Dinsun Review
Ducklings! is a strange beast. On one hand, it’s one of the most relaxing games I’ve played in a while—the water looks nice, the ducklings are cute, and the music is chill. It’s the perfect 'zen' game. But then some other duck comes along and steals half your line of ducklings, or a boat comes out of nowhere and kills you instantly. It’s a bizarre spike of frustration in what is otherwise a very peaceful game.
The controls are a bit floaty, which I guess makes sense because you're a duck in water, but it can make avoiding those boats a real chore. I also found that the gameplay loop gets repetitive very quickly. Once you've upgraded your nest a few times, there isn't much left to do but keep collecting ducklings to see the next hat. It’s a charming game for kids or for anyone who just wants to stare at some ducks for ten minutes, but it doesn't have the staying power to be a long-term favorite. It’s nice, but it’s a bit thin.
Overall Stats
Pros & Cons
- Relaxing atmosphere and sound
- Cute art style
- Satisfying nest progression
- Frustrating stealing mechanic
- Floaty controls can be annoying
- Limited variety in gameplay
Technical Report
Performance: Runs smoothly; no major bugs found.
Audience Fit
Buy if: You want a low-stress, cute game to unwind with.
Skip if: You get frustrated by AI stealing your progress or want complex mechanics.
- Hole.io
- Agar.io
Reviewer Context
- Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative gamer
- Hardware: iPhone 13 Pro
- Playtime: 4 hours
- Status: Level 5 Nest
