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

Wall Town Wonders feels like peering into a future where augmented reality is a part of everyday life. Imagine managing a bustling town inhabited by tiny Sims-like characters, each going about their daily routines, right within the confines of your living room. Visually, it’s quite the spectacle with townspeople zooming around in hot air balloons, but beneath the surface, it doesn’t quite capture my attention for long. It makes you wonder if this type of game has arrived too soon for our current generation of XR headsets.

### Game Basics

Developed by Cyborn and available on Quest 3/3S, Wall Town Wonders comes with a price tag of $20 and was released on November 21st, 2024. I played on a Quest 3, deeply curious to explore this intriguing concept.

### Gameplay Experience

At its core, Wall Town Wonders is designed to be laid-back, with easygoing gameplay that matches its chill vibe. The early stages are all about peeking into various buildings, watching as a miniature chef whips up a pizza or two villagers fly a bi-plane around your space.

Once you’re past the hour-long tutorial, you’ll find that the game largely revolves around mini-games linked to unlocking new structures. Whether you’re taking on pests at a vertical farm with a small wrist-mounted crossbow, fishing from the pond in your room, or orchestrating aerial maneuvers with just your hand movements—these are just some of the activities you engage in.

Yet, much of your time is spent in anticipation—your villagers steadily produce resources like wood, money, and food. The loop is all about expanding your collection of building types and upgrading them, with over a hundred structures to explore. You’ll even get to customize your space further by painting and reorganizing buildings, turning them into a personalized setup that visually transforms your room with lively activity.

It’s noteworthy that villagers often operate independently, carrying out their tasks. This means you can opt to participate actively or simply enjoy the spectacle, akin to observing fish in a tank or ants in an ant farm. There are mini-games to mine, farm, and explore, though they can feel more like additional tasks than genuinely engaging activities.

Initially captivated by the vibrant world, I found my interest waning after a while. It was tempting to just let the town function autonomously while turning my attention to something more stimulating. Although the mini-games aim to fill these waiting periods, they often seem like chores rather than intriguing challenges.

### Immersion and Realism

Virtual dioramas have always held a special allure for me, with their ability to condense detail to create immersive experiences. The charming European village aesthetic that Wall Town Wonders brings to life on your walls is an enchanting touch.

Despite the innovation, I still wrote this review outside the headset, resting in the familiar comfort of my usual desktop setup. Ideally, I’d love for the XR tech to advance to a point where headset comfort and display resolution match traditional screens—encouraging quick, casual game sessions that easily fit into a busy day.

For now, however, Wall Town Wonders seems to wish away some of the current XR limitations, not entirely hitting the mark for extended play. This game’s collection of small, engaging mini-games and tranquil tank-like ambiance may be appealing to those who enjoy such relaxed experiences, but often times feels a bit too laid back for more dedicated sessions on Quest.

### Final Thoughts

While my experience may resonate differently with fans of The Sims or Townscaper, Wall Town Wonders’ reliance on simple point-and-click controls can feel restrictive. Villagers can be picked up for brief explorations or used to spawn gadgets like bows or watering cans from your wrist. Though hand-tracking is encouraged, I often found controllers more convenient for these precise interactions.

The game’s laser pointer-based interface might allow for easier interaction across the room, but it leaves much to be desired in terms of creating truly immersive gadgets designed for these mini-games.

### Comfort Considerations

Playing Wall Town Wonders isn’t entirely static; it encourages movement as you explore every available inch of wall space. Though you can play seated, it naturally entices you to get up and explore.

Most activities remain accessible at a comfortable height, though some ground-level tasks might strain your neck if you’re sensitive to such motions. Still, placing the village on your walls introduces a comfortable, innovative spin to the town-building genre in XR, one that I’d like to see adopted more widely in future titles.