Stonehearth

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,254 reviews
  • gameplay
  • stability
  • graphics
Stonehearth Game Cover
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Stonehearth is a sandbox simulation game where players lead a group of settlers to build a bustling town. They must manage resources, assign jobs, and defend against enemies, while making strategic decisions for the town's development. With a variety of customization options, players can create unique structures and craft items to shape their own medieval kingdom.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,254 reviews
gameplay340 positive mentions
stability942 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,078 mentions

    The gameplay of Stonehearth is characterized by its charming voxel-based design and flexible building mechanics, which many players find enjoyable and relaxing. However, it suffers from significant technical issues, including bugs, poor optimization, and clunky controls, particularly in the building system, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game has potential and is supported by a dedicated modding community that enhances gameplay, many users feel it remains unfinished and frustrating, especially for those seeking a polished city-building experience.

    • “The gameplay is great.”
    • “I love the graphics, the modding community is amazing, the gameplay is like a chilled and relaxing version of Oxygen Not Included.”
    • “The gameplay itself is simply fascinating for those gamers that like to really get in close and micromanage their colonies exactly how they want.”
    • “However, every update was super small in scope, and mostly trying to fix things that are a part of the core gameplay features, and mostly just adding very minor things here and there.”
    • “This disrupts the flow of gameplay and tests the patience of even the most dedicated players.”
    • “The building mechanics are a little unforgiving at the moment if you want to change anything.”
  • stability964 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many describing it as exceedingly buggy and prone to crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times. Players report frequent freezes, glitches, and issues with AI behavior, particularly as the game progresses and settlements grow larger. While some users find enjoyment in the game despite these problems, the overall consensus is that it remains unfinished and poorly optimized, often requiring extensive troubleshooting or reliance on community mods to enhance playability.

    • “I currently play with more than 20 citizens and the game still runs great at 2x speed or even 3x speed!”
    • “The pros though is the game is beautifully done and it runs smooth and mostly feels bug free.”
    • “I only encountered one bug, which left a permanent 'cloud' in an area, which doesn't even bother me, signaling that this game is mostly bug free.”
    • “It is an amazing game, but it is so buggy that it is nearly unplayable.”
    • “I can't play it for more than 30 minutes before it freezes or crashes.”
    • “The game is far too crashy, buggy, and unoptimized nowadays.”
  • graphics900 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute voxel art style, which many players find appealing and reminiscent of titles like Minecraft. However, there are significant concerns regarding performance issues, with reports of lag and crashes, especially when managing larger settlements. While the visuals contribute positively to the game's ambiance, technical problems detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings among players.

    • “Stonehearth holds the promise of being among my top 5 games, with its charming blocky art style, adorable facial animations, and vibrant personalities.”
    • “The art style is adorable, the game is simple yet still challenging, and I could (and have) spent hours just building houses for my villagers.”
    • “The graphics are smooth, clear, and crisp, it often reminds me of Minecraft (minus the 16-bit textures) due to its simplicity.”
    • “The blocky art style, initially endearing, quickly loses its appeal when overshadowed by persistent technical problems.”
    • “Good game, ok graphic, bad optimization, late game crash a lot.”
    • “The main issue for me personally, is fps and performance in general (and no, this is not from my side, many are complaining about it, and when you can run all other games, even AAA titles with full out graphics, but can't run this properly, then something is wrong...).”
  • optimization788 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues, particularly as the number of villagers increases beyond 20. Many users experience significant lag, crashes, and memory leaks, rendering the game nearly unplayable in late stages. Despite its fun gameplay and potential, the lack of developer support and optimization has left it feeling unfinished and frustrating for many players.

    • “This game is unfinished and is optimized poorly, but it is still super fun.”
    • “The game is well made, it could just be optimized more.”
    • “It's a great game with a ton of potential but it's terribly optimized so you get upwards of 15 people in your little village and the game's performance begins to absolutely tank.”
    • “The game was abandoned by the devs. Performance is pretty decent at the start of the game but the more hearthlings you get, the more the game starts to break apart.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game was abandoned, and remains poorly optimized.”
    • “The performance issues are much worse.”
  • story618 mentions

    The story in "Stonehearth" is described as minimal and somewhat disjointed, with many players noting that it lacks depth and coherence. While there are elements of humor and charm, particularly in character interactions and quests, the overall narrative feels underdeveloped, often relying on community mods to enhance the experience. Many reviewers express a desire for more substantial story content and quests, indicating that the game has potential but currently falls short in delivering a compelling narrative.

    • “The game tells both the story of settlers trying to build a home in a forgotten land and the secrets of the world called Stonehearth.”
    • “The story of the game reflects both your own journey and your relationship with other characters.”
    • “The story elements and events help the world feel alive.”
    • “The story is very sandboxy, and while it comes off to me as randomly generated, you definitely get invested in the fate of your people.”
    • “The story elements are thin, and the gameplay cannot support a significant number of characters-- even though the game design practically requires that you develop a large town.”
    • “The short story is that the developers bit off more than they could chew, and so decided to call it quits.”
  • music298 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with soothing soundtracks that fit the whimsical aesthetic. Many players find the soundtrack exceptional, often listening to it outside of the game, although some report issues with repetitive battle music and occasional glitches that disrupt the audio. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, making it a delightful choice for casual and immersive play.

    • “Very wholesome, and relaxing vibes from the game's soundtrack.”
    • “The music is so enjoyable, it's a pleasure to sit and watch your hearthlings build, mine, or craft while listening to the soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack is soothing to listen to.”
    • “For example, the bug that the battle music just keeps playing sometimes is really annoying, but the devs just chose to deny that.”
    • “- repetitive soundtrack (seriously, it is super annoying)”
    • “I've had a few problems with combat, but it mostly had to do with the battle music playing in an infinite loop.”
  • grinding150 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours to achieve progress, such as leveling up or crafting items. Many users report that the game's performance issues exacerbate this grind, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences where tasks become chores rather than enjoyable activities. While some players appreciate the depth of city-building and farming mechanics, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, especially in the late game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It is very tedious and uninteresting seeing as there is no challenge in digging up half the map or smelting several hundreds of bars of metal.”
    • “The game is not optimized particularly well, and thus, all this great content to be explored becomes a tedious drag as you wait for your game to 'wake up' and move again.”
    • “Late game becomes so tedious that I would rather play solitaire on my phone.”
  • replayability142 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its potential due to mod support and various gameplay options, while others criticize it for lacking depth and content. Many reviews highlight that while the game can be enjoyable and addictive, frequent bugs and repetitive events hinder the overall replay value. Overall, opinions range from high replayability with mods enhancing the experience to significant limitations that may deter long-term engagement.

    • “It has tons of replayability; it is really fun to build your own settlement, and I get kind of emotionally attached to every single one of the hearthlings in my town.”
    • “The game’s biggest selling point is its replayability.”
    • “This is such an addictive game; the replayability is endless, and the night-day cycles are great fun!”
    • “The game has zero replayability.”
    • “There isn't really much replayability, which is sad considering the sandbox nature of this game.”
    • “Yes, the game is randomized and it's technically replayable an endless amount of times, but with the lack of content, I don't see myself replaying this game at all and I don't see this game really improving a whole lot in the future.”
  • emotional96 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players' deep attachment to their hearthlings, often leading to feelings of heartbreak when faced with loss or game-breaking bugs. The charming and wholesome atmosphere, combined with a touching narrative and engaging gameplay, fosters a strong emotional connection, making players feel invested in their settlements and characters. However, the game's unfinished state and occasional technical issues can lead to frustration, overshadowing the otherwise heartwarming experience.

    • “The story of the game is very funny and touching.”
    • “Honestly if you've really connected with your village, seeing your entire village sad because one of your hearthlings died, is just heartbreaking.”
    • “To watch your small village grow into a town is heartwarming knowing you guided them there.”
  • humor72 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the story, characters, and various glitches to be genuinely funny and charming. Memorable characters, amusing quest generation, and lighthearted multiplayer interactions contribute to a delightful experience, despite some bugs that add to the comedic value. Overall, the game's quirky animations and humorous situations create a fun and engaging atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate a lighthearted approach.

    • “The quest generation is very natural and had me laughing with surprise a few times, even on the second playthrough.”
    • “The hearthlings are unique, with their different traits and opinions, which are oddly specific and kind of funny, making them feel like real people and not just NPCs in the game.”
    • “It's funny to see the development of my little village.”
  • atmosphere54 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming, peaceful, and cute aesthetic, enhanced by beautiful music and engaging visuals. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a relaxing environment that encourages creativity and exploration, despite some criticisms regarding controls that can disrupt the experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength, making it a delightful choice for fans of city-building games.

    • “Brilliant calm atmospheres accompanied by beautiful music.”
    • “Overall, this game is a great purchase and it always feels great to come back to it every once in a while and get lost in the beautiful atmosphere of Stonehearth as I create a new town of my design.”
    • “The atmosphere is superb.”
    • “The controls ruin the atmosphere and fluidity of the game.”
    • “Ignore positive reviews - most of them didn't play long or deep enough to see the true horrors of this game and just charmed with the initial atmosphere and music.”
    • “While combining the pixel art and endless building possibilities of Minecraft with the challenges of normal survival city building games, it beholds its own style, game physics, and atmosphere.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to a lack of promised updates and development support. Players express frustration over the game's reliance on microtransactions and the perception that it follows the common pitfalls of early access titles, ultimately leading to disappointment and abandonment.

    • “If there were updates, I would recommend it; otherwise, as of right now, it's just a cash grab game and forgotten.”
    • “I waited and waited to see if they would ever start delivering on all the promises they set forth. I finally bought it when they released multiplayer, and I realize now that it was one final cash grab before they gave up development.”
    • “Other games I have purchased in early access were a disaster; unresponsive developers, focus on pay-elements and microtransactions, while the game is more or less unplayable.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while players appreciate the cool character designs and artwork featured in the game, there is a desire for more tangible achievements related to character development. The presence of trading cards is noted, but overall, the focus seems to be on enhancing the depth and recognition of character growth.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

22hMedian play time
80hAverage play time
7-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 106 analyzed playthroughs

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