Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Galahad Creative
- Full Name: SimpleMMO
- Release Date: January 8, 2019
- Released on: Android, iOS, Web
- Cross Play: Yes
Initial thoughts
My wife and I were looking for a fun game to play together on our mobiles, and we stumbled upon SimpleMMO, a straightforward text-based game. We were both excited by the prospect of a simple, accessible game but also cautious due to the potential for ads and microtransactions often found in mobile games. Nonetheless, we decided to jump in and see what it had to offer.
Story and setting
Plot overview
SimpleMMO doesn’t follow a traditional plot-driven narrative but instead offers a series of text-based quests and adventures that players can undertake. The story is largely driven by simple actions, with a focus on exploration and progression rather than a cohesive plot.
World building and immersion
The game’s world is minimalist, relying on text to convey its settings and scenarios. While this can be charming in its simplicity, it lacks the depth and richness of more graphically intense RPGs. The immersion comes more from your imagination and engagement with the text rather than detailed world-building.
Character development
Character development is mostly stat-based, leveling up and acquiring new skills and equipment. There’s little in the way of character backstory or emotional growth, so don’t expect deep personal narratives. However, the simplicity allows for quick progression, which can be satisfying in short bursts.
Emotional impact
Given the text-based nature of the game, the emotional impact is minimal. The game doesn’t delve into complex stories or relationships, focusing instead on the mechanics of leveling up and completing quests. The charm lies in its simplicity, but it doesn’t leave a lasting emotional impression.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with a 5.5
There is not much to the story, but I give it this rating, since you can, imagine it.
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
The core gameplay of SimpleMMO revolves around clicking through text prompts to explore, fight enemies, and complete quests. It’s easy to pick up and play, making it ideal for quick gaming sessions. However, the simplicity can become repetitive after extended play, as most actions boil down to tapping a button and reading the resulting text.
Difficulty and balance
The game is relatively easy to play, with most of the difficulty stemming from the grind to level up and acquire better gear. The balance is fair, but the repetitive nature of tasks can make the grind feel more tedious than challenging.
Pacing of the game
Pacing is where SimpleMMO shines and stumbles. The game is great for casual play, with progress being made in short sessions. However, if you are looking for a more engaging or varied gameplay, the repetition can slow down the excitement over time.
Innovation and uniqueness
SimpleMMO is unique in its throwback to text-based RPGs of the past. While this is a nostalgic touch for some, it may feel too simplistic for others accustomed to more visually rich mobile games. The new generation of gaming for example, its innovation lies in its straightforwardness, but it doesn’t push any boundaries.
Controls and user interface
The controls are as simple as the game itself—tap to progress. The user interface is clean and functional, though it can feel a bit barebones at times. It’s intuitive enough, but there’s little depth or customization available.
Microtransactions
The game does include microtransactions, primarily for cosmetic items and convenience boosts. While they aren’t overly intrusive, they can give paying players a slight edge, which might deter those who prefer a more level playing field.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 6.
While it was fun, the repetitiveness got to me in the end. Simone held on longer, but it also got her in the end.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The graphics in SimpleMMO are minimalistic, relying on simple icons and basic visuals to accompany the text. The art style is functional but far from impressive. It suits the game’s straightforward approach but doesn’t do much to stand out.
Technical performances
The game performs well technically, with no noticeable lags or crashes. It’s lightweight and runs smoothly on most devices, which is a plus for those with older hardware or limited storage space.
Environment and design uniqueness
Given the text-based nature, the environment design is limited. There’s little in the way of unique or memorable locations, as most of the game’s world is conveyed through text descriptions rather than detailed visuals.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 5.0
Nothing special too see here.
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
When we played this game, there was no soundtrack at all. Big minus from me, it seemed to have had music at one point, but it got removed.
Sound effects quality
Sound effects are minimal and serve basic functions, such as indicating when you’ve completed an action, or hitting an enemy. They’re functional but forgettable, fitting the game’s overall minimalist design.
Voice Acting
There is no voice acting in “SimpleMMO,” which aligns with its text-based gameplay. The absence of voiceovers keeps the focus on the text, but it also means there’s less character brought to life through sound.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 4
A big disappointment in the music section!
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
SimpleMMO is as long or as short as you want it to be. There’s a decent amount of content, with endless quests and missions to undertake, but much of it is repetitive. The lack of a definitive storyline means that the game is more about continual progression rather than completing a narrative arc.
Extra Content
The game includes guilds, PVP, and other multiplayer elements that can extend its life, especially if you enjoy competing or collaborating with others. However, the lack of varied content might make it difficult to stay engaged for the long term.
Replay value
Replay value is moderate. The game is easy to pick up for a few minutes at a time, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay may wear thin after a while. It’s a good game for casual players but may not hold the attention of those looking for more depth.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Little Kitty Big City with a 6
While there is a lot to do, it gets too repetitive at one point for everyone.
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
To improve SimpleMMO, the developers could:
- Introduce More Variety: Adding more varied quests and missions could help alleviate the repetitiveness.
- Enhance Visuals: Even a simple text-based game could benefit from more dynamic visuals or art to keep things fresh.
- Balance Microtransactions: Ensuring that the game remains fair for all players, regardless of spending, would help maintain a positive community.
Comparisons
Compared to other mobile RPGs, SimpleMMO is a nostalgic throwback to simpler times. It lacks the visual and mechanical depth of titles like Raid: Shadow Legends or Genshin Impact, but it offers a more laid-back and accessible experience. For fans of text-based games, it’s a charming, if repetitive, option.
Online experience and community
Online experience
The online experience in SimpleMMO is mixed for me. While there are many friendly players, the community can also be very toxic at times. Interactions in guilds and forums can be hit or miss, with some players being supportive while others are more antagonistic. If you do not have safe mode on, expect to be killed or hunted down nonstop.
Multiplayer
The multiplayer aspect is primarily social, with guilds, PVP, and collaborative events. However, the simplicity of the game means that these interactions aren’t as deep or engaging as in more complex MMOs. Guilds can be friendly, but if they have enemies, they will hunt you down, it is wise to bank your money, since getting killed you will lose some.
Community
The community is a mixed bag. While there are plenty of kind and helpful players, there’s also a noticeable presence of toxic behavior. This can make the experience less enjoyable, particularly if you find yourself at odds with other players or guilds, which happened to me.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
Stepping into this game together with my wife was a fun, light-hearted experience. We often found ourselves sharing the strange and amusing text descriptions that popped up during our quests. While the game didn’t offer the depth we usually expect from MMOs, it was a pleasant distraction that we could enjoy together during our downtime.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Little Kitty Big City, I give it a personal rating of 6,5
There are also plenty of Easter eggs in this game!
Last words
Pros
- Simple and easy to pick up
- Nostalgic text-based gameplay
- Casual, accessible experience
- Fun to play with friends or family members
Cons
- Repetitive gameplay
- Basic graphics and sound
- Toxic community experience
- Limited depth and variety
- Microtransactions
SimpleMMO is a charming, if basic, text-based RPG that offers a nostalgic nod to simpler times. While it doesn’t have the depth or polish of more modern mobile games, it provides a light and accessible experience that’s perfect for casual play. If you’re looking for a game that you can enjoy in short bursts and don’t mind a bit of repetition, SimpleMMO is worth a try—just be prepared for a mixed community, it is like a coin flip.
Final Rating
5.5
Please let me know what you think of SimpleMMO in the comments!
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I remember I used to play quest book games on phone, at that time maybe I would like this game.
This game does have some charm!
Reminds me of Melvor Idle (had to Google it, forgot the name). Definitely not my type of game… But hey, looks like it would suit its target audience! Plus it’s free, wherease Melvor Idle is paid (well, at least it went free on Epic at some point).
Yeah, we also reviewed Melvor Idle!
Its just like book. Different idea for playing. But i prefer more visual stuff.
I don’t mind text based games, but a bit more variety is nice.
Not really my type of games, and this one looks so limited and repetitive, maybe if they added more stuff and changed some stuff it would be better. Thanks for the review!
I believe the game has been out for a while.
Yeah, personally speaking, it doesn’t seem like this has a lot going for it. But other people may be able to get some enjoyment out of it!
Thanks for another neat review!
Sometimes simple is good enough.
Yeah, that is a good point!
When making an online game devs should always pay attention to community, have a good or bad one can change a lot your opinion on the game even if it’s a good one
The community was a very mixed bag, toxic people abound and few friendly people!
you don’t see many text based games nowadays….
for a good one i can recommend Zork 😉
but that’s a pure text based adventure 😀
What is Zork all about?
“expect to be killed or hunted down nonstop.” – This was my experience with old school browser games … it is fun for a while but then the just farm you.
Yeah, you can turn on safe mode, but this disables a whole portion of the game.
First time I’ve ever heard of this game
unfortunately this is not my kind of game
This one is absolutely not for me. First of all, it’s text-based, but it also has poor story (you scored it 5.5), which makes it pretty mindless reading, and I am a slow reader already… It would be dread for me. Second, it has toxic community, which is what made me quit some games like League of Legend and Overwatch. It’s just not worth it.
You will think i’m ancient but as a kid i for example watched like my older cousin played “Hobbit” text based game and even thought this game was from 82 on commodore platform still had some graphics. Later i experienced a little MUDs online, at time where i still had only modem 56k at home, so i had to go out to some places to see how it works. I liked such things, because i always imagined such rpg systems myself in worlds i liked.
Coming back to simplemmo, still this game like vast majority on mobile is not for me, too simple.
Nice review!
I agree that the repetitive gameplay could wear down the experience after a while, but the simplicity is a nice nostalgic touch.
I like this review. I agree with all points about this game.
I could see this game being slightly interesting to at least try for someone who have played a lot of games, but I can’t imagine someone new like me to give it a chance. Anyway thanks for the review.