Ymir
- March 16, 2019
- Thibaud Michaud
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Ymir is a 4X Real Time Strategy game with city-building elements, where 2 players develop a civilization of Pigmen in a procedurally generated world. Experience complex socio-economic simulations and technological evolution, with unique biomes encouraging player-trading. Play in multiplayer mode on local or persistent servers, but be aware of bugs for an otherwise awesome gameplay and good graphics."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Ymir offers a unique blend of city building and 4X strategy gameplay, reminiscent of classic games like Caesar and Civilization.
- The game features a complex economic system that encourages players to adapt and strategize, providing a rewarding experience once mastered.
- The developer is actively engaged with the community, providing updates and support, which enhances the overall experience.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
- The learning curve is steep, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics without extensive trial and error.
- Multiplayer is the primary focus, leaving single-player mode lacking in depth and AI interaction, which may deter solo players.
- gameplay177 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its complexity and depth, appealing to fans of city-building and strategy genres, but it suffers from a steep learning curve, poor documentation, and numerous bugs. Players often find the mechanics unintuitive and frustrating, particularly in multiplayer settings where pacing can be slow and random events can disrupt progress. While some appreciate the potential and unique mechanics, many express disappointment over the lack of polish and balance, making it difficult to fully enjoy the experience.
“The game concept is great, the gameplay is deep and entertaining.”
“Very good game with very good gameplay!”
“The depth, the mechanics, the potential in this game are the kind that make a player dream of what could be.”
“This isn't because I don't want to play, but rather the gate-keeping due to mechanics to play this game are so ridiculous that you can't play the game when you want to.”
“The game has a very harsh learning curve, requires friends to enjoy, has hidden requirements that are impossible to know unless you sink many hours into the game, and finally there are game-breaking bugs that the developer refuses to address because 'it's not the way the game was meant to be played'.”
“Nothing much has changed gameplay-wise; unfortunately, a vast majority of problems that have plagued the game for years not only still remain but are further made worse due to a variety of issues.”
- stability59 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs, glitches, and stability issues, making it unplayable for many users, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay despite these problems, the overall consensus is that the game requires significant refinement and immediate attention to its stability. Many reviews highlight that the game's early access status is evident through its lack of polish and frequent crashes, which can severely impact the gaming experience.
“For one man to create this masterpiece, relatively bug-free (I haven't actually encountered any yet), is beyond anything I could believe.”
“Both on my Windows computer and via Proton, the game is so buggy that I can't play it.”
“This game is absurdly buggy at the moment and needs immediate attention as it is completely unplayable for many players due to the server client failing to authorize players to connect to each other's games.”
“The lack of polish is such a disappointment, graphical glitches everywhere, civs walking through fences/walls, the tutorial is a mess.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are low quality and reminiscent of older titles, yet they emphasize that gameplay takes precedence over visuals. While some appreciate the unique art style and nostalgic aesthetic, others criticize the presence of bugs and graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, the consensus is that despite the lackluster graphics, the engaging gameplay and community aspects make it a worthwhile title for fans of the genre.
“Excellent, yet hard economic simulation, good graphics and sound effects which all give a good gaming experience.”
“It's base story is fantastic and the graphics are very nice, impressive from a one man project.”
“Never crashed for me and lovely 2D art style, better than Civ 5.”
“The graphics are much to be desired, but the gameplay is top class.”
“The lack of polish is such a disappointment; graphical glitches everywhere, civs walking through fences/walls, and the tutorial is a mess.”
“The game has graphics from the 90s Caesar era, and there is nothing wrong with that, but you have to know what you are getting into.”
- story26 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely shaped by player interactions and emergent gameplay, allowing for memorable experiences, especially in roleplaying scenarios. While the foundational narrative is praised for its depth and replayability, players often encounter frustrating bottlenecks due to quest progression and random tech unlocks, which can hinder advancement. Overall, the combination of a solid base story and engaging multiplayer elements creates a unique storytelling environment, reminiscent of titles like Dwarf Fortress and Stellaris.
“It has lovely economic simulation within it that promotes a solid multiplayer experience as long as you play it for what it is: a colony sim and an emergent story maker.”
“It's base story is fantastic and the graphics are very nice, impressive for a one-man project.”
“Quests breaking because you advanced too quickly and unlocked the second tier building, and the quest only accepts the 1st tier which you can't build if you unlock the second tier.”
“This somewhat removes one of my core issues, which was getting stuck waiting for RNG tech to unlock so you could advance. Not to say that this has been 100% solved; I've spent a good 20 minutes waiting for basic leather cloth tech to drop, which was the last thing preventing the completion of a main mission.”
“If you join a roleplaying server, and you're lucky enough to find someone who is engaging, you could have a really deep and story-filled game.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, which sets it apart from many others in the genre that are seen as cash grabs. While some players feel the $30 price tag is steep for the content offered, they appreciate the dedication of the single developer and encourage support for quality projects. Overall, the monetization model is viewed positively, emphasizing a commitment to a fair gaming experience.
“The game is made by a single developer who doesn't care about microtransactions and seems dedicated to his idea.”
“There will be no microtransactions.”
“Definite buy if you're willing to put some time in. The best way to play is persistent, meaning games can last days. It can feel a bit like Clash of Clans at that point (without the microtransactions), but it gives you time to plan your actions, get in-depth with your city and civilizations, create a huge empire, and become a vassal or liege to other players.”
“If this were a free browser game backed by advertisements for revenue, that would be much more acceptable but this is not worth the $30.”
“Cash grab, what can I say!!!!”
“The world is really lacking games of this genre which aren't a complete cash grab; I think it's our duty, as fans of the genre, to support good projects like this one.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while it can be tedious and time-consuming, it also fosters a sense of urgency and strategy, particularly in farming and resource management. The emphasis on farming efficiency and territorial control adds depth, making it engaging for those who enjoy complex, cooperative gameplay, though it may feel overwhelming for others. Overall, the experience is described as challenging but rewarding, appealing to fans of extreme strategy.
“It's challenging, not overly grindy, but it keeps you engaged because you're concerned about falling behind or ensuring your people are safe.”
“It's challenging, not overly grindy, but it keeps you engaged because you're concerned about falling behind or ensuring your people are safe.”
“This is way too long and tedious.”
“If you enjoy extreme strategy, cooperation with random strangers, extremely grindy (if you're not playing real time) then you might really enjoy this.”
“It's hard, not grindy but makes you not want to put it down because you are worried about falling behind or your people not being safe.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its unique blend of 4X strategy elements, randomly generated worlds, and a focus on community-driven multiplayer experiences. Players appreciate the potential for story-building akin to titles like Dwarf Fortress and Stellaris, suggesting that ongoing improvements could enhance its playability further. Overall, it stands out as a more engaging option compared to other strategy games like Civilization VI.
“Overall, this is a unique, different take on the 4X strategy genre that melds society building, economic management, city building, and RTS strategy of many games before Ymir to varying degrees of success, along with randomly generated worlds that create a huge amount of replayability.”
“I hope I am wrong and the developer will make it better and more playable over time.”
“Overall, quite a few things have been improved, making the game far more playable in my opinion.”
“It has the foundations for massive replayability, story building like Dwarf Fortress and Stellaris, and an easy to use/hard to master feel with the multiplayer focus that lets its community thrive.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is notably lacking, with low performance and responsiveness on servers after the initial launch period. Players have expressed concerns about the game's balancing and overall stability, especially given its classification as an experimental work-in-progress that may never achieve full optimization. Additionally, the game's performance issues are particularly disappointing for a 2D title, raising questions about its value relative to its price.
“Optimization can be improved on the internet side of things, but it's not that noticeable unless you want to watch a battle.”
“The game's startup screen states, 'This game is likely to forever remain an experimental work-in-progress and to never reach the quality, proper stability, and optimization of a finished product.'”
“Performance/responsiveness of the game on the server (that is not fresh - first weeks) is low.”
“It's a good concept but the game needs balancing and it has poor performance.”
“- Performance is poorly optimized for a 2D game.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of amusing names and situations, though it is somewhat undermined by frustrating bugs that can lead to the loss of valuable data. Players find the humor in the game's quirks, but the potential for data loss dampens the overall comedic experience.
“It has a healthy dose of humorous names.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a lack of emotional engagement in the game, noting that the characters feel generic and interchangeable, which diminishes the potential for personal attachment or investment. Comparisons to other games highlight a deficiency in emotional depth and connection, making the experience feel more like a standard strategy game rather than one with rich storytelling or character development.
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is appreciated conceptually, similar to the enjoyment found in "Song of Syx," but players express a preference for a sandbox-style experience rather than a competitive multiplayer format that emphasizes elimination.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging art style and detailed city-building mechanics, creating an immersive experience that aligns perfectly with players' expectations for a city builder.
“The atmosphere, the art style, and the in-depth mechanics of city building and population management are exactly what I want to see in a city builder.”
