Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles does not disappoint. It’s a highly enjoyable and polished game, displaying a thoughtful approach to adventuring, an offering plenty to maintain interest.
In "Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles," explore the vibrant island of Gemea as young hero Novo. Collect magical creatures called Sprites to banish the murky substance known as Murk that's plaguing the land. Engage in farming, crafting, cooking, and fishing as you uncover the ancient stories of Gemea.
Beautiful graphics and vibrant environments that create an immersive experience.
Relaxing gameplay with no combat, allowing players to explore at their own pace.
Charming characters and cute animals that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
The main story is short and lacks depth, leading to a feeling of emptiness after completion.
Crafting and farming mechanics can feel tedious and are not as rewarding as expected.
Limited fast travel options and navigation issues can make exploring the world frustrating.
story
2,330 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
77%
8%
The story in "Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles" is generally perceived as simplistic and short, often described as a series of fetch quests that lack depth and emotional engagement. While players appreciate the charming world and the freedom to explore, many feel that the narrative fails to provide a compelling reason to complete the quests, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a relaxing experience rather than a rich, story-driven adventure.
“The game follows the protagonist of choice who has been called by his family on a navigational quest to uncover secrets from his past on the island of Gemea and destroy the ancient darkness that terrorizes the region.”
“When it comes to the story, it's interesting and easy to follow.”
“The story is engaging and moves at a decent pace, without overpowering all the exploration that is available.”
“The quests are extremely boring and monotonous and the world is pretty much uneventful.”
“The main story feels like it's not fully fleshed out and is painfully short.”
“The story is weird and doesn't actually explain what's going on.”
grinding
901 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
1%
98%
The grinding aspect of "Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles" has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the game's relaxing exploration and casual gameplay, they often find the farming and crafting systems to be overly simplistic and tedious, lacking depth and meaningful engagement. Players note that while there are numerous quests and activities, the repetitive nature of resource gathering and the minimal impact of farming can lead to a sense of grind, particularly for those seeking a more robust farming experience akin to titles like "Stardew Valley."
“Brilliant game, chill quest completing & beautiful scenery with no grinding, genuinely couldn't ask for more from a game of this genre :)”
“This game offers that and they are not tedious and the landscape is so cool; I normally do not get into cartoonish features like landscape and characters, but this game really has some of the most amazing map sites out there for this genre.”
“Great things: lovely and atmospheric, light touches of comedy, and collecting items for crafting isn't really grinding.”
“Very unfortunate that the crafting system feels clunky and overly grindy, since the rest of the game is very charming.”
“It's tedious and is made worse by the fact that you can finish almost everything else in the game before the main quest is over, and what you can't finish is very easily completed afterward.”
“The farming elements are very simple, and light.”
graphics
666 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their beautiful, cute, and vibrant art style, often compared to titles like "Breath of the Wild" and "Stardew Valley." Many players find the visuals to be relaxing and aesthetically pleasing, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some users have noted issues with graphical clarity and performance, suggesting that while the art style is charming, it may not be technically flawless.
“If you're looking for a relaxing, easy game with beautiful graphics you'll love this one.”
“The graphics are like a cozy blanket for the eyes.”
“The graphics are stunning and the story-line is simple, well-written and not frustrating to follow.”
“But for some reason the graphics just smack the sick button in my head and I just cannot play it at all - usually I always try to push past it to play but I just can't see this game being worth it sadly.”
“I found the world hard and annoying to navigate, the map awkward and the graphics too hazy to see well.”
“There's nothing of substance behind the pretty visuals the game has to offer.”
gameplay
572 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The gameplay of "Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles" is characterized by its relaxing and casual nature, focusing on exploration, crafting, and farming mechanics that are easy to grasp but often lack depth. While many players appreciate the beautiful visuals and tranquil atmosphere, they also note that the mechanics can feel repetitive and disjointed, with a reliance on fetch quests and limited interaction with the environment. Overall, the game is well-suited for those seeking a laid-back experience, but may disappoint players looking for more complex gameplay or a compelling narrative.
“I really like the fishing mechanic, too; I enjoy fishing mechanics that utilize the control stick to pull against the direction of the fish, and it is simplified in a very satisfying way in this game.”
“The gameplay is very relaxing, mostly unveiling the map, collections, and some quests.”
“The cheerful world, adorable creatures, and the super casual gameplay make this game one of the best games I have ever played.”
“The problem mostly comes from the intentional slow pace due to some design decisions affecting different gameplay elements.”
“Storyline is borderline non-existent and the gameplay is made up of tedious fetch quests (e.g. building bridges requires hundreds of stone and you get a maximum of four stone per node).”
“Yonder is a game where excellent conception and flawless visual style were totally wasted by disastrously implemented gaming mechanics.”
music
306 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and whimsical qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere of exploration. Many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack, which complements the stunning visuals and creates a soothing backdrop for gameplay, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's charm and appeal as a stress-free experience.
“The music and audio effects are so good!”
“The soundtrack is perfect to be the backdrop of your adventure through Yonder.”
“The music is calming and ethereal.”
“The music was always the same no matter what biome or season it was, giving no particular uniqueness to any part of the world audibly.”
“The music is pretty okay, utterly forgettable, not a single track that gets me in a real exploring and farming mood like Stardew Valley's, but okay.”
“The soundtrack could be much better; it's so repetitive.”
atmosphere
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, featuring beautiful graphics, peaceful music, and a charming world that encourages exploration without the pressure of combat. Players appreciate the relaxing environment, which allows for a stress-free experience filled with lighthearted activities like crafting and collecting. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a cozy, atmospheric escape from reality.
“The atmosphere and setting is great, with the different habitats and the change in seasons and weather to set up an immersive in-game experience.”
“I do have to mention that the world the game takes place in is absolutely beautiful, brimming with atmosphere, and a joy to explore and inhabit.”
“With beautiful charm and a calming, positive atmosphere, this game has helped me de-stress in the toughest of times.”
“I would be so much more attracted to the story, but honestly there's a very small amount of atmosphere of environment, and this game fails to establish an environment that this world could live in.”
“Frankly, I prefer Ori and the Blind Forest style, where you feel the mood and atmosphere with it.”
“At this present time, it feels more like a walking sim combined with a very aesthetic atmosphere.”
emotional
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The emotional aspect of the game is largely described as wholesome and feel-good, with many players appreciating its cute graphics and relaxing gameplay. However, there are mixed feelings regarding the depth of the story and character connections, with some finding it lacking in emotional impact and substance compared to similar titles. Overall, while it offers a charming experience, it may not resonate deeply with all players.
“I wandered through the main story; it took about 12 hours, and I cried at the end.”
“The story is charming and heartfelt, making it a truly spectacular work of art.”
“All in all, you can tell that there was a lot of love put into this wholesome game, and it's well worth the price.”
“This game had a boring story, little for you to explore, terrible chest rewards, and a really bad money system (I had 10k in value from potatoes alone from a single farm with 3 gardens).”
“And was met with a boring story, boring gameplay, and overall quirks that killed the experience.”
humor
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its lighthearted moments, whimsical characters, and funny quests that add charm to the exploration experience. While some found the humor to be a bit heavy-handed or juvenile, many enjoyed the clever dialogue, amusing easter eggs, and the overall playful tone that makes the game accessible for both kids and adults. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its relaxing gameplay, creating a delightful atmosphere for players.
“Yonder is visually appealing, has some funny and cute quests, and exploring its world is engaging.”
“The villagers are funny, the animals are whimsical, and gathering and crafting will keep you busy for a long time.”
“With the gorgeous scenery, funny characters, and bright happy colors, Yonder is a great game for someone who wants to stop and smell the flowers!”
replayability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
49%
31%
Overall, the game has low replayability, with many players noting that once the main story and quests are completed, there is little incentive to return. While some find enjoyment in pursuing different goals or achieving 100% completion, the linear nature and lack of depth in gameplay limit the potential for varied experiences. Future updates may enhance replay value, but currently, it is seen as a relaxing experience rather than one with significant replay appeal.
“Good replay value if you focus on different goals each time.”
“Overall, despite all the negative points, I do recommend it because even if it hasn't got massive amounts of replayability, the journey of getting 100% completion is pretty enjoyable and the world is aesthetically pleasing and is a nice, calm world with nice graphics and visuals for both the world itself and the characters that inhabit it.”
“Not too much replayability, but I got 20 hours out of it.”
“My only 'complaint': replayability is nonexistent, because I would much love to be able to play this game again, but once you know where everything is, you know where everything is.”
“The farming and crafting aspects of this game are pretty useless, and once you complete most of the quests/main storyline, the game just becomes tedious and there is little replayability.”
“It lacks the depth and replayability that Stardew Valley has, and while it’s a pretty, open-world game, the land is vacant of enemies to battle or puzzles to solve beyond finding a particular resource needed to complete a quest.”
optimization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
18%
9%
Overall, the game is praised for its exceptional optimization, with many users reporting smooth performance, zero crashes, and minimal bugs. It runs well even on high settings, achieving over 100 fps without stutters, making it stand out among recent releases. However, some players noted that while the game functions well, certain aspects could still benefit from further optimization.
“It's exceptionally well optimized for an indie game.”
“Graphics are superb and appear extremely well optimized.”
“Also performance wise, full 10/10, settings maxed out 6700k & 1070 over 100 fps with vsync on my 1440p monitor and zero drops or stutters!”
“This game is really frustrating because everything works, but nothing is optimized.”
“If I were to compare Yonder to something other than Fantasy Life, that would be another indie game called Hardland (which is still in early access), and despite being built on the same Unity engine, it looks so much better and much more detailed without any sort of performance issues.”
“[primarily fetch quests, lack of travel option, occasional performance issues]”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth and minimal storytelling. While character design options are praised for their variety and creativity, the overall sentiment suggests that the game could benefit from more substantial character growth and narrative complexity.
“+ Character design is great, you get loads of clothes, accessories, hair designs, and so on.”
“I expected a bit more story and character development though.”
“There is no character development.”
“I expected a bit more story and character development, though.”
“Very (and I mean very) little character development and a small, simple story actually work to the game's advantage.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly related to quests and crafting mechanics. However, others have experienced smooth performance, even on high settings, with no noticeable lag or issues shortly after release. Overall, while there are reports of instability, many find it tolerable and enjoy the game's aesthetic and performance.
“Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles runs great on ultra settings, no sign of lag at all.”
“One thing that absolutely blew my mind was that I picked up this game maybe 5 minutes after release and found it completely bug free.”
“I haven't experienced any bugs yet; it runs great.”
“Crafting is awkward, the story is only kind of there, there isn't actually enough variety in crops or livestock to justify maintaining six farms, the models are clunky, there are tons of graphical errors and glitches all over the place, and since there is no currency system you end up getting flooded with hoards of useless items pretty quickly.”
“Can get buggy and glitchy when near certain rocks and obstacles.”
“Buggy but tolerable, can't swim to save your life, need to build bridges out of materials that that one vendor somewhere that one time a long time ago had.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Players appreciate the absence of microtransactions in the game, highlighting it as a positive aspect that enhances the overall experience.
“It's refreshing to play a game without microtransactions.”
“It's great to enjoy a game that doesn't rely on microtransactions.”
“I appreciate that this game is free from microtransactions.”