Zen Idle: Gravity Meditation
- July 14, 2019
- Tech Tree Games
- 10h median play time
"Zen Idle: Gravity Meditation" is a Simulation game that offers beautiful gameplay with pretty visuals and an outstanding soundtrack. However, the experience is marred by frequent ads and numerous bugs that require grinding to overcome. The game invites you to relax and watch balls tumble, providing a soothing backdrop for idle gameplay.
Reviews
- monetization929 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews. While many players appreciate the absence of forced ads and the option to watch ads for bonuses, others criticize the high cost of in-app purchases, particularly for removing ads, which some deem excessive for a simple idle game. Overall, players enjoy the ability to progress without mandatory ads, but the frequent technical issues with ad rewards and the perceived cash grab nature of microtransactions have led to frustration among some users.
“A good, fun, simple game with no ads unless you want to watch for bonuses that aren't necessary to progress.”
“I paid for the no ads option, really nice that it actually gets rid of all ads, unlike some games that just get rid of autoplay ads but still make you watch ads for bonuses.”
“Actually very nice game, no ads unless you choose to watch them.”
“On top of the insane amount of monetization has kinda killed this game for me.”
“Particularly because the purchases for things like remove ads and permanent upgrades is quite expensive compared to comparable games.”
“The only problem would be the ads because it makes the split screen glitchy, but other than that it's cool.”
- music245 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and calming qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. However, many users express a desire for more variety in the music tracks, as the current options can become repetitive and not entirely "zen." While some find the soundtrack soothing enough to help them relax or even fall asleep, others note that it can be annoying over time, suggesting the need for additional music options or longer loops.
“The music and the design come together to produce a mildly interesting but extremely tranquil experience.”
“The music is very relaxing and the play is simplistic.”
“The music in this game is awesome, fun, and great just to leave running in the background.”
“The music is the furthest thing from zen, and is too discordant to be calming.”
“More ads than I remember and more expensive than I remember to get rid of ads, and the music got dramatically worse and less zen-like.”
“The higher toned music tends to wreak havoc on my migraines.”
- gameplay107 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is described as simple, relaxing, and often enjoyable, with minimal controls and smooth mechanics that cater to a zen-like experience. However, many players express frustration with slow progression, clunky mechanics, and issues such as bugs and lost progress, which detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the optional ads and the honest gameplay model, others criticize the reliance on in-game purchases and the effectiveness of certain mechanics, leading to a mixed reception overall.
“The gameplay is perfect.”
“In short: zen idle's gameplay model is simple and honest.”
“The gameplay is really nice, and don't even get me started with the music.”
“The balls just stuck everywhere and you have to tap on them to let them go down... this is really strange game design that ruins the whole gameplay and point of the game.”
“The gameplay is slow and boring; the upgrades cost so much and do so little to help that it becomes tedious after 10 minutes.”
“Unintuitive and non-motivating gameplay, with zero to no guidance about how the game progresses and simply boring graphics accompanying the gameplay.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and colorful, with a minimalist aesthetic that appeals to some players. However, many reviewers note that the visuals lack polish and can feel dated or uninteresting, suggesting that improvements are needed to enhance the overall experience. While some appreciate the calming and clean visuals, others criticize the graphics for being basic and not visually engaging.
“I'm truly addicted to this game; the gameplay and the simple graphics are amazing.”
“Great graphics and interesting gameplay.”
“Minimalist graphics and a mesmerizing look at where the balls will go as you create a bigger and longer avalanche.”
“Note to the devs: it could use another coat of polish over the graphics (while still keeping the simple aesthetic) and the menus also feel a little too utilitarian.”
“The progression is too slow, the graphics are lacking that polished look, and the upgrades don't feel like they make a big difference.”
“The graphics are pretty awful, like a 24-hour game jam.”
- stability40 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues related to advertisements that disrupt gameplay. Players experience problems such as freezing during ad viewing, failure to receive rewards, and general glitches that hinder their overall enjoyment. While the game has potential, its current instability leads to frustration and has caused some users to uninstall it.
“Ultimately, I uninstalled the game; it is buggy, especially around the ads that come up. For instance, watching an ad in order to gain some benefits would act as if no ads were watched, forcing you to watch another ad. Some ads would just go blank with no option to exit, forcing me to kill the app and restart, which is very frustrating.”
“Regularly freezes when you try to load an ad to gain a multiplier.”
“Crashes with every advertisement and every 8 to 10 minutes freezes.”
- grinding37 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the game can be enjoyable and relaxing, it often becomes excessively grindy and tedious, particularly as players progress. Many users express frustration with the high costs of upgrades and the need for in-app purchases to avoid a "grinding hell." Despite these issues, some players appreciate the game's chill atmosphere and free in-game currency, suggesting a mixed reception regarding the grinding aspect.
“The most optimal way to play seems to be just constantly doing 10- or 15-minute runs to just add +1 to the multiplier, then prestige, and that is super tedious, boring, and has diminishing returns.”
“However, without spending money, you will find yourself in a constant prestige grinding hell to make insignificant progress.”
“The gameplay is slow and boring; the upgrades cost so much and do so little to help that it becomes tedious after 10 minutes.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game primarily through the amusing moments when balls get stuck in the spinning machine, which many describe as both funny and entertaining. The lighthearted nature of the game, complemented by its quirky music, adds to the overall enjoyment, making it a memorable experience despite some frustrations. Overall, the humor is a significant draw for players, contributing to their fondness for the game.
“The most funny thing is when all the balls just get stuck.”
“It's funny I actually wait for an ad to get a bonus.”
“I like the game especially the music; it sounds funny in a good way.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 31 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, especially during late-game scenarios and when many objects are on screen. Users experience frequent lag, stuttering, and long pauses, which detracts from the overall enjoyment, despite the game's fun mechanics. Many reviewers emphasize the urgent need for improvements in optimization to enhance gameplay stability and performance.
“Late game is just about getting cards and optimization without much progress.”
“Desperately needs some sort of battery optimization.”
“Laggy but enjoyable, need better optimization to get rid of random and frequent lag spikes.”
“But the game isn't very optimized and starts chugging once you unlock the 'crusher' level.”
“Also the game must improve its performance; it becomes completely unplayable when there are lots of balls in play.”
“After the update, it's super laggy; it's unpleasant to even look at everything stuttering down the screen.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to improve their mood and provide enjoyment. Despite some technical issues, such as glitches and view control problems, the overall experience remains positive and cherished.
“It's a great game of all time for me. It made me feel better about it, and I love the game.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the game's quest system, particularly regarding the loss of progress when the app is left idle, which can lead to wasted time and resources. Additionally, there is a desire for more opportunities to earn gems through missions rather than relying solely on purchases.
“It's very annoying when you are trying to complete the quests and lose hours of idle farming and get nothing for it at all just because you didn't close the app when you left it idle.”
“The game is enjoyable, but I find it really hard to earn gems without making purchases. Is there a way to implement missions so we can earn gems?”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for having no replay value, indicating that players do not find incentives to revisit it after completing it.
“There is no replay value.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”