Nova Lands

Equal parts relaxing and chaotic, Nova Lands is an easy-to-love automation game with a gameplay loop that will have you hooked for hours on end.

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Nova Lands is a 2D open-world survival and automation game, where you build and expand your base using resources from various planets. As you progress, you can automate production chains with helper bots, allowing you to explore and unlock new possibilities. The game combines elements from Factorio, Forager, and Satisfactory, offering a unique and engaging experience in a cozy setting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 927 reviews

gameplay42 positive mentions

grinding78 negative mentions

Charming graphics and art style that enhances the overall experience.
Engaging automation mechanics that allow for creative factory setups.
Fun gameplay loop that keeps players invested with constant progression.

Late game becomes tedious with long crafting times and limited space for expansion.
Lack of depth in combat and boss fights, making them feel underwhelming.
Some mechanics and features feel unfinished or poorly explained, leading to confusion.

gameplay
130 mentions
32 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Nova Lands is characterized by a fun and engaging loop that combines exploration, resource gathering, and automation mechanics, reminiscent of games like Forager and Factorio. While the initial hours are enjoyable and filled with rewarding progression, some players find the combat dull and the mid to late game can become tedious due to a lack of depth and clarity in mechanics. Overall, the game offers a charming experience with a solid foundation, though it could benefit from improved quality of life features and more varied gameplay options.
- “The first ten hours were fun exploring, learning, and understanding the mechanics of the game.”
- “The progression is exciting (unlocking new skills and 'powers' as you develop your lands), the art is cute and relaxing, it's challenging but without reaching a point of frustration, and it comes with mechanics and playstyles that are original in this genre.”
- “Very enjoyable, addictive gameplay with a well-balanced progression loop, at least until the mid-late game.”
- “Must say the last 30 hours is basically an optimization and idle wait game (which the devs clearly know based upon the sleep bonus mechanic).”
- “Little player choice in gameplay systems (e.g. island unlock order, research order, options for making credits, etc.) means everything will tend to feel the same.”
- “Some game mechanics aren't clearly explained or demonstrated, and others feel too light.”
grinding
82 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the game offers enjoyable gameplay and a unique take on factory resource management, it tends to become grindy, particularly in the late game where crafting times can feel excessively long and tedious. Many players appreciate the initial pacing and automation mechanics but express frustration with the repetitive nature of grinding for upgrades and resources, especially towards the end. Overall, the game is seen as a fun experience for those who enjoy grinding, but it may not satisfy players looking for a more streamlined progression.
- “It's a fantastic introduction to automation games as the production lines aren't too complicated and building and destroying buildings is not very tedious.”
- “The progress feels fast and not very grindy, and that made it fun from start to finish, although the very last item is quite slow to make even with a decent production line.”
- “The end game items take a bit of time even with the speed-up upgrades, which made it more tedious than fun.”
- “The game is incredibly tedious at this point.”
- “However, the late game is incredibly tedious and boring, with very long crafting times and not much to do while you wait.”
graphics
69 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming pixel art style, which appeals to a younger audience and fans of laid-back gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful aesthetics, smooth performance, and well-polished interface, making it visually engaging and enjoyable. While some mention that the graphics may not be as complex as other titles in the genre, the overall art style and atmosphere contribute positively to the gaming experience.
- “This makes Nova Lands particularly well-suited for a younger audience and people who prefer this art style and aren't looking for over-the-top automation.”
- “Nova Lands expands on this with amazing pixel-art aesthetics as well as some light automation.”
- “Loving the cute, beautiful graphics of this game!”
- “It's kind of nostalgic, but: the graphics are like something from a Commodore C64; chunky little blocks of pixels.”
- “The game is okay in terms of graphics, but not so much so that it is a thrill to change the 10 pixels that are composing the head of the character.”
- “In general, it is recommended for fans of Vivyvalok, the only downside, which I have found so far - it's graphics.”
story
64 mentions
20 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as light and cute, with some interesting plot twists, but it tends to feel underdeveloped and becomes less engaging as the game progresses. While players appreciate the charming visuals and the initial narrative premise of crash landing on a planet, many feel that the story lacks depth and direction, especially in the later stages, leading to a somewhat rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the story adds a pleasant backdrop to the gameplay, but it may not meet the expectations of those seeking a more complex narrative experience.
- “It has a fairly good story and cute characters with a pretty great ending.”
- “Interesting story, chill gameplay, good soundtrack.”
- “The story opens with you and others crash landing on this strange planet, which is a solid narrative premise... but it very quickly abandons that narrative and NPCs show zero interest in anything other than being a convenient store to sell you upgrades.”
- “And a story that, while reasonably dense and interesting initially, becomes basically nonexistent by midgame.”
- “The only real drawbacks for me are a number of minor bugs and the way the story felt bolted on and progression wasn't always super clear in the later stages.”
music
27 mentions
37 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its calming and thematic qualities, while others find it repetitive and annoying over time. Many appreciate the soundtrack's fit with the game's aesthetic, describing it as "chill" and "ambient," but there are calls for more variety to enhance the overall experience. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, it may not satisfy all players due to its lack of diversity.
- “The music fits the theme they're going for perfectly and makes the experience just that much greater.”
- “Amazingly 'chill' vibe, subtly amazing music, and a great library of 'techy' sounds that fit the whole theme and make the world feel like the best parts of your favorite sci-fi movie.”
- “The music and art are so calming that regardless of my whole production line breaking over and over, I've never once got angry and felt like I've failed.”
- “The music really is too much in your face.”
- “Good game but don't try to 100% the game unless you hate yourself (p.s devs, can you please change the music because it sounds like alarms are playing in the background?)”
- “The music is annoying after a bit.”
optimization
19 mentions
21 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance and appealing graphics, particularly in the early to mid-game. However, players have noted performance dips in late-game scenarios, especially when using certain features like the logistics overlay or on platforms like the Steam Deck. While the game encourages strategic optimization of resources and factory setups, some aspects, such as specific processing systems, are criticized for being poorly optimized, impacting overall gameplay efficiency.
- “One of the better games that's come out recently, easily has 24+ hours of content, great graphics, no performance issues even at end game when every island is packed.”
- “At first the limitations set per island annoyed me but later on I understood it is all part of the optimization process, thinking out the most optimal ways to progress and get what you need.”
- “On top of everything else, it's very well optimized and takes incredibly low storage space.”
- “Turning on the logistics overlay (pressing alt) kills performance for some reason.”
- “An optimization subsystem that is absolutely a grindfest (spacewalks).”
- “It's a wonder that this game, focused on automation, has such performance issues!”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many players expressing a desire for more procedural elements and additional content to enhance long-term engagement. While some find it enjoyable for a short playthrough, others note that it lacks the depth and replay value seen in similar titles. There is hope among the community for future updates to improve this aspect.
- “High replay value.”
- “This makes the replayability level substantially higher than it seems at first glance.”
- “Replayability and truly an awesome game.”
- “A good introductory factory sim, and I'll recommend it on those grounds, but I don't think there's much replay value for fans of the games named in the store description.”
- “Replayability is surprisingly low for a game like this.”
- “Basically no replay value at this point, but I keep hoping the developers add things to let my hypercube factory chain have some use after finishing the story.”
stability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most users reporting smooth performance even in demanding scenarios. However, some players note minor bugs and a lack of clear guidance on certain elements, particularly in post-game content. Comparatively, it is considered significantly less buggy than similar titles like Forager.
- “Runs great, even with huge amounts of items on the ground and robots zooming around.”
- “Mostly bug-free.”
- “I will say it is slightly buggy, and there are definitely some elements that go completely unexplained.”
- “That said, I also haven't figured out how a new post-game quest is supposed to work due to that same slightly buggy sheen and lack of clear guidance.”
- “Significantly less buggy than Forager, with a neat story and characters.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, describing it as a "wholesome" experience that leaves a lasting impression, even after completing all achievements. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the overall sentiment reflects a strong emotional connection to the game.
- “After 23 hours, I got all achievements and I am never touching that game again.”
- “Joking aside, this game is a wholesome son of Forager.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be inconsistent, with some pacing elements eliciting laughter, while other reviews suggest that many humorous comments may come from younger players attempting to be amusing rather than genuine critiques.
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its impressive graphics, which contribute to a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “The game has stunning graphics and an immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly engaging, drawing you into the world.”
- “The combination of visuals and sound creates a captivating atmosphere.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be minimal, with characters primarily serving a cute aesthetic rather than possessing significant depth or personality. While the designs are appealing, they do not contribute much to the overall character development.
- “Thematically, it's a very cute game, and some of the character designs are also cute; however, they don't really have much personality.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful development throughout the game.”
- “Despite the charming visuals, the character arcs are shallow and fail to engage the player emotionally.”