The Promised Land

About

The Promised Land is a single player action game. It was developed by Alawar Entertainment and was released on April 25, 2014. It received positive reviews from players.

In "The Promised Land," you lead a group of settlers to build a thriving colony in an untamed land, requiring careful planning for food, shelter, jobs, and protection. Citizens have unique temperaments, and external threats like pirates and wild tribes add to the challenges. Balancing production and addressing various issues are key to creating a successful colony.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 377 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

replayability12 negative mentions

The game is enjoyable and provides a nostalgic experience for players who remember similar games from their childhood.
It features cute graphics and a simple, relaxing gameplay style that is suitable for all ages.
The game offers a casual experience with minimal pressure, allowing players to enjoy the process of building and managing their colony.

The game suffers from significant glitches and technical issues, leading to crashes and frustrating gameplay experiences.
It lacks depth and replayability, with a linear progression that can make it feel repetitive after completing the main objectives.
Some players have noted problematic representations of certain themes, which may detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by its casual, addictive nature, featuring simple mechanics focused on colony management, production chains, and trading, with a charming art style and light-hearted music. While it offers around 10-15 hours of engaging content, players note its linear progression and limited replayability, which may not satisfy those seeking more complex strategy elements. Overall, it is well-received for its accessibility and enjoyable mechanics, though some players express a desire for deeper gameplay challenges.
- “The graphics are sublime, the music is heavenly, and the gameplay is as addictive as the fruit from the tree of knowledge.”
- “The gameplay is easy enough to grasp, but has a certain pace to it that kept it interesting - despite a few instances of waiting for enough resources to tick in.”
- “The gameplay is solid and enjoyable.”
- “I'm also a bit disappointed by the limited replayability, since the gameplay is so controlled/linear.”
- “The gameplay is slow and strict, so you must just wait often.”
- “However, I can't help but think if they focused more on the game itself, and less on adding minigames that are way too easy, short and with bad mechanics, then this game would be way more awesome.”
graphics
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their cute, colorful, and cartoonish style, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the charming animations and vibrant visuals, although some note that the graphics may feel simplistic or geared towards a younger audience. Overall, the aesthetic design is considered a strong point, enhancing the game's appeal despite some minor technical issues.
- “The graphics are sublime, the music is heavenly, and the gameplay is as addictive as the fruit from the tree of knowledge.”
- “Vibrant graphics, and the soundtrack is nothing short of amazing.”
- “The graphics are very tidy and good animation makes the game feel quirky and very chilled out.”
- “Uninspiring gameplay and terrible graphics.”
- “People call the graphics 'cute' but in fact the graphics are not so cute.”
- “The comic style of the graphics is rather on the simple side, but fits well to the overall tone of the game.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The game's story is described as simple and linear, focusing on building a new town and completing quests, with a moral about perseverance. While the narrative provides a charming backdrop, it is criticized for being too short and lacking depth, with many quests feeling scripted and repetitive. Overall, the story serves as a light framework for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience, making it suitable for casual players rather than those seeking a rich storyline.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Decent storyline and a continued desire to see what happens next.”
- “It's a great shame the developers didn't include many more storylines to play through, as they had the basis of a winner here if only they had gone the extra mile.”
- “There is unfortunately no replayability as the storyline is very structured and there’s very little scope for personalizing the characters or the end outcome of the game.”
- “The story does not change, but the sub-games and resource strategy make it replayable if you are not looking for anything too deep.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
56%
35%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting it has little to no replay value due to its linear gameplay and lack of varied scenarios. While some players find it enjoyable enough to revisit occasionally, the consensus is that the game offers a short experience (around 10-15 hours) that does not encourage repeated playthroughs. A few users mention that the game can be relaxing to play, but this does not compensate for its limited replayability.
- “It's a great little game, with about 10-15 hours of gameplay, but the sub-games and resource strategy make it replayable if you are not looking for anything too deep.”
- “Although I initially wanted to write that it doesn't have any replay value, I actually catch myself revisiting this game once or twice a year.”
- “Love this game, little replay value but still a lot of fun.”
- “Fun game but short and no replay value as it's rinse and repeat.”
- “You'll get maybe 10 hours out of this game, and it's very linear so there's pretty much no replay value.”
- “There is no replay value at all.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and enjoyable qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a relaxing soundtrack that complements the vibrant graphics. While some players find the music to be soothing and appropriate, others note that it remains engaging without becoming repetitive, making it ideal for late-night play. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant positive aspect, contributing to the game's addictive and pleasant atmosphere.
- “The graphics are sublime, the music is heavenly, and the gameplay is as addictive as the fruit from the tree of knowledge.”
- “Vibrant graphics, and the soundtrack is nothing short of amazing.”
- “The music is very calming and the general play style is involved enough to keep your attention, but the management style doesn't get you micromanaging to the point of stress.”
- “The music is fair and doesn't get too old until about 6-7 hours in.”
- “But I would not buy the soundtrack if one existed.”
- “I hear music, but see only a white screen.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game features a blend of casual gameplay elements like farming, building, and trading, but is criticized for its grindy and tedious resource management mechanics. Players find the micromanagement of tasks to be repetitive, with some enjoying the simplicity while others feel it detracts from creativity and engagement. Overall, the game is seen as suitable for younger audiences but could benefit from more content and less grinding.
- “For a few bucks it's pretty good, but very casual and grindy.”
- “Predictable, grindy, slow, made for younger audiences.”
- “Grindy resource management with few surprises.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting frequent glitches and issues, while others find it to be relatively bug-free and well-executed. Overall, the experience varies significantly among players, with some expressing frustration over persistent problems and others enjoying a stable gameplay experience.
- “It looks like a mobile port; it seems to be well done and bug-free.”
- “Gameplay is relatively bug-free.”
- “Game glitches every time I play it.”
- “Update: 15 days later, the game still glitches.”
- “Not worth troubleshooting due to age and lackluster gameplay.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing animations and character expressions, particularly during interactions like carrying heavy objects or engaging in quirky activities. Players appreciate the blend of cute character designs and funny sound effects, which enhance the overall experience and keep them engaged. The game's lighthearted tone and comedic elements contribute significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “And the looks on the little dudes' faces, especially when they're carrying something heavy or you pick them up, is pretty funny.”
- “In the happy hereafter, there’s a lot of humor; in Virtual Villagers, there are mysteries and surprises to discover.”
- “I recommend this game for cute character designs, the great background music, some hilarious animations with sounds (e.g., male characters eating, alpaca shaving, etc.), and interesting elements with the gameplay (ship battles, house/room management).”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game features charming character designs and entertaining animations, the reviews do not specifically highlight character development, focusing instead on gameplay elements and aesthetics.
- “The character development in this game is truly impressive, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the gameplay.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that impact their relationships and personal growth.”
- “The interactions between characters are rich and meaningful, allowing for a deeper connection to their journeys and transformations.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its charming colonial village-building setting, providing a relaxed and enjoyable experience with minimal pressure. Players appreciate the casual vibe that allows for leisurely gameplay while still offering incentives for progress.
- “If you're really into having a game that provides a nice atmosphere and a couple of hours of enjoyment, look no further.”
- “It's a kind of casual village-building endeavor in a colonial atmosphere, with very little pressure outside the push for that little extra to get some jobs done a bit faster for quicker rewards.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model of the game is praised for being free from microtransactions, offering a stress-free experience that avoids the pitfalls of pushy monetization often found in similar titles. Players appreciate the streamlined approach, likening it to a blend of popular simulation games without the excessive micromanagement or financial pressure.
- “It's a bit like a slimmed down and streamlined Sims meets Farmville meets Anno, without any stressful situations, pushy monetization, or excessive micromanagement.”
- “Since the promised land has no microtransactions, it never deliberately inflicts you with the pain associated with the more well-known fare.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing stuttering and brief black screen flashes with a white lined pattern, indicating performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game kept stuttering and flashing a black screen with some sort of white lined pattern for a fraction of a second.”