Smalland: Survive the Wilds

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,854 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Smalland: Survive the Wilds Game Cover
Smalland: Survive the Wilds is an impressive survival game with a lot of heart, and a crafting system that is filled with options.
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In "Smalland: Survive the Wilds" , players explore a vast, open world from a small perspective, encountering lake-sized puddles, skyscraper-sized trees, and hidden NPCs. The game allows players to tame and ride various creatures, uncovering recipes for creature-taming while venturing through dense forests, hazardous swamps, and ancient ruins. As Vanguard you are on an urgent mission to survive in this vast wilderness, left behind by the time of the giants.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,854 reviews
gameplay277 positive mentions
grinding294 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and immersive world design.
  • Engaging gameplay with a mix of crafting, combat, and exploration.
  • Unique mechanics like the ability to move your entire base to different trees.
  • Combat feels clunky and lacks depth, with inconsistent hit detection.
  • Resource gathering can be tedious and lacks variety.
  • The game feels incomplete with limited content and a weak storyline.
  • gameplay910 mentions

    The gameplay of "Smalland" offers a mix of engaging mechanics, particularly in base building and exploration, with a unique treetop system that players find enjoyable. However, many reviews highlight significant flaws, including clunky combat mechanics, performance issues, and a lack of depth in survival elements, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel repetitive and unpolished. While the game shows promise with its graphics and innovative concepts, it requires further refinement and content updates to fully realize its potential.

    • “The mechanics you're given to survive are pretty impressive. The treetop base system is very fun to work with, and once you accomplish staying up in the trees, you really feel like you've conquered the survival aspect of the game.”
    • “Gorgeous art style, immersive gameplay, and a decent amount of fantasy smashed into a wonderful world of hostile critters.”
    • “Smalland is a fun co-op game with some interesting progression and a housing mechanic that is unique.”
    • “I waited for 1.0 to try Smalland, but found it had truly awful performance optimization, and the first hour of gameplay feels very janky.”
    • “There are just so many mechanics that are more annoying than add anything to the game.”
    • “The gameplay loop simply fails to deliver.”
  • story876 mentions

    The story in "Smalland" is generally perceived as brief and lacking depth, with many players expressing a desire for more engaging narrative content and clearer quest tracking. While some appreciate the basic storyline and the interactions with NPCs, others find it uninteresting and overly simplistic, often feeling lost due to the absence of detailed quest markers. Overall, the game shows potential for improvement in its storytelling elements, especially as it continues to develop in early access.

    • “The story of Smalland is fun, the game world is lovely to explore.”
    • “Great game, amazing story and astounding visual style.”
    • “I like games that take place in a post-apocalyptic world with environmental storytelling and mystery, and this game certainly has all of that.”
    • “The story is basically non-existent; some flavor text here and there.”
    • “The game needs more of a story to drive the player forward.”
    • “The storyline felt very brief but it kept you pointed in the right direction to hit all the main bosses.”
  • graphics701 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received a mixed reception, with many players praising the stunning visuals, immersive environments, and detailed art style that enhance the overall experience. However, some users have reported issues with optimization, leading to performance problems such as stuttering and frame rate drops, particularly on higher settings. Overall, while the graphics are often described as beautiful and engaging, there are notable concerns regarding their consistency and technical performance.

    • “The graphics are breathtakingly beautiful, delivering a visually stunning and seamlessly smooth gaming experience.”
    • “The graphics and rendering are gorgeous, and it really feels like you’re a tiny person/wingless fairy of your own design in a gigantic, beautiful forest.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and stable with max settings and ray tracing on.”
    • “Unfortunately, the optimization of graphics is terrible.”
    • “Crashed after 19 min, graphics are headachy - I really wanted to like this but at its current state I just don't.”
    • “The graphics and UI are outdated and reminiscent of something from the early 2000s.”
  • grinding316 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, particularly in resource gathering and crafting. While some appreciate the grind as part of the survival experience, others criticize it for being overly punishing and lacking meaningful rewards, leading to a sense of boredom. Overall, the game is described as having a significant grind, especially in the early stages, but some players find enjoyment in the mechanics and potential for future updates.

    • “Not too grindy, and holds a bit of challenge to reach end game.”
    • “But overall, I enjoyed this early access experience; the resource gathering wasn't too grindy, even to make a mostly stone base and all the facilities/workstations.”
    • “You still have to revisit areas, but you aren't grinding for ages.”
    • “The excess of time you will spend on this is literally grinding for resources because of how little they give you.”
    • “The devs recently added in a few artificial hurdles by for example introducing unnecessarily long crafting timers and quite an expensive fuel cost for crafting, thus making the game a lot more grindy.”
    • “You would think something this grindy has a big payoff, but it offers stuff barely better than your craftable items.”
  • stability193 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting a range of bugs and glitches, particularly in areas like the UI, building mechanics, and multiplayer functionality. While some users have experienced minimal issues and praise the game's performance, others express frustration over more significant problems that can disrupt gameplay. As it is still in early access, many players remain hopeful for improvements in future updates.

    • “The game seems to run great, as I have had little to no glitches or bugs as of yet.”
    • “- The game is almost entirely bug-free -- no glitches, server issues, etc. that we encountered that were game-specific.”
    • “Very fun game was well worth the long wait, I've been excited for this game for about 5 years now and it has blown me away; it's fun, not very buggy at all for a day 1 release!”
    • “The game was also buggy; my UI hotbar occasionally would disappear, and suddenly I can't swap weapons. On occasion, it would break where nothing would let me interact or use said gear.”
    • “It's gotten so buggy, and things that should have been fixed before 1.0 haven't been fixed or even addressed at all.”
    • “Will be coming back when it's out for a while, but for now, it's too buggy and broken to play.”
  • optimization171 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe stuttering, lag, and performance issues across various hardware setups, including high-end systems. While a few users noted that the game runs smoothly for them, the consensus is that significant optimization is needed to address the numerous bugs and performance inconsistencies, especially in multiplayer modes. Overall, players express disappointment that the game, despite its potential, feels unpolished and not ready for full release.

    • “Overall, the game is very well optimized; I get 90+ fps at 1440p with an RTX 2060.”
    • “I truly recommend this game, one of the most complete and optimized early access games out there. It's very fun and entertaining, and the best part is that they are listening to the community and adapting the game quickly based on our recommendations.”
    • “I'm running a 1080 all on ultra on 4K and having a perfect 140 frames... this game is crazy optimized.”
    • “I waited for 1.0 to try Smalland, but found it had truly awful performance optimization, and the first hour of gameplay feels very janky.”
    • “The main reason I am disappointed with this game is that I really didn't expect the optimization to be this bad.”
    • “The game is terribly optimized.”
  • music168 mentions

    The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive during extended play, the soundtrack is often described as charming, whimsical, and well-suited to the game's themes, with standout moments during storms and combat. Overall, the music is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's enchanting world.

    • “The music is magical and the world blends so well.”
    • “The soundtrack itself mixes between relaxing as you just explore to that really majestic sound when you get into combat.”
    • “You'll sit, on a ledge, listening to the chirp of insects, the gurgle of water and distant birdsong as the beauty of your surroundings is encapsulated by one of the most immersing and epic and thematic soundtracks heard in any game.”
    • “I like the style especially during storms; however, because of the nature of a survival game, which is to just binge-play for hours on end, the music started to get tedious.”
    • “I'd like to see a little variety in battle scores and overworld music.”
    • “The dramatic high-pitch music parts (start of the song) with storms get on my nerves after a while, but that could just be me. Don't get me wrong, the music in this game is very well done.”
  • atmosphere80 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful graphics, immersive environments, and enchanting music, creating a vibrant and alive world that encourages exploration and adventure. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the setting, with elements like weather systems and biomes enhancing the overall experience. While some reviewers note areas for improvement, the game's atmosphere is generally considered a standout feature that contributes significantly to its enjoyment.

    • “Every blade of grass, fluttering butterfly, and towering tree is beautifully rendered, creating an atmosphere that feels alive and brimming with possibilities.”
    • “The melodic tunes perfectly match the game's atmosphere, evoking a sense of childlike wonder and exploration.”
    • “The atmosphere is great and enchanting.”
    • “Gameplay and atmosphere are too weak for 2023.”
    • “I would advise to work on the change of seasons (there should be no thunderstorms in winter), perhaps the ponds should freeze and snow or the heat and blazing sun should force you to hide in the shade. A lot of interesting things can still be added, but I hope to preserve that charming and sweet atmosphere!”
    • “With a more pleasing atmosphere, better game controls and mechanics, and a diverse array of weapons and combat styles, Smallland is a definite recommend for me.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as light-hearted and whimsical, with players enjoying funny moments and quirky interactions, such as the amusing movement of creatures and the absurdity of gameplay mechanics like instant death from cold. Many players appreciate the comedic elements that arise from gameplay glitches and the ability to customize settings for a more humorous experience, contributing to a fun and entertaining atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully blends adventure with humor, making it enjoyable for players seeking both thrills and laughs.

    • “Love playing this with my boyfriend (many trolls and funny moments too hehe), so fun being tiny and taming and flying and ahhh :d.”
    • “So funny and adventure in a small world, wait for update world and new boss.”
    • “Seasonal changes are wonderful, but instant death from cold after a few moments outside is hilariously broken.”
  • emotional17 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotions regarding "Smallands," highlighting a sense of exploration and welcome, but also noting a lack of depth in its narrative and emotional engagement compared to other survival games. While the game encourages players to learn and build at their own pace, some aspects, like the nighttime experience, evoke strong feelings, even leading to moments of frustration. Overall, the emotional impact is varied, with potential for growth as the game develops further.

    • “So many games forget... what the player sees for the first time is crucial to game success, and Smallands made me feel welcomed and learn at my own pace.”
    • “Hats off to you guys. Smallands made me feel like playing more, exploring more, building more... and all that with some of the best and amazing amounts of control options.”
    • “But night time makes me want to cry.”
    • “Good idea but boring story.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag among players; some praise it for its variety and regular content updates that enhance replay value, while others criticize the lack of random world generation, deeming it boring and diminishing its replay potential. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some players rating it highly and others finding little incentive to return.

    • “Favorite game since 2016! 10/10, really good replayability.”
    • “It makes for better variety and replayability, in my opinion.”
    • “Content is regularly being added by the developers, which adds to the replayability factor and keeps players coming back for more!”
    • “It's not replayable in my opinion.”
    • “That is pretty boring and I cannot see any replay value in this design.”
    • “That doesn't make it any less janky or any more playable.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling it resembles an early access cash grab rather than a fully realized product. While there is anticipation for future content, concerns about limited options for solo play and server customization have left some players dissatisfied. Overall, the game's transition to 1.0 has not fully alleviated worries about its value for money.

    • “Another early access cash grab.”
    • “This game is like one of those old ads for a comedy movie where you know all of the best moments of the movie will be the same ones you saw in the ad.”
    • “No private servers and pretty much zero in terms of options and tweaks to the games for the server you make, and that in itself is kind of a deal breaker for me personally as I like to play these games solo, and this despite advertising itself as single player or multiplayer is very much not balanced for solo play at all.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development is praised for its appealing design, with users expressing a desire for greater depth in character creation. The overall enjoyment of both the environment and character aesthetics enhances the gaming experience.

    • “The character design is nice, especially if more depth is given to character creation.”
    • “The environment and character design are very enjoyable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Smalland: Survive the Wilds

Play time

26hMedian play time
31hAverage play time
20-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 81 analyzed playthroughs

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