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
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Windows
Mobile Platform
Reviews
- The game is nostalgic and brings back fond memories for many players, making it a delightful experience.
- It offers a relaxing gameplay style, allowing players to check in on their villagers periodically while engaging in other activities.
- The charming graphics and simple mechanics create an enjoyable and immersive simulation experience.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited activities to engage in after completing the initial puzzles.
- Some players have experienced frustration with the villagers' AI, as they may not always follow commands effectively.
- The price point is considered steep for an older game with simplistic mechanics, leading some to recommend trying it on other platforms instead.
- gameplay11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and puzzles that, while easy, can require some thought, making it accessible yet engaging. Players appreciate the real-time aspect, which adds a layer of urgency and addiction, encouraging repeated play despite the relatively short overall experience. A demo is recommended for those unsure about the game's value.
“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.”
“[A simple sim game with engaging gameplay.]”
“Regrettably, I finished all the puzzles in under 3 hours of gameplay, maybe 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.”
- grinding10 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. While skills like science can be easily trained, limited training opportunities for other skills can lead to being locked out of quests, emphasizing the need for timely resource management. Overall, the game is considered forgiving regarding food shortages, making it accessible 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.”
“This game is pretty forgiving when it comes to your villagers running out of food, so as long as you put research points into farming relatively quickly you shouldn't have issues with keeping your villagers alive.”
- story8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging, featuring a series of quests that require players to solve challenges and navigate a tech tree for progression. However, some quests are gated by specific villager skill levels, and one quest relies heavily on luck, which may frustrate players. Overall, the narrative is well-received, though it has some minor issues related to quest accessibility.
“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.”
“My only complaint would be that one quest is more luck-based because you cannot lead the villagers to work on it.”
“The story is pretty neat also.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are described as charming and contribute to a serene atmosphere, particularly in the context of guiding villagers on a deserted island. While some players find the visuals appealing, others note that the graphics are not exceptional, yet the overall experience remains enjoyable. Additionally, the third installment is highlighted for its superior aesthetics and puzzle design, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics.
“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.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % 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 to build 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.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its relaxing soundtrack, which enhances the serene atmosphere as players guide villagers in building a thriving community on a deserted island. The combination of charming graphics and soothing melodies contributes to an immersive and tranquil gaming experience.
“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.”
