‘My Little Universe’ Review: Fun and Playful Visuals But A Repetitive Grind
by Gary Catig
My Little Universe received its initial start as a mobile game. The sandbox adventure would experience over 30 million downloads. Now, developer, Estoty, and publisher, SayGames, are bringing the fun to even a larger audience with a release on PC via Steam, Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.
The concept is pretty basic. You travel to different worlds, nine total, and explore the area collecting resources. You have three tools that are each most efficient for one task. The pick is for collecting minerals and gems, the axe is for cutting wood, and the sword is for attacking enemies. You unlock new locations by amassing the specific combination of resources. As you progress, there are role-playing elements that allow you to level up your equipment, skills, and hit points.
Each world of My Little Universe has its own unique theme with fun related enemies and supplies to gather. It provides some variety giving the environments a distinct feel. The graphics aren’t anything to write home about, but they manage and fit with the playful tone. Unfortunately, with regards to the enemies you encounter, they only differ aesthetically. Many have the same predictable attack patterns so there isn’t much change in difficulty, even in the latter levels.
You can go it alone, but one of the game’s biggest draws in the co-op mode with up to four players total. This provides an entertaining social aspect teaming up with friends. It can also help make the game go significantly quicker with more people gathering resources as well as the ability to divide and conquer the different dungeons scattered throughout.
Whether you go it alone or play as a group, there will be a point where you hit a wall and My Little Universe will lose its novelty. The gameplay is highly repetitive and each level offers the same experience with the proverbial “shiny new coat of paint.” Combine that with the endless grind of obtaining resources to open new areas and upgrade your equipment, it can feel more like tireless work than a video game. Playing with friends will only delay the moment the monotony sets in.
My Little Universe is an easy to grasp sandbox with fun visuals that is best played with friends. But even then, it has the tendency to become a repetitive grind.
