Settlements
- August 3, 2018
- TREON Games
- 24h median play time
Get on Steam"Settlements" is a single-player Role Playing game with a strong focus on resource management and technological advancement. Players must rebuild civilization from the Stone Age, customizing characters and training their skills while researching technology at their own pace. With 10 distinct eras to progress through, Settlements offers a rich and immersive gameplay experience, but be prepared for some grinding.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great gameplay loop that keeps players engaged for hours.
- Deep and complex mechanics that allow for extensive settlement management and character progression.
- Active developer support with frequent updates and responsiveness to community feedback.
- The tutorial is weak and can leave players confused about game mechanics.
- Graphics and UI are outdated and can be distracting, making it hard to navigate at times.
- Some features and content feel unfinished or abandoned, leading to frustration for players.
- graphics88 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players describing them as primitive, outdated, or even "ugly," often likening them to those from the mid-90s. However, despite the lack of polish and detail, players generally agree that the visuals do not detract from the gameplay experience, which is praised for its depth and complexity. For those who prioritize gameplay over aesthetics, the graphics can be overlooked, making the game enjoyable for fans of strategy and management genres.
“The graphics do exactly what they need to do - they are the framework that lets the gameplay shine; and what gameplay!”
“While settlements doesn't have super flashy graphics, it truly makes up for it with an immersive storyline and in-depth gameplay.”
“The game is fun and challenging, and the graphics are better than I expected in their implementation!”
“The graphics look amateurish.”
“The graphics and UI look like something out of the mid 90s, and aside from the music (which I liked, though it gets old), the sound design is much, much worse.”
“The resolution is terrible, the tooltips are inconsistent, and the overall aesthetic really, really draws away from whatever gameplay there might be.”
- gameplay66 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its depth and engaging mechanics, offering a satisfying blend of strategy, base building, and turn-based combat. While the graphics and user interface may be lacking, many players find that the solid core gameplay loop compensates for these shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience for those who appreciate intricate game mechanics. However, some users note that the steep learning curve and occasional design flaws can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“If you ever enjoyed strategical gameplay and your own pace, this is definitely a must try.”
“The gameplay is deep and engaging; there is a bit of a grind, but you can speed up and slow down time, or pause at any time to get through it.”
“Where this game really shines is its gameplay: you have base building, complex and meaningful crafting, a little bit of RPG (settlers with stats and skills), and an entertaining combat system.”
“The graphics are in total contradiction with the gameplay.”
“I enjoyed it, but it might not be for everyone - and a lot of the design is just plain awful and seriously detracts from the gameplay.”
“Gameplay is meh, and all the other cons constantly detract from it.”
- story27 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and ambitious, guiding players through various eras while managing settlements and characters. While some find the narrative generic or presented in a convoluted manner, many appreciate its depth and the way it intertwines with gameplay mechanics, offering a unique blend of strategy and character development. Overall, the story enhances the experience, providing a satisfying backdrop to the survival and exploration elements of the game.
“Guiding a group of people through the ages while unraveling the plot got me hooked completely.”
“This is a unique one that does one thing I don't see often enough; tells an interesting story.”
“While settlements don't have super flashy graphics, it truly makes up for it with an immersive storyline and in-depth gameplay.”
“The story is bizarre and presented in an obtuse scrapbook.”
“The game is quite simply, role play your characters, build up your settlement, fight some monsters and advance, with a decent enough story-line to help you along.”
“Most games with an RPG plot don't have high replayability.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the deep strategy and sense of progression, many feel that the repetitive nature of combat, resource management, and character tracking can quickly become monotonous and tedious. The need for constant micromanagement and the slow pace of certain mechanics, like research and skill book usage, contribute to a sense of frustration, leading some to abandon the game despite its appealing concepts. Overall, the enjoyment of grinding varies significantly among players, with some embracing it and others finding it overwhelming.
“When you are not unlocking anything new, only grinding to reach the end, the game turns very monotonous really fast, and I had to force myself to finish it.”
“The game also gets incredibly grindy.”
“Combat and map quests get tedious and pointless - after a point, nothing I get as loot is useful except coins, and these quickly become useless, too.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it offers decent replay value, particularly due to its city-building elements, others feel that it lacks significant replayability typical of RPGs. Overall, the consensus suggests that replayability may vary depending on individual play styles and preferences.
“The game has very little replayability.”
“Not sure if it will have replay value or not.”
“...settlements has a much higher degree of replayability than a typical RPG due to its hybrid nature, specifically city building.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is lacking, with users reporting issues in coding, graphics, and interface that hinder performance. While some improvements have been made in version 1.3, players still experience significant performance struggles and find the user interface cumbersome and difficult to navigate. Many reviewers express a willingness to revisit the game if these optimization issues are addressed.
“Caveat: the current version of the game (1.3) has some great improvements; however, the performance is really making me struggle currently.”
“My last complaint is that I can't really think of any way I could do things much differently as far as strategy - it's more optimization of one strategy versus planning between multiple strategies.”
“However, this game needs optimization in coding, graphics, and interface.”
“Slight performance issues; monster attacks get a bit annoying after a while.”
“I would absolutely be willing to give the game another chance in the future if the UI windows are softened and optimized, but as is, this game is a mess of menus and tiny font, and I cannot recommend it at this point.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, particularly for its orchestral stringed instrument compositions, though some players find it repetitive and occasionally annoying. While the overall sound design is considered lacking, the music stands out as a highlight for many, despite some expressing that it can become tiresome over time.
“Music: stringed instruments (if you like orchestra music), a bit repetitive but enjoyable.”
“Music is awesome.”
“The music is good, though it gets old.”
“Some sounds and music are good, but some are plain annoying.”
“Music features stringed instruments, which may appeal to fans of orchestral music, but it can be a bit repetitive.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report a smooth performance with no crashes, others encounter minor bugs and glitches that, although frustrating, do not significantly impact gameplay.
“Runs great; I have not experienced a single crash.”
“The game is incredibly stable, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
“I appreciate how reliable the game is; it never freezes or crashes.”
“Very odd and couldn't fix after 15 minutes of trying and troubleshooting.”
“One or two little glitches, but it is EA and they didn't affect the game.”
“Little buggy.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is enhanced by the inclusion of "feats," which players can discover and utilize to shape their characters, offering a sense of freedom and choice that extends beyond the main narrative. This sandbox element allows for a more personalized and engaging experience in character progression.
“It's got character development and a sandbox feel that goes beyond the story.”
“I discovered 'feats' in the character screen very late and was initially afraid to use them, but it seems you can have plenty of them, and they help you make choices for your character development.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
“I expected more depth in character development, but it feels like a missed opportunity.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as "hilariously bad," with players finding enjoyment in its outdated 90s-era user interface and amusing sound design. This combination creates a unique charm that adds to the overall experience.
“It's hilariously bad.”
“It's worth braving the 90s-era UI and the frankly hilarious sound design.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users feeling it may not align with their preferences, while others find it acceptable.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases makes it feel like the developers care more about profit than player satisfaction.”
