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One Hour One Life Game Cover

About

One Hour One Life is a multiplayer role playing game. It was developed by Jason Rohrer and was released on November 8, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

A multiplayer survival game of parenting and civilization building by Jason Rohrer.

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80%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,339 reviews
gameplay63 positive mentions
grinding136 negative mentions

  • Unique concept that allows players to experience life in a community, fostering cooperation and teamwork.
  • Wholesome community with many players willing to help newcomers learn the game.
  • Each life is different, providing emotional and memorable experiences as players build legacies and relationships.
  • Steep learning curve with a confusing tutorial that doesn't adequately prepare players for the complexities of the game.
  • Griefers can easily disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration and a negative experience for many players.
  • The controls are clunky and unintuitive, relying solely on mouse clicks without the option for keyboard movement.
  • gameplay
    319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "One Hour One Life" is characterized by its steep learning curve and complex mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players but rewarding once mastered. Players appreciate the cooperative and multi-generational aspects, where knowledge is passed down through interactions, though the presence of griefers and poorly designed mechanics can detract from the experience. Overall, while the game offers a unique and engaging concept, its execution can be clunky and frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about its enjoyment and accessibility.

    • “The gameplay is challenging and extremely complex, with regular thoughtful updates you'll be glad to see.”
    • “Once you master these mechanics, the game rewards you with multiple hours of fun, and stories to tell and satisfaction at the end of your life, seeing your contributions help the community you started.”
    • “The mechanic of only playing each 'world' for an hour is interesting and surprisingly rewarding, and I believe one can quickly immerse themselves into the simulation of a life well-lived.”
    • “The gameplay is clunky and very unintuitive.”
    • “The game's tutorial is pretty badly made, and also does not represent or explain any of the restrictions or gimmick mechanics the game has.”
    • “The mechanics take a while to get used to and you take about one life to learn one skill.”
  • grinding
    144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as both satisfying and tedious, with players noting that while the mechanics of farming, crafting, and survival can be rewarding, they often require significant time investment and repetition. Many reviews highlight the steep learning curve and the necessity of mastering various skills, which can lead to a sense of accomplishment but may also feel overwhelming and monotonous, especially for new players. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy role-playing and community-building, but its grindy nature may deter players seeking a more casual experience.

    • “As the civilization climbs the tree, more and more people can work on things that aren't farming. As your civilization has more people able to do building, hunting, foresting, smithing, and gathering, it snowballs until your civilization is so large that you have virtually no farmers and almost everyone is doing something else.”
    • “The game has a good concept but it's incredibly tedious.”
    • “It's making the experience worse for those who just want to play a quirky family farming sim.”
    • “An excellent concept of a game ultimately crippled by the developer's insistence that the gameplay be overwhelmingly hectic and tedious.”
  • emotional
    136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players frequently expressing feelings of joy, sorrow, and connection through their interactions and experiences. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from heartwarming moments of community and family bonds to the poignant sadness of loss and mortality. Overall, the game fosters a uniquely wholesome environment that encourages players to engage deeply with both the gameplay and each other, often leading to memorable and touching narratives.

    • “This memory is as vivid and emotionally charged as the birth of my actual real children.”
    • “Final note: the emotional impact potential is unmatched with this game, as no other game can evoke such a true variety of emotions and with such intensity.”
    • “I feel emotionally moved by this game in ways that AAA games have never touched me—from complete strangers who have played my children for thirty minutes telling me 'I love you mom, I'll bury you next to grandma' to the accomplishment of being the sole survivor of a famine as a young girl and building my village alone for my eventual five children.”
  • graphics
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes a sense of nostalgia and simplicity, often compared to children's shows or indie projects. While some players appreciate the unique aesthetic and find it fitting for the game's themes, others criticize the visuals as basic or lacking in detail, suggesting that gameplay takes precedence over graphical fidelity. Overall, the graphics contribute to a wholesome and quirky atmosphere, though opinions vary widely on their effectiveness and appeal.

    • “The graphics are charmingly cartoonish, surviving actually kinda simple once you get the hang of it, what matters is that you get one hour to live, to try to help your family line to continue, to make your city and lives of your descendants somehow better than how you found them.”
    • “I really dislike the graphics, and the forced tutorial, which is lengthy.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, hand-drawn by Jason, and once again matches the theme of the game perfectly.”
    • “The graphics/sounds are janky, and the crafting/item interaction is clunky and confusing, but there's an experience that's really special here.”
    • “The graphical setup of the game is designed intentionally to look like it was just thrown together on scratch paper, with the sound effects all made with mouth noises.”
    • “Great idea for a game, and the low-quality artwork and sounds could be forgiven if the game wasn't such a chore to play.”
  • story
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is characterized by its emergent narrative, allowing players to create unique and personal stories through their interactions and experiences. Each life played offers a new opportunity for storytelling, whether through dramatic family dynamics or chaotic encounters, making it a compelling "story builder" that fosters community and shared experiences. While some players find the lack of a scripted narrative limiting, many appreciate the depth and variety of stories that naturally arise from gameplay.

    • “Every single life is a whole new story and it's exciting.”
    • “This game is a real family story maker.”
    • “The intense relationship I've created each life (an hour's worth of time), the drama and the storytelling.”
    • “I wish the developers of this game would take their responsibility as 'storytellers' and 'worldshapers' more seriously.”
    • “Sometimes you can have these really dramatic stories about living with a loving family that you cared for, other times you can have sad and heartbreaking stories, or you could starve to death in the middle of the woods as a baby; the list goes on.”
    • “This game does not have a pre-written story that is made by the developer.”
  • humor
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its hilarious sound effects, funny player interactions, and the absurd situations that arise during gameplay. Many reviews note the game's ability to blend humor with touching moments, creating a unique and entertaining experience. Overall, the community is described as wholesome and supportive, contributing to the game's charm and comedic value.

    • “Such a fun concept and leads to some great interactions and funny stories.”
    • “The interactions between players are funny and the fact that all in-game sounds are basically someone's voice makes sound effects like the horse and squeaky handcart wheels crack me up.”
    • “I don't think a video game has ever made me laugh this hard before from all of the ridiculously funny situations that are possible when playing with other people.”
  • music
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is described as emotionally impactful and fittingly melancholic, enhancing the overall experience of life and death within the gameplay. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack may not be particularly captivating, its gentle and hopeful tones resonate deeply, often evoking strong feelings during pivotal moments, such as nearing death. The hand-crafted nature of the music, created by a single developer, adds a unique charm, with piano pieces reminiscent of other beloved games like Minecraft.

    • “The music is not overpowering; it's a gentle, peaceful sort of vibe that I think fits in well with the game.”
    • “I also love how the music plays right before your death, while you are surrounded by the family that you love.”
    • “The music fits well into the melancholic mood of the game.”
    • “The music is not overpowering; it has a gentle, peaceful sort of vibe that I think fits in well with the game.”
    • “There is limited music at this time, and no ambient environmental sounds (unlike the video).”
    • “The art style and music of the game are basic, but that's all it needs to be pretty.”
  • replayability
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting its unique concept, team-building elements, and engaging multiplayer mechanics. While some users suggest that quality of life improvements could enhance the experience, the game is considered affordable and offers an endless replay value, making it a worthwhile addition to any gaming playlist. However, a few reviews note that it may not be suited for long play sessions or extensive replayability compared to other titles.

    • “The replay value, team building, and the joy of watching a tribe grow.”
    • “Excellent and well-executed concept with a ton of replayability.”
    • “Affordable, endlessly replayable, and like nothing else on the market, this game teaches the profound meaning of effort, love, and legacy in a way no other game does.”
    • “If you're looking to pick the game up, I'd suggest you install a mod to make it more playable.”
    • “I wish somebody would take a quality of life pass at this game and make it more playable generally.”
    • “In conclusion, just like every other mobile game ported to Steam, this one is not suited for replayability or long play hours, mega bases, etc.”
  • stability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches, bugs, and server issues that disrupt gameplay. While some players experience fewer problems, many find the technical flaws, including UI glitches and miscommunication between items, to be significant obstacles. Overall, the game's stability is seen as a major drawback, overshadowing its interesting concepts and potential.

    • “Only problem is there are too many glitches.”
    • “There's also server issues causing weird glitches and missyncs.”
    • “The game is buggy, servers lag and disconnect you sometimes.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues and describing it as poorly optimized, while others report smooth gameplay without any problems. Frequent updates are noted, but there are concerns that they may not adequately address existing bugs and performance shortcomings. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be inconsistent, leading to frustration among users.

    • “Overall the game ran well and I had no issues with performance.”
    • “ Graphics & performance”
    • “Performance: a toaster made of potatoes could probably run it.”
    • “Game is poorly optimized.”
    • “They really messed the game up bad; nothing feels satisfying in the game, and the performance is really bad since the last time I played.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for misleading advertising and a lack of ownership, with players feeling that the introduction of purchasable items, like a war sword, promotes a pay-to-win environment. Overall, the game's monetization strategy appears to detract from the experience, leading to disappointment among users.

    • “Just like in that famous advertisement line: you never actually own it.”
    • “First, the game's initial advertisements quoted false numbers regarding development and misleading animations alluding to a level of development nowhere near the initial release.”
    • “Once you get over the misleading advertisement and into the game itself, you'll quickly find it vapid.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a blend of technical flaws that enhance the feeling of vulnerability and reliance on community, immersing players in the role of a primitive caveman. The imaginative game mechanics effectively draw players into this unique experience, creating a compelling and engaging environment.

    • “The technical flaws add to the atmosphere of being a stupid and helpless caveman who has a low percentage of survival and has to rely on his community to take care of him and explain things.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development has been criticized for its lack of new content, including limited character designs and items, as well as numerous restrictions that hinder player progression.

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16h Median play time
67h Average play time
7-50h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 33 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

One Hour One Life is a role playing game.

One Hour One Life is available on PC, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 67 hours playing One Hour One Life.

One Hour One Life was released on November 8, 2018.

One Hour One Life was developed by Jason Rohrer.

One Hour One Life has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

One Hour One Life is a multiplayer game.

Similar games include You Are Hope, Eco, Sapiens, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, Banished and others.