Cloud Gardens Review

Game: Cloud Gardens
Genre: Casual, Indie, Simulation
System: Steam (also available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One)
Developers | Publishers: Noio | Future Friends PR
Controller Support: Full
Price: US $14.99 | UK £11.39 | EU € 12,49
Release Date: September 1st, 2021

Review code used, with many thanks to Future Friends PR

Last year Yvonne had the opportunity to try out the Cloud Garden for an Impression article when the game was released on Steam on Early Access. Here we are nearly a year later and I have had the opportunity to try out the full game of Cloud Gardens.

Gardens in the Clouds

The blurb on Cloud Gardens Steam page says, “Cloud Gardens is partly a gardening simulator, partly a dystopian landscape builder, and partly a puzzle game”, I agree, it’s an odd mix that you would think wouldn’t fit together. Well, I’m here to tell you that it does fit together and works surprisingly well resulting in a relaxing, chilled out experience.

Cloud Garden tasks you with planting seeds in the right places. The seed grows into a plant that spreads over scenes of urban decay on little dioramas. Placing objects, which are mostly rubbish and junk around the seeds makes them grow into a plant that produces flowers/fruits and seeds that can be harvested. You, in turn, collect the seeds which allow you to grow more plants. Once you have reached the required score for that level you move on to the next level.

Tiny Dioramas

It’s a little post-apocalyptic garden that you are creating. Only you’re the gardener planting the seeds and directing the plants to reclaim their desolate tiny world. All the junk you place coaxes the plants to grow and stretch out over the diorama. When you are placing an object you can see the area it is going to help grow and an outline of the object you place appears. Small objects, like beer bottles, when placed help the plant grow a little. There are also large objects to place such as cars and caravans, and once placed these help the plants grow even more.

Seeds and Plants

The seeds have different requirements where they can be planted. A few examples: Ivy grows up larger structures, so you place it at the root of arches or buildings. Cacti are hardy, so you can place them in dangerous areas where they can take more of a beating if an object falls over on them. Then you have Monstera, it just keeps on growing and is a power plant, which means you gather higher and higher scores.

There is virtually no text in the game or a storyline. You pick up what you have to do as you play the game, and it’s the most relaxing game I’ve played (and that’s a LOT of games) this year with simple mechanics, making it easy to pick up and play.

Early Access to Full Game

As you play through the levels in Cloud Gardens you unlock objects which are then used in the Creative Mode. Here you can create your own levels. I really enjoyed the creative mode, which is unusual for me as I don’t have a creative bone in my body. A camera mode has been included in the game, so you can get snapping those creations and share them online.

Cloud Gardens update from early access to the full game introduces a branching overworld map. Weaving together all of the existing areas and adding more than 15 new levels. Plus a whole load of extras in a sandbox creative mode. These include 120+ new objects, custom skyboxes, free cam mode and tonnes of quality-of-life improvements.

Music

Music in Cloud Gardens is beautiful and serene to listen to. It also adds to the relaxing environment that the game offers. The music for Cloud Gardens is by Amos Roddy, who incidentally composed the soundtrack for The Wild at Heart which we reviewed too. His music is definitely worth a listen to, it will literally be music to your ears.

The controls are either mouse or game controller and the controls systems implemented in the game are pretty fluid and straightforward to use.

Conclusion

Cloud Gardens is a chill, charming experience to play. The music adds to the relaxing gameplay. Finishing each diorama and moving on to the next brings such a sense of satisfaction. Cloud Gardens isn’t just a game it also encourages its players to be mindful of what is around them. To de-stress, chill out while also being creative and having fun!

Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up