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

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,289 reviews

story297 positive mentions

grinding1,335 negative mentions

The game is charming and has a unique concept of cleaning up a post-apocalyptic Earth while farming.
Sucking up trash and restoring the environment is oddly satisfying and therapeutic.
The art style is cute, and there are plenty of animals to befriend and customize with hats.

The game is filled with bugs and glitches, including invisible walls and unresponsive controls.
The story feels rushed and lacks depth, with an anticlimactic ending that leaves players unsatisfied.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with small stack sizes and no sorting options, leading to cluttered storage.

story
1,667 mentions
18 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "No Place Like Home" is generally perceived as simplistic and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels rushed and underdeveloped, particularly towards the end. While the premise of cleaning up a trashed Earth and searching for a grandfather offers potential, the execution often leads to confusion due to quest items being available before quests are initiated, and a lack of clear narrative direction. Overall, while some players find the story charming and engaging, many express a desire for more substantial character development and a cohesive plot.
- “I loved the overall concept of this game and the storyline of helping people while getting to do your own thing was a plus.”
- “The story is charming and the characters are adorable.”
- “The game has a great story, and sucking the trash on vacuum is very satisfying.”
- “I feel like I'm being prevented from even starting the story!”
- “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.”
- “The story was so boring and ends abruptly.”
grinding
1,343 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "No Place Like Home" has received mixed feedback from players. While some find the repetitive tasks of cleaning and farming therapeutic and satisfying, many others describe the gameplay as tedious and lacking depth, with excessive grinding required to progress. The farming mechanics are often seen as simplistic and secondary to the trash-cleaning elements, leading to a sense of monotony for those expecting a more traditional farming experience.
- “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.”
- “Yes, farming and keeping animals is a part of this game, but the majority of gameplay is centered around vacuuming and drilling through huge piles of waste.”
- “The concept is unique compared to other farming games, but I honestly got bored digging through the seemingly endless mounds of garbage to find what I need to progress the story, and the farming itself is not as engaging as other games.”
- “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.”
gameplay
851 mentions
25 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "No Place Like Home" primarily revolves around a repetitive loop of vacuuming trash, farming, and crafting, which some players find relaxing while others deem it tedious and lacking depth. While the core mechanics, such as the vacuuming and resource management, are enjoyable and visually satisfying, many reviewers note issues with clunky controls, bugs, and a lack of engaging content, leading to a mixed reception overall. The game is seen as a cute and charming experience, but it requires significant polish and additional depth to fully realize its potential.
- “The gameplay itself is great, though the controls are a bit janky at the moment, it's still playable and fun.”
- “The core game mechanic of vacuuming up trash to clear areas where you can build up your farm is really enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay loop in a nutshell is explore > remove trash > manage your homestead > repeat.”
- “The gameplay feels incredibly bland as most of it is vacuuming up a bunch of garbage, putting it into a machine for refining, repeat.”
- “Gameplay is just too sloppy and tedious.”
- “The repetition is 'go to new area, spend several days cleaning it of garbage and robots, complete a 'quest' that involves picking up items scattered around the area, then move on to the next area.' I'm 10 hours and roughly 5 areas into the game and that has been all of the gameplay.”
graphics
678 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a cute, cartoonish art style that many players find charming and engaging, reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley. However, there are significant concerns regarding performance, with reports of choppy visuals, graphical glitches, and lag, particularly in dense areas or at higher settings. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and find it enjoyable, others feel the graphics are dated and in need of optimization, leading to a mixed reception overall.
- “The graphics are really nice, bright, colorful, and have a cartoonish look rather than realistic.”
- “The graphics are charming, the little extras (animals having hats and parties and enjoying a picnic) are super cute and drilling the trash stacks throughout the land and then vacuuming up the residue is super satisfying.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the world is cute and interesting; I love how pets each have individual needs every day.”
- “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
452 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game is widely reported to be extremely buggy, with numerous glitches affecting gameplay, including issues with quest tracking, character animations, and environmental interactions. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these flaws, many express frustration over game-breaking bugs and a lack of polish, suggesting that it feels unfinished. Overall, players recommend approaching the game with caution, especially given its early access status, as stability remains a significant concern.
- “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 coming days. Looking forward to future updates!”
- “Although the game is certainly not completely bug-free, it is definitely fun to play and has me smiling at times instead of cursing out of frustration and disappointment.”
- “The game suffers from numerous bugs and graphical glitches that get progressively worse the longer you play or the further you progress.”
- “In its current state, the game is not playable, very buggy with no direction whatsoever.”
- “There are too many obvious bugs and glitches (like the terrain textures not lining up) and a lack of polish (lots of typos and plain errors in the dialogue) to be a full release.”
optimization
236 mentions
8 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some updates have improved performance slightly, the consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, often requiring players to set graphics to "performance" mode to achieve playable conditions. Overall, many users express hope for future optimizations, but currently, the game's performance is a major drawback.
- “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.”
- “They obviously optimized the game since I last played: I have the exact same computer but now I don't have the same issues as before.”
- “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.”
- “The game is incredibly laggy, even on 'performance' settings, and it should be noted, my computer can run Just Cause 3 with less framerate issues.”
music
202 mentions
32 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and relaxing, complementing the overall atmosphere well. However, many players find it repetitive and lacking in variety, with some noting that it can become annoying over time. While some appreciate the calming effect of the soundtrack, others suggest that additional tracks or variations would enhance the experience significantly.
- “The music is delightful, really complements the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The music is very calming.”
- “It's a stress-free game with a lot of charm, beautiful graphics, and a relaxing soundtrack.”
- “The music is so boring and lame.”
- “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
79 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quirky moments, funny characters, and charming storylines that often elicit laughter. Many highlight specific comedic elements, such as the chicken launcher and amusing animal interactions, while some find the humor to be a delightful addition to the cozy gameplay experience. However, a few critiques mention that certain attempts at humor can fall flat or feel condescending, but overall, the game maintains a lighthearted and entertaining tone.
- “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
38 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 rewarding experience of helping others, although some find the ending to be somewhat disappointing. Overall, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and positivity, making it a feel-good experience for players.
- “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.”
- “No place like home isn't difficult, it isn't taxing, it is wholeheartedly relaxing and wholesome.”
replayability
34 mentions
18 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and full of content, while others feel it lacks significant replay value due to its linearity and bugs. Many users express hope for future updates to enhance replayability, but current experiences suggest limited motivation to replay, especially with ongoing technical issues. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement, but as it stands, replayability is not a strong point.
- “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.”
- “Currently it's undergoing a lot of changes that will allow it to be replayable.”
- “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
28 mentions
64 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its delightful music and relaxing vibe, creating an enjoyable and immersive experience. Players appreciate the blend of apocalyptic elements with natural beauty, contributing to a diverse and captivating world. Overall, the atmosphere is described as bright, beautiful, and well-suited to the game's themes, enhancing both casual and goal-oriented gameplay.
- “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 feels too relaxed, with no real consequences for the time taken.”
- “While there is an apocalyptic atmosphere, it lacks depth and feels disconnected from the gameplay.”
- “The overall atmosphere is too calm, making it hard to feel engaged or invested in the game's world.”
monetization
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized for misleading advertising that emphasizes farming elements while downplaying the frequent battles, leading to a frustrating user experience akin to navigating a cluttered advertisement-filled webpage. Reviewers perceive the game as a low-quality tech demo, suggesting that it resembles a cash grab rather than a well-developed title, which detracts from the reputation of better EA games.
- “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
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with players feeling detached from the protagonist, who is perceived more as an objective than a fully realized character. Many suggest that the inclusion of backstory or shared memories could have fostered a deeper emotional connection and investment in the narrative. Overall, this aspect is seen as a major shortcoming of the game.
- “The main place this game falls down is one area that I don't think it ever intended to be good at - character development.”
- “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, I might have been a bit more invested.”
- “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.”
- “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.”