This Grand Life
- April 17, 2018
- PokingWaterGames
- 33h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"This Grand Life" is a simulation game that puts you in the shoes of a humble ant as it navigates its daily life. Experience the thrill of foraging for food, building a colony, and defending against predators in a vibrant and dynamic 3D world. With a variety of environments and challenges, each playthrough offers a unique and engaging journey.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that keeps players occupied for hours, with a unique life simulation experience.
- Realistic game economy that incorporates elements like inflation, taxes, and emergencies, making it relatable.
- Offers a variety of career paths, business opportunities, and personal challenges, allowing for different play styles.
- Basic UI and graphics that may not appeal to all players, leading to a less immersive experience.
- Repetitive gameplay with limited depth, making it feel tedious after a while.
- One play-through may be sufficient to experience the game, resulting in low replayability.
- graphics46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as basic and lacking depth, with a simple 2D map and unremarkable visuals that fail to enhance the gameplay experience. While some users appreciate the unique character designs, many feel that the overall aesthetic is bland and rough around the edges, contributing to a perception of low effort in the game's presentation. Despite these criticisms, a few players find the gameplay engaging enough to overlook the simplistic graphics.
“The graphics style may not be to your taste, but the gameplay can draw you in.”
“Ol' il pallino has the vice of providing objective information in reviews, so rather than just write 'everything not related to the graphics and sound' for positives, the first great feature is that this grand life has tangible differences between each of the cities, each with their own unique problem, but with many different advantages.”
“Don't be fooled by the graphics and think this is a cheap 2D Sims knock-off.”
“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.”
“The concept is good, but it lacks depth and the UI and graphics seem to be pretty low effort.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a time management focus that can be engaging and addictive, though it may frustrate players who are not accustomed to such mechanics. While the game offers a decent amount of depth and potential, some reviewers noted that the core gameplay loop can feel repetitive and grindy, with limited variation in mechanics across different jobs. Overall, it is seen as a simple yet enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of management games, despite its early development stage and some technical issues.
“Played this game when it was released and the unique gameplay kept me engaged for hours.”
“A wonderful life-sim that offers no rush gameplay with a decent amount of depth for the price.”
“Moreover, I do like the fact that many of the character traits are not just passive stats and actually affect the gameplay significantly, such as alcoholic and gambler traits.”
“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.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by its heavy reliance on grinding, which can be enjoyable for players who appreciate that style of gameplay, but many find it tedious and lacking substance. While some players see potential for improvement and appreciate the simple premise, others criticize it as a boring and repetitive experience, often leading to low engagement. Overall, it appeals to a niche audience but may not hold the interest of those seeking more dynamic gameplay.
“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.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as somewhat limited, though it can be enhanced through mods and additional content, such as new occupations and social functions. While some players find it offers decent replay value, others suggest there are more engaging options available at the same price point.
“Like this game, the mods and addition of occupations and social functions really added more replayability to this game.”
“Very underrated, fantastic depth and replayability.”
“Replayability is kind of limited.”
“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.”
“Has quite a bit of replayability.”
- music10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 30 % 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, with some even opting to listen to external tracks instead. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity, lacking depth and engagement.
“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.”
“Maybe it was my end, but the music was non-existent if it even existed in the first place.”
“The music is sort of soothing on a better note.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks depth and a compelling story, with many players noting the absence of a plot and describing the gameplay as straightforward. Despite its low price point of £6.50, the narrative aspect is criticized, leading to a low rating for the story component.
“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.”
“There’s no story or plot, and gameplay is pretty direct.”
“Other reviews complaining about lack of depth, story, graphics, etc. The game cost £6.50.”
“Story: 0.5”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % 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 noted a performance leak that causes the UI to hitch and slow down after extended play, detracting from the overall enjoyment and leading some to consider refunds until improvements are made. Overall, the optimization is viewed as a major drawback that hampers the gaming experience.
“I'm definitely going to refund until this game is better optimized.”
“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 can't believe how bad the optimization for this game is.”
“It's complex and quite a fun game, but the optimization is really bad. I'm running an i5 processor with 16GB of RAM, but the game stutters a lot, which hinders enjoyment. I'm not even 1 hour into the game yet; I might consider a refund and buy it at a later time when optimization is better.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd scenarios, such as the recurring theft of exercise equipment, which leads players to envision a comical thief hoarding their belongings. This blend of relatable frustrations and imaginative storytelling contributes to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a mobile click resource management format and notably lacks microtransactions, which is a positive aspect for players seeking an uninterrupted gaming experience.
“This is basically a mobile click resource management game without the microtransactions.”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly without issues, and offers a variety of mechanics that enhance its value for the price.
“The game runs great and features a fair amount of mechanics, making it well worth the $10.”
