This is the 3rd review of the Steam Redlight series, a series where I purposely seek out negatively or controversially rated games on Steam to see if they're as bad as the Internet says they are. It's accompanied by a video review that can be found here.

In summary, I can’t recommend this game, while this game is cheap and somewhat fine, it’s overencumbered with bugs, strange design decisions, and can use some level of polishing before I’d recommend it. I could see myself playing the game more if some of the game-breaking bugs were addressed.
In Mushroom Picker Simulator, you… pick mushrooms while on hikes. You walk around a pretty large map and mushrooms spawn in various areas. The mushroom’s don’t seem to spawn in appropriate environments, so they seem more like easter eggs than mushrooms since they could really be anywhere. When you complete hikes, you earn money based on the mushrooms you’ve brought back and if you’ve chosen to complete the optional message.

In the game, you have a hut that you can upgrade with money and experience that unlocks the ability to bring different things (not more, just different) with you on your hikes; in addition you can use money to purchase equipment which can make you a little more efficient based on your orientation on the map and the knowledge you have. There are also consumables like food, water, medicine, and lastly, mushroom picking licenses. The licenses are consumed every time you go hiking, and if you don’t have one you earn half the money from your mushroom haul.

During the hike itself, you essentially are just walking around with your head pointed towards the ground looking for the ‘shrooms. You can sprint for a short bit, but that’s mostly it. Missions can have you look for specific ‘shrooms or just random other artifacts. You have energy and hydration levels that need to be acknowledged (but not fixed, until you unlock something special) as well as some hazards such as the randomly-occurring leg injury that’ll prevent you from running if you don’t have a medkit. Another is if you step on a snake -- dealing with snake venom. The only tool you’re given to start with is a map -- and this map doesn’t auto-update, but instead features landmarks that you’ll have to use to orient and adjust yourself so you don’t get lost.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about the good and the not-so-good.

I actually felt pretty satisfied with the gameplay loop - in a way, the game was relaxing to play if I wasn’t struck with bugs.

The mushroom models themselves were decently accurate when I was looking them up in a search engine - I couldn’t find these mushroom models among the asset stores that I know of, so I can only assume that the developer created the models themselves.

Lastly, I feel like for the most part the immersion is there. The sounds are basic, the environment isn’t exactly complex; but with the static map and ability of using navigational tools, I feel like the immersion would be great if the game wasn’t disenchanted with bugs.

So with those in mind, let’s talk about some of the things that really held the game back.

To start things off, the game doesn’t have a tutorial in any capacity. The game really isn’t that hard to figure out, but there are some strange designs that a formal introduction to the controls and basic gameplay elements could help keep players tuned in.

Now, I’ve found that the game is riddled with bugs. Here are some of the ones I’ve found:

• When walking, I got stuck in between two trees and couldn’t move. I had to leave the game. This consumed a license.
  
• During one mission, the game spawned me on a bus stop, which means I got sent back to the menu before I even had a chance to load the level. This was a case of particularly bad luck because I didn’t have money to purchase another license, so my license was wasted.
  
• When I reached the edge of the map, the warning didn’t go away and stayed in the center of my screen until I left the map.
  
• You can’t pick up non-mushroom mission items if your mushroom inventory is full, but picking up a non-mushroom mission item doesn’t take a mushroom slot.
  
• During the panning shot when you’re looking at the map before a hike starts, you can clearly see two trees spawn on top of each other every time. That’s more-so just funny than an actual problem, though.

There’s also some weird design nuances that I want to bring up, which are probably more-so opinions than things wrong with the game:

• It doesn’t make sense as to why you don’t start with the mushroom encyclopedia when the first mission asks you to retrieve inedible mushrooms. This also stunts the educational / learning potential that the game could flex. I’d figure that probably could be given to people right away and be replaced with a stamina upgrade, such as running faster or having higher max stamina since nothing in the game improves upon that.
  
• The snakes in the game are stationary and don’t move. I think that’s just kind of… strange.
  
• You can’t take food, water, or the most effective health kit until you upgrade a specific part of your hut. This doesn’t really make sense because we aren’t cookin’ meals, we’re making ham sandwiches and taking bottles of water and you have no other way to address energy and hydration.
  
• You also can only carry one unit of food, one unit of water, or one unit of medicine. This means that if you get a leg injury twice, no matter what you do, you will be unable to repair yourself for the second time.
  
• It’s not clear what being low on energy or having a snake bite does -- during the game both of those things happened to me simultaneously and I was able to leave without a problem, but another time when I had a snake bite I died after several minutes. This could be solved by placing an introduction level of some sort.
  
• The costs of hut upgrades are crazy high at all points, and the money you earn per hike is pretty low early on. Hut upgrades also cost experience, for some reason, but there’s no actual leveling system in the game -- I’m not quite sure why experience is there as a currency at all.

The last thing I have is that the game is actually exploitable -- this is because the foliage only loads as you approach that section of the map, but mushrooms are spawned at what seems like the start of the game. So, you can see them in the distance before the foliage loads if you stand in a privileged position like on the road, or on a hill. This is doubly effective if you’ve unlocked the binoculars. This makes gathering mushrooms easier tenfold.
Well, time’s up. Overall, while I could see myself enjoying the game as an idle-mind activity, the bugs and strange gameplay decisions really hold this game back. This game isn’t groundbreaking, but it isn’t terrible, either. I’d actually like the opportunity to learn about mushrooms in the game, but the high bar of unlocking the encyclopedia after several successful hikes just really kills it for me.

Did you like this written review? Watch the video review which does have some different coverage not talked about here: https://youtu.be/_HZB3Uygrxg

♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ game. ngl picking mushrooms is a somewhat appealing concept but when its made by these inept monkeys it doesnt seem worth it. probably the worst part about this game is there are invisible snakes that bite your ankles and then youre ♥♥♥♥♥♥

It was a surprise for me that this wonderful game received mostly negative reviews. Listen to nobody. It's a perfect game. Best way to relax? Just launch this game and let your worries go away.
Or maybe it just reminds me of my childhood cause it was like a mushroom picker simulator itself. Now I live in the desert and can't venture into deep forests hunting for mushrooms... Only this game helped me to ease my phantom pain for being not able to pick mushrooms. Thank you for creating this game and stuff. Damn, I need to eat some mushrooms now.

Do you have stress in your life, need to find a way to relax? Want to get out of the house closer to nature? Well, this program may be just the thing that you need. It's a walking simulator through the Boreal Forests named after Boreas the Greek god of the Northwind, full of spruce trees, pine trees, fir trees, interesting little ponds, and hidden crystal clear lakes which are lovingly reproduced for you in splendid detail, you'll actually feel like that you are walking through one of the National Forests in the Taiga of Russia. You'll hear the lovely chirping birds, pounding woodpeckers, the squabble of rambunctious squirrels and raccoons, but won't ever see them, the warning hisses of snakes when you disturb them, the grind of the rocks and pebbles that your intrusion has disrupted, or subtle squishing softness while walking on piles of ancient pine needles, the splash of the water as you walk through it, and the pounding of your boots on the pavement or dirt paths as you explore this beautiful world. I often find myself ducking in front of my computer screen as I go under a tree branch, ha! It's relaxing but also can be dangerous.

It's also very educational, after several missions you'll probably know some of the names of the beautiful mushrooms before you get the prompt, "Oh that's a (insert scientific name here), it's worth (insert retail value here)" rote memory due to repetition, especially those that are worth $120! Some people will ask you to look for other items while you're out there trying not to get lost, and will pay you for those items with cash and experience. I'm still looking for the kettlebell, so if you find it make a screenshot on the discussion board.

You'll have to learn how to plan your route according to your endurance and stamina, you'll have to watch out for vipers and snakes, and most importantly you'll have to find the mushrooms that you'll sell in order to pay for your licenses or permits, or upgrades such as a compass, some binoculars, and hiking boots to help you increase your endurance and ability to spot them without getting lost. Your navigation skills, visual recognition skills, and observation skills will gradually become better with each half hour trip you take, but most importantly you'll heal your soul and come back from your nature romps healed inside, it's a good feeling. That is if you don't get lost and die, then it might increase your frustration, but you know what they say, "If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger", so go get stronger and enjoy this relaxing game/simulation.

The developer, Sergei Poroshin, has even translated one of the signs in Russian that I found for me! Thanks Sergei for sharing your hard work with us, it's very well done, a lot of fun, and I immensely enjoy my time in your forest.

Hi, please for the love of god if you enjoy the concept of mushroom hunting DO NOT BUY THIS GAME! this will ruin your day and sour your mood.
To begin with: you start with three licenses, things that allow you to explore the forest. However, these missions are INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. To begin with, the map navigation is abhorrent and laughable. you can almost never figure out where you are, it almost seems as if the main objective is to navigate the map instead of actually harvesting mushrooms.
Secondly: mushroom spawns are TERRIBLE and insanely difficult to find. They spawn in the most senseless, confusing and noneducational places ever like the middle of the road, directly in the sun etc.
Third of all and most importantly: Survivabilty. When you enter this game there is 3 nondescript bars, energy, thirst and stamina. These bars tell you nothing at the beginning, they are simply mocking you, laughing at you after being bitten by snakes, breaking your legs, and ultimately dying, loosing a license, gaining no money and making you want to rage quit.

For those who don't want to read this word vomit, this game is a waste of 5 dollars and it drains you of all fun you could ever have, the fact that you get 3 chances and that's it is a really frustrating and annoying game mechanic that locks you out of everything forever.

Please please please don't buy it please and thank you.

This game made me ♥♥♥!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BORN TO PICK
SQUARE WORLD IS A ♥♥♥♥
Break All The Legs 1989
I am mushroom man
410,757,864,530 INVISIBLE SNAKES

Vary bad game.

I got a new hobby last summer and it was mushroom picking. However, the summer/fall ended too early and I felt like I didn't get to do mushroom picking enough. I was lucky to find this game.
I bought the game from Steam sale with 0,82e. I think it is worth every coin. It is true, that the game does not seem to be complete. They should do some changes or fixes to make the game better. However, if you are crazy enough and would like to go mushroom picking even if it -20c IRL, this game is the way to do it. :D

I really hope to get some uppgrades and new stuff to the game!

mid