Stacklands

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,765 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • replayability
Stacklands Game Cover
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Stacklands is a village-building game where you stack cards to collect resources, construct buildings, and battle creatures. Cards can be sold for coins to buy packs containing themed cards that expand your village. At the end of each moon, ensure your villagers have enough food, or they will starve. The game features over 200 cards, 60 ideas, and 50 quests, with combat against goblins, bears, and rats.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,765 reviews
gameplay328 positive mentions
grinding168 negative mentions
  • gameplay846 mentions

    The gameplay of Stacklands is characterized by its unique card-based mechanics that blend resource management, strategy, and exploration, offering a satisfying and addictive experience. Players appreciate the simplicity of the mechanics, which allow for quick mastery, while also providing depth through various combinations and strategies. However, some reviews note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, and the organization of cards can lead to frustration, particularly in later stages. Overall, the game is praised for its charm, engaging gameplay loop, and value for its low price, with many players enjoying the challenge of managing their village while discovering new mechanics.

    • “The gameplay is unique and satisfying, offering many opportunities to discover mechanics and improve your approach.”
    • “Its simple yet captivating gameplay provided a thoroughly enjoyable experience, drawing me in from the start.”
    • “The gameplay loop is satisfying, and when you lose it's a forehead-smacking moment of: 'I shouldn't have sold that.'”
    • “The gameplay is very simple, but the execution can get complex quickly, with a large amount of cards to manage.”
    • “The main gameplay loop just got dull after a while, and I know the repetitive stuff gets automated later, but I'm not going to care enough to work towards efficiency when the game's almost over.”
    • “The gameplay length of 3 hours total is a tad short...”
  • graphics242 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, minimalist art style that many players find appealing and fitting for the gameplay. While some reviewers note the simplicity of the visuals, they emphasize that the graphics do not detract from the game's addictive mechanics and overall enjoyment. The hand-drawn aesthetic, combined with a relaxing atmosphere, creates a unique and engaging experience that resonates well with players, proving that compelling gameplay can outweigh the need for high-end graphics.

    • “The graphics are simple and charming and just lets you enjoy the core gameplay for what it is.”
    • “The art style is amazing and pretty cute, 10/10 would recommend to other people.”
    • “The developers managed to give so much personality to cards with static images, and managed to create a cohesive art style that tied the experience together beautifully.”
    • “The first of which is the fact that the kind of minimal aesthetic of the game really hurts your ability to be able to quickly see what is going on.”
    • “It's quite funny how addictive a game with such 'basic' graphics can be, but somehow it is very compelling.”
    • “If you need a story or flashy animations/graphics, this will not be the game for you.”
  • replayability212 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it offers enjoyable mechanics and initial fun, it tends to lack depth and variety for subsequent playthroughs. Some users appreciate the potential for speedrunning and experimenting with different strategies, but overall, many agree that once the main content is completed, replay value diminishes significantly. Future updates and additional content could enhance replayability, but as it stands, the game is often described as short with limited replay options.

    • “There is immense replay value with all the recipes you earned being saved and advanced automation later in the game.”
    • “This game's replay value is unlimited!”
    • “The replay value is very high; it's super fun to explore all the combinations and recipes to make new items and saving up or selling items to buy new card packs is super addicting as well!”
    • “Overall, while the game has its strengths, I would rate it a 6 out of 10 due to its lack of depth and replayability.”
    • “The downside is that there isn't too much replayability unless you're planning to try your hand at speedrunning it, but that's not worth mentioning vs how enjoyable your first run will be.”
    • “The only problem with the game is that there's not much replayability.”
  • story190 mentions

    The game's story is generally perceived as minimal, with many players noting a lack of depth and narrative structure. While there are quests and a main mission to complete, the gameplay often feels more like a series of challenges and puzzles rather than a cohesive story experience. Players appreciate the quest system for providing objectives, but many express a desire for more substantial content and narrative development to enhance replayability.

    • “With a cartoonish kind of look and a great and entertaining story with lots of things to do and explore, Stacklands is truly an amazing experience and I recommend the game to whoever reads my review or stumbles upon this piece of art of a game.”
    • “It was an awesome surprise to find out the game had a story to it as well, and it really gives meaning to all you do.”
    • “The quest system gives you a nice objective to work towards while still letting you beat the game in a timely manner.”
    • “There's no specific story to this game, but there are a couple of goals you can achieve here.”
    • “Ideas and quests are disconnected and don't really seem to matter.”
    • “Non-existent story, and the quests are basically just achievements and tutorials.”
  • grinding179 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the initial gameplay engaging but ultimately succumbing to tedium as they progress. While the combination of farming, crafting, and card management offers a unique experience, the repetitive micromanagement and the need for constant organization can become frustrating and monotonous, especially in the late game. Overall, while some players appreciate the grind, many feel it detracts from the enjoyment, leading to a desire for more automation and streamlined mechanics.

    • “It can be whatever pace you want and the crafting system is so convenient there's no grinding.”
    • “Also, the game is not very long and is not grindy, so compared to Cultist Simulator, for example, this RNG aspect felt much better.”
    • “The problem is that it feels very whimsical and new at first, but quickly becomes tedious and repetitive.”
    • “Spending hours grinding slowly and tediously to then die or have all your stuff get messed up is just a bummer.”
    • “Cute ideas but the combination of sitting and watching progress bars slowly fill, the way you can't keep your cards organized because some cards move and push others around, and grinding for card draws until RNG gives you the card you need made this boring and annoying.”
  • music120 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as calming and relaxing, enhancing the overall atmosphere without being intrusive. However, many players note the limited variety, often citing the repetitive nature of the soundtrack as a drawback. Overall, while the music complements the gameplay well, a desire for more diverse tracks is a common sentiment among reviewers.

    • “The calm music and visuals will help soothe you even when all your villagers are dying and fighting evil pirates.”
    • “The music is so relaxing that you really lose track of time.”
    • “It's a simple village builder card game, very fun, relaxing music, cute art and the gameplay is satisfying.”
    • “I believe the only thing that would upset me is the limiting range of songs, which is only like 2-3, with the background music of the mainland playing in the background being the one you hear the most over and over again.”
    • “The music is generic, and the visuals are basic.”
    • “Really, the one and only issue I had was the monotonous music - the track is alright but there's merely one.”
  • humor83 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its quirky card designs, whimsical elements, and amusing mechanics that create a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Many reviews note the game's ability to evoke laughter through its chaotic gameplay and funny interactions, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a fun and relaxing gaming session. Despite some minor frustrations, the overall consensus is that the humor significantly enhances the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll enjoy the challenge and humor.”
    • “Super funny, cute, and chaotic!”
    • “Even with those flaws, it's still a funny, silly game, and for this price, you get a good game.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cute art style and a calming, cheerful ambiance, enhanced by relaxing music and simple graphics. While many players appreciate the overall relaxing vibe, some feel it lacks depth and originality, comparing it unfavorably to other titles like Cultist Simulator. Overall, it offers a pleasant, if somewhat simplistic, atmospheric experience suitable for casual play.

    • “The game has a cheery, colorful atmosphere, well-served by simple graphics and relaxing music.”
    • “The lovely but simple graphics give the game a nice and relaxing atmosphere.”
    • “A very cute game that begins with a relaxing atmosphere and your little villager foraging for berries, that gradually escalates to portals appearing, summoning bears that maul your little villager into little bits.”
    • “Nothing more needed to mention on the atmosphere that you can't already observe in the trailer.”
    • “It doesn't have a special atmosphere, maybe because of the simplicity, and maybe because of the lack of background music.”
    • “It's really just an extremely dumbed down version of cultist simulator and lacks any real atmosphere of its own.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    Overall, players have noted that the game suffers from optimization issues, particularly when managing a large number of cards, leading to lag and performance drops. While some users appreciate the game's charm and addictive nature, they express a desire for improvements in menuing and card management to enhance the user experience. Despite these concerns, many report that the game runs smoothly on various platforms, indicating that while optimization could be improved, it is not entirely detrimental to gameplay.

    • “Perfect balance of discovery, strategy, and optimization puzzle.”
    • “A really cute and addictive game about micromanagement and optimization.”
    • “I noticed that the game is not optimized very well when you start to have a lot of cards.”
    • “Not a smooth performance for such a simple card game.”
    • “Small but fine card game, which can still be optimized a bit - for example, that you can also anchor cards directly without having to place them again with each map expansion or time optimization, because in the higher phases of the moon you have so many cards that it's just stressful.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and charming qualities, with players appreciating the heartwarming soundtrack, creative voicelines, and unique gameplay mechanics. While some felt a sense of emptiness due to repetitive elements, many found the experience to be fun and fulfilling, leading to feelings of accomplishment. The game's quaint and strategic nature, combined with its humor, makes it a delightful pastime, though some players expressed doubts about replayability.

    • “The demon lord better be ready because they are all yelling 'hey bartender!' In the end, I managed to beat him without a loss, which surprised me yet made me feel accomplished!”
    • “Heartwarming soundtrack, charming art style, and intuitive yet brain-teasing gameplay.”
    • “It's funny, wholesome, and has an okay difficulty that you can change up or down.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability is generally acceptable, with most players reporting a smooth experience, though some encounter occasional bugs and glitches, particularly with food recipes, automation options, and the card organization system. While these issues can be frustrating, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. Recent updates have addressed some of these concerns, suggesting ongoing improvements.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “The graphics are minimal yet appropriate for the title, the sound design lends itself well to playing the game while listening to a podcast or your own music, and the performance is bug-free and impeccable.”
    • “The cardopedia is a bit buggy and could be more visual and better categorized.”
    • “Overall it's a fun game that you can tell a lot of work was put into that is only brought down by the bugs, glitches, and frustrating design choices.”
    • “I like the game, but the only problem is that you run out of space too fast and I am not just talking about basic room; I am talking about building room. The game glitches out a lot.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy is straightforward and transparent, featuring advertisements and DLC options prominently in the main menu. Players appreciate the honesty in the game's advertising, suggesting that those who are drawn to the store page will likely enjoy the game itself. Overall, it is seen as a more authentic experience compared to similar games that rely heavily on ads.

    • “Advertising DLC in the main menu.”
    • “I found a rip-off of this game on the Play Store, and ended up finding the original in my pursuit to find one without ads.”
    • “What the merge-2 mobile game ads dream about being.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is deeply immersive, allowing players to create unique backstories for their characters, which enhances emotional engagement during gameplay. Players report feeling a strong connection to their characters, experiencing their struggles and fates as they navigate challenging scenarios. Overall, the character development aspect is praised for its depth and impact on the gaming experience.

    • “I felt the power of creation as I named and developed a backstory for each of my citizens before sending them into an unwinnable battle. Watching them face their fate, I truly felt their pains and sorrows as their existence was erased. It was a profound experience.”
    • “The character development in this game is incredibly immersive. I found myself deeply invested in the stories and backgrounds of each character, which made their struggles and triumphs feel personal.”
    • “Creating unique backstories for my characters added a layer of depth to the gameplay. It transformed my experience from just playing a game to truly caring about the fate of each character.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with any of the characters on a meaningful level.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character arcs; they felt more like placeholders than real individuals with stories.”
    • “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character development is so poorly executed that it detracts from the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Stacklands

Play time

7hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5hMain story
11hCompletionist
5-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 139 analyzed playthroughs

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