Tinkerlands

Tinkerlands is an Early Access top-down survival crafting game heavily inspired by Terraria, Core Keeper, and Necesse, yet it manages to carve out its own identity through unique features like pirate ship building, island exploration, and accessory combinations. Players appreciate the game's engaging combat, variety of bosses, and expansive biomes, alongside quality-of-life features such as quick stacking and crafting from storage. The multiplayer co-op mode is praised for its fun and cooperative gameplay, though some have reported lag and connection issues. While the game offers a solid amount of content and progression, some players find the progression and drop RNG inconsistent and occasionally frustrating. The graphics and music evoke nostalgia, with many comparing the soundtrack to Terraria's. Despite some bugs and performance hiccups, the developers are commended for their responsiveness and ongoing updates, fostering optimism about the game's future growth and refinement.

Common critiques include multiplayer instability, occasional unclear progression paths, and limited content variety in some areas. Players hope for more bosses, biomes, NPCs, and improved multiplayer support. Overall, Tinkerlands is seen as a promising and enjoyable survival crafting experience, especially for fans of its genre inspirations, with a bright future ahead.

Highlights

Players highly praise Tinkerlands' engaging gameplay mechanics, especially its combat system, boss variety, and crafting depth. The dynamic world with diverse biomes and island exploration adds freshness to the survival-crafting genre. Quality-of-life features like quick stacking, crafting from storage, and an informative Codex enhance the user experience. The co-op multiplayer mode is considered a highlight, providing a fun and cooperative adventure. Visually, the game offers charming pixel art graphics and a nostalgic soundtrack reminiscent of Terraria, contributing to its cozy yet adventurous atmosphere. The developers' active support and frequent updates also receive positive recognition, fostering player confidence in the game's continued improvement.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on multiplayer issues such as lag, connection delays, and limited player counts, which hinder cooperative play. Some players find the progression system unclear or stagnant at times, with confusing drop rates and RNG mechanics causing frustration. Performance problems, including low frame rates and visual bugs, are noted despite the game's 2D style. The world sometimes feels finite due to lack of respawning resources, and certain areas appear underutilized or serve little purpose. Additionally, some players desire more content variety, including additional bosses, biomes, NPC quests, and character classes. The game also faces scrutiny for its heavy resemblance to Terraria, with some feeling it lacks a distinct identity in its current state.