SNAKE FARM
- September 5, 2023
- HEATHER FLOWERS
- 50h median play time
Get on Steam"Snake Farm" is a top-down action roguelike where you play as a snake farmer with ten days to live. Buy snakes to fight and sell their oil and teeth for better weapons and rarer snakes. With forty upgradable pieces of equipment and four themed game modes, each run can be different, offering exponential growth and high score potential. The game's tagline is "OIL IS LIFE - LIFE IS MONEY - MONEY IS DEATH".
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging risk-reward mechanic where players buy snakes to fight, creating a compelling gameplay loop.
- It features a variety of snakes and weapons, allowing for diverse strategies and builds, which enhances replayability.
- The simple yet charming graphics and humorous premise make it an enjoyable experience, especially for fans of rogue-like games.
- The game can become repetitive after a while, with limited content and a lack of variety in gameplay modes.
- Performance issues, such as lag and frame drops, can occur during longer runs, affecting the overall experience.
- Some players feel the game lacks polish, with stiff controls and minimal sound effects, which can detract from immersion.
- gameplay33 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Snake Farm" is characterized by a satisfying and addictive loop that combines risk and reward mechanics, allowing players to create their own challenges while navigating through a variety of enemies and weapons. Despite its deceptively simple appearance, the game offers depth and strategic choices, though some players note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, it is praised for its charming aesthetics and well-designed mechanics that encourage experimentation and skill development.
“Really fun game with a satisfying gameplay loop!”
“Its deceptively simple (yet cute) appearance hides remarkably well-designed depth and gameplay mechanics that intersect with one another wonderfully.”
“The gameplay loop of using your money to make the game harder for even more money that pushes you into the ultimate risk-reward grind is genius!”
“Once you understand the basic mechanics and gameplay, it's way too easy to become so broken that you can't lose.”
“After my first two or three runs where I was still learning the basic mechanics, I never died after that, even in the post-game curse mode - in curse mode, I just ended up making it so far that the snakes either got so fast that they were no longer inside the map and therefore unable to attack me, or I made the snakes attack so fast that the framerate dropped to near-zero - in both of those cases, I just had to end the run because there was no way to play past that point.”
“Gameplay does eventually become repetitive after some time, with little to change up the formula.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that grinding in the context of snake farming games involves repetitive tasks that can feel tedious but ultimately rewarding, mirroring real-life agricultural labor. Players appreciate the challenge and satisfaction derived from managing a variety of snakes, while also noting the game's unique take on the farming genre. Overall, the experience is described as both engaging and ethically grounded, despite the inherent grind.
“Silly game about farming snakes.”
“Just like a real farm, labor is menial and somewhat tedious but ultimately satisfying with the right mindset.”
“Never knew snake farming was so hard...”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simplistic and plain aesthetic, which some players appreciate for its clarity and ease of tracking gameplay, while others find it unappealing and lacking in flair. Despite the pixelated visuals typical of indie games, many users emphasize that the fun gameplay outweighs any graphical shortcomings. Overall, the art style is divisive, appealing to those who prefer minimalism but potentially deterring players seeking more elaborate visuals.
“Thanks for destroying my judgment towards games based on graphics, this game is fun!”
“I also enjoy the simplicity of the graphics; nothing is more elaborate than it needs to be.”
“The simplistic art style is great; it makes it easier to keep track of everything that's going on.”
“Though to throw in some criticisms, some of which are justifiable whilst others are mere nitpicks, no doubt the graphics are plain and pixelated, which is the given for many a young and new indie developer these days but this will put off those who want a more flashier and stylized type of game.”
“Graphics are simple and without any flair or style to them, resulting in a rather plain-looking game that will put off some.”
“I find the price tag very high for what is here, but I love the art style and simplicity.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever and funny snake variations, leading to chaotic and hilarious moments that keep gameplay fresh and entertaining. Players appreciate the surprising depth and variety, which enhances the comedic experience, making it enjoyable even for those who typically don't favor this genre. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, with many finding it genuinely hilarious.
“Surprising depth, lots of areas for improvement and decisions, really clever snake variations, and very funny moments.”
“There is enough variety in the kind of snakes and in the kind of upgrades that every game can feel different, from safe and manageable to chaotic and hilarious.”
“I bought this solely on the funny reviews and the cute snakes, which could've gone poorly since I hardly ever enjoy games of this play type.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its replayability, with many players finding it fun and engaging enough to return to multiple times. While some reviews note that it may not offer as much variety as other titles in the genre, the potential for different builds and strategies contributes to its replay value. Many users recommend it for its enjoyable gameplay and good price.
“Simple but a lot of fun with plenty of replayability.”
“Overall 9/10 would recommend, fun game, plenty of replayability.”
“It doesn't have as much variety and replayability as other similar games, but it's still definitely worth playing!”
“Not as much replay value as some other games in the genre, but still good for the price.”
“There are a ton of builds you can do to get a lot of replay value out of the game.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its coolness and how it complements unique gameplay mechanics, others find it dull and repetitive, with a lack of sound effects and abrupt transitions between tracks. Overall, the soundtrack seems to be a significant aspect for some, but a source of frustration for others.
“Cool music, unique gameplay mechanics.”
“My favorite snake is the electric looper, because it's easiest to see how it dances in time to the music.”
“The music, especially.”
“It's dull; there are few sound effects and sudden shifts from one music track to the next. Additionally, there are very few weapons, skills, and modifiers.”
“There are no sound effects at all, except for the 20-second music track running in the background ad nauseam.”
“The music, especially, is lacking.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Users report significant optimization issues, particularly in endless mode, where enabling performance mode can lead to severe system strain and potential crashes. The game struggles to maintain stability, especially during extended play sessions.
“Got into endless mode, could start the game without performance mode on, but by the end of the endless run, it almost crashed my PC with performance mode on.”
“Got into endless mode, could start the game without performance mode on, but by the end of the endless run, it almost crashed my PC with performance mode on.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally uplifting, particularly appreciating its ability to provide a quick escape from difficult feelings. The shorter run times are seen as a positive feature, allowing for a less stressful experience compared to other roguelites, which can lead to frustration after long sessions.
“Wow, all I can say is I was having a really tough day and struggling with emotional regulation, and this game pulled me right out of it.”
“I actually really like that a single run is pretty short in this game, because in other roguelites (thinking of Noita specifically), it can be heartbreaking to make a run-ending mistake two hours into a run.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story has drawn comparisons to the plot of Metal Gear Solid 2, suggesting that it features complex themes and narrative twists reminiscent of that game. However, specific details about the storyline itself are not provided in the review.
“The story feels like a convoluted mess, lacking coherence and depth.”
“I found the plot twists to be predictable and uninspired.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any emotional connection.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, indicating a high level of stability on that platform.
“The game runs great on Steam Deck.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive.”
“The performance is smooth and consistent, making for an enjoyable experience.”
