Worldbox
- December 2, 2021
- Noxcho_Borz
- 19h median play time
Worldbox is a sandbox god simulation game that lets you shape and manipulate terrain, create and control various creatures and civilizations, and observe the consequences of your actions. You can experiment with different scenarios, from creating peaceful societies to unleashing natural disasters and watching the world burn. The game offers a variety of tools and options, making it a great choice for players who enjoy sandbox games with creative freedom and world-building elements.
Reviews
- gameplay347 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this sandbox simulation game is characterized by its simple yet deep mechanics, allowing for extensive creativity and exploration. While many players appreciate the engaging world-building and emergent gameplay, some criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth after initial hours of play. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun mechanics and user-friendly controls, but opinions vary on its long-term replayability and value for money.
“Its simple yet deep mechanics make it a game that’s easy to pick up but hard to put down.”
“The gameplay rewards curiosity and encourages exploration, as you uncover new mechanics and secrets hidden beneath the surface.”
“With its endless possibilities and engaging gameplay, it offers a unique and immersive godhood experience.”
“There's clearly a lot of effort put into the game, with stuff like genealogy, etc. However, in terms of the core gameplay, there's really nothing there.”
“The gameplay can become repetitive, and building a civilization from scratch and having wars, making alliances, etc., can get boring after a while.”
“The gameplay is simple and low stakes; you don't have to worry too terribly much about resource management or managing your creatures unless you really want to.”
- graphics229 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of Worldbox are characterized by a charming pixel art style that, while simplistic, effectively supports the game's creative and simulation mechanics. Many players appreciate the vibrant colors and nostalgic aesthetic, which enhance the immersive experience despite some critiques regarding the low detail and pixelation. Overall, the graphics are seen as a deliberate choice that complements the gameplay, allowing for a unique and engaging sandbox experience.
“The game's visuals, which might seem rudimentary at first glance, progressively reveal their intricate beauty as you delve into the game's mechanics and world-building capabilities.”
“The graphics and visuals in Worldbox - God Simulator are stunning, with detailed and vivid landscapes, creatures, and weather effects that create a truly immersive experience.”
“Worldbox boasts a pixel art style that, while minimalistic, is surprisingly charming and expressive.”
“The graphics are a bit too stylized and that 1990s look makes it hard to really get immersed in it.”
“This game has bad graphics (obviously) and way too little content for the price you pay; you can get bored very easily.”
“The game can be fun, but even as a pixel game, I found the graphics so bad I can barely distinguish an orc from humans.”
- story205 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely defined by its lack of a structured narrative, allowing players to create their own stories and worlds through sandbox gameplay. While some users appreciate the emergent storytelling and the ability to craft personal narratives, others note the absence of depth in character development and a cohesive plot. Overall, it serves as a creative platform for world-building rather than a traditional story-driven experience.
“It's a perfect mix of humor, realism, simulation, world creation, and story.”
“There is great potential for world building and storytelling through random names and details for tools and weapons, and random cultures that each have a different level of technological development.”
“World Box is in essence a very simple, easy to understand game; lots of awesome unpredictable scenarios can be experienced in the worlds one creates, and a dabble of imagination can go a long way too, making every world a story in and of itself.”
“Currently it's lacking depth in character development and in general storytelling.”
“The features are fun, don't get me wrong, but it feels like you just do the same thing over and over again... with no storyline you don't know where to go or what to do.”
“Good game to kill time, but do not expect any sort of plot other than your own imagination.”
- humor170 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the absurdity of causing destruction to tiny civilizations and the comedic elements woven throughout the gameplay. Many reviews highlight the developers' knack for creating funny scenarios, such as watching civilizations thrive only to be obliterated by humorous disasters, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining layer to the experience. Overall, the game is described as a fun and relaxing sandbox that allows players to indulge in their darker impulses with a comedic twist.
“Watching tiny people get bullied by the powers that be never fails to be funny.”
“Love the game, I love being able to make my own worlds. The game developers have a good sense of humor by making the game as goofy as possible.”
“You can really feel the almightyness and the dark humor is spot on.”
- grinding76 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as excessively tedious, with many players feeling that it requires an unrealistic time investment, often humorously suggesting that one would need "a second life" to manage it. While some players find enjoyment in the grind, particularly when pursuing achievements or creating stories, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the repetitive tasks required to progress.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“Average grind level.”
“Though it is annoying if you want mods, as World Box doesn't have mods on Steam, which makes it a very tedious process to mod or get mods for the game.”
“Tedious to farm traits: Why can't it be made less tedious by having it automatically unlock whenever an individual gains the trait?”
“I think it's a cool idea to make a civilization of fire-dwarves who live in an inferno biome next to a volcano, but having to mass trait-spread fire immunity, fire blood, and burn scars every new generation is kind of tedious.”
- replayability47 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its sandbox nature and mod support, which contribute to a high replay value. However, some users express concerns about the lack of frequent updates and content, leading to a perception of limited replayability over time. Overall, while it offers enjoyable and varied gameplay, its long-term replayability may depend on future enhancements and community contributions.
“Worldbox is a game that’s practically limitless in terms of replayability.”
“This sandbox nature ensures that no two games are ever alike, and the game's replayability is a testament to its depth and complexity.”
“With its evolving features, mod support, and limitless replayability, Worldbox is a must-play for fans of sandbox and simulation games, as well as anyone who's ever wondered what it's like to be a divine creator.”
“It's replayability factor isn't as great as for say, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator.”
“This game is definitely something to do when you are stressed or want to take out anger, but it is not replayable in my opinion and even after getting all traits and getting most of the achievements, I can't find myself playing this game again.”
“Don't get me wrong... this game is already fun, but it's hardly replayable and it becomes repetitive quickly.”
- music45 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as minimal yet effective, enhancing the relaxing and meditative experience of gameplay. While some players appreciate the haunting beauty of the soundtrack, others express disappointment over the lack of background music and sound effects, suggesting that the game feels hollow without them. Overall, there is a strong desire for more diverse and immersive audio elements to complement the gameplay.
“The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly capturing the essence of your world's mood and atmosphere.”
“The game's serene and atmospheric music complements the meditative nature of world-building, and the sound effects, while not overly impressive, do a decent job of immersing you in your divine realm.”
“The game's minimalist art style, accompanied by a soothing soundtrack, adds to the overall relaxing and immersive experience.”
“Right off the bat, perhaps it's the downloaded early access version I got, but... no background music during play or in create modes?”
“The audio, however, is lacking, and there is currently no music or soundtrack at all, with only very basic creature sounds.”
“There is no music in the game and it feels like it is missing something.”
- optimization28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its strong optimization, running smoothly with minimal performance issues even during large-scale simulations. While most players report a polished experience with good performance on various hardware, some note that certain features, like terrain editing, could use further optimization. Additionally, while the game performs well on PCs, it may feel less responsive when using a keyboard and mouse compared to mobile devices.
“Optimization: well-optimized with minimal performance issues.”
“Good game overall with extremely good optimization, would recommend.”
“New features, bug fixes, and optimizations are frequently introduced, ensuring that the game remains fresh and enjoyable over time.”
“While Worldbox offers an incredible experience, it is worth noting that the game is still in development and may have occasional bugs or performance issues.”
“The UI is bad, but the terrain editing is very poorly optimized.”
“It's clearly optimized for phones and it feels clunky with a keyboard and mouse.”
- stability18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with many players reporting a generally smooth experience and few bugs, particularly after regular updates. However, some users have encountered significant issues, including crashes and glitches, especially when using mods or after recent updates. While many enjoy the game without major problems, others caution that it can be buggy at times, affecting gameplay.
“Runs great; the only time it lags slightly is when you drop over 1000 bombs.”
“My experience has been mostly bug-free, and they frequently release bug patches.”
“No glitches, crashes, or bugs.”
“Not sure if it's just for me, but it's really buggy, like crashing my game and not letting me remove menus, so be wary of that if you ever get mods and other game-altering things.”
“This game's new update gave me new glitches that I hate.”
“I haven't been able to play since all of the AI freezes every minute or so.”
- monetization15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 47 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game varies significantly between platforms; the Steam version is a one-time purchase with no in-game transactions, while the mobile version is free but includes ads and paywalls for certain content. Players appreciate the absence of microtransactions on Steam, although some feel the $20 price tag is steep and liken it to a cash grab. Overall, the game is praised for its value and content, especially in the Steam version, despite mixed feelings about its pricing strategy.
“The best game ever, no ads, create whatever you want, and you can see other worlds from different developers.”
“Simple fun without the hassle of in-game purchases.”
“There is so much more in this version than iOS, and there are no other in-game purchases.”
“I feel like it's a bit of a cash grab. I won't go into depth about it, but all I can say is that it's a fantastic game. The problem is that it is $20 and hasn't ever gone on sale. Lowkey for me, it feels like a cash grab, but I mean it's still a good game; I'm just mixed.”
“Although being free on mobile (now with ads and a paywall for some content), the Steam version has stuff like the Steam Workshop that will make you keep on playing for a good amount of time!”
“It's free and the only limitations are blocked by ads.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often feeling like a god as they create and manipulate their worlds. The experience can evoke deep feelings, from pride and attachment to heartbreak, particularly when making significant decisions that impact their creations. The juxtaposition of nurturing a kingdom and then destroying it highlights the game's ability to elicit complex emotional responses.
“Sarah had made the heart-wrenching decision to leave, taking Emily and Michael with her.”
“I was so proud I shed a tear.”
“I grew an emotional attachment to a kingdom I made and then nuked it with enough bombs to destroy the solar system for no reason.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a complex ecosystem and political dynamics, enhanced by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that captures the mood of the world. While the sound effects contribute to immersion, they are not as impactful as the music, which complements the meditative experience of world-building. Overall, the atmosphere is engaging, though some players feel it could be elevated with a more dynamic soundtrack.
“It's crazy how entertaining this game can be and how complex of an ecosystem and political atmosphere you can create.”
“The soundtrack is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly capturing the essence of your world's mood and atmosphere.”
“The game's serene and atmospheric music complements the meditative nature of world-building, and the sound effects, while not overly impressive, do a decent job of immersing you in your divine realm.”
“Maybe, if this game were half off, and the soundtrack were an absolute banger similar to gems like Crypt of the Necrodancer or Binding of Isaac, where you can really melt into the atmosphere of the game, I'd recommend it.”
“It was seen early in the morning, rushing over Winchester eastward, a line of flame high in the atmosphere.”
“I decided at this point that it was time to thaw out our map and see what species of animals survived the thawing event and flourished after their atmosphere repaired itself and the world returned to a semi-normal state.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is noted to be lacking depth, with reviewers expressing concerns about the overall storytelling quality as well.
“Currently, it's lacking depth in character development and in general storytelling.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and their growth is barely noticeable throughout the game.”
“There is little to no meaningful progression for the characters, making it hard to connect with them.”