Staxel

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,955 reviews
  • grinding
  • story
  • gameplay
Staxel Game Cover
<em>Staxel</em> has some solid fundamental systems, but it doesn't feel like a fleshed out, finished game.
Starting at $2.99Buy now
Get on Steam

Staxel is a single-player or multiplayer role-playing game with a focus on farming and village life. Restore your farm, help villagers, and explore the wilderness to fish or hunt for bugs. With delightful graphics, a wholesome story, and a fantastic soundtrack, Staxel offers a spectacular atmosphere, but be prepared for some grinding and bugs.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Gog Com
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,955 reviews
story82 positive mentions
grinding782 negative mentions
  • Charming graphics and art style that combines elements of Minecraft, Stardew Valley, and Animal Crossing.
  • Relaxing gameplay with no combat, allowing players to focus on farming, building, and interacting with NPCs.
  • Creative freedom in building and customizing structures, with a variety of quests and seasonal events to keep players engaged.
  • Clunky crafting and inventory management systems that can be tedious and frustrating.
  • Limited NPC interactions and shallow character development, making it hard to form meaningful connections.
  • The game feels unfinished and lacks depth, with many mechanics and features needing improvement or expansion.
  • grinding787 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Staxel" has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the game's relaxed pace and the ability to engage in various activities like farming, building, and quests, many find the grinding tedious and repetitive, particularly in crafting and resource management. Overall, players suggest that while the farming mechanics can be enjoyable, the game often feels more like a building simulator with farming as a secondary focus, leading to a sense of aimlessness and frustration for those seeking a more structured farming experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Thoughts while playing: 'holy crap this is tedious', 'what am I supposed to be doing again?', 'where the hell did I put *insert item*?', 'where am I going to put this?', 'what is *insert item* used for?'”
    • “This game is more of a struggle than it is fun to play; stick to another farming game because this one isn't it.”
    • “The biggest problem is the crafting and building is so slow and tedious.”
    • “Sadly, I wouldn’t recommend Staxel unless you’re into lots of grinding in an ultimately rather boring environment.”
  • story574 mentions

    The story in Staxel is generally perceived as simplistic and lacking depth, primarily revolving around completing quests for villagers and building relationships with them. While players appreciate the charming interactions and the cozy atmosphere reminiscent of games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, many feel that the quest structure is repetitive and often frustrating due to unclear objectives and bugs. Overall, the game offers a casual experience with a light narrative, but it leaves room for improvement in terms of story development and character engagement.

    • “The story is adorable, there is a lot you can do.”
    • “I love the quests in this game and the story lines.”
    • “This game is a wonderful mix of story of seasons and Minecraft, the story and characters have life and meaning, and the building and modding capabilities are mind-blowing!”
    • “Character quest lines 'end' awkwardly in what seems like the middle of the story.”
    • “The quests are mostly short fetch ones like 'oh, I lost my hammer again, please find it!' and 'build this house for me.' The progression in this game is basically down to wealth.”
    • “There isn't really too much exposition and there isn't a main storyline for you to follow.”
  • gameplay358 mentions

    Gameplay in Staxel is a blend of farming, crafting, and building mechanics reminiscent of games like Stardew Valley and Minecraft, offering a casual and relaxing experience. However, many players find the mechanics to be clunky and poorly explained, leading to frustration with the crafting system and a lack of engaging content after a few hours of play. While the game has potential with its charming aesthetics and modding support, it currently suffers from repetitive tasks and a shallow gameplay loop that may not satisfy all players.

    • “Staxel is cute, must-have, chill gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is a lot of building and collecting resources.”
    • “The gameplay systems about farm management are well done for the most part.”
    • “There's probably less than 2 hours of gameplay before you run out of content, after which it's just a pointless sandpit with no clear objective and even less reason to want to play the game.”
    • “Some of the game mechanics are confusing (why do I need to buy a hammer in order to pick up blocks? How do I polish fossils? Why do I need to put a sign in front of my chicken coop?) and I spend more time wondering how to play the game than uncovering the mysteries of the game's world.”
    • “The building is perhaps the worst part, second to the unintuitive questing system and third to the lack of any real depth in the gameplay.”
  • graphics334 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming voxel art style that evokes comparisons to Minecraft, with many players appreciating its cute and colorful aesthetics. However, opinions are mixed, as some find the visuals lacking polish and substance, leading to a perception of emptiness in the game's world. Overall, while the graphics are generally seen as appealing and suitable for a cozy gaming experience, they may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who prefer more detailed or modern visuals.

    • “I love the graphics and the simplicity of the game.”
    • “The visuals are very appealing, the aesthetic of the whole game is super charming, and I love it.”
    • “With cute and very vibrant visuals as well as an addictive farming system, Staxel is a nice twist on the usual Harvest Moon and Minecraft-like setup.”
    • “Graphics are just bad.”
    • “I had better graphics on the NES in 1989.”
    • “The graphics are a mix of Minecraft and Stardew Valley, but the game seriously lags on the lowest settings compared to much higher spec games.”
  • music145 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and relaxing qualities, with many players finding it soothing and enjoyable, often describing it as "cute," "melodic," and "catchy." While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack could become repetitive over extended play sessions, the overall consensus is that it significantly enhances the game's atmosphere and complements its whimsical art style. A few critiques mention a desire for more variety and frequency in the music, but the general sentiment is that the soundtrack is a standout feature that contributes positively to the gaming experience.

    • “The music is fantastic.”
    • “The music is very relaxing and brings a sense of casualness to an otherwise chore-ridden game, especially when you get a large farm going.”
    • “I absolutely love the music in Staxel.”
    • “Weirdly enough, my only big complaint is the soundtrack.”
    • “It feels too derivative of the Minecraft soundtrack, and so it's easily ignored.”
    • “The music is the same and after a few hours it really just makes me sleepy and sometimes bored.”
  • stability74 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode. Many players describe it as "abandonware" and "buggy," with issues ranging from quest glitches to connection problems, leading to a frustrating experience. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains in a problematic state, especially given its long duration in early access without substantial updates.

    • “It's smooth and not buggy, just a bit boring!”
    • “A little bit of lighting glitches and some trees that don't collapse when you cut out their base, but other than that, it has been pretty bug-free (except the ones you catch with a net).”
    • “It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you enjoy a casual, mostly bug-free romp into a farming/builder game, this will be for you.”
    • “The game is left in a buggy state, and it's been 4 years without any updates or news.”
    • “This game has been out for years and is still extremely buggy, almost to the point of being unplayable.”
    • “The devs have apparently moved on to other games, leaving Staxel a buggy and unfinished mess, and so will I.”
  • optimization61 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting clunky controls, frequent performance issues, and memory leaks that hinder gameplay. While some players noted minor performance concerns, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements, particularly for building mechanics and controller support. Despite its charm and potential, many reviewers recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game due to its current state.

    • “Overall optimization rating: good”
    • “This game reminds me of legacy Rust with just the right graphics to give amazing performance.”
    • “I think that Staxel is rough around the edges, but nonetheless a charming experience worth looking into once some of the performance issues have been ironed out.”
    • “Everything feels very clunky and the game doesn't feel optimized.”
    • “The game begins memory leaking and stuttering more and more until it's unplayable.”
    • “Now, the game is fun and all, but the game has some seriously bad optimization issues.”
  • atmosphere29 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming, relaxing, and welcoming environment, reminiscent of titles like Minecraft and Animal Crossing. Players appreciate the beautiful music, vibrant color schemes, and tranquil settings that create a stress-relieving experience, although some note that the voxel art style can appear cluttered at times. Overall, the game successfully fosters a unique and pleasant atmosphere that encourages leisurely exploration and creativity.

    • “The atmosphere, art, music, and customization freedom are all very charming.”
    • “Lovely relaxing atmosphere and overall very chill and stress relieving.”
    • “The music is beautiful and the atmosphere of the game is lovely.”
    • “The atmosphere is cute but it just all falls on its face.”
    • “Personally, I think the farm should be further away from the town, as it ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “But the overall atmosphere of the game is more like Stardew Valley in how it gives off pleasant and positive vibes and has its own little quaint town.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its overwhelmingly wholesome and cute atmosphere, with players expressing joy in building relationships with unique villagers and engaging in relaxing farming activities. While the game offers a charming experience, some players feel a lack of depth in character stories and emotional investment, suggesting a desire for more engaging narratives and interactions. Overall, it is celebrated for its artistic design and the comforting, cooperative gameplay that fosters a sense of community and relaxation.

    • “The stories of each villager are just wholesome and I really enjoyed building relationships with them as well as doing their quests <3.”
    • “The artwork is very pleasing to the eye and the little interactions are wholesome and sweet.”
    • “This made me feel a lot less lonely and engaged me in the game a lot longer.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky interactions, amusing NPC dialogues, and the charming antics of animals, such as a chicken that thinks it's faster than Sonic. Players find the comedic elements enhance the experience, despite some criticisms about NPC depth and game glitches. Overall, the lighthearted tone and funny moments contribute to a delightful and engaging atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players.

    • “With every season comes new challenges and hilarious moments, like trying to wrangle a chicken that thinks it's faster than Sonic.”
    • “The game is really funny, farming and building your house, also helping the village grow.”
    • “But the funny interactions with NPCs and the unbelievably cute animals add a lot of life to the world.”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the cute and unique character designs while others criticize the lack of depth in NPC interactions and overall character growth. Many feel that the game lacks sufficient narrative elements to foster meaningful character development, limiting its RPG potential. Overall, while the artistic style is praised, there is a consensus that improvements are needed in customization and character engagement.

    • “Incredibly wholesome Minecraft-like game with the focus on farming. I love the artistic character designs, very sci-fi cat anime inspired.”
    • “The character designs are so cute, each character having a unique color palette that's distinct from the rest.”
    • “I'm liking the continuous increase in character development, though I do wish lost items were easier to find the owners to... altogether though a greatly creative game, lovely colors, plenty to do outside of quests as well.”
    • “There is not enough character development and NPC interaction to call it an RPG; there isn't enough freedom to call it a sandbox, and the character movement and actual game layout is bad enough to ruin the building.”
    • “Needs improvement both in how you can customize as well as character designs, but I can't complain too much when I get to have ears and a tail.”
    • “I'm liking the continuous increase in character development, though I do wish lost items were easier to find the owners to.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the freedom and variety in gameplay that allows for unique experiences, others feel it lacks depth and content updates, limiting long-term engagement. Despite its potential and creative opportunities, many reviewers suggest that improvements and additional content are needed to enhance replay value significantly. Overall, it offers a decent level of replayability, particularly for those who enjoy sandbox-style gameplay.

    • “The experience is never quite the same, which makes the game replayable too.”
    • “From baking goods for residents with a sudden hankering, to filling building orders for newcomer townies and using your own creative freedom to craft and expand the town as it grows, you never run out of things to do. The game has Animal Crossing levels of replayability that will keep you constantly on the move and working hard.”
    • “Staxel can easily boast replay value, as well as having possibly endless hours of playtime.”
    • “Overall, while I recommend the game, I do not feel like there is too much replayability, especially as the game lacks the modding community of the aforementioned games.”
    • “This game has so much potential, but seeing as they only release small patches here and there, I can't recommend it at the moment. However, I can see this being really good in a year or two if the devs keep working to make the game more playable and adding more content.”
    • “Perhaps a few updates will improve the replayability.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing it for perceived cash grabs, particularly in its shift to Nintendo platforms. However, others appreciate the absence of microtransactions and view the game as a genuine homage to its inspirations rather than a mere cash grab. Overall, opinions vary on whether the monetization strategy aligns with the game's quality and intent.

    • “No microtransactions!”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that respects players' time and investment.”
    • “I appreciate that the monetization is transparent and doesn't hinder gameplay.”
    • “Instead of making the game they promised, they quickly jumped to the Nintendo platform for a quick cash grab.”
    • “Some people may view this as a cash grab; I do not.”
    • “Seems like it takes good elements from the games that inspired it and puts enough of its own spin on things to not feel like a ripoff or a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy Staxel

Play time

22hMedian play time
56hAverage play time
7-44hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 33 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News