Roll
- May 13, 2021
- Joseph Distler
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Roll" is a relaxing and meditative strategy game with clicker and roguelike elements, where you have 2500 rolls to craft the ideal dice set and earn points. The unique dicebuilding system lets you explore different strategies and synergies between upgrades in each run. The game features minimalistic UI and peaceful music to create a zen environment for players.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of strategy and luck, making it engaging and addictive for players who enjoy optimizing their builds.
- It has a calming atmosphere with relaxing music, making it a great game to play casually while watching videos or during downtime.
- The developer is active in updating the game and addressing community feedback, which enhances the overall experience and keeps the game fresh.
- The game can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game where managing a large number of dice and upgrades can feel overwhelming.
- Some mechanics and upgrade descriptions are unclear, leading to confusion and frustration for players trying to strategize effectively.
- The user interface has slow animations and transitions that can disrupt the flow of gameplay, making it feel less responsive.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a relaxing and lighthearted experience that cleverly combines simple mechanics with impressive strategic depth, making it both accessible and engaging. While some instructions may be confusing, the game offers high replay value and encourages players to explore various mechanics and synergies. Overall, it provides great value for those seeking a minimalist yet thought-provoking gaming experience.
“Impressive depth of strategy from such simple mechanics.”
“Chill, uncompromised, lighthearted gameplay with strategic depth for when you inevitably get hooked.”
“For a few dollars, this game provides great value if you're in the mood for a minimalist in appearance, but maximalist in terms of interesting mechanics and synergies.”
“It takes a mechanic (incremental upgrading) core to a hundred games I love and hold dear, and reduces it to a naked skeleton, laying bare the stupidity of the reward functions in my brain.”
“Mechanics: so complicated they have an entire paragraph explaining each of them.”
“Despite some quirks I'd like the developer to address (clearer explanations of certain mechanics, some display of permanent bonuses for the run), this is well worth a try.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability due to diverse build styles, random upgrades, and strategic depth, appealing to players who enjoy experimenting and competing for high scores. However, some users noted limitations in replay value, citing issues like glitches and a lack of post-game content, which may affect long-term engagement. Despite these criticisms, many find the straightforward gameplay and creative possibilities make it worth revisiting.
“Roll is a fantastically made dice builder with a crazy amount of replayability; there are so many build styles and strategies to perfect to make numbers go up.”
“The replay value is also really good as the upgrades are always randomized.”
“Fantastic roguelike game, high replayability if you have a drive to get to the top of the leaderboard and like finding new strategies to achieve higher and higher scores.”
“Not a huge replay value, rather glitchy, and the animations are too slow, but aside from that rather fun.”
“Neat game, lacks (some) replay value though (like post-game upgrades, similar to idle games, or other minigames), but the main game still is entertaining throughout.”
“I had enough enjoyment for one playthrough out of it, and did not feel there's enough replayability there.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers a flexible optimization experience, catering to both casual players and those seeking intense optimization challenges. While it features engaging puzzles and a rewarding UI, players have noted performance issues, particularly with lag during extensive gameplay, suggesting the need for a performance mode to enhance the experience. Overall, it balances cerebral elements with enjoyable mechanics, though some players desire further automation options to streamline gameplay.
“It can be a great relaxing game or a try-hard optimization game, whatever fits you best.”
“One of my favorite games for optimization puzzles and deck building.”
“The game also does a good job of balancing the cerebral optimization elements with a satisfying UI that makes making good choices feel very rewarding and which makes you care about how big the score is getting.”
“I am currently at 608th place with 597 trillion points, and if I hadn't forced myself to finish the game instead of living out my actual nightmare of ineffective optimization, I could've gotten a lot higher.”
“I managed to upgrade so much that it took over a minute to roll 100 rolls even on the fastest setting (pause: none, performance mode, vsync on/off, fx off).”
“I don't know if there is a button that automatically 'rolls out' for you, but that would be nice if it could be optimized into the game, though I doubt it.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are described as minimalist, which some players appreciate for its simplicity and relaxing aesthetic, while others criticize it as being too basic or even boring. There is a call for more visual elements, such as color variations and effects, to enhance the overall experience. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some valuing the simplicity and others desiring more graphical depth.
“Very relaxing game with a simple art style and quiet music/fx.”
“The sound design and overall aesthetic is surprisingly relaxing.”
“The game has a very minimalist aesthetic which I do like, but there's a big difference between minimalist and boring.”
“Somehow, this game has bad graphics.”
“Simple, but it's not at the same time; I would like some more graphics to see what's going on, like colors on the best dice or some fireworks for lottery dice.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its calming and soothing qualities, featuring minimalist and atmospheric compositions that enhance the overall relaxing experience. Players find the chillout soundtrack and gentle sound effects create a zen-like ambiance, making it easy to immerse themselves in the gameplay. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's tranquil atmosphere, allowing players to unwind while engaging with the mechanics.
“It's a very chill experience with some nice atmospheric piano and strings music in the background, and the decisions you'll be making will make you scratch your head in a good way, at least as you learn, but for the most part, you can fake your way through it and still have a lot of fun watching small numbers get a lot bigger.”
“The music and sound are also very charming.”
“The minimalist UI and slow, peaceful music create an ambiance that lulls you into a state of zen, leaving behind the chaos of the real world—unless you accidentally click your spacebar with manic enthusiasm.”
“There is something almost hypnotic about repeatedly rolling dice to a chillout soundtrack.”
“Very relaxing game with a simple art style and quiet music and sound effects.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often hindered by unclear descriptions and excessive trial and error. While some elements can become enjoyable once the game progresses, the initial grind and cumbersome upgrade menus detract from the experience, making it feel overly repetitive and time-consuming. Additionally, certain overpowered mechanics can disrupt the balance, further contributing to the tedium.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Conceptually it's nice, but as a clicker, it's extremely tedious and there is a lot of trial and error due to weird descriptions of certain things/effects.”
“As another reviewer previously mentioned, 'big spender' is an overpowered passive that breaks the game and makes it incredibly easy and excruciatingly tedious.”
“Switching between upgrade menus is bogged down with tedious, pointless flourish.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing elements, such as "funny dice" and "many many dots," which contribute to its lighthearted appeal. Players find the game enjoyable and worth the price, especially for its replayability, making it a good choice for casual gaming sessions.
“The humor in the game is spot on, with funny dice and many, many dots that keep the gameplay light-hearted.”
“I find it amusing that many people think $5 for a game with this much replayability is too much; it's definitely worth buying if you're looking for something to fill your time between other games.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a calming and enjoyable experience, enhanced by soothing piano and strings music. Players appreciate the blend of relaxation and engaging decision-making, which allows for both thoughtful gameplay and the satisfying visual of numbers increasing.
“It's a very chill experience with some nice atmospheric piano and strings music in the background, and the decisions you'll be making will make you scratch your head in a good way. For the most part, you can fake your way through it and still have a lot of fun watching small numbers get a lot bigger.”
“Probably a combination of the calm atmosphere and the satisfaction of watching numbers go up.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to immerse the player.”
“The lack of environmental detail really detracts from the overall atmosphere, leaving it feeling flat.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative component, with users noting that there is no story present.
“There is no story to speak of.”
“The game lacks any meaningful narrative.”
“The storyline is completely absent.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is less focused on traditional narratives and dialogue, instead immersing players in a captivating experience through the rhythmic sounds and satisfying effects of rolling dice, creating a unique sensory engagement.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for its absence of advertisements and loot boxes, offering a straightforward and enjoyable experience without the pressure of aggressive monetization tactics.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I can't believe how many ads pop up; it ruins the flow of the game.”
“The constant pressure to buy in-game currency makes it feel more like a cash grab than a fun experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs, significantly impacting its stability and overall user experience.
“This game is incredibly buggy.”
“The stability issues make it nearly unplayable.”
“I frequently encounter crashes and glitches.”
