Vacation Simulator
- February 22, 2023
- Owlchemy Labs
- 8h median play time
I have a lot of VR games because I think they transcend barriers for non-gamers, and they are also a whole lot of fun. Job Simulator was a great way to break in new players, but I have to say that Vacation Simulator will be supplanting (or at least supplementing) their previous effort. While some of the minigames won’t keep you coming back, there’s enough here to keep you busy for quite a while. Owlchemy Labs has spent four years hard at work, but I’m gonna enjoy bit of my Vacation Simulation.
Get on Steam
Get on PS StoreIn "Vacation Simulator," players explore a virtual vacation world with vibrant destinations like a beach, mountain resort, and suburban park. The game offers various activities such as sunbathing, building snowmen, and playing lawn games. Players can also customize their character's appearance and interactions with the environment, creating a personalized and relaxing getaway experience.
Reviews
- Vacation Simulator is a fantastic sequel to Job Simulator, offering a larger world with more activities and a variety of mini-games that keep the gameplay engaging.
- The game features charming humor and vibrant graphics, making it a fun and relaxing experience for both new and experienced VR players.
- It provides a great introduction to VR with its accessible gameplay, allowing players to explore and interact with the environment in creative ways.
- Some players find the gameplay repetitive, with many tasks feeling like fetch quests that can become tedious over time.
- The humor and charm of Job Simulator are perceived to be less impactful in Vacation Simulator, leading to a less enjoyable experience for some.
- Technical issues, such as game crashes and controller recognition problems, have been reported, which can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story49 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple yet enjoyable, with a light-hearted and quirky narrative that complements the various missions and activities. Players appreciate the freedom to complete tasks in any order, while some highlight the emotional depth and complexity of the story, comparing it favorably to other renowned titles. Overall, the story enhances the gameplay experience without overwhelming it, providing a fun backdrop for exploration and puzzle-solving.
“This game is incredibly nuanced, with an extraordinarily deep, intelligent, yet still challenging story that will play with your emotions at every turn.”
“This game has one of the most intense and rich stories out there, good enough to rival the likes of RDR2, the entire Persona series, the Kingdom Hearts games, and much more.”
“Vacation Simulator is a huge improvement over Job Simulator, I think almost entirely due to the way they track your progression and tie it to story progression, as well as the addition of really interesting new interactions for VR minigames.”
“☐ no story”
“There's not a storyline you will be missing out on or anything.”
“The story is garbage; speaking of which, why is there a story in this game?”
- humor44 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Vacation Simulator" retains the silly and absurd charm of its predecessor, "Job Simulator," but some players feel it lacks the freshness and spontaneity that made the original so engaging. While many appreciate the lighthearted and witty interactions with the robot characters, others find the jokes to be repetitive and predictable after extended play. Overall, the game offers a fun and humorous experience, though it may not reach the same comedic heights as the original.
“The humor in the game is silly, but fun.”
“I think what I like the most in the game is the lighthearted and witty humor that can be derived from a robot's interpretation of human culture.”
“Keeping in step with publisher/developer Owlchemy Labs' unique brand of humor and witty, nihilistic robots, this game aims to take players out of the office and into the wonderful land of Vacation Island.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Vacation Simulator is a notable evolution from Job Simulator, featuring a more open-ended exploration style and a variety of interactions, particularly with robots. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, making it suitable for all ages, some players find the fetch-quest nature and lack of focus less engaging. Overall, the game offers a charming and smooth experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking more challenging or complex gameplay.
“The evolution of one-room job gameplay to a more open-ended style of exploring larger areas is done well, the various interactions with robots is fun and varied, and the cameos from notable people (jacksepticeye stuck out to me the most!) is nice to see.”
“Overall, vacation simulator is a clear evolution over job simulator, with there now being significantly more gameplay and content.”
“The gameplay is smooth and satisfying, and it has more to it than the last game than just follow directions.”
“The gameplay loop consists mostly of bland fetch-quests and the environment is really bright and colorful, but not in a good way.”
“Limited gameplay; this game offers only 15 hours of gameplay.”
“And sometimes, rarely, there's gameplay.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their impressive realism and immersive quality, striking a balance between realistic and cartoonish styles. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant, crisp visuals that enhance the overall experience, with unique environments that contribute to a sense of immersion and fun. While some prefer the aesthetic of previous titles, the graphical quality remains a standout feature, providing a visually satisfying experience across various settings.
“Further, the graphics that this game provides are some of the best looking, realistic graphics that I've ever seen come from a video game, and it manages to keep my PC cold while doing so.”
“The graphics toe the line between realistic and cartoon-y beautifully, and it's all very immersive.”
“There's way more to do here as the scope is greatly expanded, but I definitely prefer Job Simulator more as the vacation aesthetic and environments in general don't do it for me as much.”
“The witty writing was still there and it maintained the same graphics quality as Job Simulator, but it was, sadly, boring.”
“The graphics are bright, crisp, and cartoony; creating simple, yet fully fleshed out environments that breed care-free fun and invoke an incredible sensation of actually being on vacation... but being surrounded by robots instead of annoying humans.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the abundance of content, engaging mini-games, and various ways to mix up gameplay. While some mention that replay value can diminish after extended play, the majority agree that the game offers significant opportunities for fun and interaction, making it a worthwhile experience for repeated sessions.
“Most of the minigames littered throughout the game have genuine replayability with tons of ways to mix it up beyond the scripted objectives.”
“There's tons of great interactivity, a variety of things to do with great replayability, and the same charming humor that made Job Simulator so good.”
“The replayability is rather scarce, and doing a thing you like a lot may only be fun for up to an hour.”
“Unlike the last game, this one has way more content and replayability.”
“Way more to do and way more replay value in Vacation Simulator than in Job Simulator.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 70 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort for 100% completion. While some enjoy the replayability and fun of certain mini-games, many feel that the grinding detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable activity.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“About 7 hours of non-stop fun, then it's a little grindy for 100%.”
“I found this tedious and repetitive.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as being relaxing and wholesome, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. It serves as a positive follow-up to its predecessor, Job Simulator, enhancing the overall experience with its feel-good nature.
“Good follow-up to Job Simulator, it has made me feel very relaxed!”
“Wholesome and fun for everyone”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report a smooth and glitch-free experience, others have encountered common issues that require troubleshooting.
“There were no issues, no glitches, and it was a blast to be able to keep playing something like Job Simulator but different.”
“The game ran smoothly throughout my entire playthrough, which made the experience incredibly enjoyable.”
“I was impressed by how stable the game was; I didn't encounter any crashes or bugs during my sessions.”
“I tried many troubleshooting ideas I found when doing a Google search, which also revealed this is a common issue with this game.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experience constant lag and disconnections, which ruin the overall experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a vibrant, job-like environment filled with witty humor, ensuring that the experience remains engaging and never dull.
“It had a fully immersive atmosphere, filled with witty jokes and engaging moments, making it never boring.”
“The atmosphere was incredibly rich and detailed, drawing me into the world and making every moment feel alive.”
“I was captivated by the unique atmosphere, which perfectly blended humor and depth, creating an unforgettable experience.”
Critic Reviews
Time to Vacation, Human! -- Vacation Simulator Vive review
I have a lot of VR games because I think they transcend barriers for non-gamers, and they are also a whole lot of fun. Job Simulator was a great way to break in new players, but I have to say that Vacation Simulator will be supplanting (or at least supplementing) their previous effort. While some of the minigames won’t keep you coming back, there’s enough here to keep you busy for quite a while. Owlchemy Labs has spent four years hard at work, but I’m gonna enjoy bit of my Vacation Simulation.
90%Vacation Simulator Review
With some very smart additions, Vacation Simulator is a suitably more free flowing and open ended experience than its predecessor. Larger locations, reasons to revisit, and a huge range of things to see and do, this is a successful evolution of the silly sandbox antics Owlchemy Labs does so well. Despite PS Move tracking issues and no real step forward in writing, this is another mindlessly fun time-waster for when the summer Sun dips behind the clouds.
70%Vacation Simulator GBAtemp review
A stunning effort in building a range of experiences, in a coherent VR world, that keeps you intrigued throughout. It's a highly polished, physics packed, rollercoaster of excitement and exploration. Highly recommended for a bit of escapism and guaranteed fun.
85%
