Spring Falls
- November 17, 2019
- SPARSE//GameDev
- 3h median play time
![Spring Falls Game Cover](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/103/spring_falls_sparse_gamedev_2019_22_xl.png)
"Spring Falls" is a relaxing puzzle game where players help a group of creatures survive in a drought-stricken valley by controlling the water flow. By strategically raising and lowering elevated platforms, players must fill the creatures' water tanks and help them grow gardens while ensuring other animals have enough space to thrive. The game offers a peaceful atmosphere and a minimalist art style, making it perfect for players looking for a calming and engaging experience.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and a calming soundtrack, creating a relaxing atmosphere for players.
- Puzzles start off easy and gradually increase in complexity, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
- The mechanics are intuitive and allow for trial and error, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.
- The game is relatively short, taking only about 2 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some later levels can become overly complex, leading to frustration as players may feel stuck with limited guidance.
- The game lacks a clear tutorial or instructions, which can make it difficult for players to understand the mechanics at first.
- music125 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, perfectly complementing the tranquil visuals and gameplay. Many players found the soundtrack to enhance the overall experience, with standout moments like the beautiful closing credits song. While some noted that the music could be repetitive, the general consensus is that it effectively creates a calming atmosphere, making it a highlight of the game.
“The game's tranquil ambiance, complemented by its enchanting soundtrack and minimalist design, creates a peaceful atmosphere that feels like a meditative escape.”
“The sound of flowing water and the gorgeous visuals and soft beautiful music almost make you feel like you're sitting by the water yourself enjoying a nice spring day.”
“The music and sounds are very soothing and really complete the minimalistic feel of this game in a positive way!”
“The not for me: I didn't enjoy that the music was all or nothing.”
“Music was fine, but a bit repetitive, if you care about sound.”
“Very relaxing, lovely visuals and sounds, although I found the music a little distracting after a while (but you can turn that off).”
- gameplay109 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Spring Falls" is characterized by its gradual introduction of mechanics and increasing complexity across 60 levels, starting with simple puzzles and evolving into more challenging scenarios that require strategic thinking. Players appreciate the intuitive mechanics, beautiful visuals, and relaxing atmosphere, although some find the lack of explicit tutorials for new mechanics a bit frustrating. Overall, the game offers a satisfying and engaging puzzle experience, though it is relatively short, typically taking around two hours to complete.
“The levels start out easy and add both complexity and additional mechanics as time goes on.”
“The gameplay is simple: help the water flow down a mountain by moving parts of the terrain while ensuring it passes by flowers to make them bloom.”
“Spring Falls is a beautiful short minimalist puzzle game with simple geometric graphics, fluid animations, and varied puzzles and game mechanics that revolve around controlling the flow of water.”
“The first 10-15 levels are deceptively simple; however, due to the game not demonstrating the mechanics well, the levels quickly turn into puzzles that aren't fun to solve.”
“I also started struggling so hard at level 21 because I do not fully understand the game mechanics and the game asks you to learn without verbal instruction as to how it works.”
“The sheer simplicity of the total structure made me wish somewhat to have been able to spend more time digging in before the game dutifully pushed me to the next portion with a new overarching mechanic.”
- graphics90 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their beautiful, minimalist aesthetic, which enhances the overall relaxing experience. Players appreciate the charming visuals, fluid animations, and soothing sound design that create a tranquil atmosphere, making it an enjoyable backdrop for puzzle-solving. While some note the simplicity of the graphics, they agree that this simplicity contributes positively to the game's cozy and calming vibe.
“Spring Falls is a beautiful short minimalist puzzle with simple geometric graphics, fluid animations, and varied puzzles and game mechanics that revolve around controlling the flow of water.”
“The low-poly art style is a perfect match, adding to the game's charm and making it easy to lose yourself in its tranquil environment.”
“The visuals are simplistic and very beautiful, and the music is calm and fitting for the relaxing gameplay.”
“It only has an aesthetic appeal, which is not enough for me to recommend this game.”
“Though the developer does a far better job at hiding it than most, there are still a few points where the visuals of this game scream 'I was made in Unity'.”
“While the beauty of the artwork is undeniable and combined with the soothing music contribute towards this zen-effect and peacefulness, the game is not exactly a stroll in the park.”
- atmosphere32 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its tranquil and immersive qualities, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack and minimalist design. Players describe it as a relaxing and cozy environment that complements the puzzle mechanics, creating a meditative escape that is both enjoyable and calming. Overall, the atmosphere is seen as a key strength, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a peaceful gaming experience.
“The game's tranquil ambiance, complemented by its enchanting soundtrack and minimalist design, creates a peaceful atmosphere that feels like a meditative escape.”
“From the moment you load up the game, you're enveloped in an atmosphere that feels both peaceful and immersive.”
“The atmosphere of the whole thing is as peaceful as they come, with the gorgeous soundtrack lulling me into a sense of focus and flow.”
“The sounds and visuals create a relaxing atmosphere.”
“The music, the atmosphere, and the sound effects pair really well together to create a chill, beautiful puzzle game experience.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been described as visually appealing but with limited replayability, often cited as a major downside. While some players find value in revisiting the game after a break, many agree that the content is short, typically offering only 2-4 hours of playtime with minimal incentive to replay. Despite this, some users still consider it worth the price, especially when purchased on sale.
“I liked the sound and the music very much, and in my opinion, Spring Falls also has replay value.”
“Short but sweet, and allows for some replayability.”
“Roughly 2-4 hours of playtime without that much replayability, but it's worth the price, especially on sale.”
“As the game has 0 replayability, I'm pretty unimpressed.”
“The only downside is that there's little replayability.”
“You get less than 2 hours of entertainment, as there's little to no replay value.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, featuring 60 levels focused on mechanics and puzzle-solving rather than storytelling. While it offers engaging gameplay reminiscent of Monument Valley, it may not satisfy players seeking a rich story or adventure elements.
“The quest to end drought, it's doom I forestalled.”
“The game has no story or narration, only 60 levels with different mechanics and sources of water being added as you progress.”
“It reminds me a lot of Monument Valley on mobile, but without an overarching story.”
“It's got all the ambience and most of the beauty, more puzzles and less dubious story than Monument Valley.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, often describing it as charming, wholesome, and delightful, with some expressing that it evoked strong feelings, including tears at the end. The combination of clever puzzles and an enchanting soundtrack contributes to a soothing and engaging experience, making it a standout in the genre. Overall, it resonates deeply with players, offering both challenge and emotional fulfillment.
“Clever puzzles, amazing soundtrack, perfect vibe, I cried at the end -- 11/10.”
“When it comes to cute, soothing, and wholesome games, this is right up there with A Short Hike, which to me is glowing praise!”
“All in all, a very charming, wholesome game.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by lighthearted interactions and playful banter among characters, leading to amusing situations that elicit laughter, even from the more serious characters like Mr. Turner. Players find the comedic elements engaging enough to share on social media, highlighting the game's ability to create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.
“Funny flower game.”
“Trixie: [giggling] Oh, Vicky, you're so funny!”
“[Despite the madness, everyone ends up having a good time, with even Mr. Turner begrudgingly chuckling at his clown costume.]”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress through the final levels. While the puzzles are well-designed, the need for brute-force solutions can lead to tedium and frustration, detracting from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This makes it unavoidable to brute-force your way through the final levels, which becomes increasingly more tedious as the number of possible moves increases.”
“The puzzles are cleverly crafted, but finding a solution can be a bit tedious at times, which can lead to annoyance and break the stillness of the mind.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lightweight design, resulting in no performance issues reported by users.
“It's also lightweight, with no performance issues.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; the developers clearly focused on optimizing performance.”