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Stacklands Game Cover

About

Stacklands is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by Sokpop Collective and was released on April 8, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

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.

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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,499 reviews
gameplay410 positive mentions
grinding253 negative mentions

  • Stacklands features a unique card-stacking mechanic that combines resource management and village building, creating a satisfying and addictive gameplay loop.
  • The game boasts a charming minimalist art style and a whimsical soundtrack that enhance the cozy atmosphere, making it enjoyable for casual and strategy-focused players alike.
  • Players appreciate the humor and quirky charm of the game, with amusing card descriptions and lighthearted gameplay elements that keep the experience entertaining.
  • Many players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, especially in the late game, leading to a lack of long-term engagement and replayability.
  • The game suffers from significant performance issues, including bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay enjoyment, particularly as the number of cards increases.
  • The story is minimal and lacks depth, with quests serving primarily as tutorials rather than providing a cohesive narrative, which limits the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    1,065 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Stacklands is characterized by its unique card-stacking mechanics that blend resource management and village building, offering a satisfying and addictive loop. While the game is easy to learn and provides a charming aesthetic, many players note that it can become repetitive and tedious as they progress, particularly in the late game. Overall, it delivers a solid experience with a good balance of simplicity and strategic depth, making it a worthwhile title for fans of casual strategy games.

    • “The core mechanic is delightfully tactile: players stack and combine cards representing villagers, resources, buildings, and events to grow and maintain a thriving settlement.”
    • “The gameplay loop is satisfying, and when you lose it's a forehead-smacking moment of: 'I shouldn't have sold that.'”
    • “Stacklands is an innovative gem that brilliantly combines elements of card game mechanics with resource management and town-building gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop gets stale after a few hours.”
    • “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.”
    • “It's fun for a while, but the gameplay is repetitive and can become tedious past a certain level of progression.”
  • graphics
    319 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming minimalist art style that many players find appealing and well-suited to the gameplay. While some reviews note that the visuals are simple and basic, they effectively enhance the overall experience, creating a cozy and engaging atmosphere. Overall, the art style is praised for its cuteness and ability to complement the game's mechanics, making it enjoyable for both casual and strategy-focused players.

    • “The art style is charming and whimsical, with colorful illustrations that bring the game to life.”
    • “The cozy pixel aesthetic, engaging mechanics, and bite-sized sessions make it easy to get lost in.”
    • “Don’t let its minimalist art style fool you—this game is brimming with depth, charm, and addictive gameplay.”
    • “Virtually no graphics or art => not worth playing.”
    • “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.”
    • “I enjoyed it a lot, although I think that having better graphics wouldn't have been a bad thing, maybe some more creative art on the cards for example.”
  • grinding
    270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game. While the initial gameplay is engaging and addictive, the need for constant micromanagement and resource farming can lead to frustration as players juggle multiple tasks and deal with a cluttered interface. Overall, while some enjoy the grind as part of the experience, others feel it detracts from the fun, making it a significant point of contention among reviewers.

    • “It's also not tedious like Cultist Simulator can be when you are being cautious, though I don't mind that personally.”
    • “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.”
    • “While this might appeal to a certain demographic, I found myself wanting to end the run because I got tired of juggling meal creation, coin farming, and trying to upgrade my villagers and field all at once.”
    • “All in all it's not a bad game per se but I feel like I wasted 12 hours of my time grinding only to realize there seems to be no end to the grind, no satisfying payoff.”
    • “It's fun for a while, but the gameplay is repetitive and can become tedious past a certain level of progression.”
  • replayability
    259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability across the game, with many players noting limited replay value after completing the main content. While some appreciate the potential for varied strategies and the enjoyment of initial playthroughs, others express disappointment over the lack of depth and content for repeated play. Overall, the game offers a fun experience but may not sustain long-term engagement without additional updates or expansions.

    • “There's so much content and replayability, worth it.”
    • “The roguelike elements, such as randomized card packs and the potential for failure, add replayability without feeling punishing.”
    • “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!”
    • “Limited replayability.”
    • “Sadly, rather shallow and without much replayability.”
    • “The only downside is that there's no real replay value.”
  • story
    244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal, often described as non-existent, with quests serving primarily as tutorials and achievement trackers rather than a cohesive narrative. Players appreciate the quest system for providing direction and goals, but many express a desire for deeper storytelling and more content beyond the main objectives. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and offers a satisfying progression loop, the lack of a substantial story limits its replayability and depth.

    • “The island part is actually tied into the story and boss fight, and allows travelling to and from including moving items forth and back, which is actually required since you need glass (and therefore sand) in the main story, which is a really cool mechanic for that part in my opinion.”
    • “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.”
    • “The quest system gives you a nice objective to work towards while still letting you beat the game in a timely manner.”
    • “Sadly, after moon x, there isn’t a real quest to follow.”
    • “The gameplay is too simple, and the story mode is equally lackluster.”
    • “There's no specific story to this game, but there are a couple of goals you can achieve here.”
  • music
    144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as calming and relaxing, enhancing the overall atmosphere with its whimsical and minimalist style. While many players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and sound effects, some note that the music can become repetitive due to its limited variety. Overall, the soundtrack complements the gameplay well, making it a pleasant backdrop for casual play, though a desire for more diverse tracks is frequently expressed.

    • “Combined with a whimsical soundtrack and satisfying sound effects for stacking, collecting, and battling, the game exudes a calming charm—even during moments of high tension.”
    • “The soundtrack adds a layer of charm that enhances the overall atmosphere.”
    • “Its minimalist art style and soothing soundtrack create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for unwinding.”
    • “There's no incredible writing, the music is terrible, the sound effects are very basic and it doesn't have the juice.”
    • “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 and over again.”
    • “The only drawbacks are limited content and, while I do enjoy the one minimalist soundtrack piece, it would be nice to add the option to change or have it shuffle.”
  • humor
    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by its quirky card descriptions, amusing character designs, and lighthearted gameplay elements that keep players entertained. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with strategic challenges, making it both funny and engaging. Overall, players appreciate the whimsical charm and comedic moments that enhance their gaming experience.

    • “The game’s humor and quirky charm, from its card descriptions to its random events, add a layer of personality that keeps the experience lighthearted.”
    • “The devs have added some hilarious personal touches to the info cards, which are always fun to read.”
    • “It's fun, interesting, and funny.”
  • optimization
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, especially as the number of cards increases, leading to lag and battery drain. While some appreciate the strategic depth and charm of the game, they express a strong desire for improvements in optimization and quality of life features to enhance the user experience, particularly in late-game scenarios. Despite these concerns, a few players report smooth performance on specific platforms, indicating that optimization may vary depending on the system used.

    • “At first glance, it looks like a minimalist card game with charming visuals, but underneath lies a clever blend of survival strategy, resource management, and roguelike progression that invites both casual players and optimization enthusiasts alike.”
    • “Perfect balance of discovery, strategy, and optimization puzzle.”
    • “A really cute and addictive game about micromanagement and optimization.”
    • “Unoptimized to the point that it kills my laptop battery.”
    • “Had the devs focused on optimization and quality of life with their big update rather than new content, I would probably prefer the new version over the old one, but as it stands, it is impossible to not play the game with time paused 95% of the time, because there are so many things to take care of at once, with little to no automation.”
    • “It looks like an optimization problem, because the components are not pushed to 100% and performance drops proportionally to the cards increasing on screen; performance after 200+ cards is terrible.”
  • atmosphere
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and cozy ambiance, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack and minimalist art style, making it ideal for relaxation. Players appreciate the cheerful and colorful environment, though some feel it lacks depth and challenge, which could detract from the overall experience. While many find the atmosphere inviting and enjoyable, a few critiques point to a lack of complexity and originality compared to similar titles.

    • “The soundtrack adds a layer of charm that enhances the overall atmosphere.”
    • “Its minimalist art style and soothing soundtrack create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for unwinding.”
    • “The game has a cheery, colorful atmosphere, well-served by simple graphics and relaxing music.”
    • “It doesn't have a special atmosphere, maybe because of the simplicity, and maybe because of the lack of background music.”
    • “It's cultist simulator without the story or atmosphere, translated to a civ framework.”
    • “It's really just an extremely dumbed down version of cultist simulator and lacks any real atmosphere of its own.”
  • emotional
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and warmth, with players expressing feelings of accomplishment and joy despite challenges. Many reviews highlight the game's wholesome nature, charming art style, and heartwarming soundtrack, creating a delightful and engaging experience. However, some players noted moments of frustration, particularly related to gameplay mechanics, which can lead to feelings of emptiness despite the overall positive sentiment.

    • “It made me feel like I played for 20 minutes, but I played for 3 hours.”
    • “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.”
  • stability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly related to stacking mechanics and card organization, which hinder gameplay enjoyment. While some players note that the game runs well on certain platforms and appreciate the overall concept, the frequent issues detract from the experience, leading to frustration. Despite ongoing updates aimed at addressing these problems, many still find the stability lacking.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “Great game, challenging and fun to play, runs great on Linux.”
    • “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.”
    • “I like the idea of this game, but there are too many bugs and glitches that prevent me from enjoying or finishing it.”
    • “If you press tab in the main menu, the game pretty much glitches out, and when you're trying to stack cards, they can't be removed from the pile.”
    • “Overall, it's a fun game that you can tell a lot of work was put into, but it's brought down by the bugs, glitches, and frustrating design choices.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy is straightforward and transparent, with advertisements and DLC integrated into the main menu. Players appreciate the honesty in the game's promotional materials, suggesting that those who enjoy the store page will likely enjoy the game itself. Comparisons to inferior knock-offs highlight the game's quality and appeal despite its ad-supported model.

    • “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 of being.”
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8h Median play time
11h Average play time
5h Main story
11h Completionist
5-15h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 164 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Stacklands is a casual strategy game.

Stacklands is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS and Windows.

The main story can be completed in around 5 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 11 hours to finish. On average players spend around 11 hours playing Stacklands.

Stacklands was released on April 8, 2022.

Stacklands was developed by Sokpop Collective.

Stacklands has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Stacklands is a single player game.

Similar games include Forager, WitchHand, Cookard, Havendock, Ale & Tale Tavern and others.