Review of ‘Wall Town Wonders’ – Perhaps Too Laid-Back for the Current Mixed Reality Scene

Wall Town Wonders seems like a sneak peek into gaming’s future, envisioning a time when augmented reality (AR) glasses are as common as smartphones. Imagine managing a bustling town of tiny, Sim-like residents who float around your living space in hot air balloons, while you go about your day. Its visuals are enchanting, no doubt, but the gameplay doesn’t quite grab me for the long haul. This raises an interesting point about whether the extended reality (XR) headsets of today are ready for this genre.

Wall Town Wonders Details

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

Gameplay

Wall Town Wonders is exactly what you’d envision for a casual game: low on difficulty and high on relaxation. The thrill is in peeking into the little buildings, observing the villagers as they go about their duties. You might catch a tiny chef whipping up a pizza or see two villagers joyriding around your living room on a bi-plane. Once you breeze through the hour-long tutorial, the game’s focus shifts to various mini-games that pop up with new building unlocks. Picture yourself defending a vertical farm from pesky insects with a wrist-mounted crossbow or maybe fishing in a pond at your feet, or even using hand motions to pilot planes around your room.

But much of your time will be spent watching your virtual villagers as they generate resources—like wood, money, and food—on their own. This game loop mainly revolves around expanding your collection of basic buildings and upgrading what you already have, leading to over 100 structures you can check out. You get to personalize as well, moving and repainting buildings as you see fit, creating a unique little microcosm at home. This visually striking collection endlessly transforms, lending a lively energy to your surroundings.

Yet, you could say the game almost plays itself. Villagers autonomously complete most tasks, giving you the option to join in, or just enjoy watching your vertical community as if it were an aquarium. You can get involved with mining, farming, or constructing, mostly through mini-games that are entirely optional.

I quickly found my interest waning, wishing to disengage and pursue something more captivating as they diligently worked away—making me hesitant to return after three hours of gameplay spread over several sessions. While the mini-games aim to engage during those resource gathering waits, they feel more like random tasks than meaningful activities.

Immersion

I’ve always adored virtual dioramas—they manage to capture the essence of reality by packing in detail and density. Wall Town Wonders sets up these quaint little European-themed village scenes right on your walls, giving off a delightful ‘awww’.

Despite the potential of virtual environments, I still find myself writing this review outside the headset, just like any enthusiast who has limited evening time for games and social apps. We’re not quite at the point where I can seamlessly integrate headset use into everyday work unless I’m doing a review.

I can envision a near future where display resolution is as snug as a traditional monitor, and all-day comfort eliminates any reservations about wearing a headset. These could address the primary barriers for casual ‘pick-up, put-down’ games. In that future, a game like Wall Town Wonders would be enjoyable for short bursts, akin to smartphone gaming. For now, though, it appears to hope we overlook current XR hardware limitations, as its assortment of mini-games and tranquil atmosphere might feel overly casual for dedicated time on the Quest.

While it might not be everyone’s cuppa, fans of games like The Sims or Townscaper might find my sentiments misplaced and Wall Town Wonders refreshingly charming. Fair enough!

Objectively speaking, it leans heavily on point-and-click interactions via laser pointers, meant for brief engagements with villagers or quick tool usage. Whether you’re plucking villagers for short missions or materializing gadgets on your wrist to, perhaps, handle bug infestations or water plants, it starts with hand-tracking input. Still, I often found myself going back to controllers because the precise point-and-click requirements made them easier to handle. Though the laser pointer UI does simplify distant interactions, it misses an opportunity for more immersive engagements, like multi-use gadgets during mini-games.

Comfort

The abundance of buildings at your disposal keeps you on your feet, encouraging exploration of every bit of wall space in your vicinity. Though you could play seated, you’ll likely be on the move. While most structures are conveniently positioned at eye level, some activities do require ground-level attention, which could be a nuisance if you have neck sensitivity. However, Wall Town Wonders innovatively places the town at eye level on your walls, a significant improvement over stooping over a map or constantly adjusting your view. This approach could set a new trend for XR town sims moving forward.

‘Wall Town Wonders’ Comfort Settings – November 21, 2024

• Turning: Artificial turning ✖
• Movement: Artificial movement ✖
• Posture: Standing mode ✔, Seated mode ✖, Artificial crouch ✖, Real crouch ✔
• Accessibility:
  • Subtitles: ✔
  • Languages: English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
  • Dialogue audio: ✖
  • Adjustable difficulty: ✖
  • Two hands required: ✖
  • Real crouch required: ✖
  • Hearing required: ✖
  • Adjustable player height: ✖