Moobly Demo

Free exploration games have been the holy grail in the industry for a very long time, but technical limitations prevented us from achieving it until recently. However, ever since Minecraft and similar games have taken over the market, procedural environments and sandbox gameplay mechanics are nothing new anymore, which is why it gets harder and harder to innovate.

Moobly may not be the most advanced sandbox game out there, but it certainly is one of the most lightweight and simple to get into. However, this simplicity can also translate into boredom after a while, because you quickly run out of things to do and see. Given the fact that the world is fixed and the same every time, it may not be able to keep you entertained for too long.

The main character is very strange and by no means human, although one cannot pinpoint exactly what it’s supposed to be either. The long neck, short legs and what appears to be an extendable spine make the creature look unsettling, although you can get used to it after a while. You are also allowed to walk, run, swim and attack any foe that might try to hurt you.

Since there is no actual storyline to follow, you are free to either roam the world without any purpose and direction, or try to complete a few missions by visiting one of the store owners nearby. Speaking of which, the story can also be used to trade items you find while exploring the map, although the trading gimmick is a bit pointless when you consider the fact that you cannot buy too many things.

Food is important because it allows your character to regain some of the lost hitpoints, which comes in handy if you are ever attacked by the weird creatures roaming the land. In case you are feeling particularly brave, it is also possible to attack the said creatures and kill them. However, both the mechanics and the graphics make it difficult to have fun experiences with the combat aspect.

All things considered, Moobly is indeed too small and too unpolished to be of any interest to those who have dabbled in the better options out there. However, maybe this can turn into a casual gamer favorite, especially if the overall goal remains as simple.