Of Life and Land
- April 2, 2024
- Kerzoven
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Of Life and Land" is a settlement building game where you manage resources, economy, and the needs of your citizens in remote, wild environments. Experience different seasons and climates, and decide how to interact with the local wildlife as you try to find a balance between nature and civilization. Every decision you make will have an impact on the living ecosystem and the growth of your settlement.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a deep and intricate simulation of both human and environmental interactions, creating a vibrant and immersive world.
- It offers a relaxing and cozy gameplay experience, with charming graphics and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- The developers are actively engaged with the community, implementing feedback and updates that show a commitment to improving the game over time.
- The game can feel slow-paced, with villagers taking a long time to complete tasks, which may frustrate players looking for a more dynamic experience.
- There are concerns about the lack of player agency, as players cannot directly control villagers, making it difficult to manage tasks effectively.
- Some players find the art style and UI elements unappealing or confusing, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and a serene atmosphere, offering players a deep simulation experience with a focus on building and ecosystem management. However, it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of clear goals, leading to periods of waiting and limited replayability due to the absence of random generation. While the mechanics can be intuitive and rewarding, some players find them ambiguous and awkward, particularly in late-game scenarios.
“Gameplay: for so long, I have wanted a slow-paced city builder, where your people are tied to their professions, and curating a proper environment for them to live in truly matters.”
“The in-depth simulation of not just villagers but the whole ecosystem is very refreshing, making the world feel alive and giving gameplay a lot of depth.”
“With its serene atmosphere, engaging gameplay mechanics, and emphasis on balance and harmony, this game provides players with a deeply rewarding and meditative gaming experience.”
“The gameplay becomes somewhat repetitive over time, and at some point you may get bored because of a lack of goals, but I see this as an opportunity to set your own goals.”
“It lacks proper gameplay, and I just spent most of my time sitting there waiting for stuff to complete at 300x in-game speed.”
“Much of the mechanics are unclear or ambiguous.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the cute and charming art style, particularly the low-poly aesthetic, which contributes to a relaxing atmosphere. However, some users express disappointment that the in-game visuals do not match the promotional materials, and there are concerns about the overall graphical fidelity even at high settings. Overall, while the graphics are generally seen as pleasant and engaging, personal taste in art style plays a significant role in player satisfaction.
“I love the art style so much, and once I figured out the menu screens, it was easy to use and makes a lot of sense.”
“The art style is so cute and the music is beautiful.”
“A really chill and cozy ecosystem builder in a sweet low poly art style.”
“However, I'm not a huge fan of this style of artwork.”
“Visuals: even on the highest possible graphical settings, it unfortunately looks nothing like the beautiful pictures and videos used to advertise it.”
“- the low-poly graphics is something that I don't like much, but it's not that bad.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and beautiful qualities, enhancing the overall cozy and immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate how it complements the art style and atmosphere, making it perfect for relaxation and unwinding. The combination of soothing melodies and ambient sounds creates a charming backdrop for gameplay, contributing to a delightful experience.
“The music, rain sounds, and starry backdrop make it immersive and perfect for unwinding after a long day of work.”
“It's overall a very cozy experience that allows you to chill with the really nice OST and you can let the day pass as slow as you need so you can check in on the villagers every now and then, see them interact with each other or with the surrounding wildlife.”
“A very good civ builder with adorable animals, amazing atmosphere, gigantic map, awesome music, and a very charming art style.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for becoming repetitive and formulaic after the initial tutorial, focusing on building and resource management without significant narrative engagement. However, players appreciate the well-designed UI and tooltips that effectively guide them through the gameplay mechanics.
“Just before the tutorial and main quests were completed, the story turned into a boring formula of 'build all the unlocked buildings, increase speed x300 until completed, continue until a new stage is unlocked, rinse and repeat.'”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a serene and meditative quality, enhanced by charming art, engaging gameplay, and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the balance and harmony it offers, alongside a vast map filled with adorable animals, creating a deeply rewarding experience.
“With its serene atmosphere, engaging gameplay mechanics, and emphasis on balance and harmony, this game provides players with a deeply rewarding and meditative gaming experience.”
“A very good civ builder with adorable animals, amazing atmosphere, gigantic map, awesome music, and a very charming art style.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game excels in core simulation and gameplay, its lack of random generation may limit replayability. However, this focus on quality over quantity suggests that the developers prioritize a solid experience over immediate replay value.
“The only real drawback is the lack of random generation, so replayability might be limited at the moment. However, it's clear that the focus has been on core simulation and gameplay instead of rushing replayability at the expense of playability.”
“Once you've completed the main storyline, there's not much incentive to dive back in. The lack of varied content makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“While the game is fun initially, the absence of different paths or outcomes means that after a few playthroughs, it loses its charm and excitement.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, with users reporting excellent optimization and no glitches or crashes, indicating it is well-developed.
“On the technical side, the game seems to be very nicely optimized. I encountered no glitches or crashes, and the game appears to be overall quite advanced in its development.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't experienced any issues that would disrupt my gameplay.”
“This game runs smoothly without any hiccups, showcasing excellent stability throughout my playtime.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Of Life and Land" is characterized by its charming and whimsical portrayal of villagers, who engage in endearing antics like snuggling in the grass at night, adding a lighthearted and cozy atmosphere to the village-building experience.
“If you enjoy cozy village builders, then 'Of Life and Land' has you covered with funny villagers who snuggle with each other in the grass at night until you provide them with a hut (and all the other necessities of life).”
“The humor in this game is delightful, with quirky characters and hilarious dialogue that keeps you entertained while you build your village.”
“I love how the game incorporates humor into everyday tasks, making even the simplest actions feel fun and lighthearted.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the balanced difficulty in the game, which allows for a manageable progression as they establish their food production and resource management systems. The initial phase provides ample time to set up essential facilities, leading to a satisfying development of more complex production lines.
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, allowing it to run smoothly even on lower-end hardware, such as laptops with Intel UHD graphics, when set to the lowest settings.
“The game is well optimized, with even my Intel UHD Graphics laptop running the game fine on the lowest settings.”
