Virtual Villagers Origins 2

Virtual Villagers Origins 2 is a simulation game where players guide a tribe of villagers to build and sustain their village on a mysterious island. The game features new puzzles, technologies, and collectibles, as well as the ability to cultivate and harvest crops. Players must manage resources, solve puzzles, and help the villagers grow and thrive in this sequel to the popular Virtual Villagers series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,949 reviews

graphics115 positive mentions

monetization782 negative mentions

Great graphics and nostalgic gameplay reminiscent of the original Virtual Villagers.
Challenging puzzles that keep players engaged and thinking.
Fun crafting system that allows for creativity and resource management.

Excessive ads that interrupt gameplay and can lead to frustration.
Slow progression in earning tech points and crafting items, making it tedious.
Frequent glitches and crashes that disrupt the gaming experience.

monetization
814 mentions
1 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from users, primarily due to the excessive and intrusive nature of ads. Players report being bombarded with unskippable ads during gameplay, particularly after crafting items or completing tasks, which significantly disrupts the gaming experience. While some users acknowledge the option to watch ads for rewards like tech points and lavastones, many express frustration over the lack of a reasonable balance between gameplay and advertising, leading to a perception of the game as a cash grab.
- “There's no ads unless you want to watch one for a reward.”
- “It's still functional even if you don't make any in-game purchases.”
- “Some people are upset at in-app purchases, but as a modern app-style game, unless you're purchasing a full game for money, you can't expect there not to be the option to purchase in-game currency.”
- “The amount of ads forced in this game is unbearable - they are pushed in after every action, every single item craft, etc. I don't want to make discoveries because the game rewards you with ads.”
- “I understand the need for ads in free games, and I normally coexist with them because game developers need to make money, but if I literally cannot play the game because of the ads, what is the point of playing?”
- “The sheer amount of ads makes this game impossible to play.”
graphics
190 mentions
61 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant improvements over previous versions, describing them as beautiful, charming, and well-detailed. However, some users have criticized the graphics for being unclear or too small, leading to difficulties in gameplay. Overall, while the graphics are generally appreciated, there is a consensus that further enhancements could elevate the experience even more.
- “I love the detailing, naming of the villagers, gameplay, storyline, and graphics!”
- “The graphics are amazing and the game is as fun as the last ones!”
- “Love the game, graphics, and control could be better.”
- “The graphics are horrible.”
- “I played this game for a week. I love the game, but when I zoom in, the graphics become unclear.”
- “The first game was way better; the graphics in this one are terrible.”
stability
115 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players experience issues with crafting, saving progress, and ad interruptions, leading to frustration and a desire to uninstall. While some enjoy the game, the overwhelming number of technical problems detracts from the overall experience, making it nearly unplayable for many.
- “Everything takes an insanely long time to do and is blocked behind an ad, the ads take forever to load and there's no way to pay to get rid of them, and the game randomly glitches all the time.”
- “It is also infuriating that any time I try to collect something I've crafted, it just freezes on that screen with the saving thing in the top right corner forever and ever turning.”
- “The game is so buggy and laggy I used to play the original PC game but now it's just difficult to do anything with so many bugs.”
gameplay
87 mentions
36 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over excessive ad interruptions that significantly hinder the experience. While some appreciate the mechanics and nostalgic elements of the franchise, others criticize the slow progression and monetization strategies that feel like cash grabs. Overall, the gameplay is seen as lacking balance, with technical issues and a reliance on ads detracting from enjoyment.
- “I love how much the series has changed for the better without changing what made it so amazing: the style of real-time automated gameplay.”
- “Great gameplay and very thought out.”
- “The gameplay is well done.”
- “The crafting system is a bad cash grab, gameplay is underbearing, and the graphics are horrible.”
- “It's clear that the developers have no idea what constitutes an acceptable balance of gameplay and advertising.”
- “Now, you load the app and an ad starts, something finishes crafting and an ad starts... it's honestly ruining gameplay.”
story
77 mentions
27 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its engaging plot and character interactions. However, many users express frustration over the lack of clear objectives and guidance, making it difficult to progress through quests. While the graphics and overall gameplay are praised, there is a strong desire for more structured missions and updates to the storyline to enhance the gaming experience.
- “I love the detailing, naming of the villagers, gameplay, storyline, and graphics!”
- “The game has interesting parts to it such as the puzzles around the island, trying to help the villagers develop, and certain surprises in the storyline that keep the player coming back.”
- “I really love this game, I used to play the first Villager Origins and I loved it just as I love this game; I really like the style of the characters and the storyline.”
- “The only other thing that is bothersome is not knowing what to do next for the storyline and having to constantly look it up.”
- “The thing I hated the most in part 1 was the lack of missions or objectives; you had to guess everything you had to do on the island without having a clue of where to start, and somehow you managed to make it worse in this one by adding more things to do while still lacking in objectives or guidance.”
- “No quests or missions, just a bunch of villagers wandering around.”
grinding
49 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and slow, with players reporting that it takes an unreasonably long time to earn tech points necessary for upgrades, particularly in farming and crafting. Many users express frustration over the need to watch ads or spend real money to progress, leading to a repetitive and often discouraging experience. While some find the game enjoyable, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.
- “It's a tedious, extremely slow grind.”
- “It takes way too long to earn tech points, and crafting, medicine, farming, etc. requires way too much of them to level up.”
- “Grinding is a complete letdown.”
humor
16 mentions
88 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding it entertaining and amusing, particularly in character names and quirky animations. However, others feel that the humor could be enhanced, citing issues like frequent ads and glitches that detract from the experience. While some moments elicit laughter, the inconsistency in comedic elements leaves room for improvement.
- “Fun game to play and a bit funny!”
- “And I think it is funny when a kid says 'weee' when you pick it up!”
- “It's funny to watch all the little characters run.”
- “Not funny.”
- “Not funny, interesting.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, users report significant issues with the game's optimization, citing poor performance, lag, and glitches, particularly on lower-end devices and certain operating systems. Many players express a desire for improvements to enhance gameplay fluidity and responsiveness.
- “The game is great, but it needs some optimizations because it lags a lot for people who do not have good internet.”
- “Game needs to be optimized.”
- “Used to love the game on PC; great to have it optimized for phone.”
- “My only suggestion would be to improve the game's performance. There is this weird glitch where I click and move a village, but instead of being dropped, they hover in the air.”
- “Very poor performance; it takes more time to move and operate the characters in the game.”
- “The game needs to be optimized.”
music
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the Virtual Villagers series is consistently praised for its nostalgic and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate how the soundtrack evokes memories of the original games while complementing the beautiful visuals and engaging gameplay. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the addictive nature of the game.
- “Virtual Villagers is a classic; every time I hear the music, I remember playing the original games!”
- “Now playing the second collection (Origins) is no different; the music still reminds me of the original series, and every game just gets better and better each time.”
- “The music is relaxing; there's always something to do, and it's a beautiful layout. Hope to see more chapters in the future!”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its wholesome and entertaining qualities developed over years of play. However, the requirement for an internet connection has been a source of disappointment, detracting from their overall experience.
- “I have played this game for years on many different devices, and I love the game, but requiring an internet connection to play is truly heartbreaking!”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the character development in the game showcases significant improvements in graphics and design compared to previous installments, enhancing the overall depth and engagement of the characters.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly connect with their characters and see them evolve throughout the story.”
- “I love how the choices I make impact my character's growth and relationships, making every decision feel meaningful.”
- “The backstories and personal arcs of each character are well-crafted, adding layers of complexity that enhance the overall narrative.”