Pocket City
- August 21, 2022
- Codebrew Games Inc.
- 10h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam
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Get on Apple StorePocket City is a city-building simulation game that allows you to create your own residential, commercial, and industrial zones, while also responding to crime and disasters. The game is advertised as having no microtransactions or long wait times, with everything unlocked and rewarded through gameplay. In Pocket City, you can toggle between landscape and portrait mode, and play without any restrictions on land expansion or building placement.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- Pocket City is a fun, relaxing city builder that is easy to pick up and play, making it ideal for beginners.
- The game features charming graphics and humorous NPC interactions, providing a delightful experience without micro-transactions.
- It offers a good amount of content for its price, with engaging gameplay that can keep players entertained for hours.
- The PC version suffers from some user interface issues and lacks the depth and variety found in more advanced city builders.
- Gameplay can become repetitive and grindy after a while, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
- There are some glitches and bugs that affect the overall experience, particularly with building placement and game mechanics.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game features a variety of quests that keep players engaged, but there are notable differences between the mobile and PC versions. Players have expressed disappointment with the reduced humor and enthusiasm in quest dialogues on PC, particularly with characters like Peter and Officer Ortega, which detracts from the overall experience. While the quest system is appreciated for its variety, the repetitive nature of already-read quests can become tedious.
“I like it much better than City Skylines (it's more simplified and less overwhelming). I also love the isometric art and the cyberpunk mod is pretty cool :) I love that there are quests and a skill tree at level 28.”
“For instance, Peter, the quest giver for Park, Forestry, and Recreation, displays less enthusiasm when players complete a quest in the PC version and lacks the small jokes present in the mobile version upon quest completion.”
“Additionally, Officer Ortega's dialogue in the 'Baby, You Are a Firework' quest has also changed in the PC version; she now simply congratulates players without the usual mention of fireworks originating from the police evidence after the quest is finished.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is casual and accessible, allowing players to engage in activities reminiscent of SimCity within a short timeframe of 2-3 hours. While it offers a stable experience and modding support, it suffers from some glitches and user experience issues, making it more suitable for those seeking a light, quick gaming session rather than a deep, immersive experience.
“It's like SimCity with cute graphics and more casual gameplay.”
“While it lacks the humor and quirky dialogues found in the mobile counterpart, it compensates by offering a more stable gameplay experience and addressing problematic glitches.”
“Additionally, the PC version of the game supports modding, allowing players to customize and enhance their gameplay experience further.”
“Overall, you can pretty much do almost everything in 2-3 hours; don't expect a deep and long gameplay.”
“There are glitches with sound and gameplay.”
“The game seemed nice at first glance, but after some hours of gameplay, I've spotted serious UX issues.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a cute and simple aesthetic that enhances the casual city simulation experience, reminiscent of titles like Polyville Canyon and SimCity. While the visuals are generally well-received for their charm and clarity, some users noted minor glitches that detract from the overall presentation.
“It's a cute aesthetic plus city simulation, which is an A+ in my books!”
“The graphics are fun, but still simple enough to distinguish most kinds of buildings.”
“The game offers some nice graphics and a pleasant aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
“Certainly less graphically intensive and easier to understand than Cities: Skylines or other city builders.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while the PC version generally experiences fewer crashes and glitches than the mobile version, users report occasional bugs, particularly with building placement and sound. Interactions with NPCs are less frequent, which detracts from the experience, but the game compensates with improved stability and a visually appealing aesthetic despite some lingering graphical issues.
“Also, it sometimes gets buggy and tells you how you can't build there. If you aren't aiming at terrain you can build on, despite all placed buildings being in the right spots, hitting enter will still place them though.”
“There are glitches with sound and gameplay.”
“However, while the PC version experiences fewer crashes and glitches compared to its mobile counterpart, interactions with citizen NPCs have been reduced, making NPCs less chatty with other NPCs overall.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is rich with cultural references, particularly in the mobile version, which features NPCs engaging in existential musings that are absent from the PC edition. While the PC version sacrifices some of the quirky dialogues for a more stable gameplay experience and fewer glitches, it still maintains a level of humor, albeit less pronounced than its mobile counterpart.
“Lots of humor and cultural references.”
“The mobile version incorporates a more humorous element, including NPCs pondering existential questions like being in a simulation, a specific dialogue that is notably removed in the PC edition.”
“While it lacks the humor and quirky dialogues found in the mobile counterpart, it compensates by offering a more stable gameplay experience and addressing problematic glitches.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is considered shallow, leading to limited replayability, as players feel there is not enough depth or variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“The game feels shallow, lacking in replayability.”
“There isn't much incentive to replay the game after finishing it.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little reason to return.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious due to the need to repeatedly return to the store to select and place buildings or streets, which can slow down the pace of gameplay. While this mechanic isn't overly frustrating, it can become cumbersome when trying to build quickly. Overall, the game is still well-received despite this minor inconvenience.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again just to progress, which can be incredibly frustrating.”
“The amount of time required to level up or gather resources is excessive, turning what could be an enjoyable experience into a chore.”
