SantaCraft
- December 15, 2020
- Milkbag Games
- 3h median play time
SantaCraft is a single-player adventure game with an exceptional soundtrack and plenty of humor. A massive blizzard has destroyed Santa's Village, and it's up to you to rescue the missing reindeer, rebuild the village, and save Christmas. Mine and craft resources, complete quests, and build train stations and tracks to connect different parts of the village, all while enjoying the holiday-themed atmosphere.
Reviews
- Adorable and charming Christmas-themed game that is perfect for getting into the holiday spirit.
- Relaxing gameplay with simple mechanics, making it accessible for players of all ages.
- Short and sweet experience with a delightful narrative and cute characters, ideal for a cozy holiday gaming session.
- The game is quite short, with many players completing it in just a couple of hours, leading to limited replay value.
- Some players found the gameplay and music to be repetitive after a while.
- Quality of life improvements are needed, such as better navigation tools and more impactful building options.
- music15 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its festive and cheerful qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. Players appreciate the cute and whimsical tunes, which contribute to the game's charming pixel art style and seasonal themes. However, some note that the music can become repetitive over time, though it remains a highlight for many, especially during the holiday season.
“Lovely pixel graphics/art-style, cute music and relaxing gameplay.”
“Music is very nice and got me in the Christmas spirit right away.”
“Wonderful music, cute characters, and I love being able to build my own unique Santa's village - a thoroughly enjoyable experience all around.”
“I had a relaxing time playing, but the gameplay and music, which is enjoyable, can be repetitive, and children may get more out of this than adults.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around completing quests to recover Santa's stolen reindeer and sleigh, with players engaging in gathering and crafting activities to build their own Christmas town. While the narrative is described as cute and relatively short, taking around 2-5 hours to complete, it offers a relaxing experience with a variety of quests and charming NPCs. After finishing the main story, players can continue to enjoy the game by expanding their town and harvesting resources indefinitely.
“Very fun game if you like all things Christmas, plus games with gathering, crafting, and a story progressed through quests!”
“Some of the NPCs are the ones who stole Santa’s reindeer and sleigh, and in order to recover them, you’ll need to complete the quests they give you (it’s usually gathering certain animals or crafting specific items).”
“The story is very cute and it took me about an hour and a half to get through.”
“You can finish the quests within a few hours.”
“There are 14 main quests and 15 secondary ones - plenty to do to keep you busy for around 2-3 hours.”
“The story is very cute, but it took me only about an hour and a half to get through.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming and humorous elements, featuring cute characters, festive music, and amusing dialogue that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the lighthearted humor and the fun surprises, such as collectible items that add to the game's whimsical charm. Overall, it offers a delightful and entertaining distraction, perfect for the holiday season.
“I beat it in an hour and a half, but I had fun throughout and appreciated the humor.”
“This game is like unpacking a Christmas stocking loaded with goodies, surprises, cheer, and humor.”
“Mechanics aren't hard, and the dialogue is very warm and funny.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as relaxed and cheerful, making it accessible for children, with simple mechanics and enjoyable, humorous dialogue. The recent update introduced new features like trains and tracks, but the overall experience can feel repetitive, especially for adult players. Completing all quests takes about three hours, and while the point-and-click style is easy to grasp, additional buildings do not significantly impact gameplay.
“This year’s update brought new mechanics to the game, with the addition of trains, train stations, and tracks.”
“The point and click mechanic makes it an easy game to pick up for any aged player.”
“About 3 hours of gameplay to complete all quests.”
“Wish the extra buildings like candy store or toy store affected gameplay.”
“Gameplay is very relaxed, cheerful, and probably easy enough for children to play.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming pixel art style, which enhances the festive atmosphere and contributes to a relaxing gameplay experience. Users appreciate the combination of cute visuals and enjoyable music, noting that it effectively captures the holiday spirit. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, adding value to the game.
“Lovely pixel graphics/art-style, cute music, and relaxing gameplay.”
“Graphically, it's got really nice pixel art with holiday appeal.”
“Love the graphics, put me in the Christmas spirit!”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is described as a wholesome and heartfelt experience, evoking feelings of coziness and nostalgia, particularly during the holiday season. Players appreciate its charm and polish, noting that it offers a fun and uplifting atmosphere, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a lighthearted emotional experience.
“It’s a pretty wholesome game at the modest price of $5, and playing it was for me as cozy as sipping a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter night.”
“It's very classy and heartfelt.”
“Fully enjoyed playing this game and it really put me in the Christmas spirit; very wholesome and I loved how polished it was.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while grinding in the game can be accomplished using the trackpad, it may feel tedious due to small text and controls. However, it is seen as a low-commitment option for players seeking a casual crafting or farming experience, particularly in a winter-themed setting.
“If you're looking for a crafting/grinding/xmas fix with very little commitment required, this is your title.”
“You kind of can, you just have to use the trackpad but it is tedious and also the text is a little small if that is an issue for you.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it cozy and enjoyable enough to warrant multiple playthroughs, others feel it lacks depth and complexity, limiting its long-term appeal.
“It’s a pretty wholesome game at the modest price of $5, with lots of replayability value as well. Playing it was for me as cozy as sipping a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter night.”
“Not a super long game, but it offers good replay value.”
“Worth the price, but probably doesn't have much in the way of replay value.”