Vilmonic

About

Vilmonic is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by bludgeonsoft and was released on November 5, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Vilmonic is a pixel-art artificial life simulator where you protect and breed unique creatures and experiment with natural and artificial selection. Each creature's body and function is determined by its evolving genetic code, with pixels and body shape affecting hydration, nutrient use, movement, and perception. Your goal is to bring life back from the brink of extinction and uncover the secrets of the past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

emotional3 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Vilmonic offers a unique and charming sandbox experience that allows players to engage in the evolution of creatures and fungi, providing a relaxing and exploratory gameplay style.
The game features a vibrant pixel art style and a whimsical atmosphere, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
The developer is actively engaged with the community, showing a commitment to improving the game and adding new features, which gives players hope for future updates.

The game suffers from a lack of clear direction and documentation, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics and objectives, leading to confusion and frustration.
Many players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with limited interactions and a slow pace of evolution that can lead to boredom over time.
Technical issues such as clunky controls, inventory management problems, and the presence of annoying enemies detract from the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of straightforward mechanics and deeper evolutionary systems that encourage exploration and strategic planning. While some elements, like the bubble feature, lack clear purpose, the generational mutation and terraformation mechanics are praised for their depth and intuitive design. Overall, players find the gameplay to be calm and engaging, with unique breeding and simulation aspects that enhance the experience.
- “Specifically, if you kill a zombie, the gameplay shifts dramatically.”
- “So far everything seems pretty straightforward, but I can also tell there's a depth to explore and I really dig the generational mutation mechanic.”
- “Additionally, the mechanics work wonderfully into world terraformation, where it drives you to want to build that 'better' island for your critters (the crafting feeds into evolving specific strains of fungi).”
- “Used bubbles to find some amusement when they leave the map and delete themselves by following the bubbles, but they don't seem to serve any gameplay purpose.”
- “The mechanics are also confusing and unclear.”
- “Below the retro-style façade of a simple game, not-so-simple mechanics are shaping up.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics of the game are characterized by cute, brightly-colored pixel art that enhances its quirky aesthetic and nostalgic feel. While some users note that the graphics are passable and could benefit from better blending, the overall visual style is charming and well-suited to the game's theme. The indie nature of the game is reflected in its simple yet appealing design, making it accessible and enjoyable for new players.
- “The graphics are adorable and the creator is kind and transparent.”
- “The brightly-coloured pixel art works well with the subject matter, allowing for cutesy, quirky critters that are both unique and interesting in appearance.”
- “Lovely pixelated graphics (this game is cute as hell).”
- “The graphics are passable, but do require some work with regards to blending, and the gameplay is calm.”
- “Is even simpler (going from 8-bit to vector graphics), and the 'color mod' is brilliant.”
- “The control schemes can be somewhat clunky.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is described as vibrant and reminiscent of soundtracks from titles like Earthbound and Lisa, providing a dynamic backdrop that enhances the experience. However, some users express disappointment with the limited in-game music and the repetitive nature of the title screen track, wishing for a more extensive musical presence throughout the gameplay. Overall, while the sound effects are appreciated, there is a desire for more variety and depth in the music.
- “I love hearing the soundtrack while I am working on my real-life tasks. I think I have become a fantastic fungol farmer, and I am happy in a sweetly muted, pixelated kind of way.”
- “The color palette is really vibrant, and the music features dynamic samples that sound kind of like the soundtracks from EarthBound or Lisa.”
- “- Cute sound effects and music, but I wish there was more of it.”
- “The music that plays—annoyingly enough on a loop—while on the title screen doesn’t carry over when you start the game.”
- “No in-game music.”
- “Cute sound effects/music but wish there was more of it.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it incorporates enjoyable elements reminiscent of Stardew Valley, such as farming and crafting, the execution can feel tedious, particularly with tasks like exporting and importing species. Many users report that they can unlock a significant portion of achievements relatively quickly, suggesting that while grinding is present, it may not be overly burdensome. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of god-like simulation and farming, but the grinding mechanics could benefit from refinement.
- “Playing with exporting, making, and importing your own species is a fun idea but tedious in execution, having to go to Windows Paint and back.”
- “This game has a few grinding achievements, but I unlocked already 50% of them in 3 hours.”
- “Vilmonic is a very unique game, the easiest way I can think of explaining it would be to call it a 'god-like farming sim'.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome design, which resonates deeply with players, creating a sense of completeness and connection.
- “The game is both wholesome and complete in its design.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me.”
- “I felt a profound connection to the story that left me in tears.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Reviewers highlight a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, noting the developer's friendly approach contributes to a positive experience.
- “The developer is nice and the atmosphere is chill!”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
- “The world feels empty and devoid of character, making it hard to get lost in the experience.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players anticipated a rich narrative involving the breeding of various lifeforms and epic battles, alongside a gradually revealed backstory about the dystopian world and its lost technologies. However, the actual storytelling may not have met these expectations, leaving some players wanting more depth and engagement in the plot.
- “I was expecting something where I could breed shy lifeforms that would get scared easily, aggressive ones that would roar and hunt them across the map in big epic fights. Since the game description mentions digging up lost technology, I was looking forward to a slowly unfolding story about what happened to the dystopian world the game is set in.”