This Grand Life
- January 2, 2017
- PokingWaterGames
- 33h median play time
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Get on itch.io StoreI'm working on a sequel!This Grand Life is a personal finance simulator where you create a character, manage their money and help them achieve their life goals. Cruise your way through life with a silver spoon, or struggle endlessly to find employment as a convicted felon. You cannot control your past, but you can change your future. What choices will you make? You make decisions on where to…
Reviews
- Engaging life simulator that offers a variety of career paths and realistic economic challenges, including managing finances, taxes, and investments.
- Addictive gameplay that encourages players to strategize and optimize their character's life choices, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate time management games.
- The game has a unique charm and potential for replayability, especially with the ability to mod and customize gameplay experiences.
- Repetitive gameplay that can become tedious over time, with limited depth in character interactions and social dynamics.
- Basic UI and graphics that may not appeal to all players, making the game feel less polished compared to other life simulation titles.
- Some players find the difficulty in maintaining happiness and managing needs frustrating, leading to a lack of enjoyment in the overall experience.
- graphics24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally criticized for being basic and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting a simplistic 2D style that fails to engage. While some appreciate the unique character designs, the overall visual presentation is described as drab and low-effort, contributing to a bland gaming experience. Despite these shortcomings, a few players find the gameplay enjoyable enough to overlook the graphics.
“The artwork is quite nice, but it is slapped over a very bland game.”
“The graphics style may not be to your taste, but the gameplay can draw you in.”
“Don't be fooled by the graphics and think this is a cheap 2D Sims knockoff.”
“The graphics leave something to be desired, and at first glance it looks like the game would not be very fun.”
“The graphics are very basic.”
“Everything from the UI, stat management, and graphics feels anarchic and rough around the edges.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its unique time management mechanics, which can be engaging yet frustrating for some players, particularly those less experienced with the genre. While the game offers a decent amount of depth and potential for hours of diversion, many reviewers noted that the core gameplay loop can feel repetitive and grindy, with some aspects lacking polish. Overall, it presents a mixed experience, appealing to hardcore management fans but potentially disappointing for those seeking more engaging or varied gameplay.
“Played this game when it was released and the unique gameplay kept me engaged for hours.”
“This is not the most pretty of games...but...the concept and gameplay is so addictive!!”
“A wonderful life-sim that offers no rush gameplay with a decent amount of depth for the price.”
“While this game certainly has more content, I found that it doesn't actually change the gameplay loop much, with the result that all the extra 'bits' really just slow things down and increase grind without actually adding anything significant to the game.”
“Even the core gameplay is lacking and a chore to play.”
“I just don't find the game mechanic of balancing a bunch of progress bars compelling in any way.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the grind as a time-waster that allows for self-directed goals, many find it tedious and lacking substance. Critics often describe the gameplay as repetitive and boring, with a significant number of players expressing frustration over the lack of engaging content and variety. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy grinding, but it may not hold the interest of others for long.
“If you played and really loved the very old game, 'Jones: in the Fast Lane', this game is a very grindy and less fun version of that game.”
“The game gets tedious and ends up just being hours long click-grinds.”
“Unfortunately, this is just tedious bar balancing with no substance.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and engagement, comparing it unfavorably to other indie titles. Players have described the narrative as minimal and uninspired, suggesting that it fails to deliver any meaningful plot or character development. Overall, the consensus is that the story does not meet expectations, especially for a management game.
“Let it be known that this grand life is to management games what the space pilgrim saga is to story-rich games: indie platinum!”
“I've been crying about how I wanted another life quest type game lol.”
“The story is as bad as most indie titles; don't expect any miracles.”
“There’s no story or plot, and gameplay is pretty direct.”
“Again, go play those free adult Twine games with more effort put into the story than an average indie title on Steam.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited compared to other titles at the same price point, though some players appreciate the added depth from mods and additional features that enhance replay value. While it may not offer extensive replayability, it still has enough content to keep certain players engaged.
“Like this game, the mods and addition of occupations and social functions really added more replayability to this game.”
“Has quite a bit of replayability.”
“If you like this type of game, then it is probably worth $12 to you, but there are other games at the same price point with much more replayability and broader appeal.”
“Replayability is kind of limited.”
“Very underrated, fantastic depth and replayability.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as basic and unremarkable, failing to enhance the gaming experience or set the desired mood. Many players suggest turning off the in-game music entirely, as it adds little value to the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity, with some players opting for external music to improve their experience.
“The music is sort of soothing on a better note.”
“Second time I played, I downloaded some mods and four hours later I was a music star stealing from banks, selling weed, and on my way to graduating with a degree in finances only so I can become the mob boss of the bank and open up a narcotic trafficking business.”
“Sounds are all basic bells and whistles that add nothing to the game, nor does the music help with setting the mood despite what the store page claims. Ol' il pallino advises players to turn off the music and sound and play 'How to Be a Millionaire' by ABC instead.”
“Maybe it was my end, but the music was non-existent if it even existed in the first place.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting severe stuttering and performance issues even on capable hardware, such as an i5 processor with 16GB of RAM. Many users have experienced performance leaks that worsen over time, leading to frustration and considerations for refunds until improvements are made. Overall, the poor optimization detracts from the enjoyment of an otherwise complex and engaging game.
“There's some sort of performance leak though, the UI will start hitching and slowing down after the game's been open for over an hour, which really hurts a game like this that sort of wants people to sit down and play it out for long stretches.”
“I'm definitely going to refund until this game is better optimized.”
“It's complex and quite a fun game, but the optimization is really bad. I'm running an i5 processor with 16GB of RAM, yet the game stutters a lot, which hinders enjoyment. I'm not even 1 hour into the game yet and might consider a refund to buy it later when optimization is better.”
“There's some sort of performance leak; the UI will start hitching and slowing down after the game's been open for over an hour, which really hurts a game like this that wants people to sit down and play it for long stretches.”
“I can't believe how bad the optimization for this game is.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever and relatable scenarios, such as the absurdity of repeatedly losing exercise equipment to a thief, which adds a comedic twist to the challenges of managing life, money, and work. Players appreciate the lighthearted take on frustrating situations, making the experience both entertaining and engaging.
“Very funny life/money/study/work manager.”
“My experience was mostly trying to gain capital while having my exercise machine stolen every week for at least 3 months straight, so I like to imagine that somewhere there is just one thief who hoards exercise equipment in his basement, laughing at the people who just keep buying new ones for him to steal.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game features a mobile click resource management format and notably lacks microtransactions, providing a straightforward experience without additional costs.
“This is basically a mobile click resource management game without the microtransactions.”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content without forcing in-app purchases.”
“This game feels like a mobile click resource management game, but it's riddled with microtransactions.”
“The monetization strategy is aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly and is stable, with a solid range of mechanics that enhance the experience, making it a worthwhile purchase for the price.
“The game runs great and there seems to be a fair amount of mechanics in the game, well worth the $10.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; I can play for hours without any interruptions.”
