Notes From Province

About

Notes From Province is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by BoxFox Studios and was released on August 12, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Dive into a deep Open World that rewards exploration. Solve clever puzzles with lateral thinking, and engage in unique, story-driven boss battles. Then take a break. Furnish your home, fish a little, and chill with your eccentric neighbors.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews

story19 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game is a well-crafted RPGMaker experience with engaging characters, a compelling story, and a variety of mini-games and puzzles.
It offers a rich open-world environment filled with exploration opportunities, interesting side quests, and a unique combat system that encourages strategic thinking.
As a free game, it provides an impressive amount of content and depth, making it a hidden gem worth trying.

The game suffers from a lack of originality, relying heavily on stock RPG Maker assets, which can make it feel bland and unremarkable.
Many players found the combat to be poorly balanced, with some battles dragging on too long and lacking a sense of progression.
The ending left many players feeling unsatisfied, with unresolved plot points and character arcs that detracted from the overall experience.

story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
41%
8%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring interesting characters, engaging world-building, and a mix of humor and emotional depth. While some players found the central plot somewhat predictable and the pacing uneven, many appreciated the diverse side content and character interactions that enriched the narrative experience. Overall, the story is described as entertaining and compelling, with potential for further development in future installments.
- “The story was compelling with many interesting and memorable characters, the battle system was innovative with lots of customization, and the minigames and puzzles were fun and diverse.”
- “If you are reading this review and are deciding whether or not to download and play this game, I would wholeheartedly recommend it if you enjoy great story, fleshed-out and well-written characters, and surprisingly great world-building.”
- “Very engaging story, lots of different things to do, many interesting characters, and many intriguing secrets.”
- “The plot is very isekai-ish as seemingly everything revolves around the player character apropos of nothing, including (as you'd expect) lots and lots of beautiful women who are interested in you from the get-go.”
- “The central plot isn't initially clear, as you're mainly exploring and getting to know people.”
- “The game does actually have a main storyline, though you're likely to be about halfway through before you even realize; overall, it's quite well done; it doesn't necessarily offer much in the way of surprises, but it's engaging and thoughtful.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
Gameplay features a mix of engaging mechanics and standard RPG elements, with battles that can feel drawn out despite interesting character abilities and equipment-switching options. While some characters offer unique combat experiences, others are simpler, and the overall pacing may detract from enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game provides a rich world with entertaining plots, intriguing puzzles, and ample content, making it enjoyable for players seeking depth and interaction.
- “Switching equipment mid-fight is really cool, enough that I wish there was a recharge mechanic for that rather than making it once-per-battle.”
- “The battle mechanics, at their core, don't stray very far from standard RPG Maker stuff, but they're implemented very well.”
- “The characters are interesting, the puzzles are also intriguing, and the gameplay is fun.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the fights seem very weirdly balanced: even though your characters are very strong and can heal themselves infinitely, even the most basic fight is way too drawn out and goes on too long.”
- “The battle mechanics, at their core, don't stray very far from standard RPG Maker stuff, but they're implemented *very* well.”
- “The battle mechanics, the way each character fights, make each new character so fun to try with (except the hunter and priest, which are a bit simple, sadly).”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
The music in the game is generally enjoyable and relaxing, featuring a mix of stock and original tracks that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the engaging musical tasks, which add a fun and challenging element to gameplay, while also introducing them to new artists and expanding their playlists. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere and serves as a great way to unwind.
- “The music is fun and relaxing, and there's plenty of fun and engaging tasks to do.”
- “I'd say this game is a great way to de-stress and have fun - whether you love playing games for cool art, pleasant music, fun combat, interesting tasks and side quests, a great story, or lovable characters.”
- “If anything, at the very least the non-RTP music that was used here introduced me to new music artists and expanded my playlist.”
- “It uses nearly every free asset, character, music, and combat that RPG Maker has.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is largely optional, with players able to progress without it, though some may choose to grind in the arena for leveling up or farming in-game currency. While the campaign minimizes grinding, completing all content may require some effort in minigames, and general mob grinding offers limited rewards as experience gain diminishes at higher levels. Overall, while grinding can be a strategy for some, it is not a necessity for most players.
- “There is effectively no grinding during the campaign (though some grinding of minigames is necessary if you wish to complete absolutely all the content), and ordinary grinding of mobs isn't even terribly rewarding, due to a relative paucity of non-quest-related mobs and experience gain tapering rather hard once you're up a few levels.”
- “No grinding unless you want to (enemies aren't random, you have to walk into them).”
- “Fights can be difficult and require very careful use of tactics and limited items, or a lot of grinding at the arena to level up and afford new items.”
- “Yes, some monsters might be kind of difficult, but what's a little grinding?”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The graphics of the game are reminiscent of classic RPG Maker titles, appealing to those who appreciate a nostalgic art style. However, some users noted limitations in the graphics settings, particularly with the full-screen mode, which did not effectively utilize modern monitor dimensions. Overall, while the visuals evoke a simpler time, they may feel familiar and underwhelming to seasoned RPG Maker players.
- “I mainly got into the game because of the art style, but I really enjoy exploring the province and the surrounding area.”
- “The dialogue is interesting, and the graphics remind me of a simpler time.”
- “There are graphics here that you'll have seen before if you've played other RPG Maker games.”
- “It plays just like every other RPG Maker game, and the graphics settings provided a poor full-screen experience that barely stretched the game to the length of my monitor.”
- “The graphics here are nothing new; you'll have seen them before if you've played other RPG Maker games.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a colorful and zany atmosphere, with standout characters like Bolinda and a uniquely entertaining house that adds to the comedic experience. Players appreciate the eccentricity of the characters, which contributes to a mix of wholesome moments and humorous interactions, although some narrative elements may detract from the overall comedic impact.
- “The most involved of them is the house itself, which can be transformed, furnished, and expanded in any number of ways, complete with the most hilarious Tom Nook I've ever seen.”
- “It's a colorful world of some good wholesomeness, sob stories, plot twists, and a lot of zany humor.”
- “I have to emphasize the humor, as the majority of characters are, as I said earlier, very eccentric.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is effectively paced, allowing players to experience emotions and growth organically rather than through direct exposition. This approach enhances the depth and relatability of the characters.
- “The writing paces the character development well, instead of just telling you that someone feels sad or powerful.”
- “The characters evolve in a believable way, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”
- “I love how the game allows for meaningful choices that impact character growth and relationships.”
- “The character development feels shallow and predictable, lacking any real depth or complexity.”
- “I found the character arcs to be unconvincing and poorly executed, making it hard to connect with them.”
- “The game fails to provide meaningful choices that impact character growth, leaving the development feeling linear and uninspired.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
Reviewers feel that the lack of role-playing elements and meaningful choices in quest dialogue limits the game's replayability, suggesting that these features could enhance the experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The variety of choices in quests really enhances the replayability, making each playthrough feel unique.”
- “With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back to explore all the possibilities.”
- “The dynamic world changes based on your decisions, which adds a layer of depth and encourages multiple playthroughs.”
- “I'd like to have seen some role-playing and choice-making in quest dialogue to add replay value.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in its emotional depth through heartwarming character relationships and the ability to form a party, enhancing the player's connection to the story. Its colorful world is filled with wholesome moments, poignant backstories, unexpected plot twists, and a blend of zany humor, creating a rich emotional experience.
- “The relationships between different characters are lovely and heartwarming, and you get to add characters to your party group to help you fight.”
- “It's a colorful world filled with wholesome moments, sob stories, plot twists, and a lot of zany humor.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its handcrafted optional dungeons, each offering unique properties, memorable encounters, and engaging puzzles that enhance the overall experience.
- “This game has so many optional dungeons, each feeling handcrafted with their own unique properties, memorable fights, puzzles, and atmosphere.”