Ylands

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"Ylands is a simulation game that offers adventure for 2-players or more in a stunning low-poly world, filled with six unique regions and diverse sea life. Gather resources, craft tools, and construct your own ship to explore and defend against various enemies. Despite some optimization issues and bugs, Ylands boasts excellent visuals, humor-infused lore, and a stellar soundtrack for an immersive experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

57%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,266 reviews

gameplay52 positive mentions

monetization33 negative mentions

Ylands offers a charming and versatile sandbox experience with creative building, exploration, and adventure.
The game has improved significantly since its early access days, with many updates adding new content and fixing bugs.
The building mechanics are in-depth and allow for a high level of creativity, making it enjoyable for players who love crafting and discovery.

The transition to free-to-play has alienated early supporters, as the core exploration mode is now locked behind a paywall.
The game suffers from performance issues, especially in multiplayer, with frequent crashes and lag.
Many players feel that the developers have shifted focus away from survival and exploration in favor of monetization and mini-games.

gameplay
213 mentions
24 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the depth and mechanics of crafting, building, and exploration, while others criticize it for being clunky, buggy, and overly reliant on microtransactions. Many users appreciate the potential for fun and creativity within the gameplay, but express frustration over restrictive mechanics and a lack of polish, particularly in combat and multiplayer experiences. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements, significant improvements are needed to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay is much more polished, and there are different game modes, so everyone can find something up their alley.”
- “The gameplay experience is awesome, by the way.”
- “I love this game; the gameplay is excellent. There are lots of things to build, the exploration mode is great.”
- “So imagine my surprise when I come back years later and it's full of microtransactions, gameplay feels very restrictive/non-exploratory, and it's now a free-to-play game but I get nothing for having actually paid for it.”
- “The developers love to constantly mess around with the game mechanics; half the time you will boot up to find the latest update completely altered the way the game works in some frustrating new way.”
- “It's just so sad to see a game with this much potential turn into a cash grab game that had its core gameplay basically removed.”
graphics
190 mentions
47 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming low-poly aesthetic and vibrant colors, creating a visually appealing atmosphere that many players find relaxing and enjoyable. While some users note performance issues and choppy visuals, the overall consensus is that the art style is unique and enhances the gameplay experience, often drawing comparisons to Minecraft but with improved visuals. However, there are mixed opinions regarding optimization, with some players experiencing lag despite the simplistic graphics.
- “The graphics of this game are unique and there are some truly beautiful moments while the sun sets over your ship or shines through your window.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the sense of exploration is always there.”
- “The low-poly graphics provide a beautiful atmosphere, and this style of graphics means that more items will be introduced quicker because less time is needed to design them.”
- “This game has bad graphics; the trailer does not show the whole truth, and the look-around mechanism is laggy.”
- “Very poor graphic performance for such simple looking graphics.”
- “I usually wouldn't complain about blocky graphics, but the graphics hurt the gameplay in terms of not making gameplay elements clear.”
monetization
164 mentions
7 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The monetization model of Ylands has drawn significant criticism from players, who feel it has shifted from a premium game to a cash grab reliant on microtransactions and in-game purchases. Many users express disappointment over the introduction of these monetization mechanics, which they believe detract from the original gameplay experience and exploit early supporters. While some players acknowledge that the microtransactions are primarily cosmetic and do not impact gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the perceived greed of the developers.
- “I personally don't hate microtransactions if they have no adverse effects on the game (pay-to-win, pay-to-progress, etc.), but I will edit this review if something of that nature does occur in the future. As of right now, I will support this game and recommend it to anyone who loves intuitive survival games.”
- “The game does have a store embedded that allows for real-money microtransactions, but they're purely cosmetic.”
- “People complaining about microtransactions are nuts. (By the way, all the people complaining about microtransactions don't know what they're talking about; yes, they are there, but it's all cosmetics, and you really do not have to buy them.)”
- “The original vision of Ylands as a premium game supported by its community was replaced by a model focused on microtransactions and in-game purchases.”
- “I am disgusted by the bait and switch Bohemia Interactive made with Ylands, changing the entire concept behind it and turning it into a greedy cash grab.”
- “It's just so sad to see a game with this much potential turn into a cash grab that had its core gameplay basically removed.”
optimization
127 mentions
9 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
35 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and frame drops, particularly on lower-end systems. While some updates have improved performance for certain users, the overall consensus is that the game still requires substantial optimization work to enhance gameplay experience and stability. Many reviewers recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game due to its current state.
- “With better optimizations and quality, it will become a great social game that sets the trend for the future of the gaming network.”
- “They turned a great, but broken, game into a polished, fully optimized single and multiplayer sandbox survival game.”
- “The game's optimization still has a few creases to smooth out, but overall it's a fun and adventurous survival game.”
- “I really wanted to enjoy this, but performance issues from the first day ruined it for me.”
- “The real thing that first killed this game was the lack of official server-side performance.”
- “Very bad optimization; the game runs at 120 fps then drops very often to 18-20 fps for no reason, even standing still.”
stability
117 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game's stability remains a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various game-breaking glitches, particularly in multiplayer mode. While some players acknowledge improvements over time, many still find the experience frustratingly buggy, especially during critical gameplay moments. Overall, the game is deemed playable but requires substantial fixes to enhance stability and user experience.
- “Single player is mainly bug-free as of my 11 hours in it, but multiplayer has some issues that the devs are aware of and are working on.”
- “Runs great.”
- “Animal AI seems reasonably intuitive and isn't too buggy.”
- “The game is still full of glitches and bugs (some even game breaking).”
- “This game is very bad; I understand that it's early access, but come on, it's so laggy and buggy. I regret buying this. Building isn't the best, and playing with friends is bad as it's very laggy.”
- “The major glitches with the game are some pretty important ones, sadly.”
story
61 mentions
7 % positive mentions
89 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and direction, with many players describing it as a sandbox experience devoid of a compelling narrative or quests. While there are some special islands with minimal storylines, the overall consensus is that the game feels empty and lacks engaging objectives, leaving players to create their own experiences without a structured plot. Despite the absence of a strong story, the crafting and building mechanics are appreciated, suggesting that players find enjoyment in the gameplay itself rather than the narrative.
- “The game itself is an amazing experience; you load up the adventure tab and you are thrown right into the story.”
- “Story islands look really interesting; I just arrived at the first one, but I'm looking forward to exploring them.”
- “The exploration is like uncovering a story that doesn't really have a story.”
- “The quest stuff I have done so far is just silly, and you can tell it is that way on purpose, but like everything else in the game, there is no wow factor at all.”
- “Story (in adventure mode) isn't really there.”
- “There's no goal, no antagonist, no story, no enemy or opposing force except for generic monsters and elves to defeat.”
grinding
49 mentions
0 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in resource gathering and building. While some appreciate the rewarding nature of crafting and the freedom to explore, others feel that the lack of direction and excessive grind detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy sandbox elements and don't mind grinding, but it may frustrate players seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Overall, it's a very grindy game that is very limited and I don't recommend it.”
- “The main reason this game is bad is because it becomes tedious to play.”
- “Unless you absolutely love grinding along, minute after minute, for stuff that leads to more grinding, you'll definitely want to pass this one up.”
music
45 mentions
56 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its immersive and relaxing qualities that enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some users noted a lack of variety and occasional repetitiveness, the soundtrack is generally described as beautiful and fitting, contributing to a nostalgic and enjoyable atmosphere. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's charm and engagement.
- “The soundtrack is awesome and the endless hours of sailing and discovering are fun now because you can fish, sleep if you are a ways from the border to the next yland or region.”
- “The music is wonderful, even slightly chuckle-worthy while crafting; if this had large-population dedicated servers this would totally be my online home.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the best I've heard in a game, at least in an early access sandbox game.”
- “The music is shit.”
- “The music is quaint at first but now it reminds me of an elevator and I almost never have my headset on anymore.”
- “Music is a little repetitive, wouldn't mind some medieval rock whilst slaying fresh spawns with my awesome cannons.”
atmosphere
26 mentions
85 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its stunning and immersive atmosphere, featuring beautiful weather effects, dynamic lighting, and a charming low-poly art style that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance between a relaxing environment during the day and a more dangerous, explorative feel at night, making it a captivating setting for crafting and survival. The combination of engaging sound design and scenic visuals contributes to a highly atmospheric gameplay experience that encourages exploration and creativity.
- “The game looks beautiful, from gloomy rain storms to thunderstorms, glorious sunsets, and bright sunny days; it is highly atmospheric.”
- “Combined with the atmospheric weather, fun topography, and dramatic sunsets/sunrises, I've taken more screenshots in this game than anything else I've played (and it's low poly)!”
- “The atmosphere and the beauty of this game really make just traveling alone very enjoyable.”
- “The atmosphere and lighting.”
- “Different islands, different atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and the beauty of this game really makes just traveling alone very enjoyable.”
humor
15 mentions
93 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its cheerful and funny art style, providing humor that appeals to both adults and children. Players report enjoying hilarious moments, especially when playing with friends, and find the game’s mechanics and scenarios to be amusing. However, some users note that technical issues can detract from the fun, leading to frustrating experiences amidst the humor.
- “Cheerful and funny art style, but educational, even for adults.”
- “I strongly suggest playing with a few friends because I have died laughing at scenarios we've been in.”
- “Day one: met up with a couple of buddies, fought some crazy mutated panthers, it was hilarious.”
replayability
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, described as "infinite" and "endless," with various gameplay styles and the ability to reset zones for new experiences. Players appreciate the extensive content and creative tools available, suggesting that it offers thousands of hours of engaging play. Overall, the replay value is a standout feature, especially for an early access title.
- “This game is infinite; the replayability is awesome! You can reset your zone for a do-over if you desire - how cool is that?”
- “The game offers thousands of hours of replayability, and the editor allows for the most imaginative people to create their own worlds.”
- “Hopefully the developers will add more content and replayability.”
- “The game offers thousands of hours of replayability, but it feels like it could use more variety.”
- “Replayability: endless, almost.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional impact from the game, describing feelings of fatigue and a lack of joy, yet also recognizing the rewarding sense of achievement from overcoming challenges. The cartoony art style and absence of graphic violence contribute to its accessibility, making the emotional experience both intense and multifaceted.
- “The art direction is cartoony in a good way, the lack of blood makes it suitable for all ages, and regardless of the grind to get 5 hay for a single 1x2 straw block, the grind to get everything else made me feel like I deserved everything I got.”