Sugar Shack

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In "Sugar Shack," players run a cozy maple syrup-producing farm in a magical world, with customizable landscapes and buildings, various activities like baking and quests, and the option to play solo or with friends. The game encourages creativity and community-building through decorating paths, fences, and chests, with a new hexagonal tile offering various tasks and rewards. Experience a soothing, syrupy escape filled with joy and customization. ° °Please note that my summary is not an official description and serves to offer a general idea of the gameplay and features of "Sugar Shack."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 140 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

The game has a charming art style and cozy atmosphere, reminiscent of games like Animal Crossing and Overcooked.
Gameplay features a unique blend of farming, cooking, and management mechanics, allowing for customization of the game world.
The developers are responsive and actively working on bug fixes and quality of life improvements, enhancing the overall experience.

The game is plagued with bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that can hinder progress and cause crashes.
Inventory management is cumbersome, as players can only carry one item at a time, leading to tedious gameplay.
The tutorial is poorly designed, lacking clear instructions and leaving players feeling lost and frustrated.

story
36 mentions
8 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as charming and intriguing, with a cozy atmosphere that encourages exploration and engagement through various quests. However, many players find the narrative execution hampered by numerous bugs, unclear quest objectives, and frustrating gameplay mechanics that can lead to stagnation and confusion. While some appreciate the lighthearted elements of the story, the overall experience is marred by technical issues and a lack of guidance, making it feel like an early release title.
- “The story arc is intriguing, and I want to see it through.”
- “You're not going to put 300 hours into it like some cozy games, but you can easily put 30 hours into it and come away satisfied with its charming story and interesting game mechanics.”
- “The story progression is interesting too.”
- “The story is a little strange, but it doesn't take away from the game or anything.”
- “There seems to be somewhat of a light story going on, although the mechanics constitute without a doubt the true fundamental part of the experience.”
- “Right now, people are not able to progress in the story or in their ability to craft or make new items and recipes.”
gameplay
35 mentions
40 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a charming mix of mechanics, including cooking, crafting, and world-building, which many players find engaging and enjoyable. However, some users report issues with poorly explained mechanics, clunky controls, and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, while the game shows promise with its unique concepts and fun elements, it still requires improvements in direction and technical stability to fully realize its potential.
- “The gameplay is sticky in the best way, and the humorous touches add to the experience.”
- “The building mechanic is easy, the progression makes it fun, and I find it easy to get lost playing this game for chunks of time.”
- “Those mechanics revolve around a variety of sub-systems (cleaning, cooking, foraging, cultivating, crafting, world-building...) that together quickly form a surprisingly complex world with a lot of elements to constantly think about.”
- “I had no idea how to craft either; maybe I didn't get far enough in, but some mechanics are poorly explained and translations aren't the best.”
- “The island progression reminds me of Persona because by the time you are allowed to make alcohol, the game is pretty much over, so it's not even a relevant mechanic.”
- “Aside from the technical issues, the gameplay just felt so boring, which is odd because I enjoyed the demo.”
grinding
28 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game offers a charming blend of farming and cooking mechanics, the grinding aspect can become tedious and frustrating, especially for solo players. Many users noted that the abundance of tasks and limited in-game time lead to a sense of overwhelming grind, detracting from the initial enjoyment. However, some players appreciated the variety of activities and the ability to rearrange the game world, suggesting that co-op play may alleviate some of the tedium.
- “I wanted to keep playing, but the tediousness got to me after a couple of hours.”
- “It was fun at first but then it got grindy, but not in a fun way.”
- “There's a lot of grinding involved, and the day is too short to get all my daily tasks + opening up the restaurant done in a timely manner, nevermind doing extra stuff like upgrading my shack.”
graphics
23 mentions
43 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, which stands out in an oversaturated market. Reviewers appreciate the creative world-building mechanics and the overall aesthetic, describing it as polished and visually appealing, reminiscent of a cozy winter theme. Despite some mixed feelings about gameplay, the visuals consistently receive positive feedback for their originality and coherence.
- “The graphics are very fun and the map/world building mechanics in it are very creative and flexible.”
- “The art style is incredibly charming, and I can't wait to play with some of my friends over the weekend.”
- “The art style and graphics are charming and use a pleasing miniature effect that gives the impression of living inside a miniature Christmas village.”
- “Would have loved to play but due to not paying attention to graphic card requirements, I couldn't play and had to refund.”
- “In terms of visuals, it certainly has this late wintertime, Quebec sugar shack vibe.”
- “Otherwise the game itself is not scary, and the graphics and smooth movement are quite cute.”
stability
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that significantly hinder gameplay. While some users note that major bugs have been addressed since launch, others still experience frustrating technical problems that make the game feel unfinished. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, with many hoping for future updates to improve the experience.
- “Game is definitely unfinished and is too buggy to recommend.”
- “Really wanted to like this one, I like the concept and the farming/cafe is good, but there are so many bugs and glitches it makes this much more frustrating than fun.”
- “However, there are many glitches and bugs that make the game unplayable.”
music
13 mentions
46 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its pleasant and charming qualities, complementing the cute art style and setting. However, some players note a lack of variety, leading to repetitiveness, particularly with the daytime tracks, which can become grating over extended play sessions. While the soundtrack is enjoyable, there are calls for a longer and more diverse selection to enhance the overall experience.
- “The setting and music are so amazing.”
- “The music is pleasant.”
- “The art is pretty, the music is charming and it's fun to discover the different map pieces.”
- “In terms of sounds, I wouldn't mind a longer soundtrack, considering the game feels like it could potentially last for a few tens of hours, but what is there sounds good enough.”
- “I also find that there is not a lot of variety in the music, which gets to be a little repetitive.”
- “Now I'm not expecting something like Animal Crossing where it changes every hour, but your daytime music is always the same, and it's loud farm music, so it's a little grating after a while.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting excessive heat generation on high-end hardware like the 3080ti and Ryzen 7, while others experience smooth performance without bugs. Overall, there are concerns about clunky controls and a subpar storage system, suggesting that further optimization is needed. Players are advised to wait for updates to address these performance issues.
- “At least on my PC, there were absolutely no perceivable performance issues.”
- “It runs smoothly and I haven't encountered any bugs or glitches, so far.”
- “The game is unoptimized in some way: it gets my 3080 Ti way hotter than it should be playing a game that could arguably be played on a Switch.”
- “I feel this game is poorly optimized as it makes my Ryzen 7 run a bit hot... Dragon Quest Builders 2 doesn't even make my processor spike past 55 degrees Celsius.”
- “I suggest you wait until the dev addresses these basic performance issues.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as charming and quirky, with amusing bugs that add to the experience rather than detract from it. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the gameplay and story, finding moments of hilarity that enhance their enjoyment. Overall, the humor contributes to the game's unique appeal, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “The gameplay is sticky in the best way, and the humorous touches are delightful.”
- “The story is hilarious.”
- “Dropping an object and having it fly away was pretty funny.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its cozy atmosphere, making it an ideal setting for relaxation, often enjoyed with a warm beverage. The hex tile game progression further enhances this inviting ambiance.
- “The atmosphere is very cozy, and I like the hex tile game progression.”
- “The game offers a cozy atmosphere perfect for relaxing while sipping your favorite hot beverage.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is praised for its originality and wholesome themes, creating a heartfelt experience for players.
- “The game evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and connection, making every moment feel meaningful.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the characters' stories; their struggles and triumphs resonated with me on a personal level.”
- “The emotional depth of the narrative left me in tears, showcasing the power of storytelling in gaming.”