(the) Gnorp Apologue

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,515 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
(the) Gnorp Apologue Game Cover
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In " Gnorp Apologue," become rich by helping small beings, gnorps, gather shards from a rock. With unique upgrades and visuals, acquire and level up gnorps, who each have distinct methods of shard collection. Engage in strategic incremental gameplay, managing gnorp operations for optimal shard production.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,515 reviews
gameplay96 positive mentions
grinding25 negative mentions
  • gameplay259 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Gnorp Apologue" is characterized by a charming blend of engaging mechanics and a satisfying progression loop, though it can feel somewhat shallow and short, typically offering around 10-20 hours of active play. Players appreciate the unique interactions and strategic elements, but some mechanics, like reclamation, are criticized for being convoluted and poorly explained, leading to frustration. Overall, while the game is visually appealing and addictive, many players express a desire for more depth and content to extend the gameplay experience.

    • “From the moment I started playing, I was captivated by its unique gameplay mechanics and creativity.”
    • “The gameplay loop is fairly satisfying, and there's plenty of room for strategizing, although some options are without a doubt better than others.”
    • “Very fun idle game, the mechanics are incredibly satisfying to learn while being introduced at a pace that lets you figure out cool combos, feels sort of puzzle-like in the sense that you need to figure out new combos to progress.”
    • “Not enough upgrades, and a few mechanics are frustrating (why is reclamation a thing)”
    • “On top of that, many of the mechanics in this game are vague, unintuitive, or just plain convoluted.”
    • “Unfortunately, after spending some more time with the game, I can't really recommend it because this is apparently not even a 'game' but rather a glorified screensaver where core mechanics are either designed to not work or are completely broken.”
  • graphics186 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute, minimalist aesthetic and charming pixel art style, which effectively enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers appreciate the engaging animations and satisfying visual feedback, noting that the simplistic visuals contribute to the game's appeal without detracting from its mechanics. While some mention that the graphics can become overwhelming in later stages, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a standout feature, making the game enjoyable and visually captivating.

    • “The visuals are the best I've ever seen on an idle game; every animation is just so satisfying to watch and there are lots of cute details everywhere.”
    • “A very enjoyable experience; it is great to see your upgrades influence the visuals and the animations, music, and simple story are all extremely charming.”
    • “The graphics are adorable; there's a good correlation between advancing/upgrading and stuff filling the screen combined with your number going up.”
    • “This game is a complete waste of time, has Atari-level graphics, and no storyline.”
    • “The simplistic visuals and color palette are cute at first, but in the later stages of the game, it's just annoying - the cursor is near invisible half the time due to the color scheme, which is just a major oversight.”
    • “The graphics aren't of triple-A quality, but honestly for this game, it doesn't matter.”
  • music115 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its charming and engaging quality, often described as a delightful blend of chip-tune renditions of classical pieces that serve as perfect background accompaniment. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall experience without becoming distracting, with many noting its nostalgic appeal and catchy tunes. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “The music is great, ranging from nice songs to familiar chip-tuned classical pieces.”
    • “The soundtrack is some very charming midi renditions of classical, or classical sounding music that is just mild enough to not be distracting but peppy enough to not be boring.”
    • “A very enjoyable experience, it is great to see your upgrades influence the visuals and the animations, music, and simple story are all extremely charming.”
    • “I do wish there were more songs though; after an hour or two, I think I've heard everything.”
    • “Then you'll recognize about 80% of the soundtrack, as you've spent countless hours hearing them in your nightmares from previous years.”
    • “The music is like chill chip-tune renditions of classical music that isn't obtrusive; makes wonderful background music for when you're studying or working.”
  • humor91 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring funny graphics, quirky animations, and amusing writing that keeps players engaged and entertained. Many reviewers highlight the adorable "gnorps" and their silly antics, which contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with satisfying mechanics, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a fun and relaxing time.

    • “One of the few games I've played that had me laughing my butt off when I first started playing it.”
    • “The humor in this game can be somewhat subtle but is genuinely funny and has a lot of personality.”
    • “It's got character; the visual direction is consistent and unique; it's funny without trying too hard to be; and it's satisfying to get a good combo.”
  • replayability45 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with many players noting that it primarily revolves around speedrunning and achievement hunting after the initial completion. While some aspects, like experimenting with different builds and strategies, offer a degree of replay value, the general consensus is that the game lacks depth and meaningful choices to encourage multiple playthroughs. Future updates and expansions are hoped for to enhance replayability further.

    • “You could definitely squeeze out more replayability if you engage with the speedrun timer the game offers you after your first completion.”
    • “With an upgrade system and several strategies you can focus on, the game is pretty fun and somewhat replayable.”
    • “The talent tree allows for some replayability to try different builds and the time trial mode lets you compete against yourself for faster times.”
    • “I figured it would get updated over time and more would be added for replayability, but it is a one and done really.”
    • “I simply don't think this game has much fun beyond the first victory, as it completely lacks meaningful choices which would give it solid replayability.”
    • “Immediate replayability is low, as I was able to pretty much try out everything there is in one go.”
  • story34 mentions

    The game's story is often described as minimal or nonsensical, with many players noting that it doesn't significantly impact gameplay. While some appreciate the humor and charm in the narrative surrounding the quest to break a rock, others find it shallow and lacking depth. Overall, the story serves more as a lighthearted backdrop to the incremental mechanics rather than a central focus.

    • “I loved the story and characters.”
    • “Its distinctive storyline and gameplay offer a truly immersive experience that sets it apart in the gaming world.”
    • “A very enjoyable experience, it is great to see your upgrades influence the visuals and the animations, music, and simple story are all extremely charming.”
    • “This game has little-to-no story, but doesn't really require it; hit the rock and advance gnorpization.”
    • “I never got to understand the story of the rock, or the purpose of the rock.”
    • “I thought there would be better progression, more gameplay elements, and maybe a story... the game is very shallow and honestly boring after a short time.”
  • grinding29 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the manageable grind and engaging gameplay that allows for background play, others feel that it can become tedious, especially in the endgame or when aiming for achievements. The game strikes a balance by providing a definitive ending and relatively swift progression, but some players still report needing to leave their computers on for extended periods to achieve certain goals.

    • “Progression is relatively swift and isn't tedious.”
    • “Progress/prestiging isn't tedious as in other games of the genre.”
    • “It has a lot of technical depth that I didn't expect, and enough automation (if desired) that it's not tedious at all and doesn't punish you for not paying close attention.”
    • “I think that some parts of it are extremely grindy and to reach certain thresholds for achievements I just had to leave my computer on.”
    • “Fun for a bit but eventually becomes tedious, especially if you leave your PC on overnight only to discover that the pile hasn't increased a single bit.”
    • “Although this game is very casual, it is not suitable for players with a lot of time because most time is spent on waiting to collect resources, which can be quite tedious.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its exceptional optimization, running smoothly on various systems without performance issues, even on lower-end hardware. Players appreciate the balance between idle gameplay and strategic optimization, with many enjoying the exploration of different builds and the game's charming aesthetics. Overall, it is considered a well-crafted incremental game that caters to both casual players and optimization enthusiasts alike.

    • “Insanely well optimized in terms of performance and the different builds are fun to play.”
    • “Overall the game is extremely well optimized, is perfect if you have an ultrawide monitor, and has some nice quality of life features.”
    • “It seems to be insanely well optimized, not even a single stutter, lag or anything of the kind with god knows how many thousand sprites on screen at capped 120 fps.”
    • “Nowhere near as flexible or focused on build optimization as I was led to believe.”
    • “The optimization... the synergy... the incremental-ness...”
    • “Outrageous levels of optimization, especially given how over-the-top things can get visually.”
  • monetization17 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally praised for its absence of ads and microtransactions, allowing players to enjoy the experience without interruptions or additional costs. While some users note the existence of similar games that exploit monetization through ads and microtransactions, this game stands out for its straightforward pricing and lack of parasitic monetization strategies. Overall, players appreciate the freedom to engage with the game fully without the pressure of in-game purchases.

    • “No ads, no microtransactions and you can beat the game.”
    • “Gnorps focuses not on what an 'incremental' is often thought to be, but what it should be: every upgrade matters, unique mechanics beyond different flavors of number increase, and watching the world slowly come alive with every move you make; all with no 'hard walls', no leaving the game in the background for days, no hurting your pointer finger, and no in-app purchases.”
    • “An idle game that can be completed in a couple of days, doesn't have any microtransactions or other parasitic monetization, and has some interesting mechanics to unravel.”
    • “It's quite literally a blatant reskin of this game but drowned with ads.”
    • “Message to the devs: there is a mobile game which is just shamelessly stealing everything about this game and it's filled with microtransactions according to a 1-star reviewer.”
    • “As many already mentioned, there is a fake mobile game looking just like this game, ridiculed with ads and microtransactions, called 'Rocklings Empire: Idle Clicker'.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting moments of joy and sadness, particularly through its heartfelt narrative and engaging gameplay. The game's ability to evoke strong feelings, combined with its indie charm and support for the developer, resonates with players, making it a memorable experience. Overall, it stands out for its emotional depth and the beauty of its world, encouraging players to invest in its journey.

    • “When the gnorp looked directly at me and said 'it's gnorping time' and started snorting all the white powder... I cried both tears of happiness and sadness.”
    • “Out of my current 16 hours total, I maybe actively played half, tops, but it's just a nice, heartfelt little game - and it will get a free DLC, does not have Denuvo and supports an indie dev who might go on to make many more cool games without just staring at shareholder interests.”
    • “Amazing game! The cinematic world of gnorps made me cry at how epic and beautiful it is.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, users report a stable gaming experience with no glitches or performance issues, even when multitasking with other games. However, some players noted that the game's mechanics can lead to frustrating resets if they make poor purchasing decisions.

    • “I ran into no glitches and had no issues running it in the background even while I was playing other games.”
    • “It was nice that the game felt bug-free.”
    • “Runs great.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is highly praised, particularly highlighting the gnorps as a standout example of exceptional character design, receiving a perfect score of 10/10.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a nostalgic warmth, reminiscent of old clocks, which enhances the overall enjoyment and addictiveness of the experience.

    • “It reminds me of the old clocks my grandma has, and provides a warm and fun atmosphere to an already very addicting game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

19hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
10-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 46 analyzed playthroughs

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