Seashell
- March 14, 2022
- High Tea Frog
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Seashell" is a single-player Simulation game with about 3 hours of playtime, where you can relax at the beach and search for various sea shells, each with different conditions to appear. The game features a calming music system, hand-drawn shell sketches, and descriptions by marine biologist Dr Helen Scales. After finding every shell, players can aim to gain research level badges, unlock achievements, and learn about the creatures who once lived in the sea shells.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Seashell is a beautifully relaxing game that captures the essence of beachcombing, complete with calming wave sounds and a soothing soundtrack.
- The game features simple controls and light puzzle mechanics, making it accessible and enjoyable for players of all ages while also providing educational facts about seashells.
- Players appreciate the game's charming graphics and the satisfying experience of collecting and logging various seashells, making it a great way to unwind.
- Some players found the game repetitive and felt that the limited variety of shells and the inability to explore beyond a single area diminished the overall experience.
- The game can require a lot of patience, as waiting for rare shells to appear can lead to moments of boredom and frustration.
- A lack of features such as zooming in on shells or a collection showcase left some players wanting more depth and interactivity in the gameplay.
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, complementing the serene beach atmosphere with gentle piano melodies and the sound of crashing waves. While many players find the soundtrack soothing and enjoyable, some note that its repetitive nature can become tedious over time. Overall, the music enhances the game's tranquil experience, making it ideal for leisurely play.
“I love the calm vibes, peaceful music, and scientifically accurate shells.”
“The crashing waves and melodic music was not only relaxing, but helped me focus on my collection with chill beach vibes.”
“Seashell is a beautiful and relaxing game; I can literally sit for hours listening to the crashing ocean waves, gentle piano music, and pick up random shells for the leisure of it.”
“The soundtrack is akin to white noise, so I never minded its looping.”
“The music and waves repeat very regularly, which I eventually found tedious and less relaxing.”
“The music was calming, but the repetition made it less enjoyable over time.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as a relaxing and immersive experience, featuring light puzzle mechanics centered around collecting and tossing shells. Players appreciate the intuitive controls and beautiful visuals, although the difficulty is low once the mechanics are mastered. Overall, it offers a cozy and satisfying gameplay loop that lasts around 2-3 hours.
“Great chill collection game with super light puzzle mechanics.”
“I love it just for the beautiful soundscape alone, but I really enjoyed the gameplay too.”
“The shells are beautifully modeled to real life, and the gameplay loop of picking up shells and tossing them back to the sea and/or amassing a hoard in whatever way you desire gives a sense of idyllic discovery without time.”
“No wow factor, and low difficulty once you get the hang of the mechanics (two shell types spawn in higher grade, two shell types, and so on...).”
“2-3 hours of gameplay.”
“It's nice and cosy, while also having a solid gameplay mechanic!”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics are consistently praised for their beauty and realism, particularly in the depiction of seashells, creating a visually appealing experience. Users appreciate the clean visuals that enhance the overall relaxing atmosphere of the game.
“The visuals are beautiful (see my screenshots), the audio is gentle and the mechanic is very intuitive and (once you’ve mastered how resonance works) satisfying.”
“The graphics of the shells, though, looked so real.”
“A seashell collecting sim with some puzzle aspects to it and gorgeous graphics and a zen background track.”
“The graphics are clean, but they lack depth and detail.”
“The graphics of the shells, though, looked so real, while the rest of the environment felt flat and uninspired.”
“The overall visual presentation is disappointing, with textures that seem outdated and a lack of vibrant colors.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Seashell is characterized as relaxing and low-stress, enhancing the overall experience of the collection and puzzle elements. However, some users noted that the repetitive music could detract from the immersive quality, suggesting a desire for more varied soundtracks. Overall, it is described as a cute and atmospheric learning game.
“Seashell is a really relaxing, atmospheric, low-stress collection/puzzle game.”
“Cute little atmospheric learning game.”
“I wish there were a couple of different tracks of the same type of atmosphere to avoid the repetitive feeling of the game.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is characterized by a humorous and engaging narrative, with players sharing personal anecdotes that highlight their experiences and challenges, such as the quest for nautilus shells. This playful tone suggests that the storytelling is both relatable and entertaining, inviting players to connect with the game's narrative on a personal level.
“Shell I tell you a story?”
“I had to let not one, not two, but three nautilus shells in my mission to obtain a carrier - if you know, you know. 😭”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be exceptionally wholesome and calming, evoking a strong sense of emotional comfort and tranquility.
“This is the most wholesome and calmest game I've ever played.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game's replayability lacking, especially in relation to its cost, suggesting that it offers little incentive to play again.
“Considering its cost, there is little to no replay value.”
“The game lacks the depth needed to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed it, there's not much incentive to return.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the repetitive nature of the music and waves in the game to be tedious, detracting from the overall relaxing experience and contributing to a sense of grinding.
“The music and waves repeat very regularly, which I eventually found tedious and less relaxing.”
“Grinding feels like an endless chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay motivated and enjoy the game.”
