics are choppy and need a serious overhaul.”
- “The game suffers from numerous bugs and graphical glitches that get progressively worse the longer you play or the further you progress.”
stability
228 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. Common issues include graphical glitches, unresponsive controls, and quest-related bugs that can hinder progress. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these flaws, many recommend waiting for further updates and fixes before diving in.
- “I had no glitches or anything weird happen during my 15 hours of gameplay so far, which is wonderful.”
- “The game feels balanced, enjoyable, and not too buggy or difficult. The winding map is very fun to explore, and it all loops back to closer spots once the door is opened from the other sides, so future exploring can be done more quickly in the next days. Looking forward to future updates!”
- “Runs great even on my MS Surface.”
- “The game gets kind of buggy as you progress, animal pathing preventing you from building things anywhere they step, piles of junk not disappearing when you vacuum them up, or they disappear but their collision box is still there and remains there post-restart.”
- “There are so many bugs and glitches it's not even worth reporting them all, and whilst none are game-breaking (at least none I've found so far), there's everything from amusing to annoying to locking you out of certain achievements.”
- “In its current state, the game is not playable, very buggy with no direction whatsoever.”
optimization
119 mentions
8 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and frame rate drops, even on high-end hardware. While some updates have improved performance, players often find themselves needing to set graphics to "performance mode" to achieve playable frame rates, which compromises visual quality. Overall, the game is seen as poorly optimized, with ongoing bugs and a general need for further improvements to enhance the gaming experience.
- “I lowered settings down to the performance setting and the looks barely diminished while the CPU fan went down significantly.”
- “With the 0.16 patch, we have been granted glorious optimization and now we can enjoy full framerate even in wide open areas with a lot of stuff.”
- “Cute game and the latest update really optimized it and made it playable.”
- “A potentially fun game concept that is ruined by clunky gameplay, constant graphical and stuttering issues, and general lack of value for what you've paid for it.”
- “This is seriously one of the worst optimized games I've ever played.”
- “Highly unoptimized, you will have performance drops regardless of what hardware you have.”
music
102 mentions
32 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and fitting for the atmosphere, but many players find it repetitive and lacking in variety, often leading to boredom. While some appreciate the soothing quality of the soundtrack, others express frustration with its monotony and the abrupt silences during NPC interactions. Overall, there is a consensus that the game would benefit from a broader range of music tracks to enhance the experience.
- “The music is delightful, really complements the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music is very calming.”
- “Everything about this game is beautiful and so peaceful, from the graphics to the soundtrack.”
- “The music was a bit repetitive, especially if you've played their other cleaning sim, Fresh Start.”
- “I don't know how much I can keep playing with just the same two songs looped.”
- “The soundtrack to No Place Like Home is quite calming and relaxing but it doesn't feel all that unique or especially varied; it absolutely functions for what it needs to do but it does get stale quite quickly.”
humor
40 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its cute and quirky moments, such as funny character interactions and amusing gameplay mechanics like the chicken launcher. While some found certain aspects of the humor to be hit-or-miss or overly silly, many enjoyed the lighthearted tone and charming animations that contribute to an overall fun experience. However, a few critiques mention that some attempts at humor can feel forced or condescending, but these instances are often overshadowed by the game's overall comedic charm.
- “The devs for sure had a great sense of humor and fantastic imagination doing this game.”
- “The story is fun and hilarious.”
- “The chicken launcher is hilarious though.”
emotional
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "No Place Like Home" is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome gameplay, which promotes themes of sustainability and community support. Players appreciate the game's relaxing atmosphere and the joy derived from caring for animals and helping townspeople, despite some criticism regarding its anti-climactic ending and technical issues. Overall, it evokes a sense of optimism and comfort, making it a feel-good experience for players.
- “But overall, I think No Place Like Home is a fun and heartwarming game that deserves more attention.”
- “I love the optimistic and wholesome narrative of living a sustainable life on Earth after it's been trashed and abandoned by most of the population.”
- “Also, being able to adopt stray cats and dogs, and being able to help the townspeople is also very rewarding, emotionally.”
replayability
17 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, opinions on the game's replayability are mixed. While some players find it has good replay value due to its content and the ability to improve upon previous playthroughs, others criticize its linearity and lack of end-game content, suggesting limited replayability. Additionally, ongoing bugs and the game's early access status contribute to a sense of frustration regarding replay potential.
- “The game has a lot of content and replay value.”
- “Replay value is great, as you can use what you learned in your previous playthroughs to improve your experience.”
- “An introduction of difficulty levels would be good and also give replayability.”
- “I also don't see a lot of replayability in this game.”
- “There does not seem to be any end-game or replay value, at least to me.”
- “Though it's very linear, so I expect little to no replay value.”
atmosphere
14 mentions
64 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its delightful music and relaxing, immersive qualities, creating a beautiful and engaging environment. Players appreciate the balance between a laid-back experience and the intriguing upgrade and crafting systems, which enhance the overall enjoyment. The diverse and atmospheric world, characterized by both apocalyptic elements and natural beauty, invites exploration and engagement.
- “The music is delightful, really complements the atmosphere of the game.”
- “This game has such a wonderful atmosphere.”
- “It looks bright, beautiful and the atmosphere is perfectly captured.”
- “The atmosphere is relaxing, but it lacks any real consequences for the time taken.”
- “There's a strong apocalyptic atmosphere, yet the natural beauty makes you want to clean up the mess.”
- “The atmosphere feels overly relaxed.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for misleading advertising that downplays the constant battles and overemphasizes farming elements, leading to a frustrating user experience akin to navigating a cluttered advertisement-filled page. Many users feel the game resembles a low-quality tech demo, which diminishes its value and makes it seem like a cash grab compared to better EA titles.
- “The advertisements for the game give the impression that it is just a farming-type game and doesn't really mention the constant battles you have to engage in.”
- “It feels like trying to view a forum page full of advertisements where you have to constantly adjust where your mouse is to scroll on the page because if you hover over an advertisement, you either can't scroll, or scroll in the advertisement itself and not the forum page you are actually trying to read.”
- “Things like this really tick me off because honestly, it makes EA games look terrible or like cash grabs when there are excellent EA games out there that people should pay attention to, rather than ones like this.”
character development
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development is a significant weakness in the game, with players feeling a lack of attachment to the protagonist due to insufficient backstory and emotional depth. Many suggest that incorporating memories or personal reflections could have enhanced their investment in the character. Overall, the game's failure to provide meaningful character development detracts from the overall experience.
- “The character development in this game is truly remarkable, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters as their stories unfold.”
- “I was genuinely impressed by how the characters evolved throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The depth of character development really enhances the emotional impact of the story, making each character's struggles and triumphs resonate with the player.”
- “As a character, I was just not attached to him; he wasn't really a person - just an objective. Perhaps if there had been a bit more character development or backstory (if we had seen some of their memories together or found pictures where Ellen reminisces on her fond memories of him), I might have been a bit more invested.”
- “The character development felt shallow and rushed, leaving me with little emotional connection to the protagonist. I expected more depth and growth throughout the story.”
- “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking in meaningful development. Their motivations were unclear, making it hard to care about their journeys.”