Verdant Skies

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"Verdant Skies is a life simulation game set on the alien world of Viridis Primus, where you help build a colony while pursuing romance and friendships with a diverse cast of characters. Customize your avatar and engage in various activities such as farming, genetic splicing, painting, and pottery. The game offers many skin tone options and doesn't require players to choose a gender when creating their character."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 311 reviews

gameplay23 positive mentions

grinding176 negative mentions

Unique sci-fi setting that differentiates it from other farming games.
Diverse and well-written characters with engaging storylines.
Relaxing gameplay with a focus on farming, crafting, and relationship building.

Limited content and replayability, leading to a feeling of emptiness after completing the main objectives.
Character animations are stiff and lack polish, detracting from the overall experience.
Some gameplay mechanics, like the farming and resource gathering, can become tedious and repetitive.

grinding
177 mentions
2 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players appreciating its unique take on farming and relationship-building, while others find the farming mechanics tedious and repetitive. Many note that the game offers a refreshing sci-fi twist on the genre, but the lack of content and engaging activities can lead to a grindy experience, especially in the late game. Overall, while some enjoy the casual pace and character interactions, others feel the game falls short in providing a satisfying farming experience compared to more established titles like Stardew Valley.
- “The characters are well-developed, and the social system doesn't feel grindy at all.”
- “Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps me engaged with the character progression.”
- “I appreciate how the grinding mechanics are balanced, making it feel like a natural part of the gameplay.”
- “Farming is a massive chore with farms scattered across the map.”
- “The farming can get a bit repetitive, but the characters really bring this to life and make you want to keep going forever.”
- “The grinding system is kind of boring compared to Stardew or even My Time at Portia; I don't know if this game is worth the full price, but if it's on sale, there's no reason not to give it a try.”
gameplay
107 mentions
21 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this farming sim is characterized by a mix of familiar mechanics such as grinding, farming, and social interactions, but it lacks depth compared to established titles like Stardew Valley. While the gene splicing mechanic adds a unique twist, many players find the overall experience simplistic and repetitive, with some mechanics feeling unpolished or tedious. Despite its charming art and diverse characters, the game may leave players wanting more in terms of content and engagement, often leading to a sense of completion before fully exploring the social aspects.
- “It introduces a seemingly similar gameplay of grinding, farming, gifting, unlocking bundles, but done with a vastly unique style from Stardew Valley and most farming games.”
- “The gameplay is fun and satisfying; it's a loop I'm sure we're all familiar with: gather items, sell them or use them to create more tools and equipment to make your items better and automate processes.”
- “The farming is fun on its own, but you can genetically engineer your plants to make super crops, which is a really neat mechanic that makes it even better!”
- “The gameplay itself is boring.”
- “Unfortunately, none of the colonists ever clicked with me, and the gameplay itself felt really stiff and slightly unfinished.”
- “There's just not much gameplay or content to back it up compared to other farming sims.”
story
106 mentions
17 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as short and lacking depth, with many players expressing disappointment over its abrupt conclusion and minimal overarching plot. While the characters are well-developed and their individual backstories add some richness, the overall narrative feels shallow and underwhelming, leading to a sense of repetitiveness in gameplay. Despite its charming art style and enjoyable character interactions, players hope for more substantial story content and quests in future updates.
- “The characters have immense development, backstory, and personality.”
- “The relationships are the heart of the game, and each new colonist who arrives has their own story, making the building of relationships feel so natural.”
- “The characterization and story events in this game are fantastic... each character has their own things going on that develop over time.”
- “The main story is pretty short, which can be a negative for some.”
- “There is absolutely no story in terms of the actual colony development, no progression, nothing, and it's very disappointing.”
- “The main storyline is so short; I was shocked when the credits started rolling when I believed I wasn't even halfway through the game, kind of a strange choice.”
graphics
69 mentions
41 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant and unique art style that some players find charming and aesthetically pleasing, while others consider it quirky or even cheap-looking. Many appreciate the hand-painted visuals and the overall atmosphere, although there are mixed feelings about character designs and animations, with some players noting that the graphics can feel rough around the edges. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a refreshing change from typical pixel art, but opinions vary widely on their execution and appeal.
- “The graphics are vibrant and simple with a fairly unique art direction compared to others in the genre.”
- “The moment I started playing, the atmosphere of the beautifully hand-painted graphics and relaxing mysterious music invoked nostalgia, a distant memory I can only describe as what it felt like reading children's novels on a rainy day.”
- “The world and art style are absolutely beautiful.”
- “I set it aside, hoping I would come back to some added content, fixes to some faulty game mechanics, maybe some graphics updates... that was years ago, and nothing has changed.”
- “Its just not for me... I don't like the art style; it looks and feels cheap, and I didn't enjoy the gameplay.”
- “I suggest a complete overhaul of the graphics and gameplay before you can even comprehend spending £15 on this game.”
music
27 mentions
48 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its calming and nostalgic qualities that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some tracks are described as cute and enjoyable, there are mixed feelings about specific moments, particularly a lyrical song that felt out of place. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to a relaxing and immersive experience.
- “The atmosphere and music are so fun, and the space explorer element is a nice twist to the traditional Harvest Moon farmer sim style game.”
- “The moment I started playing, the atmosphere of the beautifully hand-painted graphics and relaxing mysterious music invoked nostalgia, a distant memory I can only describe as what it felt like reading children's novels on a rainy day.”
- “It's very calming and relaxing, like Stardew, with nice ambient music that makes it very easy to get lost (both in-game and in real life) and forget it's midnight.”
- “There's formulaic relationship progression with everyone giving you music, or making you lunch or dinner and giving you a recipe at specific heart levels - and none of it seems significant, really.”
- “The song at the 'end' of the game - at the eclipse party - really jolted me out of my suspension of disbelief.”
- “The music, up to that point, had all been without lyrics, and suddenly I get someone singing some song that's supposed to be meaningful, but just sounded awful compared to the tinkly background music that had been playing, and it was right in my ears (headphones).”
replayability
14 mentions
14 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is perceived as having low replayability, with many players expressing that once completed, there is little incentive to return. While some enjoyed specific mechanics, such as gene splicing, the general consensus is that the lack of a complete story and minimal content limits the game's longevity and replay value. Players noted that the only potential for replayability lies in experimenting with different partner choices, but this is not enough to significantly enhance the experience.
- “I particularly liked the gene splicing aspect of the game, though I don't think it has much replayability.”
- “This genre is one you can usually expect to return to, but with a general lack of a complete story and a replayability that amounts to 'why?' I don't think I'll ever swing back to this one.”
- “It doesn't hold the replayability that some of its predecessors have.”
- “The game, however, is very low on content and one can't really expect the same replayability or longevity as its main concurrent, Stardew Valley.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its fun, relaxing vibe, reminiscent of classic titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley, but set in a unique space explorer context with beautifully hand-painted graphics and calming music. While many players appreciate the nostalgic and immersive qualities, some feel it doesn't quite match the polish of other similar games. Overall, it offers a peaceful and engaging environment, despite minor criticisms regarding character animations.
- “The atmosphere and music are so fun, and the space explorer element is a nice twist to the traditional Harvest Moon farmer sim style game.”
- “The moment I started playing, the atmosphere of the beautifully hand-painted graphics and relaxing mysterious music invoked nostalgia, a distant memory I can only describe as what it felt like reading children's novels on a rainy day.”
- “If you really like games that have calming music and a chill lush atmosphere, Verdant Skies is definitely worth a playthrough.”
- “I also felt as though the atmosphere wasn't as beautifully put together as other games (i.e. Stardew Valley, Graveyard Keeper, etc.).”
- “Main con is the stiff character animations breaking the atmosphere, but I can live with that.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a relaxing and wholesome experience that fosters genuine care for its characters, evoking strong feelings, including moments of sadness and joy. Players appreciate the game's non-punitive nature, which allows for a stress-free environment, making it an ideal choice for those seeking emotional comfort. Overall, the writing effectively engages players' emotions without feeling forced.
- “This game made me feel feelings, but primarily in a good way.”
- “On the plus side, this game made me care so much about a character that I cried when I thought I hurt her, so you know the writing is good.”
- “Overall, I found this game to be very relaxing and wholesome.”
character development
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and uniqueness, with players appreciating the customization options and distinct art style that enhance the overall experience. The character designs are described as visually stunning, contributing significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the character development is considered among the best in gaming, effectively reflecting the game's setting and themes.
- “Loved the character development, and was working hard to splice good genes into my plants and expand my village.”
- “I talked about this a lot in my post for Dreamfall Chapters as well; when you free yourself from all white all the time, you suddenly have all this color and line and style to play with, and the character designs themselves in this game are just eye candy because they’re so unique and so distinct.”
- “Best character development I've seen in a game.”
- “Tldr: it's not bad but remember where you are setting the game and then base your character design around that.”
stability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a solid performance with minimal glitches, some experience frustrating bugs related to character movement and customization. Minor technical issues exist, but they generally do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the game. With some polishing, the game could enhance its stability and user experience further.
- “This game is cute, you can customize your character and house a lot right off the bat, which is fun. There's lots of furniture and decorations available for reasonable prices, so you can change the way things look every day if you want. The game runs solidly with no glitches so far.”
- “The pixel art for the character is not the absolute best, but I will say the game runs solidly with no glitches so far.”
- “If this game were polished up just a little, it could be even prettier, and with modding, this game seems like it could get really cool.”
- “While this game is so much more than innocent life, its reliance on RNG, barely-implemented systems, and buggy interfaces make it so much less than it could be.”
- “Lacking the main glue that would have kept me interested at the beginning, I got easily annoyed by some technical glitches that I would have maybe brushed off more easily otherwise: the walking pattern recognition is bad so the character always gets stuck somehow, there are bugs when you select your appearance.”
- “Still a few glitches and bugs to go.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the comedic elements, such as quirky character interactions and absurd scenarios, genuinely funny, while others feel certain dialogues can be annoying. Overall, the humor contributes positively to the gameplay experience, enhancing the charm of the life simulation set on a different planet.
- “It is just a little bit funny to break up with your 7-person polycule to go romance the sweet blind Latina next door, so I'm giving the game a point for the comedy there.”
- “There is a lot of dialogue with the NPCs; some of them are really funny, while others are a little annoying, but overall during the gameplay, you get to know them.”
- “Nice art style and fun gameplay, and the dialogue has made me laugh a couple of times. It's a neat take on a normal life simulation, being on a different planet, and so far it works.”