VARIOUS DAYLIFE

35%
Game Brain Score Based on 95 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
VARIOUS DAYLIFE Game Cover
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"Various Daylife" is a simulated RPG set in the fictional year of 212 of the Imperial Era. Players manage the daily life of characters, including their work, relationships, and battles. The game's unique feature is the "Music of Life" system, where the background music changes based on players' choices, creating a personalized gaming experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

35%
Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews
story7 positive mentions
gameplay7 negative mentions
  • The game has a charming art style and good music, which contribute to a pleasant atmosphere.
  • If approached as a casual simulation game rather than a traditional RPG, it can be enjoyable and relaxing.
  • The character and story elements are well-written, providing some engaging moments despite the overall gameplay limitations.
  • The gameplay is overly repetitive and grind-heavy, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience.
  • As a port of a mobile game, it lacks depth and interactivity, with many mechanics feeling underdeveloped and simplistic.
  • The game is not worth its full price, with many reviewers suggesting it should only be purchased at a significant discount or as part of a bundle.
  • story39 mentions

    The story of the game is generally viewed as lackluster and slow to develop, with many players noting that it takes a significant amount of time before it becomes engaging. While some appreciate the characters and music, the narrative is often criticized for being clichéd, disjointed, and lacking emotional depth, leading to a feeling of tedium during gameplay. Overall, the story does improve for some after the initial hours, but many find it insufficient to sustain their interest throughout the game.

    • “The characters and story are quite good.”
    • “However, once it does get going, it offers some nicely written characters and plot points.”
    • “Good game, enjoyable story and characters.”
    • “Various Daylife's story feels like a haphazardly stitched quilt of clichés and mundane tales, devoid of any substance or emotional resonance.”
    • “The credits roll abruptly with none of the plot wrapped up.”
    • “So far, the story has been boring.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being overly reliant on menus and repetitive tasks, leading to a grind-heavy experience. While some appreciate the RPG progression mechanics and the potential depth of the battle system, they feel that opportunities to fully engage with these systems are limited. Overall, the gameplay is seen as lacking in engagement and innovation, often feeling like a step backward for the genre.

    • “The battle system has some cool concepts and mechanics in place centering around every damage type having an associated status effect, and being able to chain them into a combo for major damage, but opportunities to dig into the full depth of this system are sparse.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly menus -- you spend your time deciding which work you want to do each day from a list, and there are a bunch of nuances that make it interesting to choose which one you want to do (they affect your stat experience, then there's experience multipliers, stamina, mood, time, money, etc.).”
    • “The RPG progression mechanics feel good, but the gameplay is just picking options from menus and (at least for the early game), there are an awful lot of forced choices where no option is very good.”
    • “It takes about an hour of dialogue to get to any gameplay; you do a few battles, then fight a boss, then you're back to dialogue and 'work,' which consists of flicking between different jobs, choosing one, and... that's all that happens. You've done it; choosing it finishes it right away.”
    • “The core gameplay is 100% grind, endlessly navigating a bunch of menus to make numbers go up — you don't even get to see your character doing the jobs he takes; he just wanders off-screen and comes back a few seconds later with a report of how he did.”
    • “The gameplay gets stale very quickly, and only gets worse as the game progresses.”
  • graphics10 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers describing them as outdated and reminiscent of 90s-era visuals, particularly criticizing the character models and overall texture quality. While some appreciate the art style and music, the visual presentation is often seen as lacking depth and polish, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are viewed as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's other strengths.

    • “The music and art style are fantastic, but most of the time you don't get to see your choices played out.”
    • “That game's a real time sink with beautiful graphics and better use of your time.”
    • “Love the game (graphics and combat), just wish that there is a way to skip all the auto walking.”
    • “I do think the battle mechanics could have been improved; the graphics were in need of touch-ups. I mean, we don't have to have state-of-the-art for the game, but it was pushing too far back into the 90s.”
    • “Character models are PSX-tier on the highest graphics settings. Town exploration bits are 2.5D (meaning you walk left/right against a 3D background of boxy fantasy buildings), and the camera perspective is nausea-inducing.”
    • “Now, let us delve into the visual presentation—or lack thereof—of this so-called 'art.' The game's visuals are a mishmash of lackluster textures and generic character designs that would barely pass muster in the previous console generation.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and charm, with some reviewers highlighting its glorious and calming atmosphere. However, there are criticisms regarding its repetitiveness and occasional audio issues, such as music cutting out when switching windows. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, it is not without its flaws.

    • “The music and art style are fantastic, but most of the time you don't get to see your choices played out.”
    • “It has a good loop, the characters are nicely written, the music is absolutely glorious; this game has a lot of charm and a calming atmosphere.”
    • “Thanks for a mostly decent (sometimes the music cuts out if I go to another window) port away from the foul clutches of Apple, Square Enix!”
    • “Music is repetitive and obnoxious; voice acting consists of short grunts that sound like French.”
    • “The music is solid.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring them to multitask with podcasts or other distractions. While grinding is necessary for progression, some suggest that it can be minimized with strategic gameplay choices. Overall, the game is considered extremely grindy, with much of the playtime dedicated to leveling up characters and accumulating resources.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's an extremely grindy game, and the majority of your time will be spent working until you have enough cash to train your characters several levels to be able to keep up with the recommended level.”
    • “Tedious enough that I'd put on a podcast or something in the background while slogging through it.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is perceived as weak, with some reviewers noting that while it is not entirely absent, it fails to make a significant impact. The overall visual presentation, characterized by subpar textures and generic designs, further detracts from the depth of character development.

    • “The character development is rich and nuanced, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The depth of character backstories adds layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”
    • “Character development seems weak, but not completely nonexistent.”
    • “Now, let us delve into the visual presentation—or lack thereof—of this so-called 'art.' The game's visuals are a mishmash of lackluster textures and generic character designs that would barely pass muster in the previous console generation.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, disappointing fans who anticipated a genuine sequel to the original Octopath Traveler. While some players noted that it resembles a mobile game, they appreciated the absence of microtransactions.

    • “It reeks of a desperate cash grab, betraying the loyalty of fans who were eagerly awaiting a true successor to the original Octopath Traveler.”
    • “I don't want to be too harsh on the game, but my initial response talking to a friend about it is that it plays a little like a mobile game but without any microtransactions.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviewers find that Various Daylife lacks emotional depth, describing its narrative as a disjointed collection of clichés and ordinary stories that fail to evoke any genuine feelings or connections.

  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be subtle and somewhat ironic, particularly in its playful approach to genre conventions, as it seems to mock the expectations of players familiar with tactical RPGs. Users appreciate the comedic elements, especially when juxtaposed with more serious titles, highlighting a lighthearted tone that adds to the overall experience.

    • “I got this as a package deal with Triangle Strategy, an actual good game. It's hilarious because they will literally make a Final Fantasy Tactics-esque game without making it an actual Final Fantasy Tactics game just to spite the players, but I digress.”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever writing and witty dialogue that keeps you laughing throughout.”
    • “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with funny character interactions and absurd situations that make every playthrough enjoyable.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized, leading to its removal from Apple Arcade due to poor performance.

    • “Turns out it was one of the only games pulled from the Apple Arcade after underwhelming performance on the platform.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers express disappointment in the game's replayability, noting a lack of updates or improvements over the past two years that could enhance the overall experience and address existing flaws.

    • “I was more surprised to find out that zero work seems to have been done in the last two years to tighten up the experience, clean up some of its flaws, or just make it a more playable experience.”
    • “The lack of meaningful content updates makes it hard to justify replaying the game after the initial playthrough.”
    • “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and calming environment, enhanced by well-written characters and glorious music, creating an engaging and immersive experience for players.

    • “It has a good loop, the characters are nicely written, the music is absolutely glorious; this game has a lot of charm and a calming atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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