Review of ‘Wall Town Wonders’ – Perhaps a Bit Too Laid-Back for Modern Mixed Reality

Imagine stepping into a world where tiny Sim-like characters hover around your room in hot air balloons, living their quaint little lives as you go about yours. That’s the experience Wall Town Wonders aims to deliver, a casual game that seems to have leaped straight out of a futuristic era dominated by all-day AR glasses. The game’s visuals are undeniably stunning, but the lack of substantial gameplay depth might have you wondering if this genre is too ahead of its time for today’s XR headsets.

About Wall Town Wonders:

• Publisher: Cyborn
• Available On: Quest 3/3S
• Reviewed On: Quest 3
• Release Date: November 21st, 2024
• Price: $20

Gameplay

In Wall Town Wonders, you’re not in for a challenging ride, but rather a soothing journey, typical of casual games. The initial charm lies in observing various miniature worlds unfold in your space. You might find yourself peeking into tiny buildings to watch a chef whip up a pizza or track a pair of villagers flying a bi-plane across your living room.

Post-tutorial, which runs for about an hour, the core of the game is revealed: its mini-games, unlocked by constructing new buildings. You’ll find yourself defending a farm against pesky bugs with a wrist-mounted mini-crossbow, fishing in a virtual pond at your feet, or directing airplanes with hand gestures.

Most of your time, however, will be spent waiting for your villagers to auto-generate resources like wood, money, and food. Your gameplay revolves around filling and upgrading your town’s over 100 structures. You have the freedom to repaint and rearrange buildings, crafting a unique village that seems to merge seamlessly with your surroundings, adding a lively buzz to your room.

That said, you might feel the game "runs itself," with villagers autonomously carrying out activities. This lets you decide when to engage or simply sit back and watch your miniature community thrive, akin to observing fish in a tank. Interaction typically comes in short mini-games, leaving you free to choose your level of involvement.

Yet, my initial excitement eventually faded, making the game feel more like a background visual than an engaging experience. The mini-games intended to fill the wait can quickly turn into mere chores, diminishing the urge to revisit beyond a few hours of play.

Immersion

There’s something inherently charming about virtual dioramas, with their rich details packed in tiny settings that feel vividly alive. Wall Town Wonders excels in creating a lovely European village aesthetic that captures the heart.

Despite advancements in virtual realities and XR tech, I still find myself writing this review outside of a headset. Like many, my gaming sessions are often reserved for those precious few post-work hours, not during the hustle of the workday—unless a review calls for it.

I can envision a future where high-resolution displays and ultra-comfortable headsets make these quick, casual games more feasible. But as it stands, Wall Town Wonders attempts to gloss over current XR limitations, coming across as a little too laid-back for prolonged sessions on the Quest.

Players who enjoy games like The Sims or Townscaper might differ, but objectively, Wall Town Wonders leans heavily on laser pointer interactions. Whether it’s picking up villagers for brief adventures or deploying gadgets to fend off bugs, the interface remains somewhat basic.

While hand-tracking is prioritized, the precision required made me revert to controllers. The reliance on a laser pointer UI might streamline interactions from a distance, but it feels like a missed chance to create more immersive tools than the existing diversions offered by mini-games.

Comfort

With the sheer variety of available buildings, you’ll find yourself moving about, exploring all the open wall space in your surroundings. Although technically playable while seated, you’ll more likely be standing, given the spatial element.

Most structures can be arranged at a comfortable eye level, though you might encounter some activities that require downward gazing, which could strain the neck for those sensitive to such motions. One of Wall Town Wonders’ key innovations is its vertical approach, positioning the game world dynamically around you rather than confined to a static tabletop or requiring constant adjustments. It’s a clever setup I’d love to see more town simulation games adopt in future XR iterations.

Wall Town Wonders Comfort Settings:

• Turning: No artificial turning
• Movement: No artificial movement
• Posture: Primarily standing mode; seated mode not supported
• Artificial crouch: Not supported; real crouch required
• Accessibility:
  • Subtitles available
  • Supported languages: English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
  • No dialogue audio, adjustable difficulty, or height adjustment
  • Does not require two hands or hearing for gameplay

Wall Town Wonders brings a delightful concept to life, but whether its charm is enough to sustain long-term interest might depend on your personal taste for casual, low-intensity gaming experiences.