Painters Guild

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 229 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Painters Guild Game Cover
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In Painters Guild, you manage an art academy in Renaissance Italy, recruiting and training artists, fulfilling commissions to bring in revenue, and expanding your guild's prestige. Each artist has unique attributes and skills, and your decisions will impact their development and the success of the guild. With a variety of clients, commissions, and events, the game offers strategic depth and historical immersion in the world of Renaissance art.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 229 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
replayability9 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming art style and soothing music, creating a relaxing atmosphere for players.
  • It offers an addictive gameplay loop that keeps players engaged, especially for those who enjoy management sims.
  • The historical references and the ability to hire famous artists add a unique touch to the gameplay experience.
  • The game lacks depth and content, leading to repetitive gameplay after just a few hours.
  • There are numerous bugs and technical issues that can disrupt the gaming experience.
  • The developer has not provided updates or additional content since the game's release, leaving it feeling unfinished.
  • gameplay60 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its easy-to-understand mechanics and charming aesthetics, making it initially engaging and enjoyable. However, many players find it repetitive and lacking in depth, with limited replay value after a few hours due to the absence of new mechanics or significant variation in scenarios. While the core gameplay has potential, it ultimately feels constrained, leading to a sense of missed opportunities for deeper engagement and progression.

    • “The sim and management mechanics are fun as heck and the game mechanics for this genre are simple yet genius well crafted.”
    • “It's beautiful style and ease of gameplay makes it one of a kind.”
    • “There is enough content for a few hours of very enjoyable gameplay, as you listen to the soundtrack and push and pull your little art slaves around you get a lot of satisfaction as you watch your florins grow and you build up and customize your little painters guild.”
    • “The gameplay, graphics, music, and overall concept are solid, but aside from playing essentially the same game in three different settings, there's only one basic playthrough and there isn't really replay value from there.”
    • “Sadly, the game has little replay value and each gameplay is essentially over after 1 hour.”
    • “There are no new mechanics added to the game as you progress.”
  • graphics31 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their cute and retro pixel art style, with many reviewers noting the attention to detail and charming references to art history. While some find the visuals engaging and complementary to the gameplay, others feel that the graphics, despite being appealing, do not significantly enhance the overall experience due to a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, particularly for fans of pixel art and micromanagement games.

    • “I thought the graphics were adorable, with enough attention to detail to be impressive, while still looking very retro.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous, and it's fun to see the little pixel masterpieces, but they vanish quickly.”
    • “The gameplay might get a little repetitive for some, but I found the pacing to be engaging and the art style quite complementary to the game.”
    • “Graphic is not the best.”
    • “Seems like a wasted effort really because the art style and the base game seem really promising but there is really nothing built around the core mechanics to make this game fun.”
    • “For such a small game in retro pixel graphic style it's rather complex.”
  • music29 mentions

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its soothing and charming qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing experience. Reviewers highlight the excellent soundtrack, which fits the game's artistic theme and adds to its appeal, although some note a lack of variety in gameplay elements. Overall, the music is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable despite its perceived limitations in depth and replay value.

    • “It's a really soothing game, the music stands out the most.”
    • “The music is excellent, and I have to admit I always shed a tear when one of my painters dies.”
    • “The soundtrack is outstanding and very relaxing.”
    • “The gameplay, graphics, music, and overall concept are solid, but aside from playing essentially the same game in three different settings, there's only one basic playthrough and there isn't really replay value from there.”
    • “The music is pleasant too.”
    • “It's nice, the pixel graphics match the style, the music is okay, it starts pretty well.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers little incentive to play beyond the initial experience. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay mechanics, the lack of depth, variety, and meaningful endgame content significantly limits the potential for repeated playthroughs. A few users mention that it can be a fun distraction, but overall, the consensus is that the game does not provide enough replay value to keep players engaged long-term.

    • “A surprisingly fun little game with some replay value.”
    • “So the replay value is actually pretty high!!!”
    • “That being said, there are a lot of things this game needs to increase its replayability, such as achievements.”
    • “The gameplay, graphics, music, and overall concept are solid, but aside from playing essentially the same game in three different settings (there are supposed to be different bonuses in the different cities, but I didn't really notice any), there's only one basic playthrough and there isn't really replay value from there.”
    • “Sadly, the game has little replay value and each gameplay is essentially over after 1 hour.”
    • “Unfortunately, it does not have replay value.”
  • story8 mentions

    The game's story aspect is generally viewed as lacking, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative and endgame content. While the gameplay is enjoyable and filled with humorous details, the absence of a compelling story and replay value diminishes long-term engagement. Overall, players feel that additional quests and crafting options could enhance the storytelling experience.

    • “Very enjoyable and intuitive game, with loads of funny details and challenging missions!”
    • “Although it doesn't seem to have a deep story, it does go through time with historic news.”
    • “There's no endgame, no goals, no story, nothing.”
    • “I only wish there was a story mode :-(”
    • “Although it doesn't seem to have a deep story, it does go through time with historic news... but once you have played through the hours of addictive gameplay, it's probably going to wear off and make you quit the game.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game initially enjoyable but quickly describe it as tedious and repetitive, with a shallow experience that leads to a lack of satisfaction. Most reviews indicate that the fun diminishes significantly after a couple of hours, as the gameplay becomes a monotonous task of item management without meaningful progression.

    • “Was fun for a couple of hours, but it becomes tedious.”
    • “Fun for half an hour, tedious for the next one and a half, until the realization hits you that you've seen everything the game has to offer.”
    • “The game itself is pretty shallow, grindy, and the end is absolutely unsatisfying.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as non-functional events and issues with character actions. While it runs well on various hardware, the overall experience is hampered by these technical problems, making it difficult to fully enjoy the limited content available. Balancing and further development are needed to improve stability.

    • “It runs great on my old work PC and work laptop, or just about any computer.”
    • “The game has a solid performance, with minimal crashes or bugs.”
    • “I've experienced consistent frame rates, even during intense gameplay.”
    • “It's buggy; stuff will just quit working out of nowhere, and you kind of have to hit the lottery on all the events or the price of doctors and jail time and whatever else will really quickly bring you down to zero funds, and there is no way to recover if all your painters leave the guild but the game keeps going for some reason.”
    • “The game is buggy, which makes it even harder to enjoy the already small amount of content.”
    • “This game is cute and fun but currently in a very buggy state and needs balancing in certain areas.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game evokes a strong emotional response through its historical context and excellent music, often leading players to feel a deep connection, particularly during poignant moments such as the death of a character.

    • “Relaxing, historical, and has a nice emotional touch at times too.”
    • “The music is excellent, and I have to admit I always shed a tear when one of my painters dies.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring numerous funny details that enhance the overall enjoyment and make the challenging missions more engaging. Players find it both intuitive and entertaining, contributing to a delightful gaming experience.

    • “Very enjoyable and intuitive game, with loads of funny details and challenging missions!”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, indicating that players feel the game prioritizes profit over quality or player experience.

    • “Unfortunately, it was a simple cash grab.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I was disappointed to see so many features locked behind paywalls.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is frequently praised, with players highlighting it as one of its standout features.

    • “The only nice thing I can say about this game is that it has a wonderful atmosphere.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted through the journey of artists who start as apprentices and progress by traveling and creating masterpieces, which enhances their skills and abilities. This system allows for meaningful growth and progression, making players feel invested in their characters' development.

    • “The character development is engaging, allowing you to guide your artists on a journey from apprentices to masters, enhancing their skills through travel and experience.”
    • “I love how the game emphasizes character growth; you really feel the progression as your artists evolve and tackle more challenging masterpieces.”
    • “The way characters develop throughout the game is impressive, as you nurture their talents and watch them transform into skilled professionals.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
    • “I was disappointed by the limited growth of the characters; they seem to stagnate rather than evolve throughout the game.”
    • “While there are some opportunities for character development, they often feel forced and unconvincing, leaving me wanting more.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

Buy Painters Guild

Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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