Orb of Creation
- March 31, 2022
- MarpleGames
- 17h median play time
In "Orb of Creation" , you're a wizard recreating the world with magic and ingenuity, by conjuring resources, buying upgrades, and casting spells. This active incremental-puzzle game features a vast sandbox of magic, artifacts, and alchemy, with countless opportunities for exploration and optimization. With a simple yet engaging spell-casting system and constantly expanding gameplay, you can play at your own pace and discover the orb's complexity without hand-holding.
Reviews
- Engaging and addictive gameplay with a unique blend of incremental and puzzle mechanics.
- Well-designed UI and soundtracks that enhance the overall experience.
- Constantly introduces new systems and mechanics, keeping the gameplay fresh and rewarding.
- Game has been criticized for a lack of updates and communication from the developer, leading to concerns about abandonment.
- Some players find the complexity overwhelming, with too many resources and mechanics to manage.
- No offline progression, requiring active play to make meaningful progress, which may not appeal to all players.
- gameplay145 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a rich and evolving set of mechanics that keep players engaged through continuous exploration and discovery. Players appreciate the depth and interconnectivity of the systems, which allow for strategic decision-making and resource management, although some note a lack of automation features that could enhance the experience. Overall, the game offers a satisfying blend of active engagement and incremental progression, making it a standout in the genre.
“The unfolding mechanics are spectacular; there's always another milestone to reach for, a new mountain of mechanics, and with them, new upgrades and efficiency gains to discover.”
“Great gameplay, very detailed mechanics, a lot of thought put into the progression.”
“The gameplay is just about generating a variety of resources through combining different methods and exceeding limits to purchase permanent upgrades that then generate more resources that then let you purchase new upgrades, rinse; repeat.”
“Beta, on the other hand, is much slower with very specific mechanics designed to restrict gameplay; however, it has much more complex mechanics that improve gameplay and quality of life over the non-beta version.”
“All that being said, the reason I am not recommending the game is that the gameplay - essentially composed of casting spells, crafting stuff, and upgrading skills - is neither interesting nor engaging enough to justify the lack of automation features, especially auto-casting.”
“There is only really about 12 hours of actual gameplay, then the rest is just overgrinding preparing for new content.”
- music50 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising its engaging and well-fitting soundtracks that enhance the overall experience without being intrusive. Players appreciate the catchy tunes and the way the music complements the game's visuals and mechanics, often describing it as fantastic or amazing. While some noted that the soundtrack could become repetitive over time, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the enjoyment of the game.
“The music is really good and fits the vibe without being too jarring; the UI is very well laid out and intuitive. Watching the bars fill slower or faster depending on what buffs you have is really good.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and sets the mood really well.”
“Its one of the best out there with an amazing soundtrack.”
“I have no clue what the music is like, as I've never played with it turned on.”
“Very fun incremental game with some good (but not great) music. The game is early access with no sign of future updates as far as I can tell, but honestly, I think I got a good $10 of entertainment for $5. It's worth picking up, especially if you like incremental games.”
“Banger OST, but man it sucks that I practically have dyscalculia.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a blend of pixel art and high-resolution sprites, creating a charming and engaging aesthetic that complements its gameplay. While some users note the simplicity and low-resolution nature of the visuals, they appreciate how well they align with the game's vibe and overall experience. The combination of appealing graphics, excellent sound design, and a satisfying aesthetic contributes to a high standard for the incremental game genre.
“The art style is simplistic but executed very well, in my opinion.”
“The sounds are basic, the graphics are low-res but feel completely in tune with the overall vibe of the game.”
“It has some of the best visuals and sound design I've encountered in an incremental game.”
“The sounds are basic, the graphics are low-res but feel completely in-tune with the overall vibe of the game.”
“It has simple graphics and looks; it originated as a webpage.”
“The graphics are the flavor of the indie dev, not really 8-bit/16-bit but try to appear that way.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While many appreciate the lack of slow grinding times and the strategic elements involved in buff selection, some find the late-game experience tedious and overly reliant on repetitive tasks. The game is generally seen as enjoyable early on, but it can become grindy and mindless, especially when preparing for new content.
“Having to click each and every icon just to check how much knowledge, paper, etc. I need to upgrade is tedious and not fun.”
“There is only really about 12 hours of actual gameplay, then the rest is just overgrinding preparing for new content.”
“I would note that the late game is extremely tedious and needs some tuning.”
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, leaving players feeling disappointed due to the lack of a clear goal or narrative progression. While some mechanics and lore blurbs provide a semblance of atmosphere, many reviewers express that a more developed story would significantly enhance the experience and engagement. Overall, the absence of a compelling narrative is seen as a fundamental misstep, overshadowing the game's otherwise robust systems.
“One discovery leads to another, and it becomes an endless (and rewarding, in my opinion) quest to find whatever comes next.”
“Abilities and resources have small lore blurbs that add to the atmosphere and feel like there's a bigger story out there.”
“The emergent storytelling you get from a mechanical standpoint is very satisfying.”
“There is nil story to speak of at this point, which is a real shame if you ask me - there is no actual goal you're working towards and the assumption that some form of story or goal would emerge was a big driver behind my continuing forward, with me ultimately being disappointed on that front.”
“I get that the developer might want to get the mechanics behind the game down before delving into anything like that, but it just seems like a fundamental misstep - in my estimation even an unfinished story would hook players in and get them to come back when the game updates to learn more.”
“Unfortunately, it kinda sucks you in and doesn't give much back in terms of story or emotional payout.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game excels in optimization, offering deep strategic layers and complex resource management that encourage active gameplay while still allowing for background automation. Players appreciate the balance between engaging mechanics and streamlined user interface, making it a standout in the optimization genre. Overall, it provides a rich experience for those who enjoy intricate management and creative optimization challenges.
“There is complexity unceasing, in-depth strategy, layers of optimization/automation, and so, so many mysteries lying within.”
“It's a resource-management/optimization idle game that's not an idle game; there are 'spells' that increase the flow of time by 1000+x for ~5-30s spurts (depending on how you optimize the spell) which allow for very active gameplay, but... you can still leave it running in the background to farm macguffins.”
“It's tough to classify, but Orb of Creation feels like a management and optimization game that has been reduced to pure user interface.”
“It's more active than idle, and really feels like an optimization game where you're trying to make everything streamlined for maximum output.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through its amusing spell combinations and quirky writing, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay. Players enjoy the comedic aspects of crafting massive resources and appreciate the clever descriptions that enhance the overall experience. The game successfully balances fun mechanics with a whimsical tone, making it a standout in the incremental genre.
“This is 100% the #1 incremental game on the market. Finding spell combos that work in funny and kind of broken ways at times is one of the best feelings out there, and there are so many spells and so much variation—it's amazing!”
“The game does also have some funny descriptions and humor in some of the writing; hopefully, it grows on that.”
“Orb of Creation is a game about stacking 5 of the same buff, pressing the 'buy max' button, and laughing as you craft 8 quintillion of a late-game resource at once.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its polish and engaging elements, contributing to a well-crafted idle experience. However, some players feel that the overall direction is unclear, suggesting that a more focused approach to gameplay and resource management could enhance the immersive quality. The inclusion of lore blurbs for abilities and resources adds depth, hinting at a larger narrative within the game.
“Really good and well thought out idle game with an excellent atmosphere and interesting gameplay elements.”
“It's one of the best idle games with the best polish and atmosphere.”
“Abilities and resources have small lore blurbs that add to the atmosphere and feel like there's a bigger story out there.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite some interesting elements, the overall atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The game’s environment feels lifeless, making it hard to connect with the story or characters.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while it draws players in, many feel it lacks a satisfying story or emotional payoff. Players express frustration with mechanics that create a sense of inadequacy, reminiscent of experiences from other games like Cookie Clicker, which can lead to a feeling of missing out rather than engagement.
“A game hasn't made me feel this way since the creation of Cookie Clicker.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game features a straightforward monetization model with a one-time payment and no ads or microtransactions, providing a clean and user-friendly experience without any hidden costs or premium content.
“There are no microtransactions to be found here either, no cheap premium BS to arbitrarily screw you.”
“No ads either.”
“There are no microtransactions to be found here, no cheap premium BS to arbitrarily screw you.”
“It's a cheap one-time payment with no microtransactions or any of that stuff.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players feel that the addition of challenge modes significantly enhances the game's replayability, potentially keeping them engaged for hundreds of hours.
“With a few challenge modes, I believe this game will have a massive increase in replayability and keep you hooked for hundreds more hours.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting, encouraging you to dive back in.”
“The game offers multiple paths and endings, ensuring that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“With a few challenge modes, I believe this game will have a massive increase in replayability and get you hooked for hundreds more hours.”
“Once you complete the main story, there isn't much incentive to play again.”
“The lack of diverse endings or branching paths makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”