Nyheim
- January 31, 2017
- Happy Hobgoblin
Nyheim is a post-apocalyptic risk management game where players gather survivors, each contributing dice to the party with the goal of surviving winter, growing the population, or rebuilding the hydroelectric dam. Players explore locations, rolling dice and aiming for results required by cards, while dealing with injuries, threats, and scarcity. Crises, threats, and starvation create a challenging, unforgiving path to victory.
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a good balance of strategy and luck, reminiscent of classic board games like Pandemic.
- Offers replayability with unlockable modifiers and different victory conditions, keeping the experience fresh.
- Visually appealing with a solid interface, providing a fun and challenging experience for fans of dice-based games.
- Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, especially in the early game where bad luck can result in quick defeats.
- Lacks depth and complexity as the game progresses, making it feel repetitive after a few hours of play.
- Some players find the game too easy once they understand the mechanics, diminishing the challenge and excitement.
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Nyheim is a mix of challenging mechanics reminiscent of popular cooperative board games, with a steep learning curve that can lead to frustration from bad luck. However, once players grasp the mechanics, the experience becomes enjoyable and engaging, offering a balance of simplicity and complexity that keeps it interesting. Despite some criticisms regarding music and graphics, the gameplay itself is considered a strong point.
“Once you figure out the mechanics, it does get easier, but man, sometimes a run of bad dice rolls can ruin you haha!”
“It was tough at first, but eventually I understood the mechanics and had a blast.”
“The resolution mechanics, I feel, are simple enough to understand within a few conflict resolutions, but complex enough to make things interesting and challenging.”
“Nyheim tries to be these games but doesn't understand the balancing mechanic.”
“Once you figure out the mechanics, it does get easier, but sometimes a run of bad dice rolls can ruin you!”
“The resolution mechanics are simple enough to understand within a few conflict resolutions, but complex enough to make things interesting and challenging.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate it, others find it repetitive and suggest turning it off for more atmospheric sounds. Overall, the soundtrack is considered adequate but not exceptional, serving its purpose without standing out significantly.
“Great music.”
“Pro tip: turn the music off and play some atmospheric stuff instead.”
“The soundtrack can get a bit annoying after one session; maybe more ambient sound next time?”
“While I wouldn't give them any awards for music or graphics, I wouldn't say they're bad, either; good enough to get the job done.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has been criticized for lacking engagement, leading some players to feel it does not justify the cost in terms of gameplay hours. Additionally, the narrative structure appears to complicate gameplay mechanics, making certain actions feel redundant or unwise. Overall, the storyline does not enhance the gaming experience significantly, resulting in a lack of recommendation from some users.
“This, combined with the above point, makes it frustrating to ever choose search actions at a location if you have a multi-turn quest there.”
“You have to establish a headquarters early on, and many important quests and crises happen at the HQ.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the strong replayability of the game, citing achievement requirements that encourage varied playstyles and unlockable modifiers that enhance gameplay dynamics. The rogue-like elements further contribute to its replay value, making it enjoyable even after completing the game. Overall, Nyheim is recognized for its significant replayability potential.
“The achievements' requirements force you to limit yourself instead of just playing for the easy victory, which nicely adds replay value for me.”
“Good replayability even after winning a game thanks to unlockable modifiers that alter aspects of the game in subtle (or not so subtle) ways.”
“A rogue-like through and through, it offers a good deal of replayability.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally considered solid and appealing, though not groundbreaking, with some reviewers noting that they effectively support the gameplay. While not award-winning, the visuals are deemed good enough to enhance the overall experience without detracting from it.
“The artwork is very solid and absolutely my cup of tea, neither comical nor full of itself.”
“Nice visuals.”
“Its price may even be too low, although music and maybe graphics are not that great.”
“While I wouldn't give them any awards for music or graphics, I wouldn't say they're bad, either; good enough to get the job done.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere effectively conveys a sense of desperation and survival, despite its abstract mechanics involving dice, cards, and symbols. Players suggest enhancing the experience by turning off the in-game music and opting for more atmospheric soundscapes.
“For something which is heavily abstracted into dice, cards, and symbols, it manages to convey a strong atmosphere of desperation and survival.”
“Pro tip: Turn the music off and play some atmospheric sounds instead.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding; some find it enjoyable and rewarding, while others feel it lacks challenge and can be frustrating. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among users, with some appreciating the opportunity for unlocks and others feeling let down by the game's execution.
“Have fun grinding more for another shot.”
“I was looking forward to grinding for some unlocks and a good challenge, but the game fell short of my expectations.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users note that while there are areas for optimization, there is a consensus in the community that no upgrades are planned, as indicated in discussions from April 2017.
“Some options could be optimized, but as I read in the community hub, they won't do any upgrades (as of April 2017).”
“The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite the potential for improvement, the developers seem uninterested in addressing the optimization issues that plague the game.”