Virtual Villagers: A New Home
- May 12, 2008
- Last Day of Work
- 3h median play time
Platform Tested: PC Genre: Simulation Rating: E A motley group of tiny characters are stranded on a deserted island, and it's up to you to make sure they learn the skills they need to survive and thrive. The game is easy to pick up and play, but for such a simple idea, it's engaging; to win, you
Get on SteamIn "Virtual Villagers: A New Home," guide a tribe of villagers as they learn to survive, discover their new island home, and react to unpredictable events in this real-time simulation game. Teach your villagers skills, manage their daily lives, and help them grow from a small group to a thriving community. With hundreds of unique villagers and potential island events, each playthrough offers new challenges and surprises. Breed and raise your own tribe for endless replayability.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Mobile Platform
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience, bringing back fond memories for many players who enjoyed it in their childhood.
- It features simple mechanics and engaging gameplay, making it a relaxing idle game that can be played in the background.
- The charming graphics and real-time gameplay create an immersive atmosphere, allowing players to enjoy the process of guiding their villagers.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited activities to engage in after the initial stages.
- Some players have reported technical issues, such as screen tearing and poor AI behavior, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The price point is considered steep for an older game with simplistic mechanics, leading some to recommend trying it on other platforms instead.
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and puzzles that, while easy, can require some thought, leading to a nostalgic experience. Players can complete the game in under three hours, but the real-time element adds a layer of urgency and addiction, encouraging repeated play. A demo is recommended to assess its value before purchase.
“A blast from the past, very simple mechanics and the puzzles are simple yet some of them take some thought.”
“It's real time, meaning if you forget about your survivors you might find your tribe wiped after half a week (although you can pause the game), it doesn't take much time at once, but it's surprisingly addictive gameplay that makes you return again and again.”
“Regrettably, I finished all the puzzles in under 3 hours of gameplay, which included about a week of actual waiting on and off.”
“The gameplay is pretty simple.”
“Try the demo and see if the gameplay is worth the price.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game engaging, particularly in skill areas like farming and construction, which are essential for quest progression. However, limited training opportunities for certain skills can lead to being locked out of quests, emphasizing the need for timely resource management. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic and forgiving experience, especially for fans of farming sims like Stardew Valley.
“This isn't a problem for skills like science or farming that can be regularly trained up throughout the game, but for skills where there's limited opportunities for training, it means you can end up locked out of quests!”
“Your villagers can gain skill in areas like farming and construction, which is necessary to advance in the questlines.”
“Its fun tho but make sure you get on that farming before all your berries are gone.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story features a series of quests that are engaging, though some are gated by specific villager skills, which can be frustrating. While the narrative is generally well-received, one quest's reliance on luck rather than player direction is noted as a drawback. Overall, players find the story intriguing and enjoyable.
“The story is pretty neat also.”
“My only complaint would be that one quest is more luck-based because you cannot lead the villagers to work on it.”
“My only real 'issue' with this game is that certain quests are locked behind having a villager or two with a skill at a specific level.”
“There's a series of quests to solve (with a few vague hints to help you along) and a tech tree to evolve.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are described as charming and contribute to a serene atmosphere, enhancing the experience of building a community on a deserted island. While some players find the aesthetics and puzzles appealing, others criticize the graphics as lacking quality, though they still enjoy the gameplay.
“The game's charming graphics and relaxing soundtrack create a serene atmosphere as players guide a group of villagers to build a thriving community on a deserted island.”
“The graphics aren't great but it's still fun.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features charming graphics and a relaxing soundtrack that together create a serene atmosphere, enhancing the experience of guiding villagers in building a thriving community on a deserted island.
“The game's charming graphics and relaxing soundtrack create a serene atmosphere as players guide a group of villagers to build a thriving community on a deserted island.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's music, complemented by its charming graphics, features a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the serene atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players as they guide villagers in building a thriving community on a deserted island.
“The game's charming graphics and relaxing soundtrack create a serene atmosphere as players guide a group of villagers to build a thriving community on a deserted island.”
