The Archipelago

About

The Archipelago is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Never Done Games and was released on November 11, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Brave the stormy seas to restore power to the surrounding islands.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 90 reviews

story25 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a cozy atmosphere with charming pixel art and a relaxing soundtrack, making it a delightful experience.
The characters are intriguing and well-developed, with unique personalities that encourage players to explore their stories through multiple playthroughs.
The tea brewing mechanic adds an interesting layer to the narrative, allowing players to influence conversations and uncover different aspects of the story.

The game is very short and feels more like a visual novel than a traditional game, leading to a sense of unfinished business and abrupt endings.
Many players found the writing to be lacking in quality, with some describing it as confusing or poorly executed.
The choices made in the game often do not have a significant impact on the story, which can lead to a feeling of limited interactivity.

story
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The game's story is described as intriguing and heartwarming, with a cozy atmosphere that encourages players to explore character arcs through multiple playthroughs. While many appreciate the worldbuilding and character interactions, some feel the narrative is incomplete and lacks a satisfying conclusion, leading to a desire for more gameplay and clarity. Overall, it offers a unique storytelling experience centered around tea-making, though players may find themselves replaying to fully grasp the story's depth.
- “I love being a fly on the wall trying to piece together the lives and story arcs of all the characters in the world, and letting the worldbuilding naturally unfold around them.”
- “The story captures you immediately, and the art style is so cozy to look at :)”
- “This is such a cozy and compelling game, I loved getting to know the different people and slowly piecing together the story of this world, and the aspect of the tea and it controlling the narrative was so interesting, I highly recommend this game!”
- “And the ending is so painfully abrupt that the entire thing feels more like a demo than a full-fledged story.”
- “That's my biggest dislike, the story seems unfinished, and there's no hints at a part 2.”
- “I did not see the impact of the different teas in the story and think there was too much left unexplained.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the charming pixel art and overall aesthetic as stunning and cozy. However, some users criticize certain character designs and describe the visuals as "retro pixelcrap," indicating a divide in opinion. Overall, the art style is often highlighted as a strong point that complements the game's narrative and atmosphere.
- “The visuals are stunning, the soundtrack and the sound effects fit the vibe of the whole game.”
- “The art style is gorgeous pixel art.”
- “The artwork and soundtrack are serene and moody, overall a peaceful and cute showcase.”
- “Just as the writing is incredibly painful to read because it's so cringey and pretentious, so too the horrid retro pixel visuals assault the eyes... indeed if there is such a thing as 'art' in gaming, this is the opposite of it.”
- “I wasn't a fan of the character designs but was willing to overlook it in favor of the overall aesthetic.”
- “Graphics: 4”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent quality, creating a cozy and serene atmosphere that complements the stunning visuals and world-building. Reviewers highlight the nostalgic and relaxing soundtrack, which enhances the intimate storytelling and character development, although some note occasional shifts in the music that may feel intentional yet uncertain. Overall, the combination of soft sounds and beautiful art contributes to a peaceful gaming experience.
- “The visuals are stunning, the soundtrack and the sound effects fit the vibe of the whole game.”
- “The music was excellent, creating a very cozy vibe.”
- “The combination of the intimate writing and nostalgic soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere in which the story’s characters and world-building shine.”
- “Sometimes the music goes completely off; it seems intentional but I'm unsure, albeit lovely to hear.”
- “The music is relaxing, but it doesn't stand out or leave a lasting impression.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay of the visual/interactive novel is criticized for its lack of depth, primarily consisting of poorly written dialogue and minimal interaction, resulting in a short playtime of around 30 minutes. In contrast, another game features a unique tea mechanic that enhances the storytelling experience, allowing players to influence the narrative through their tea creations and encouraging multiple playthroughs for a richer experience.
- “Also, the game has an interesting tea mechanic which opens up other conversations.”
- “Peaceful and creative with a rich story revealed through the most interesting mechanic, tea!”
- “The flavors you create provide the game mechanic that determines changes in the story as different people are drawn to your tea house.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “~30 minutes of gameplay, depending on how fast you read.”
- “Gameplay: 6”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability due to the numerous combinations of ingredients available, encouraging players to experiment and explore different strategies in each playthrough.
- “There are dozens of possible combinations of ingredients, so it has a strong focus on replayability.”
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes.”
- “The game features multiple endings and branching paths, making it highly replayable and engaging.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, as it requires repetitive clicking to progress through the story, which can detract from the reading experience. However, despite the need for multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate the narrative, many still find the experience engaging enough to continue playing.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be it 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' or '2001: A Space Odyssey,' but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “Although it is a little tedious to have to replay it multiple times to get the whole story (and after 6 playthroughs, I'm not sure I achieved 100% of it but I'm happy with what I did get), it's still entertaining enough to keep you pressing 'new game.'”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development received mixed feedback, with some users expressing a desire for more lore regarding the game's backstory and characters, particularly concerning the split and the messengers. Additionally, while character designs were not universally praised, players were generally willing to overlook this in favor of the game's overall aesthetic.
- “I wish there had been a bit more lore provided regarding the split and the messengers.”
- “I wasn't a fan of the character designs, but I was willing to overlook it in favor of the overall aesthetic.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is praised for its intimate writing and nostalgic soundtrack, which together create a relaxing environment that enhances the story's characters and world-building. Overall, users find the atmosphere to be quite appealing.
- “The combination of the intimate writing and nostalgic soundtrack create a relaxing atmosphere in which the story’s characters and world-building shine.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wonderful, heartwarming story that captivates and engages players throughout their experience.
- “The story is wonderful and very heartwarming while also being interesting and engaging.”