Is it worth playing at the moment?

[upbeat basalt]

Hi! I just bought the game and after seeing some reddit posts, I was wondering if its worth putting time into the game or waiting until the 1.1 comes out? Ive heard its unfinished and I dont want to put time if its not finished

[craggy temple]

The base game is finished. There is a lot to do. Merfolk romance and relationships is coming in the next big update. Take a look at the blog for what else is coming https://www.stairwaygames.com/post/february-2024-dev-update

[gilded oak]

I purchased this game on beta, I had fun playing it even though it wasn't even half finished. You need to understand that to be able to make amazing games for you to enjoy is for developers to take their time in working on it. Versions/Updates will be coming soon so that is something to look out for. If you have played The Sims franchise , its kind of like that, you wait for expansion packs to expand your game play. One thing I like is that the makers/developers of this game listens to their players. So the content is something that most people look forward to.

[near rock]

This game is not 1.0, don't play till next updates.
In my understanding 1.0 means game:

1. Is fully playable, main mechanics are there (this one is true)
2. If there is main plot, you are able to got it all.

I bought it just before they "released" to 1.0 and did all what was possible.
You have no idea how bad I felt when got access to "Not implemented yet" content...
I don't say it is bad, because in general had fun, but right now there is so many things missing and/or not fully finished.
The only thing I can think why it is now 1.0 is not because it is, but because they needed money to continue.

TL;DR So if you want have full fun, wait.

[hollow orchid]

The main reason I'd say to wait is that there are still some major bugs, including at least 4 achievements that aren't obtainable. It's still not really at 1.0 😦

[marsh mesa]

I'd wait- the crashes are frequent, at least on xbox.

[craggy temple]

PC Steam is pretty stable. And there is a lot of content to do. It’s a game that doesn’t have to be rushed. So if you like steaming through things then yeah, maybe wait. But I still get a lot of enjoyment out of this game 650 hours into. I’ve been playing since v0.2

[rapid latch]

The 1.0 release is exactly what was promised during the Kickstarter. The rest is stretch goals from the same Kickstarter. Considering how little they asked for in the beginning to bring this game to where it is now is pretty amazing to me.

I've been playing since early access and there are work arounds for some of the glitches and bugs. It's not polished yet, but they are working on that while getting the newer items released. It's a slow burn of a game anyways so by the time they get far in it, they might end up getting to 1.1 before doing finishing everything available. I'm in Year 3 starting with early access money and I am still finding plenty to do with all the stamina to do it with. It's a good game to zen out to on rough days. I'm still not done getting the museum done, but also have other games to play and work to deal with...so I guess it's down to preference.

[strong garnet]

Personally I would wait for the finished game. I was really enjoying Coral Island with the understanding that it was in beta but was disappointed that the "alpha" was anywhere near ready for a full release. I've put just over a hundred hours into the game so it isn't that it isn't enjoyable, just extremely frustrated to run into dead ends, glitches, crashes, and sections where there's clearly meant to be something going on but there's currently nothing. If you don't mind these issues then that's fine, it's still playable, it would just be misleading to say that it's a complete game.

[near rock]

From perspective of person who was since Kickstarter it might look different.

I am talking from perspective when started first play at 1.0, and as such I shouldn't be forced to check what was when promised. You starting game and want to go as game leads you through next phase of game. And when you game tell you "you unlocked new area" or got quest that you don't see any way to finish, you don't care much about why is not there, more that you bought game supposed to be 1.0, and you can not even finish main quest.

As I like game itself, this made me really more into negative mood in the end.
I really wish it went into 1.0 with now 1.1 updates within, my approach would be so much different.

[rapid latch]

I have played a lot of early access games so perhaps I'm not as strict on how complete a game is, considering this is on PC and updatable. As a PS5 or Xbox game it wouldn't fly as complete, but even PS and Xbox can be updated. More companies are releasing unfinished games just to make enough money go keep the project going. The game industry is suffering from the shareholder style of business.

[craggy temple]

What quest or new area isn’t finished other than Savannah access from the 3rd temple? If you mean after the fire giant it isn’t added as a quest anymore. You aren’t left with outstanding quests on your journal anymore.

[near rock]

You talking only about totally not in game, but there are as well few areas that are litteraly empty, like top after golden block clear, or or jungle (not appearing even on map). As well as few mechanics that are showed in TBD state, like talking with animals ("You do not understand them YET") , or in library place to give books (I Read that mechanic was somewhere in EA , now is not, but indication left) or half empty monster book .

All of that I would accept if playing in EA, not in full game.

[gilded oak]

I agree with you, I play on PC, though my butt hurts for sitting on hours, but it was fun and I am patiently waiting for Nintendo Release. Until then, i will keep playing the PC.