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Simpler Times

Simpler Times Game Cover
97%Game Brain Score
music, story
gameplay, replayability
97% User Score Based on 70 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
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Simpler Times Game Cover

About

Simpler Times is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by stoneskip. and was released on June 7, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In Simpler Times, you step into the shoes of Taina as she prepares to move out of her childhood home and begin the next chapter of her life. Relive her memories and learn how she grew into the creative, expressive person she has become. This is a contemplative, cozy experience. There is no score, no timer, no combat, no failing, and no anxiety. Just vibes. 4 SEASONS, 4 RECORDS Simpler Times take…

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Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
Simpler Times screenshot
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews
music24 positive mentions
replayability2 negative mentions
  • Beautiful, cozy, and nostalgic art style with painterly visuals and changing seasonal environments.
  • Relaxing lo-fi soundtrack and excellent, natural voice acting that enhance the calming atmosphere.
  • Simple, engaging puzzles and interactive objects that create a personal and reflective narrative experience.
  • Very short gameplay length, which may feel more like a demo or interactive meditation than a full game.
  • Technical and control issues such as imprecise interactions, controller bugs, and occasional glitches disrupt immersion.
  • Some puzzles are poorly designed or frustrating, and the narrative can feel disjointed due to its nonlinear storytelling.
  • music
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this game is widely praised for its relaxing, cozy lo-fi soundtrack that deeply enhances the atmosphere and storytelling. It is considered an integral, mood-setting element that complements the gameplay, puzzles, and visual style, making the experience soothing and immersive. Many players also appreciate the continuous play option and how the soundtrack introduces them to a new genre, contributing significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The music is not just background noise but an integral part of the storytelling, with each track reinforcing the mood of a particular moment.”
    • “Complementing this is a carefully curated lo-fi soundtrack that plays a central role in shaping the experience.”
    • “The music perfectly underpinned the chill, cosy and wholesome vibe of the game, and the art is amazing: every time I could pick something up and spin it or zoom in, I did—just to take in the effort and quality that went into the models and art.”
  • story
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a gentle, emotionally resonant coming-of-age narrative told through environmental interaction and fragmented memories rather than straightforward exposition. While simple and somewhat predictable, it offers a heartfelt, cozy experience rich in subtle mood and atmosphere, enhanced by art and music. Though its nonlinear delivery can feel disjointed, the story's warmth and introspection leave a lasting impact, albeit with limited replay value.

    • “Rather than presenting a linear narrative, the game allows players to piece together fragments of the story by interacting with objects scattered throughout the space.”
    • “A sketchbook, a camera, a stack of letters—each item acts as a doorway into a memory or thought, gradually building a portrait of the character without ever relying on exposition-heavy storytelling.”
    • “When the pieces come together, the result is a quietly emotional story about growth, uncertainty, and the process of letting go.”
    • “Conversations and thoughts emerge as players interact with the environment, often out of sequence, which can make the story feel slightly disjointed at times.”
    • “Once the story has been experienced, there is limited incentive to return, as most of its impact comes from the initial journey rather than replayability.”
    • “I restarted and reinstalled the game multiple times, which eventually allowed me to switch scenes but didn’t let me properly start the story from scratch again.”
  • gameplay
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is simple, intuitive, and relaxing, often using point-and-click mechanics that emphasize atmosphere and personal reflection over complex mechanics. While some find the movement mechanics slightly wonky initially, the overall experience is engaging, cozy, and thoughtfully crafted, with light puzzles and a strong narrative focus. Technical issues can occasionally detract from the experience, but the gameplay remains easy to understand and emotionally grounding.

    • “Simple but engaging gameplay with some light puzzles.”
    • “Such a cozy little game, chill music and relaxing gameplay!”
    • “The mechanics are great and easy to understand and the storyline is very deep and moving.”
    • “It is disappointing that such charming games can have their experience deeply affected by numerous technical issues and poorly optimized game mechanics.”
    • “The movement mechanics are kinda wonky at first.”
    • “The game controls use a point and click mechanic, no WASD.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a heartfelt and emotionally grounded experience centered on growth, transition, and letting go, using a nostalgic and cozy atmosphere to evoke personal reflection. Its narrative transforms potentially sad memories into warm, wholesome moments, enhanced by carefully crafted art and music. Overall, it offers a short but deeply moving story about identity and the emotional ties to everyday spaces.

    • “Framed around a young woman preparing to leave home and step into a new chapter of her life, it explores the emotional weight of transition—how the past lingers in ordinary objects, and how memories are often tied to the simplest spaces we inhabit.”
    • “When the pieces come together, the result is a quietly emotional story about growth, uncertainty, and the process of letting go.”
    • “The game has the potential of being a sad and emotional game, but the narrative was so well written that Taina, the main character, manages to turn it around, making these possibly sad memories into fond and wholesome memories.”
  • graphics
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are described as vibrant, colorful, and cozy with a painterly, artistic style that enhances the relaxing and aesthetic experience. While generally praised for their beauty, some users had to tweak settings for performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals contribute strongly to the game's charming and calming atmosphere.

    • “Just enjoy the cozy visuals, the chill music, and exploring the small space as it changes.”
    • “This is not a game, but a really beautiful artwork, and it's good for teenagers, young adults, and aesthetic people in general.”
    • “Then I had to tweak my graphics settings, such as setting the FPS to the lowest value, because my system was working way harder than it should for a game like this.”
    • “Very relaxing, I used a Logitech controller, my laptop memory is a little low so the graphics weren't 100% (totally on me), still a beautiful short little game.”
    • “Visually the artwork is vibrant and colorful, sometimes almost painterly.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its relaxing and contemplative atmosphere, highlighted by soothing music and charming visuals that encourage personal reflection and immersion without pressure. Its lo-fi soundtrack and calm pacing create a cozy, emotionally grounded experience that resonates deeply with players.

    • “There are no time pressures or fail states, allowing the player to move at their own pace and absorb the atmosphere without distraction.”
    • “It offers a contemplative, emotionally grounded experience that prioritizes atmosphere and personal reflection over mechanics or spectacle.”
    • “Relaxing music, nice scenery, and good atmosphere; truly a cozy game.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability, as its impact is primarily tied to the initial experience, with little incentive to revisit the story afterward.

    • “Replayability is very limited; the game feels like a one-time experience.”
    • “Once the story has been experienced, there is little incentive to return, as most of the impact comes from the initial journey rather than replay value.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game "Simpler Times" is charming but suffers from significant technical issues and poorly optimized mechanics, which detract from the overall experience. Further optimization is needed to elevate it to a truly great level.

    • “With this edit, I just wanted to express how disappointing it is that such charming games can have their experience deeply affected by numerous technical issues and poorly optimized game mechanics.”
    • “Overall, Simpler Times is a very sweet game, but for it to be considered truly great, a few things would have needed further optimization.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor is subtle and quirky, highlighted by the amusing feature of manually stopping and moving the record forward and backward, adding a playful touch to the experience.

  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from stability issues, with numerous bugs affecting puzzles and gameplay, leading to a frustrating experience rather than a relaxing one.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Simpler Times is a casual simulation game.

Simpler Times is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

Simpler Times was released on June 7, 2024.

Simpler Times was developed by stoneskip..

Simpler Times has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Simpler Times for its music but disliked it for its gameplay.

Simpler Times is a single player game.

Similar games include The August Before: Chapter One, Season: A Letter to the Future, Projected Dreams, Dordogne, Camper Van: Make it Home and others.