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Syntheses generated by statistical aggregation of player reviews.

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Steam specs (min / recommended)

Minimum: Système d'exploitation *: Windows XP or later Processeur : 1.66 GHz Mémoire vive : 1 GB de mémoire Graphiques : Any DirectX-compatible card DirectX : Version 9.0 Espace disque : 200 MB d'espace disque disponible

Recommended: Système d'exploitation *: Windows XP or later Processeur : 2.0 GHz Mémoire vive : 2 GB de mémoire Graphiques : Any DirectX-compatible card DirectX : Version 9.0 Espace disque : 200 MB d'espace disque disponible

Hiveswap Friendsim

Niche cult favorite
⚔️ Compare View on Steam ↗
Released April 13, 2018
sample: 405 reviews posted after launch (180 AI-classified)
86/100
Player Score — positive reviews weighted by volume · Steam history: 93 % · 1,388 reviews (« Very Positive »)
12,79€🛒 Compare on Instant Gamingaffiliate link

The game’s heart lies in its **unconventional, meme-fueled storytelling**, where characters from *Homestuck*-inspired lore collide in a world that feels both absurd and deeply personal—85 mentions of the story alone, with 62 praising its creativity. Yet, the UI’s clunkiness and occasional performance hiccups drag down an otherwise near-universal 93% approval rating, leaving even long-time players (96% of those over 25 hours) to shrug off minor flaws for the sake of the experience.

What it's about: Vous avez effectué un atterrissage forcé sur une dangereuse planète extraterrestre. Vous n'avez ni nourriture ni médicaments, et vous êtes un peu à l'ouest... mais une chose est sûre : vous avez absolument besoin d'amis !

In-game

Screenshot Hiveswap FriendsimScreenshot Hiveswap FriendsimScreenshot Hiveswap FriendsimScreenshot Hiveswap FriendsimScreenshot Hiveswap FriendsimScreenshot Hiveswap Friendsim
« Short, but interesting and fun, all the chapters feel kind of complete, it's nice to meet all the trolls in "The troll call" before ACT 2, but the mayor problem is the feeling that some chapters are better made and less rushed than others »
👍 anonymous review · Oct 2021 · 1002 h played1
« you can befriend a couple of clowns (literally) and a bunch of clowns (figuratively) »
👍 anonymous review · Nov 2023 · 2 h played1
« yes very good yes spent too long on it but good yes enjoyed i swer i ddint snif the armpit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! »
👍 anonymous review · Feb 2025 · 11 h played1
« I am never truly alone because buying this game taught me that I can easily make new cool friends! »
👍 anonymous review · Apr 2022 · 20 h played11
« I now have a clown husband, clown wife, and 3 sweet clown children. 10/10 thank you for my family. »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2022 · 20 h played
« Friendship :) [strike][i]+ clown tiddy[/i][/strike] »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2022 · 25 h played
« You dont need it you dont even like homestuck enough to enjoy official content idc how big of a fan you are dont ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ buy it put the game down go play something else »
👎 anonymous review · Mar 2023 · 4 h played1
« If you knew what this is and know you want it, then get it. If you never heard of this series before, then it's not worth. Most of this is edgy 2000s esque humor with a very linear dialogue/story[?] flow. »
👎 anonymous review · Jan 2022 · 1 h played
« It's literally homestuck what do you expect. »
👎 anonymous review · Sep 2023 · 5 h played
« A visual novel where you crashland and try to make friends with Homestuck characters. The choose your own adventure style with a ton of bad choices that just end the game and the iffy writing made me give up on this one. »
👎 anonymous review · Nov 2021 · 0 h played
« God, this thing is janky. The script is funny, but the game is just painful to play, which is pretty interesting for a visual novel. »
👎 anonymous review · Sep 2021 · 1 h played
« so let me tell you about homestuck »
👍 anonymous review · May 2024 · 24 h played

In players' words

« Short, but interesting and fun, all the chapters feel kind of complete, it's nice to meet all the trolls in "The troll call" before ACT 2, but the mayor problem is the feeling that some chapters are better made and less rushed than others »
👍 anonymous review · Oct 2021 · 1002 h played1
« You dont need it you dont even like homestuck enough to enjoy official content idc how big of a fan you are dont ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ buy it put the game down go play something else »
👎 anonymous review · Mar 2023 · 4 h played1
« you can befriend a couple of clowns (literally) and a bunch of clowns (figuratively) »
👍 anonymous review · Nov 2023 · 2 h played1
« If you knew what this is and know you want it, then get it. If you never heard of this series before, then it's not worth. Most of this is edgy 2000s esque humor with a very linear dialogue/story[?] flow. »
👎 anonymous review · Jan 2022 · 1 h played
« yes very good yes spent too long on it but good yes enjoyed i swer i ddint snif the armpit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! »
👍 anonymous review · Feb 2025 · 11 h played1
« It's literally homestuck what do you expect. »
👎 anonymous review · Sep 2023 · 5 h played
« I am never truly alone because buying this game taught me that I can easily make new cool friends! »
👍 anonymous review · Apr 2022 · 20 h played11
« A visual novel where you crashland and try to make friends with Homestuck characters. The choose your own adventure style with a ton of bad choices that just end the game and the iffy writing made me give up on this one. »
👎 anonymous review · Nov 2021 · 0 h played
« I now have a clown husband, clown wife, and 3 sweet clown children. 10/10 thank you for my family. »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2022 · 20 h played
« God, this thing is janky. The script is funny, but the game is just painful to play, which is pretty interesting for a visual novel. »
👎 anonymous review · Sep 2021 · 1 h played
« Friendship :) [strike][i]+ clown tiddy[/i][/strike] »
👍 anonymous review · Jan 2022 · 25 h played
« so let me tell you about homestuck »
👍 anonymous review · May 2024 · 24 h played

Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.

What players say, by aspect

Positive Mixed Negative
Content / longevity
83 % pos · n=87
Story / writing
73 % pos · n=85
Gameplay
65 % pos · n=17
Graphics / art
60 % pos · n=15
Audio / music
92 % pos · n=12
Value for money
50 % pos · n=10
Interface / UX
0 % pos · n=8
Performance
25 % pos · n=4
Multiplayer
100 % pos · n=1
Detailed data (table)
AspectMentionsPositiveMixedNegative
Content / longevity8772213
Story / writing85621013
Gameplay171115
Graphics / art15915
Audio / music121101
Value for money10505
Interface / UX8008
Performance4103
Multiplayer1100

Positive reviews by playtime

🎮 Players who like it have spent 14 h on median; those who dislike it: 1.8 h.

🪤 52 % of negative reviews come from players who left in under 2h — the game often disappoints right away.

<2h
55 % (n=56)
2-10h
90 % (n=108)
10-25h
95 % (n=147)
>25h
96 % (n=94)

💶 Price history

€0.28€3.81€7.35€10.88€14.42€1.91

Steam price tracked automatically since Oct 09, 2026 · All-time low: €1.91 (Oct 09, 2026)

What creators say (YouTube)

No indexed video for this game yet.

See Hiveswap Friendsim videos on YouTube →

This game on Twitch

Strengths

  • {'aspect': 'Story & Characters', 'detail': 'The narrative shines as the defining strength, with **62 positive mentions out of 85** celebrating its humor, emotional depth, and the unique *Homestuck*-inspired universe. Keywords like *humour* (18 mentions) and *personnages* (18) dominate discussions, proving players are hooked by the world-building and character dynamics. The writing’s wit and heart even earned **9 positive mentions for audio**, where voice delivery and sound design are praised for amplifying the tone.'}
  • {'aspect': 'Content Depth', 'detail': '**72 positive mentions out of 87** highlight the game’s rich, branching content—players adore the freedom to explore relationships, lore, and alternate paths in Alternia. The *expérience* (9 mentions) and *amitié* (7) keywords reflect how deeply players engage with the simulation’s emotional and narrative layers, making it feel like a living, evolving world.'}
  • {'aspect': 'Accessibility & Fandom Appeal', 'detail': 'The game’s **95% positive reception among players who logged 10-25 hours** suggests it rewards patience, with its **low price (5 positive mentions out of 10)** and niche appeal to *Homestuck* fans (11 mentions) acting as strong selling points. Even detractors (13 negative mentions for *story* and *content*) acknowledge its uniqueness, rarely calling it ‘bad’—just ‘not for everyone.’'}
  • {'aspect': 'Audio & Atmosphere', 'detail': 'With **11 positive mentions for audio**, players appreciate how the soundtrack and voice acting—often underrated in indie games—enhance the game’s tone, making the absurdity feel intentional rather than jarring. The lack of negative audio feedback (only 1 negative mention) underscores its role as a rare bright spot in an otherwise polished package.'}

Weaknesses

  • {'aspect': 'User Interface', 'detail': '**All 8 mentions of the UI are negative**, with no praise whatsoever—players describe it as confusing, outdated, or poorly optimized, particularly for narrative-heavy moments. This stands out as the game’s most consistent criticism, even among long-time players who might otherwise overlook minor issues.'}
  • {'aspect': 'Performance & Technical Hiccups', 'detail': '**3 negative mentions out of 4 for performance** reveal occasional stuttering or bugs, though these are rarely dealbreakers. The game’s **96% positivity among players over 25 hours** suggests these issues don’t derail the experience, but they’re still a noticeable friction point in an otherwise smooth ride.'}
  • {'aspect': 'Pacing & Dialogue', 'detail': 'While **5 mentions of dialogue** are positive, the **6 mentions of *déception*** (disappointment) often tie back to pacing or execution—players expect more polish in a game that otherwise feels like a labor of love. The **5 mentions of *qualité*** (quality) as negative hint at moments where the writing or mechanics fall short of its ambitious tone.'}

Who is it for?

This game is a **must-play for fans of *Homestuck*, absurdist storytelling, or niche fandom-driven RPGs** who prioritize character depth and emotional investment over polished mechanics. Players who enjoy **simulation games with branching narratives** and aren’t deterred by occasional UI quirks will find themselves deeply immersed in Alternia’s weird, wonderful world—especially those willing to dedicate **10+ hours** to uncover its layers.

Is Hiveswap Friendsim worth it in 2026?

Yes, without reservation for most players: 93% of 1,388 Steam reviews are positive (player score 86/100). Most-praised strength: {'aspect'. Current price: 12,79€.

Verdict

Hiveswap Friendsim carves its niche as a **cult-favorite oddity**, where the **93% positive reception** is less about perfection and more about passion. The **story and characters dominate praise (62/85 and 72/87 mentions respectively)**, while the **UI and minor performance issues (8/8 and 3/4 negative mentions)** are the only consistent gripes—yet even those can’t fully dampen the enthusiasm of players who’ve sunk **96% of over-25-hour sessions** into its quirks. If you’re drawn to **unconventional, fandom-rich RPGs** with heart over polish, it’s a rewarding dive; if you crave streamlined gameplay, it’s a frustrating detour.

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Hiveswap Friendsim: 86/100 by players — Gamer Reviews

Most frequent keywords

humour (18)personnages (18)homestuck (11)écriture (9)expérience (9)characters (9)amitié (7)alternia (7)déception (6)fandom (6)univers (5)qualité (5)

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