This criticism is rendered completely inert now that the developers have included a map of the world you can pull up at any time. It’s difficult to criticize the somewhat confusing layout of the map when the very nature of an exploration game is traversing a complex and hostile world. It’s difficult to complain about the repetitive nature of collecting the “Plorts” your slimes generate when the very nature of a farming game is repetitive action. The mashing of the “ Exploration” and “ Farming” genres make it almost immune to criticism, because any complaints are simply a part of one of the two genres. Slime Rancher is a brilliantly planned game. Do not go into things looking for a story that really makes more than a shallow level of sense, or compelling and complex characters. While wrangling your slime critters is a blast, there’s no deeper meaning or reason behind it. Everything that explains why you are where you are is insignificant compared to the fun you will have being there in the moment. However, in this instance, “story” could be replaced with “contrived reason for this fun game to exist” in every conversation about the game without issue or inaccuracy. Explaining how and why your character decided to move to a slime ranch millions of miles from home adds something to a game like this. “StarMail” (in-game email) sent to your character and notes left around different parts of the map comprise the entirety of the game’s narrative. The effort to include a back story into the game is noticeable and appreciated, but it really falls short. It would be unfair of me to say Slime Rancher’s story might as well not exist.
While players are free to approach these challenges however they wish, a typical day might look like this: Slime Rancher is a first-person, sandbox experience where players will solve problems and survive through mastery of their vacpack: a vacuum/cannon/backpack that can vacuum up and blast out anything that isn’t nailed to the ground.Įach day will present new challenges to players as they attempt to amass a great fortune in the business of slime ranching. With a can-do attitude, plenty of grit, and her trusty vacpack, Beatrix attempts to stake a claim, amass a fortune, and avoid the continual peril that looms from the rolling, jiggling avalanche of slimes around every corner. Slime Rancher is the tale of Beatrix LeBeau, a plucky, young rancher who sets out for a life a thousand light years away from Earth on the ‘Far, Far Range’ where she tries her hand at making a living wrangling slimes.