The Painter's Playground

About

The Painter's Playground is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by NextZenMechanics and was released on September 29, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"The Painter's Playground" is a relaxing utility game that combines elements of painting programs with RPG leveling and clicker-inspired progress. Create and sell digital 2D art, manage your own gallery, and gain recognition through the online community. With no fail state, players can enjoy creating at their own pace for hours on end. Come visit the zen coastal town of Painter's Port and stay awhile.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

The Painter's Playground offers a relaxing and creative environment, allowing players of all skill levels to express themselves through art.
The game features a community-driven marketplace where players can buy, sell, and showcase their artwork, fostering a sense of connection among users.
With a progression system that unlocks new tools and colors as you create, players are motivated to improve their skills and explore their creativity.

The painting tools can feel basic and lack the sophistication found in more advanced art software, which may frustrate experienced artists.
Some users have reported bugs and issues with features like Steam Cloud synchronization and the in-game economy, which can detract from the overall experience.
The community is relatively small and may not provide the level of interaction or engagement some players expect from a social art platform.

graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The graphics in this game are characterized by a charming, hand-painted aesthetic that evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of art class. While the 2D graphics editor provides a solid toolset for creating and sharing artwork, some users note that it sacrifices certain functionalities for visual appeal. Overall, the game offers a relaxing environment to explore creativity and appreciate a diverse range of community-generated art.
- “The artwork that’s currently in the game’s online galleries covers all the bases from abstract MS Paint style doodles to awe-inspiring masterpieces and everything in between.”
- “While Passpartout beats this in terms of aesthetic, Painter's Playground gives you a good toolset, an easy way to view/admire others' work, and is generally a great way to spend some time doodling and improving your mouse-drawing abilities.”
- “The selecting of tools and colors can be a bit squiffy on the surface while using the pen, but the actual drawing part works really well.”
- “From its comforting hand-painted visuals of coastal villages that act as your hub to the soft acoustic guitar that plays gently over the sound of waves lapping and seagulls cawing, the presentation is one that is zen-ful enough to lull you to sleep.”
- “The artwork that's currently in the game's online galleries covers all the bases from abstract MS Paint style doodles to awe-inspiring masterpieces and everything in between.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music in *The Painter's Playground* is described as soothing and inspiring, featuring relaxing Parisian and gypsy styles that enhance the game's artistic atmosphere. Ambient sounds like ocean waves and birds contribute to a therapeutic experience, making it enjoyable for players seeking a creative escape. Overall, the minimal yet pleasant soundtrack complements the game's visual beauty and immersive environment.
- “The oil paintings are beautiful and the music is inspiring.”
- “Gipsy style music & distant seagulls as ambient work really well for getting into character of an artist performing at a Mediterranean villa :)”
- “The music is in the Parisian style and very relaxing.”
- “The UI is easy to navigate and understand, and the music is soothing.”
- “All is done in an accurate environment with relaxing classical music and birds singing in the background.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Gameplay is solid, featuring engaging RPG mechanics that provide players with a satisfying progression system through the acquisition of new tools and items. The painting mechanics are particularly highlighted for their fun and diverse range of creative options.
- “This game's painting mechanics are genuinely fun and offer a wide breadth of tools and techniques to create as you please.”
- “Gameplay is solid.”
- “This mechanic serves as an incentive to keep you going by giving the satisfaction of getting shiny new stuff for you to use, slowly over time as you continue to work on stuff.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game involves players repeatedly creating and selling art to earn in-game currency, which is necessary for unlocking better tools and participating in the economy. While daily challenges and audience ratings add variety, those less skilled may find it particularly challenging to succeed without significant effort. Overall, the grinding is akin to a clicker game, focusing on progression through artistic achievements rather than traditional RPG elements.
- “People who aren't particularly good are likely to have a hard time selling their works, and will have to do a lot of grinding to participate in the in-game economy.”
- “It's presented in the form of an online RPG; only instead of unlocking swords and farming kills, players create works of art, mastering an ever more diverse collection of painting tools purchased with in-game currency: the proceeds of gallery sales.”
- “What you get here is a 2D graphics editor with grinding (almost like a clicker), unlocking better stuff including colors, getting achievements, making virtual money, getting rated by the living audience in the gallery (if you wish), and daily challenges to provide new ideas.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by soothing ocean sounds and light guitar music, creating a relaxing and pleasant environment. The artistic interface and beautiful locations further enhance this immersive experience, making it a key aspect of the game's appeal.
- “The ocean and shore sounds, combined with light guitar, create a soothing atmosphere.”
- “The presentation in Painter's Playground offers a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere.”
- “The most valuable aspect is the atmosphere that the game gradually builds through its artistic interface, live acoustic guitar music, and inspiring locations.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game features a "story" mode that allows players to progress by earning new painting tools, alongside a creative mode with all tools unlocked. However, players express a desire for more quests and challenges with varying difficulties to enhance the narrative experience.
- “There's a story mode, where you progress through earning new painting tools, or a creative mode with everything unlocked.”
- “The story mode feels underdeveloped, lacking depth and engagement.”
- “The narrative is predictable and fails to offer any real surprises.”
- “Character development is minimal, making it hard to connect with the story.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting how a simple demo linked by the developer significantly impacted their lives, fostering a sense of attachment and appreciation for the experience.
- “I'm emotionally attached to this game now since the developer linked me to the demo to try the game. From that moment, he changed my life.”
- “This game made me feel a range of emotions I didn't expect, from joy to sadness, and it really resonated with my personal experiences.”
- “The storytelling in this game is so powerful that it left me in tears, reminding me of my own struggles and triumphs.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Painter's Playground is a casual simulation game.

The Painter's Playground is available on PC and Windows.

The Painter's Playground was released on September 29, 2017.

The Painter's Playground was developed by NextZenMechanics.

The Painter's Playground has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its music.

The Painter's Playground is a single player game.

Similar games include SuchArt: Creative Space, SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator, Vermillion, Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist, Passpartout and others.

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