Info about Finn Dorset's Institute For Livestock Replication:

Official game description:
**Welcome to Finn Dorset's Institute For Livestock Replication**  
You play as Finn Dorset, a humble clone farmer starting out on a grassy dwarf planet.  
Begin with a single moon sheep, a small paddock and a cloning machine. Expand your enterprise clone-by-clone until you have the greatest wool production business in the sector!  
Purchase upgrades and automate your clone production with your hard earned Moon Money!  
Deploy futuristic gadgets to produce large amounts of livestock and develop various transport methods to sell your wool!  
Defend your farm from hungry hawks and other hazardous hostiles!  
**Features**_  
\- Animated cartoon graphics  
\- Totally free game (no paid bonuses, loot boxes or coins. You will never be asked for money)  
\- Hundreds of upgrades and progression levels  
\- Fully illustrated hand drawn artwork  
\- Space goose!  
\- Dynamic evolving visuals  
\- Hours of game-play  
\- In-game and Steam achievements_  
**  
What even is this?**  
Another crackpot hand-drawn cartoon game from the developer of Snowflake's Chance and Metal Voyager. FDIFLR is an incremental game in the spirit of titles such as Universal Paperclips and Cookie Clicker.  
The genre is often characterized by minimalist visuals so the idea was to have the units and upgrades illustrated as much as possible.  
It is an idle/clicker game so there are short to medium periods of waiting to progress.  
**Is there sound?**  
Due to the game being designed to be played while multitasking or in the background there is no game audio, players are encouraged to listen to a podcast or watch approved educational programming on a second monitor.  
**Who has made this?**  
Game and artwork was made by Carl Morgan (CarlMorganArt). Special thanks to Dante Morris for naming the title.  
**  
So this is free?**  
Yep.  
**Who is Finn Dorset?**  
Stop digging.

Release date: Oct 2, 2024

Categories: Incremental Game, Idle Game, Clicker Game, Management Simulation, Farming Simulation, Automation, Hand-drawn Art

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: Reviews explicitly mention no microtransactions.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.00 - $5.00
  - Reasoning: The strongest price-related signal is that one reviewer says the game is only worth it as a free game and would regret paying, while another explicitly says it is not worth money. Other reviews reinforce low perceived value by saying it is not worth it even for clicker fans, though a minority praise the artwork and gameplay. This points to a community fair base-game price range at the very low end, with free or near-free being acceptable and only a small paid amount potentially justified by the positive comments.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 45.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 10.0h
  - Reasoning: The first quote directly reports a first playthrough of about 45 hours, supporting gameCompletion = 45. The second and third quotes describe the endgame as long waiting periods, with an explicit ~10-hour cap wait, supporting endgame = 10. The fourth quote indicates sessions can be extended background periods of an hour or two, supporting sessionLength = 2. No quote reports a distinct story completion time, so storyCompletion is null. Confidence is moderate because other reviews give conflicting completion estimates and much of the reported time is idle/AFK.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Fun and addictive from the start, but pacing degrades sharply in the mid and late game, turning into a slow background grind with no offline progression.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: No offline progression; the game must be kept open in the background; Progression slows significantly past the first hour; Mid-game bottlenecks force hours of idling between upgrades; Late-game upgrades cost billions and require long waits; Repetitive replay of full cycles for achievements; Overall grind/waiting-game feel
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Tolerance for idle waiting and background play; Enjoyment of numbers-go-up incremental games; Multitasking while the game runs; Appreciation of the art, humor, and theme over pacing; Free price with no microtransactions
- Player Archetypes:
  - Incremental Genre Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoying steady incremental progression and upgrade satisfaction within a familiar idle-game structure.
    - Playstyle: Optimizes upgrades and idle loops while comparing mechanics to other incremental games.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: incremental game fan; idle game fan
    - Reference games: Cookie Clicker; AdVenture Capitalist
  - Completionist Prestige Grinder (buy)
    - Motivation: Completing every achievement and fully clearing the game's prestige loops.
    - Playstyle: Repeatedly prestiges, hunts secrets and achievements, and pushes through long grinds.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: completionist
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Background Multitasker (buy)
    - Motivation: Relaxing passive entertainment that can run alongside work or other activities.
    - Playstyle: Leaves the game running in the background or on a second screen and checks in casually.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Grind-Weary Offline Progression Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: Efficient idle progression with meaningful pacing and offline accumulation rather than forced waiting.
    - Playstyle: Expects offline progress and criticizes long stretches of background waiting for small upgrades.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Gnorp Apologue; Increlution


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Praise as idle incremental (weight 0.55): Reviewers widely describe the game as a chill, well-made idle incremental with satisfying progression and upgrades. It works well both actively and in the background.
- Beautiful cute artwork (weight 0.49): The art is frequently praised as beautiful, pretty, and visually appealing. Many call the hand-drawn style adorable and charming.
- Fun and addictive experience (weight 0.37): The game is often called fun, addictive, and cute overall. It provides enjoyable mindless entertainment and is a good time waster.
- Charming animations and visuals (weight 0.25): The graphics and animations are described as charming, crazy, and hypnotizing. The visual presentation is a clear highlight for many reviewers.
- Many upgrades with visual progression (weight 0.22): Hundreds of illustrated upgrades keep progression satisfying and make each action feel tangible. Players enjoy seeing the results of their actions affect the universe.
- Hilarious concept and writing (weight 0.21): The game's concept is considered funny or hilarious, with writing that has a Rick and Morty or Futurama vibe. The first playthrough can be very hilarious due to the upgrades.
- Well paced progression (weight 0.17): The progression is described as very well-paced and progressive. Some note it is especially good at the beginning or on the first run.
- Worth completing once (weight 0.17): The game is interesting enough to finish once, and completing a playthrough is considered fun and cool. It has a defined end that some players appreciate.
- Standard clicker formula (weight 0.1): The game is seen as a solid clicker or cookie-clicker-esque game. It follows a pretty standard clicker formula that works well.
- Sheep background growth (weight 0.07): Reviewers enjoy watching the background become more infested with sheep as the game progresses. It is a cool visual detail that adds to the experience.
- Good potential (weight 0.07): Some reviewers see a lot of potential in the game. They believe it could be even better with further development.

Common complaints:
- Slow overall progression (weight 0.49): Progression is too slow, making the game less enjoyable and often requiring long waiting periods. This issue is frequently mentioned and significantly impacts player satisfaction.
- Missing offline progression (weight 0.47): The game lacks any offline progress, forcing players to keep the game running in the background. This is a major flaw for an idle game, as it prevents passive advancement when the game is closed.
- Repetitive achievement grind (weight 0.39): Completing all achievements requires multiple identical playthroughs (often four), which players find tedious and repetitive. This significantly reduces the game's long-term appeal.
- Weak prestige system (weight 0.32): The prestige mechanics are underdeveloped and not rewarding, often compared to a simple 'new game plus' with no meaningful changes. Players find it lackluster and pointless.
- Boring and tedious experience (weight 0.25): Many players find the game boring and extremely tedious, with little fun to be had. This is a recurring sentiment in negative reviews.
- Lack of sound and music (weight 0.22): The game has no sound effects or background music, which many players find boring and detracts from the overall experience. This is a common complaint among reviewers.
- Linear and grindy progression (weight 0.17): Progression is linear and extremely grindy, with little variation or excitement. Players find it monotonous and unrewarding.
- Repetitive gameplay (weight 0.15): The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, with little variation between cycles. Players note that after the first playthrough, the experience feels stale.
- Costs scale too fast (weight 0.12): Upgrade costs increase exponentially while income growth is linear, making progression feel unfair and discouraging. This imbalance frustrates players.
- Auto-clickers not allowed (weight 0.12): The developer prohibits the use of auto-clickers, preventing players from automating tedious clicking. This forces manual effort and adds to the grind.
- Unclear descriptions hinder investment (weight 0.07): Imprecise and unspecific descriptions make it difficult for players to determine where to invest effort or resources. This leads to confusion and suboptimal choices.
- Pixelated fullscreen visuals (weight 0.07): In fullscreen mode, the game appears pixelated and hard to read, causing eye strain. This visual issue affects readability and comfort.
- Bugs require restarts (weight 0.07): Rare bugs cause progress to freeze, forcing players to restart the game. These bugs are annoying and disrupt the experience.
- Lack of video settings (weight 0.06): The game lacks configurable video settings, which limits players' ability to adjust visual quality. This is a minor but notable omission.

Gameplay feedback:
- Incremental clicker idle game (weight 0.84): The core gameplay is an incremental clicker/idle progression where players click to generate resources and purchase upgrades. Many reviewers describe it as similar to cookie-clicker but with sheep cloning and wool selling.
- Idle gameplay runs in background (weight 0.51): The game is designed to be left running in the background, with progress continuing while the player is away or working on other tasks. Most of the game involves passive idling.
- Sheep cloning and wool selling (weight 0.5): The core loop involves cloning sheep, selling their wool for currency, and using that currency to buy upgrades. Players start with a single sheep and build a wool empire.
- Prestige system for resets (weight 0.44): The game includes a prestige mechanic that functions like New Game Plus, allowing players to reset progress in exchange for permanent bonuses. Some reviews mention no prestige system, but most confirm its presence.
- Achievements require multiple playthroughs (weight 0.38): To earn all achievements, players must complete the game four times, often through prestige cycles. This encourages replayability and long-term engagement.
- Upgrade system with purchases (weight 0.27): Players can purchase various upgrades using accumulated income, which improve production and unlock new content. Upgrades require increasing amounts of currency and may have caps.
- Visual changes with upgrades (weight 0.17): The game's world and scenery visibly evolve as players purchase upgrades, with new art for each upgrade. This provides a sense of progression and visual feedback.
- Simple and straightforward mechanics (weight 0.12): The gameplay mechanics are on the simpler side, making it easy to pick up and play. It is a straightforward incremental game where numbers go up.
- Storage and capacity limits (weight 0.11): Players can build silos to store wool, but there are caps on storage and transport capacities. Some upgrades to increase limits may not function as expected.

Performance notes:
- Fullscreen pixelation causes eye strain (weight 0.08): Players report that in fullscreen mode the game becomes very pixelated and hard to read, leading to eye strain. This issue affected multiple users consistently.
- Freezing and restart issues (weight 0.08): The game froze after a short time and could not be restarted, requiring a restart to fix. This is a severe stability issue.
- Crashes but minimal progress loss (weight 0.07): Several players experienced crashes, but they noted that crashes rarely set them back much. This suggests crashes are recoverable but still annoying.
- Endgame bug blocks upgrades (weight 0.05): A bug near the end of each playthrough prevents upgrade purchases and moon buck collection. This is a critical progression-blocking issue.
- Poor performance on high-end PC (weight 0.05): The game runs poorly even on a powerful machine, indicating severe optimization problems. This suggests the game is not demanding but poorly coded.
- Poorly optimized (weight 0.05): One user explicitly stated the game is poorly optimized. This is a general sentiment echoed by other performance complaints.
- Low CPU usage cap (weight 0.04): The game appears to be capped at a low CPU percentage, potentially limiting performance. This could explain poor performance on capable hardware.
- Long loading times (weight 0.04): The loading time is super long for some reason, frustrating players. This is a common performance-related complaint.
- Crash when changing audio device (weight 0.04): The game crashes when switching audio devices, disrupting play. This is a specific technical issue reported by one user.
- Awful resolution (weight 0.04): A user complained about the game's resolution being awful, likely contributing to readability issues. This aligns with other display complaints.
- Game lags (weight 0.04): One user reported that the game lags, indicating performance issues. This is a common complaint but lacks specific details.
- Plays relatively smoothly (weight 0.04): Despite many performance complaints, one user found the game plays relatively smoothly. This shows experiences vary.
- Runs solid on some gear (weight 0.04): One user reported the game runs pretty solid on their gear, contrasting with others' experiences. This highlights inconsistent performance across systems.

Recommendations:
- Positive general recommendation (weight 0.29): A significant number of reviewers give a straightforward recommendation, calling it a fun game worth trying. This positive sentiment is widespread but often lacks specific details.
- Good for idle game fans (weight 0.28): Many reviewers recommend the game specifically to fans of idle or incremental games, comparing it to Cookie Clicker and AdVenture Capitalist. It satisfies the niche but may not appeal to broader audiences.
- Not worth time or money (weight 0.24): Multiple reviewers strongly advise against playing, stating the game is not worth finishing or recommending. This sentiment appears across several clusters, indicating a significant negative consensus.
- Free to play, low risk (weight 0.24): Reviewers frequently highlight that the game is free, making it easy to try with no financial risk. The free price point is a major factor in recommendations.
- Limited content and depth (weight 0.21): Reviewers note that the game lacks depth, becomes repetitive, or plateaus after a while, making it less engaging for long-term play. Some recommend only one playthrough.
- Positive but with reservations (weight 0.2): Some reviewers give a positive recommendation but with caveats, such as only if you like the genre or can tolerate background play. They see value but acknowledge flaws.
- Good for background play (weight 0.19): Many suggest the game is ideal for running in the background while doing other tasks, suitable for short sessions or multitasking. It requires minimal active interaction.
- Unique visuals and themes (weight 0.18): The game's original art style, dark atmosphere, and absurd themes are praised and attract certain players. These elements are a key selling point for some.
- Easy achievements attract players (weight 0.12): Some reviewers recommend the game for its easy achievement completion, appealing to achievement hunters. However, others warn against playing solely for achievements due to lack of enjoyment.
- New Game+ criticized (weight 0.12): The New Game+ system receives negative feedback, with reviewers advising against it for most players due to poor quality or lack of enjoyment. Only completionists might find value.
- Short and easy to complete (weight 0.11): Some note that the game is short and can be completed quickly, making it a brief distraction. This is seen as both a positive and a negative.
- Recommended after first run (weight 0.11): Some advise playing only the first run or loop and then stopping, as the game may not hold up in subsequent playthroughs. This suggests diminishing returns.
- Better alternatives exist (weight 0.09): Some reviewers suggest playing other idle games like Universal Paperclips or Cookie Clicker instead, implying this game is inferior. This comparison highlights competition in the genre.
- Not worth it unless free (weight 0.09): Several reviewers state the game is only worth playing because it's free; they would be upset if they had paid for it. This ties into the low perceived value.
- Bugs and technical issues (weight 0.07): Some reviewers cannot recommend due to bugs or the need to reload to progress, which detracts from the experience. These issues prevent full enjoyment.
- Leisurely and chill experience (weight 0.07): Reviewers describe the game as a relaxing, chill experience suitable for unwinding. It appeals to those seeking a low-stress activity.
- Not for active gamers (weight 0.07): The game is not suitable for those seeking dynamic gameplay, deep strategy, or active interaction, appealing more to passive players. This limits its audience.
- Scaling and mechanics need work (weight 0.06): A few reviewers point out that the scaling mechanics or overall balance could be improved for a better experience. This is a specific criticism.
- Give it a try if curious (weight 0.06): Some suggest giving the game a chance if it looks interesting, without strong endorsement or warning. This is a neutral recommendation.

Other player notes:
- Free with no microtransactions (weight 0.44): The game is completely free to play with no microtransactions, ads, or paywalls. Multiple reviewers highlight the absence of any monetization.
- Compared to Cookie Clicker (weight 0.31): Players frequently compare the game to Cookie Clicker, noting similarities and differences. Some state it has less content or a different focus, while others find it comparable in genre.
- Requires four playthroughs to finish (weight 0.26): To truly finish the game or get all achievements, you must complete it four times. This is a common point mentioned by several reviewers.
- 100% completion in about 100 hours (weight 0.24): Many reviewers report that achieving 100% completion takes around 100 hours. Some provide more precise estimates ranging from 88 to 100+ hours, often across multiple runs.
- Short and lacks depth (weight 0.17): Some reviewers feel the game is short compared to other incremental games and lacks depth. However, others find it adequately long or good value for its price.
- Playtime varies widely (weight 0.16): Reviewers report a wide range of playtime, from a dozen hours to over 100 hours depending on playstyle and completion goals. Some mention specific milestones like 30 hours for the first farm.
- Hand-drawn 2D art style (weight 0.15): The game features fully illustrated, hand-drawn 2D art with an animated cartoon style. Some compare it to Nintendo DS games or note a descent-into-madness theme.
- Steam achievements included (weight 0.15): The game has Steam achievements, with a total of 7 achievements. Reviewers mention earning them across multiple runs.
- Unique among incremental games (weight 0.15): Reviewers say it stands out from other incremental games on Steam due to its personality, polish, and charm. It is compared favorably to paid idle games.
- Comparisons to other idle games (weight 0.12): The game is compared to various idle and incremental games such as Universal Paperclips, Candy Box, Gnorp Apologue, and Increlution. These comparisons highlight its grind and gameplay style.
- Miscellaneous minor details (weight 0.09): Other minor details include the release date (October 3, 2024), the presence of a space goose, a sheep with one eye, and that Steam does not yet count it in counters.
- No cloud save or support option (weight 0.09): The game lacks cloud save functionality and there is no option to support the developer on Steam. Some reviewers would welcome optional paid DLC for support.
- Story and writing praised (weight 0.09): The game has story elements and writing that some compare to Rick and Morty or Futurama. The setting is called Lamthimos.
- Good value for incremental fans (weight 0.09): Considering its free price, the game is considered good value for fans of incremental games. Some reviewers would support the developer via optional paid DLC.
- Dynamic visual effects (weight 0.06): The game features dynamic and evolving visuals that change as you progress. Reviewers appreciate the visual feedback.
- Hundreds of upgrades (weight 0.04): The game offers hundreds of upgrades for players to unlock and utilize. This adds depth and progression to the gameplay.
- Would work well on mobile (weight 0.03): Some reviewers think the game would be great as a mobile game due to its idle nature. This is a suggestion for future platforms.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by extremely slow progression, lack of offline earning, and long waits for upgrades. Frequent bugs and crashes interrupt progress, and endgame bottlenecks often force restarts or soft-lock the game.
- Disappointment (weight 0.17): Disappointment stems from the absence of offline progression and a sharp slowdown after early hours. Later playthroughs feel repetitive with little new content, and many mechanics like prestige are underdeveloped or unsatisfying.
- Boredom (weight 0.12): The game becomes boring due to repetitive loops that require hours of waiting for minimal upgrades. Later cycles offer only speed increases with no new content, making the experience feel like a slog.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the charming hand-drawn art, humorous theme, and satisfying incremental mechanics. The game provides a fun, relaxing experience with plenty of upgrades and amusing animations.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Satisfaction comes from the free-to-play model, absence of monetization, and the satisfying sense of progression from numerous upgrades. Completing achievements and watching numbers grow provides a fulfilling idle experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.04): Amusement arises from the absurd premise of cloning moon sheep, dark humor, and funny upgrade descriptions. The quirky setting and over-the-top scenarios keep players entertained.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the unique pixel art style, cozy visuals, and the visible evolution of upgrades. The game's presentation and attention to detail stand out.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise comes from unexpected elements like the ending, the depth of the lore, and the game being free yet feature-rich. The fun factor despite initial impressions also caught players off guard.
- Delight (weight 0.02): Delight is caused by the wonderfully bizarre premise, charming hand-drawn art, and subtle horror vibes. The quirky concept and engaging animations create a delightful experience.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance stems from needing to leave the PC on for long periods, buggy interface issues, and achievements requiring multiple playthroughs. Costs scaling faster than income adds to the irritation.
- Dissatisfaction (weight 0.02): Dissatisfaction arises from unsatisfying gameplay that only feels worth continuing due to sunk time, redundant progression, and a lack of prestige mechanics. The balance feels like a time-killer with little progress compared to other idle games.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the ludicrous and addicting sheep population gameplay, creative lore, and unfolding art style. The game's unique concept and evolving visuals foster a strong affection.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy is brought by the charmingly animated graphics, funny moments, and the satisfaction of fully completing the game. The presence of space geese and witty writing adds to the delight.
- Liking (weight 0.01): Players like the game's concept, its low resource requirements, and the fact that it's a cute free game. The simplicity and accessibility contribute to a positive regard.
- Mild frustration (weight 0.01): Mild frustration is caused by tedious last achievements, a time crunch to finish, and minor UI clarity issues with upgrade buttons. These small annoyances detract slightly from the overall experience.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest is sparked by the original concept and mechanics, hidden lore that reveals itself through resets, and the addictive potential of the simple yet engaging gameplay. The unique universe keeps players curious.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arises from endgame upgrades requiring restarts, losing sheep faster than can be cloned, and the long grind being described negatively. These issues provoke strong negative reactions.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is driven by being absorbed in obtaining all achievements, diving into the lore, and watching the world change despite limited clicking. The game maintains player involvement throughout.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is felt for the hypnotizing animations, evolving background, and interesting story. The game is seen as an amazing work of art with visible developer dedication.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement comes from the variety of gameplay, such as protecting moon sheep from falcons, and the rapid escalation of events. The chaotic fun keeps players thrilled.}