(the) Gnorp Apologue

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,194 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
(the) Gnorp Apologue Game Cover
Starting at $6.99Buy now
Get on Steam

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

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,194 reviews
gameplay105 positive mentions
grinding29 negative mentions
  • gameplay279 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Gnorp Apologue" is characterized by a unique blend of idle and clicker mechanics, offering a satisfying and engaging loop that encourages experimentation with various strategies and upgrades. While many players appreciate the charming aesthetics and innovative mechanics, some criticize the game for its lack of depth and clarity in certain systems, leading to occasional frustration. Overall, it provides a fun, albeit somewhat short, experience that balances active engagement with casual play.

    • “I absolutely loved playing this game, truly fun and innovative in how they chose to utilize the mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is a delightful mix of strategy and chaos as you guide your gnorps through various challenges and tasks, all in the name of wealth accumulation.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay and presentation is charming, but shallow and has little to nothing new to offer.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game has barely any mechanics and can comfortably be beaten in ~24 - 30 hours.”
  • graphics208 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, featuring cute pixel art and vibrant colors that enhance the overall aesthetic experience. While some players noted minor issues like glitch-like effects and simplistic visuals, the majority found the graphics to be engaging and satisfying, contributing significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the visuals are described as fun, whimsical, and well-suited to the gameplay, making it a standout in the idle game genre.

    • “The graphics are a treat for the eyes, with vibrant colors and whimsical environments that make you feel like you're playing inside a candy store.”
    • “The visuals are highly pleasing and the sound effects, along with nice classical synth background music, are big pluses.”
    • “The graphics are really nice and the visual simplicity makes it even better, especially for your computer.”
    • “The graphics are bare-bones, but it honestly is very charming (and not just in the way that people always say about pixel graphics).”
    • “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.”
    • “This game is a complete waste of time, has Atari-level graphics, and no storyline.”
  • music137 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, charming, and nostalgic qualities, often featuring delightful chip-tune renditions of classical pieces that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the gameplay, making it enjoyable to listen to even while multitasking. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is just... gorgeous.”
    • “The music, visuals, and sound effects are so charming.”
    • “The music is great, ranging from nice songs to familiar chip-tuned classical pieces.”
    • “There's no plot, the graphics are basic, the sound and music are nothing notable; it's all about the gameplay.”
    • “I do wish there were more songs though; after an hour or two, I think I've heard everything.”
    • “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.”
  • humor103 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, featuring adorable characters called gnorps who engage in amusing antics, such as bashing rocks for resources. Players appreciate the witty tooltips, funny animations, and a lighthearted narrative that keeps the experience entertaining and engaging. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with satisfying gameplay, making it a delightful and addictive experience.

    • “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.”
  • replayability46 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 enjoy experimenting with different strategies and builds, the lack of meaningful choices and content updates leaves many feeling that replay value is low. Future expansions may enhance replayability, but currently, it is seen as a one-time experience for most players.

    • “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.”
  • story37 mentions

    The game's story is a mix of humor and absurdity, centering around a quest involving quirky characters and a mysterious rock, though many players note that the narrative is minimal and often confusing. While some appreciate the lighthearted and charming elements, others find the lack of depth and clarity in the story disappointing, suggesting that it doesn't significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the story serves more as a whimsical backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus.

    • “If you've ever dreamed of leading a group of endearing, squishy little creatures on a quest for absurdly excessive wealth, then 'the gnorp apologue' is your golden ticket to capitalist glory!”
    • “I loved the story and characters.”
    • “Its distinctive storyline and gameplay offer a truly immersive experience that sets it apart in the gaming world.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding33 mentions

    Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some find it engaging and manageable, with a clear progression and definitive ending, others describe it as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the late game. Many appreciate the balance between fun and grind, noting that it can be enjoyable for those who like incremental gameplay, but may become repetitive for others.

    • “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.”
    • “After some time, it does get a bit tedious to make progress.”
    • “A few hours in -- long enough to dodge the refund window -- the game devolves into the same brutal, tedious grind that you'd expect from any other clicker.”
    • “Although this game is very casual, it is not suitable for players with a lot of time because most time is spent 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. Reviewers appreciate the game's affordability and its focus on gameplay rather than exploitative monetization strategies, contrasting it with other idle games that rely heavily on ads and in-game purchases. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative in a genre often criticized for its cash-grab tactics.

    • “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'.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    Players find the game to be an emotionally resonant experience, describing it as a touching tale that evokes both happiness and sadness. The heartfelt narrative and beautiful cinematic world of the game leave a lasting impact, making it a memorable journey that resonates with players on a deeper level. The game's simplicity and charm, combined with its support for indie development, further enhance its emotional appeal.

    • “One of the games of all time... truly a touching tale of what it's like to gnorp and be gnorped.”
    • “Amazing game; the cinematic world of gnorps made me cry at how epic and beautiful it is.”
    • “Out of my current 16ish 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.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck OLED at 90fps, with no significant glitches or stability issues. However, some players noted that the game can be punishing in terms of resource management, requiring restarts to correct mistakes.

    • “I ran into no glitches and had no issue running it in the background even while I was playing other games.”
    • “Love it! Runs great on the Steam Deck OLED at 90 FPS!”
    • “It was nice that the game felt bug-free.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is highly praised, particularly highlighting the gnorps, which are noted for their exceptional design and creativity, earning 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

Buy (the) Gnorp Apologue

Play time

19hMedian play time
49hAverage play time
10-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 47 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games