Summer in Mara

A relaxing and joyful experience that just misses the mark of excellence due to some quality of life issues.

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"Summer in Mara" is a single-player adventure game where you play as Koa, exploring a tropical archipelago, sailing to discover new islands, and customizing your own island with buildings and crops. The game features an open ocean with over 20 islands, over 25 characters to meet, and more than 300 quests. The day-night cycle and climatic events add to the immersive experience of this relaxing and engaging game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 608 reviews

story111 positive mentions

grinding174 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and charming art style that evoke a whimsical atmosphere.
Relaxing gameplay with a focus on exploration, crafting, and character interactions.
Engaging story with lovable characters and a positive message about nature and community.

Heavy reliance on fetch quests that can become tedious and repetitive.
Clunky controls and UI that can be confusing, especially for new players.
Some bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay and hinder the overall experience.

story
533 mentions
21 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "Summer in Mara" is characterized by its charming and heartwarming narrative, featuring endearing characters and a whimsical world. However, many players find the gameplay heavily reliant on repetitive fetch quests, which can detract from the overall experience and make the story feel disjointed or underdeveloped. While some appreciate the relaxing nature of the quests and the lighthearted themes, others express frustration with the lack of direction and the tedious back-and-forth nature of the tasks.
- “The story and friends you make and meet are so cute as well as fun and heartwarming as you get to know them.”
- “The story is charming and I love getting to see all the different islands.”
- “The storytelling is amazing and even though most of the missions are courier type, it keeps it interesting by consistently providing new things to find and deliver to various characters, which all advanced the overall story of each character.”
- “The story is average and boring.”
- “The story and progression comes off as appropriate for young children.”
- “The fetch quests and crafting doesn't hurt the experience at all for me because the act of exploring and talking to characters is fun in and of itself.”
grinding
176 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Summer in Mara" is characterized by a heavy reliance on fetch quests, which many players find tedious and repetitive, often overshadowing the farming elements. While the farming mechanics are simple and serve primarily to support quest completion, they lack depth and can feel peripheral to the overall gameplay experience. Players seeking a more robust farming simulation may be disappointed, as the game leans more towards a quest-driven adventure with light farming rather than a traditional farming sim.
- “The only redeeming factor I can give this game is that the achievements are straightforward and, in theory, aren't grindy.”
- “Quests are very enjoyable and not that tedious if you gather materials as you go.”
- “The farming mechanics are mediocre at best, and around midgame you'll probably stop using it altogether in favor of just stuffing your pig army with carrots to get enough truffles to break the economy.”
- “This game is very heavily fetch quest based and farming only helps you fulfill these quests unlike Stardew which is more farming and you can fulfill a quest if you choose.”
- “I have to say this game was not at all what I had hoped and waited for, I was excited for what seemed to be a new island-based farming sim, when in reality it's just a bunch of fetch quests to do with some farming on the side.”
music
123 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its charm and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players describing it as beautiful, relaxing, and fitting for the game's whimsical atmosphere. While some noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, the majority found it to be a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and enjoyable qualities. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, complementing the game's art style and narrative effectively.
- “One of the game's highlights is undoubtedly its mesmerizing soundtrack, which effortlessly sets the tone for your immersive experience.”
- “The music is gorgeous, the characters are wonderful, and it's a fantastic world to disappear into.”
- “The music is soothing and the mechanics are so easy to configure.”
- “The soundtrack to Summer in Mara is very generic upbeat feel-good music, but it somehow constantly interrupted itself. When a song was finished, it just went completely silent except for the ambient bird and sea noises until you did something to further the story and prompt a different song to start. In the end, it quickly started to get boring to listen to, and I swapped it out for my own.”
- “The music and sound effects volumes, which are only adjustable from the main menu, don't seem to bear any relation to what's in-game, and the UI for them is really bad. I didn't understand what levels I was setting them to - what's wrong with a percentage of max indicator?”
- “Its just a simple farm game with a beautiful story, charming characters, and a nice but repetitive soundtrack. I really loved the soundtrack, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it gets really repetitive in farming situations.”
gameplay
123 mentions
18 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Summer in Mara" is characterized by its simplistic and repetitive mechanics, primarily revolving around fetch quests and resource gathering, which many players find tedious and lacking in depth. While the game offers a charming atmosphere, beautiful visuals, and a relaxing experience, it suffers from a lack of meaningful progression and engaging gameplay elements, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy casual, low-stakes gameplay but may disappoint players seeking more complexity and challenge.
- “Additionally, the mini-games sprinkled throughout the gameplay bring an unexpected joy and entertainment factor, surpassing the main missions themselves.”
- “Absolutely charming, easy-going, and relaxing; probably a bit naive, but it is childlike and child-friendly as a game, sweet as a story, nice in its art direction, and more relaxing than challenging in its gameplay.”
- “The game mixes farming and exploring mechanics together to tell a narrative of sharing the wealth of nature whilst not taking more than can give back.”
- “The gameplay feels lifeless in comparison.”
- “The gameplay itself is insanely repetitive with more back-and-forthing than anyone should ever have to go through.”
- “It has great characters, fun dialogue, and stunning hand-drawn character portraits, but that isn’t enough to save the grating gameplay loop.”
graphics
115 mentions
55 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their cute and vibrant art style, reminiscent of cartoon aesthetics and Ghibli-like visuals, which contribute to a charming atmosphere. However, some players noted issues with character animations and a lack of graphical options, leading to a perception of lower quality than expected. Overall, while the artwork is often described as beautiful and engaging, technical shortcomings and simplistic animations detract from the overall visual experience.
- “The relentless optimism, cute graphics, and bright world of Summer in Mara has been a shining beacon of hope that things can get better.”
- “The graphics are simple yet very nice and the overall world is well done.”
- “The art styles are absolutely gorgeous and very anime-like.”
- “The graphics are cute, but the character models and animations are a little stale - certain characters just rotate to look at you, and some of the player animations just seem like there wasn't a lot of work put into them - the running animation (that you stare at the whole game) is stiff, and when you're holding tools, they're just floating in your open hand.”
- “Really though, I'm very disappointed in the graphics and actual game art.”
- “The game itself then is also very pretty and almost has a Wind Waker-esque approach to the graphics but sadly there is only a very broad singular slider for the graphics and even for a game as simple as this on full settings (whatever that may be!?) this game chugs like a choo choo train using around 70% of an RTX 2060.”
emotional
30 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome narrative, featuring endearing characters and touching moments, particularly the bond between Koa and her grandmother. While many players find the story relaxing and enjoyable, some critique its simplicity and lack of depth, especially regarding Koa's personal grief. Overall, the game is praised for its cozy atmosphere and emotional resonance, making it a soothing experience for casual players.
- “It's really touching how Koa is attached to his grandma.”
- “Haku's death is addressed emotionally—by Koa dealing with the grief of two older women, and yet Koa's own grief is so rarely touched upon, until the ending cinematic, a moment that feels so strange without Koa ever really touching on her own fear and grief.”
- “It is poignant and emotional while still being a joy to listen to while sailing around.”
- “The narrative and story are geared towards little kids, making it a super boring experience for adults.”
- “The emotional depth is lacking, leaving players feeling disconnected from the characters.”
- “The attempts at emotional moments feel forced and fail to resonate with the audience.”
stability
26 mentions
12 % positive mentions
-8 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting various bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly during fast travel and mission interactions. While some users have managed to enjoy the game despite these issues, others have experienced severe problems, such as corrupted save files and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration. Overall, the game is described as a "cute buggy mess" that requires further polishing to enhance the player experience.
- “The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs, making it a solid choice for players.”
- “Overall, the stability is impressive, providing a seamless gaming experience.”
- “While there are a few minor issues, the game is generally stable and enjoyable.”
- “Until the game started crashing when using fast travel, having visual glitches and eventually my save file got corrupted and is no longer playable.”
- “To me, I paid for a game to complete all the storylines but am unable to because of glitches.”
- “That is not the case, the game is a huge fetch quest with terrible audio, no keybinding tutorial, and buggy unfinished visuals. I have been following this game for years since Kickstarter and had such high hopes.”
atmosphere
17 mentions
59 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its cozy, peaceful, and visually appealing qualities, enhanced by charming music and sound effects. Players appreciate the relaxing vibe and friendly characters, which create a sense of meaningful engagement in activities like farming and exploration. However, some note that while the atmosphere is enjoyable, it may not be enough to compensate for less engaging gameplay and story elements.
- “The music makes the atmosphere cozy and warm.”
- “I especially loved the calm and relaxing atmosphere of this game and the music - the music!”
- “The atmosphere is promising, but the game controls are clunky.”
- “You're never really in a hurry, you're never in serious danger and the funny, (mostly) friendly characters and the sunny atmosphere feel a bit like a holiday in front of the screen.”
- “While Summer in Mara has a wholesome atmosphere that’s rarely broken thanks to an overwhelming effort placed towards style and presentation, there isn’t anything wholesome regarding the content consumed.”
character development
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some NPCs show growth and the character designs are praised for their uniqueness and aesthetic appeal, many players feel that the interactions lack depth and meaningful progression. The writing is often criticized as poor, leading to a sense of emptiness in character interactions, which diminishes the overall impact of the development. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated, the character development leaves much to be desired.
- “The character development by the NPCs was quite nice to see in regards to the player, although I wish there were more casual dialogue options in general.”
- “I loved the artwork and pretty much all the character designs in-game, especially the 'villains' of the game being my favorite.”
- “The character designs are unlike any I'm used to seeing.”
- “lacks character development.”
- “A lot of the writing is poorly done and the character development feels empty, like there was no point in me interacting with them.”
- “Npcs can break the immersion and character development seems nonexistent.”
humor
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of absurdity and genuine wit, with players noting that the dialogue and character interactions often lead to laughter. While some moments may feel unpolished or ridiculous, they contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players engaged and entertained. Overall, the game successfully combines funny scenarios with emotional depth, creating a joyful experience.
- “Very adventurous mixed with sad and funny moments.”
- “Her relationships with everyone feel real and complex, and her dialogue genuinely made me laugh out loud at times.”
- “The quests some of the adults send her on seem utterly absurd, considering she's probably between 7 and 10 years old, but for me that just added to the humor.”
optimization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its beautiful visuals and smooth performance on low-end PCs, others report significant issues such as micro-stuttering, low frame rates, and poor performance on the Switch. Additionally, criticisms include a clunky user interface and outdated graphics, which detract from the overall experience.
- “It's beautifully optimized, soothing to the eyes, and the background music is an optimal fit for the whole setup.”
- “Decent visuals, runs smoothly on low-end PCs, and the cutscene art is very good.”
- “Major micro-stuttering and low frame rate.”
- “I wanted to enjoy Summer in Mara, but with gameplay consisting of little more than trading quests, I was left disappointed with such a mediocre performance at best.”
- “Clunky UI and controls, way too many fetch quests, farming feels superfluous, GameCube-era graphics, poor Switch performance.”
replayability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game "Summer in Mara" has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with some users suggesting it may only appeal to dedicated fans of the farming genre until further updates improve its playability and enjoyment.
- “For me, there is no replay value here.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”