Orb of Creation
- March 31, 2022
- MarpleGames
- 17h median play time
Get on SteamIn "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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and addictive gameplay with a unique blend of incremental and puzzle mechanics.
- Constantly introduces new systems and upgrades, keeping the experience fresh and rewarding.
- High production values with great visuals and a captivating soundtrack.
- Currently in early access with a lack of updates and communication from the developer, leading to concerns about abandonment.
- Can become overwhelming due to the complexity and number of systems to manage, which may deter some players.
- No offline progression, requiring active play to make meaningful progress.
- gameplay290 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 1 % 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 active nature of the game, which emphasizes resource management and strategic decision-making over traditional idle mechanics, resulting in a satisfying experience with a significant amount of content. While some players note the absence of automation features and a potential lack of narrative depth, the overall consensus is that the game offers a compelling and enjoyable incremental experience with plenty of opportunities for optimization and creativity.
“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 active which makes it an incremental game but not an idler.”
“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.”
“I understand the importance of 'exploration' but the jargon of the game is not explained at all and one is expected to develop a deeply connected map of mechanics on their own.”
- music100 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its engaging and catchy soundtracks that enhance the overall experience without being intrusive. Reviewers noted that the music fits the game's vibe well, often encouraging prolonged play and complementing the visuals effectively. While some players mentioned that the soundtrack could become repetitive over time, the general consensus is that it is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“The music is excellent, and often had me playing together with the rhythm.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely amazing.”
“The music and art are really nice as well.”
“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.”
“(Also, you didn't need to make the music go so hard, god damn.)”
- graphics40 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming aesthetic, combining pixel art with high-resolution sprites, creating a minimalist yet engaging visual experience. Reviewers appreciate the execution of the art style, which complements the game's immersive atmosphere and satisfying gameplay mechanics. Overall, the visuals and sound design are considered some of the best in the incremental game genre, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“The art style is simplistic but executed very well, in my opinion.”
“It has some of the best visuals and sound design I've encountered in an incremental game.”
“Great visuals though minimalist, amazing music that plays in the background, numbers don't feel like they get out of control overly quick so things seem more manageable, and every time you feel like you're almost at the end it adds more!”
“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.”
“So far no bugs, the graphics are the flavor of the indie dev, not really 8-bit/16-bit but try to appear that way.”
- grinding28 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, others find the late-game grind tedious and overly reliant on constant engagement rather than allowing for idle play. The game is generally seen as fun early on, but it can become monotonous as players prepare for new content, leading to a need for tuning in the late stages.
“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.”
- story28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, leaving players without a clear goal or narrative to engage with, which has led to disappointment among many reviewers. While some appreciate the emergent storytelling from gameplay mechanics and small lore elements, the overall lack of a cohesive plot or emotional payoff is seen as a significant shortcoming. Many feel that even a minimal story framework would enhance the experience and encourage player retention.
“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.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % 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 intricate mechanics, including spells that enhance time flow, which contribute to a dynamic and engaging experience. Overall, it is celebrated as a fantastic optimization and management game that challenges players to streamline their processes for maximum efficiency.
“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 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 more active than idle, and really feels like an optimization game where you're trying to make everything streamlined for maximum output.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing spell combinations and quirky writing, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience. Players enjoy the comedic aspects of crafting massive resources and the playful descriptions, suggesting that the humor enhances the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the game successfully balances fun mechanics with a whimsical sense of humor.
“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.”
“Jokes aside, this is a game where I can play an actual wizard instead of an 'I have a funny hat and all my spell slots are fireball' type of 'wizard'.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its polish and depth, with well-crafted lore blurbs that enhance the feeling of a larger narrative. However, some players feel that the overall direction of the game is unclear, suggesting that a more streamlined approach to gameplay elements could improve coherence while maintaining the engaging atmosphere.
“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.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express disappointment in the emotional engagement of the game, feeling it draws them in without providing a satisfying story or emotional payoff. The mechanics, particularly around resource management and timers, contribute to a sense of frustration rather than fulfillment, reminiscent of experiences with other idle games like Cookie Clicker.
“A game hasn't made me feel this way since the creation of Cookie Clicker.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game features a straightforward monetization model with a low 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.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % 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 get you hooked for hundreds more hours.”
