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Game
Game2022
APICO
Developer ellraiser, TNgineers
APICO is a 2022 beekeeping simulation video game developed by TNgineers and published by Whitethorn Games. It was released on 20 May 2022 to coincide with World Bee Day. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
300 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
88
LovedLoved
155 positive · 21 negative
95% range 82–92%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 155 | 21 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 38 | 2 | 40 |
| Mastodon * | 12 | 0 | 22 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 10 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,426 of 1,549 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
89% recommend · 152 yes, 18 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 170 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (1,877 of 2,053 positive).
Players describe APICO as a deep, relaxing beekeeping sim with charming pixel art and a slow pace. [1][2][3] Many find the game addictive once they accept its leisurely, self-directed gameplay. [4][5][6] Some reviewers note the game can feel grindy or overwhelming despite its cozy intentions. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [9]
I want to enjoy this game, I really *really* do. It looks wonderful and I love the concept of it, I'm a huge fan of creature collection type games and this seems right up my alley. My problem is, there's both too much and not enough going on. Like, I'll do the quest in the guidebook, and turn in the materials, but it just feels like it was for nothing? There's not really a solid tutorial either, it's more of a …
- [12]
I just got 104% completion and all achievements in this game in about 45 hours, this game is absolutely massive. The game is about collecting and discovering many different types of bees, and each bee has its own requirements. Some bees need to be found during a snowstorm, some need to be bred near a music box, some need to be next to other hives, some need to be next to machines, some need to be next to a heater or …
- [2]
Slow paced and pretty simple for a laid back stress-free experience. However there is plenty to discover and the game nudges you towards doing the right thing with gentle hints instead of in-your-face prompts, so it feels rewarding when things go right. + Lovely pixel art + Lots of aspects to discover + Mellow and stress free + You get to save bees (if only it were that simple IRL) - Not the flashy fun with giant …
- [7]
I loved playing APICO. The music is relaxing and fits the vibe perfectly, and the graphics are charming. I also loved the silly humor. Discovering new species of bees, butterflies, and plants was truly addictive, and repopulating them felt rewarding too. The map is quite large and fun to explore, and you can also go fishing and diving. Collecting resources is easy, and the world itself feels inviting. That said, I …
- [13]
Bee eugenics. - Sometimes the top section of the map will glitch into white which is a bit annoying. But it's not that big of an issue. For some reason your boat will get teleported with you. - Grindy and repetitive. There's automation but you need to unlock a lot of bee types and that can take hours upon hours with bad luck or making stupid mistakes like me. - Not just being about bees but also butterflies and the …
Summarised from 34 of the 283 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
APICO sits at 88% positive across 176 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
60 of 300 · most liked firstMust-have Native Linux games under £15 in the Steam Spring Sale 2025. ``` Loop Hero (£3.19) APICO (£3.87) Roguebook (£3.99) Luck be a Landlord (£4.25) Tails of Iron (£4.39) Into the Breach (£4.55) Slay the Spire (£4.99) Dome Keeper (£5.99) Hollow Knight (£6.39) Inscryption (£6.71) SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE (£7.19) Ziggurat 2 (£7.34) Valheim (£7.74) Opus Magnum (£8.37) Ion Fury (£8.39) Old World (£8.74) Stardew Valley (£6.59) Oxygen Not Included (£6.45) Terra Nil (£10.49) Crusader Kings III…
neutral · AI labelView post →I've been playing a super sweet and peaceful beekeeping game lately. It's a bit of stardew meets minecraft meets bee conservation! You rehabilitate bee populations and release them into the wild and meet cute little shop owners! It's called APICO and it's $5 on Steam right now. :)
positive · AI labelView post →I want to enjoy this game, I really *really* do. It looks wonderful and I love the concept of it, I'm a huge fan of creature collection type games and this seems right up my alley. My problem is, there's both too much and not enough going on. Like, I'll do the quest in the guidebook, and turn in the materials, but it just feels like it was for nothing? There's not really a solid tutorial either, it's more of a "thrown right into the game and figure out as you go" type deal, and unfortunately…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Intro time! Hi, I'm ellraiser, I'm an indie game dev that likes to make UI heavy games that secretly make you do maths & biology! My first game was APICO, a chill beekeeping sim - I'm now working on Snacktorio, a cooking factory sim & Mudborne, a spiritual successor to APICO but with frogs!
neutral · AI labelView post →Playing outside really ups the am-bee-ance. They haven't stopped me for the bee puns yet. @tngineers.bsky.social #apico #indiegame #bees
positive · AI labelView post →Reviewing this game is simple. It's cheap, has massive depth, and you can play it very casually. But most of all: "For APICO, donations are made to bee, beekeeping, pollinator and conservation-based charities. For Snacktorio donations will be made to various hunger charities and foodbanks. For Mudborne it will be amphibian, wetlands, and environmental charities."
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bug game sales this #InverteFest Apico - 75% Bugsnax - 60% Hollow Knight - 50% Empires of the Undergrowth - 50% Cocoon - 40% Another Crab's Treasure - 40% Webbed - 30% Crab Champions - 25% store.steampowered.com/curator/4499...
neutral · AI labelView post →[Humble Bundle] Exceptional Indie Allies Bundle ($10.00). 7 Steam Games - APICO - Endling - Extinction is Forever - Mutazione - NORCO - Not For Broadcast - One Step From Eden - Wytchwood
neutral · AI labelView post →How people describe our game: - APICO but frogs - A Link to the Past meets Potion Craft - wait... is this maths?
neutral · AI labelView post →::: spoiler long list **Hyper Light Drifter** **9 Years Of Shadows** **Voidigo** **vvvvvv** **Star Of Providence** **Wadjet Eye Point & Clicks** **Rain World** **Colt Canyon** **Gross** **Omega Strikers** **Jazzpunk** **Lyne** **Mixolumia** **Shovel Knight** **Alwa's Legacy** **Souldiers** **Volley Blast** **Strange Horticulture** **Katana Zero** **Rivals Of Aether** **RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike** **Fez** **Petal Crash** **Apico** **Atomicrops** **Blazing Beaks**…
neutral · AI labelView post →Just finished Apico today; easily in my top ten favorite cozy games so far. Still finishing up the very last in-game badges for Cozy Grove, which has been tricky, but next up are Lightyear Frontier and Moonstone Island! Those might work better for streaming?
positive · AI labelView post →I bounced off of this game. I got it as part of the momcore bundle, and the premise seems fun so it was the first one I tried, but... the guidebook (tutorial and progression) seems entirely written in this weird self-conscious genre-deprecating edgy minecraft humour. Like they're allergic to sincerity, or are following conventions they're ashamed of. Not what I'm looking for in a cozy game. Also. Given the style and theme of this game, I expected the target demographic to be women, but the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Not really playable for me. I found the pacing exhausting. None of the supporting characters, dialogue, or other content to be particularly interesting enough to keep me engaged. Ultimately, it was the design that just didn't connect with me. This is a personal choice but the visual similarity of so many of the items really made it hard for me to feel comfortable playing. It just felt like exhausting work that wasn't rewarding.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Seconding Graveyard Keeper and Traveler's Rest. I would also like to recommend Schedule I. It's not exactly a farming game, but there is farming, and it has a similar chill vibe. Farming Simulator 25 is surprisingly very fun, but the time it takes to complete work can be draining. Palia is free, and the actual farming portion is super neat with the way crops interact with each other based on placement, though it might be too cute. Apico is bee farming, so slightly different. The creator…
neutral · AI labelView post →The game looks really good, the tutorial isn't in your face or overwhelming, it's very nice and there's little story focus which is a plus for me, just straight to the gameplay.. Speaking of gameplay however, all the machines (even ones like sawmill) require some manual input, I'd expect a better machine that presents itself as an automated and improved version to be automated, but it's only semi auto, having to go back in there every now and then like a newborn baby, to make sure it's still…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wish bees were real
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'll be taking an early look at Snacktorio, the new game from the creators of APICO, live on stream tomorrow! ✨ November 27, 12pm EST ✨ The demo will release to the public on Wednesday, so be sure to wishlist the game and get ready to try it for yourself later this week!
neutral · AI labelView post →our froggy game Mudborne actually started as "lol let's make APICO (our beekeeping sim) but with frogs" for a game jam and I think it's beautiful #indiegames #gamedev #cozygames
neutral · AI labelView post →I just got 104% completion and all achievements in this game in about 45 hours, this game is absolutely massive. The game is about collecting and discovering many different types of bees, and each bee has its own requirements. Some bees need to be found during a snowstorm, some need to be bred near a music box, some need to be next to other hives, some need to be next to machines, some need to be next to a heater or cooler, some are grumpy and need to be calmed down with flower scenets, etc…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I attempted to start this game several times and was not in to it, but then I tried again and accepted a sort of.. slower pace for it. Trying to understand and do things all at once all at the same time is immediatley overwhelming and sort of impossible. Instead of trying to breed 4 special bees and cross 7 flowers and find 2 butterflys all at once, and stress about honey being ready to process.. I just log in for a bit and focus on one thing at a time. This approach has made the game much more…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →first cutscene, big banner with pronouns i will not let them flaunt those politics in my face everytime i talk to an NPC, just use them in dialogue like they always have been for centuries bought it through humble bundle so cant even refund it
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today's 2nd indie game is Mudborne: Frog Management Sim! From the devs of Apico we have a management sim about genetic discovery & frog breeding! Genetically modify frogs to discover new species, each able to unlock new areas & abilities! Dev: @ellraiser.dev / @tngineers.bsky.social Link below!
neutral · AI labelView post →super chill game :3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Slow paced and pretty simple for a laid back stress-free experience. However there is plenty to discover and the game nudges you towards doing the right thing with gentle hints instead of in-your-face prompts, so it feels rewarding when things go right. + Lovely pixel art + Lots of aspects to discover + Mellow and stress free + You get to save bees (if only it were that simple IRL) - Not the flashy fun with giant arrows above objectives ...btw, not sure if this is a feature of the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →made a wintry garden for my bees 🐝💛 #cozygames #apico #indiegames
positive · AI labelView post →[Prime] APICO. Pixel-art beekeeping RPG for Windows, free for Amazon Prime subscribers until 14th February
neutral · AI labelView post →HEY HEY! We are Live! Cecil has started with 'Apico' a gorgeous game about BEES! and Conservatism and BEEEEEEES!
positive · AI labelView post →I am not intrinsically motivated enough for this game: that is on me. As a concept APICO is really charming and interesting. As a biologist I love the concept of crossing bees with different traits, hybridization, etc. However the whole game is just a list to check off with all the different bees and you are not really guided through it, not even for the first few species you discover. Additionally it felt like the few quests that are given are way too far away (i.e. purchase this item that you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Games I have played and enjoyed this year: Love, Ghostie- chill, matchmaking, queer AF Minami Lane- cute, asset management(ish), short Spirit City Lofi Beats- body-doubling while working, cute creatures Currently playing: Botany Manor Game TBR: Dredge, Apico, Little Misfortune, Coral Island
positive · AI labelView post →I'm enjoying this cooking automation game Snacktorio. it's by the same dev as APICO and Mudborne, and has cute eldritch vibes. Looks like there's a lot of complexities i haven't touched yet over 3 hours, but i've been very satisfied by the puzzles so far 😊 store.steampowered.com/app/1902940/...
neutral · AI labelView post →Overall: 81.7/100 Summary: This game is so cute. All the bee puns are adorable. It does get to a point where you feel like there is so many tasks you need to do, but take breather, relax. There are no consequences for not getting to anything “in-time.” Nothing expires, there’s no time limit, you’ll get to it when you get to it, and it’s not going anywhere (except the solitary bees in the bee hotel, you do need to stay and watch for those). Audience Beginner or casual gamer, looking for…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Check out this game bundle supporting the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota! Calico, Baba is You, Apico, A Good Snowman is Hard to Build, Alone on a Journey, Enchanted Blend, and loads more! itch.io/b/3484/no-ic...
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a very cute and fun little game. I had a delightful time with it, and if you like chill farming/breeding/collection games, you'll like this one.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This was honestly the best cozy game I have come across. It has clear instructions that give good indication on what to do while still allowing full autonomy to the player to complete whatever they desire. The art was incredible and very cozy while also being very educational on learning about bees. I would 100% recommend this game to any and everyone. This brought me a lot of joy playing :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Have you heard the BUZZ? BEE-lieve it or not we've partnered with @limitedrungames.com for physical copies of @tngineers.bsky.social game Apico! Preorders are running through July 20 so you can a-PICK-o the version you'd like limitedrungames.com/collections/... Is that too many puns?
neutral · AI labelView post →If you like bees and like doing LOTS OF CHORES for your bees, Apico is peak. You work your ass off for those bees, man. store.steampowered.com/app/1390190/...
positive · AI labelView post →The creators of Apico dropped a frog game Don't talk to me for the next week 🐸
positive · AI labelView post →Hey there! Do you like 🐝 collecting cute little creatures 🔨 crafting 🌱 exploring biomes & helping ecosystems thrive 🔬 bee genetics If the answer's YES then I have good news for you: ✨ APICO is 55% OFF for the Steam Spring Sale! ✨ #cozygames #indiegames
neutral · AI labelView post →Pros: If you are like me and love conservation acts this is the perfect game for you Bee's are very vast and traits transfer reasonably well Butterflies are great and really fun to breed, not really annoying but some of the materials I've noticed are a bit... much... to say the least not bad as a system though Being able to pick up NPCS and move them as you need to with no repercussion is great if you need to move them to your base for shops The NPCs even for the style are really well…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It really wants to be Forestry without any of the parts that made Forestry fun, and there's lame pronouns.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →APICO gets a review now. Bee game. Best enjoyed on my widescreen monitor so I can have sooo many machine tabs open at once. Very glad there's automation late into the game, and the overall gentle "hey, with cogs, now your machine keeps spinning once cranked" is Very helpful as well as the first time I've seen a small boost to production in early-game go so well. Go bees. Very glad I can buy Monthense's theme music. I group this game with Minecraft, Terraria, and Stardew valley in my head for…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →EDIT: I checked some other reviews and first things first: i am not one of those weirdos complaining cause the game has pronouns. I use they/he, as a matter of fact. And tbh this game is quite bland on the inclusion, wish they were more over the top about it, y'know like, tons of pride flags to add to my porch from the get go and stuff like this, but thats not the reason for my negative review. Lets get to it: There is a huge core problem with it that is: the UI. You know that saying "don't…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Me looking at Mudborne: oh cute! Realising it's by the same people who made Apico, a game I love but eventually got so complicated and overwhelming that I had to stop playing it even though I loved it at first:
neutral · AI labelView post →I loved playing APICO. The music is relaxing and fits the vibe perfectly, and the graphics are charming. I also loved the silly humor. Discovering new species of bees, butterflies, and plants was truly addictive, and repopulating them felt rewarding too. The map is quite large and fun to explore, and you can also go fishing and diving. Collecting resources is easy, and the world itself feels inviting. That said, I wouldn’t exactly call it a cozy game. Even though there’s no time limit and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →game is ok, not something i would play to completion the gameplay loop gets boring after 4 or 5 hours and i dont like putting bees in a box every few minutes
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Didnt like the gameplay loop at first but once ur about 3-5 hours in you start really understanding the game and the mechanics. it becomes a really solid stardew like though agonizingly slow to start
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →2. APICO Do you like Beekeeping? Do you like Punnet Squares? This game is so cozy and so fun and I think you can breed butterflies in that game too? If you're like "actually I'm a frog friend", try their sequel game Mudborne! store.steampowered.com/app/1390190/...
positive · AI labelView post →The gameplay loop while grindy, is a lot of fun. It's exciting trying to get new bee species and I love how it incorporates butterflies as well. Some mechanics could be better explained. I play solely on the Steam Deck and controller support is clunky + glitchy. It's not unplayable but I disagree that it should be verified. Not sure if they rushed controller support or if the game itself is glitchy and thats why theres so many issues when playing with controller. Regardless, I still recommend…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very bad netcode that desyncs without telling you, eventually making you lose a lot of progress upon exiting. I played for an hour and lost all my progress as a client. The gameplay is decent but with an unplayable level of netcode this game is not worth playing as a multiplayer experience. Either fix it or don't have multiplayer in this game. would not reccomend.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Doesn't feel balanced. It's a similar setup to stardew valley, but doesn't keep you interested. They throw a lot of characters and dialog at you but the writing and character design felt lacking so it was hard to care about them. The progression of unlocking items was oddly paced and didn't funnel you into certain tasks or interacting with characters. There are many games where you run around chopping trees, gathering stone, and crafting items where I can do it for hours and feel like only…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played Mudborne before APICO. I was missing Mudborne and was looking at the store page when I found APICO and realized the games were made by the same creators. I start with that because I feel that this context is important for my review. I do enjoy this game but I feel that coming from Mudborne made it not as good. The games have identical graphics with many of the items being the same between the two games. This makes it especially hard not to compare the two while playing. With APICO, I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Game Bundle] Exceptional Indie Allies. $10: * Endling - Extinction is Forever * Norco * Wytchwood * APICO * Not For Broadcast * Mutazione * One Step From Eden
neutral · AI labelView post →Restoring a coral reef with my bees' help 🐝🪸 (they're just that good) #cozygames #indiegames #gamedev #apico
positive · AI labelView post →For the price i can't recommend the game its too shallow and underbaked maybe for a third of the price it would be but the game just does not have the content that come with this price tag sad as i do think the potential was there
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I feel like it does what it set out to do - it's a cozy, low stakes fidget game where you get to build up your bee farms. I enjoy having it on and clicking around while talking to my friends, and knowing there's nothing I can really do to mess anything up. I think in the world of "cozy farm sims", it does a decent job, but has a lot of the common pitfalls. Mostly in terms of progression "narrative depth". Pros - cozy - simple - bees are cool - if ur a millennial, hella millennial puns -…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So story time: I designed the mini pig in the indie beekeeping game #apico before I got any art related social media (thread for full story)
neutral · AI labelView post →Appleseed's Indie Game Of The Day! Day 198) Apico by ellraiser/TNgineers A laid-back game about beekeeping! You gather resources, cross breed bees and just otherwise enjoy beekeeping in a cozy form.
positive · AI labelView post →Dive into a nostalgic era of 2000s browser gaming with the Flash Game Vibes sale, ending February 20. Only 10 days remain to secure 80% off laid-back beekeeping sim Apico or 75% off Very Positive Abomi Nation 🕹️ Simple, cartoony art meets snappy arcade action ⚡️ #FlashGames #SteamSale #IndieGames
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm still enjoying playing Apico. Breeding my new bees, decorating my little house. Such a cute game.
positive · AI labelView post →Oooh I have so many recs: Wychwood, Cocoon, Magical Delicacy, Venba, Chants of Senaat, Is This Seat Taken?, Cozy Grove, and Fields of Mistria! The beekeeping game is the dizzying Apico: too many things to do but no time pressure for doing them, and you cross species of bees, bugs, and flowers.
neutral · AI labelView post →
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