Cut Cut Island: Grass Cutting is an early access mobile game available on the Google Play Store. In this relaxing and cozy game, you're in charge of mowing grass, flowers, and more. The more you mow, the more you unlock new areas and features of the island.
Developer: Casucoo
Current Downloads: 1,000+
In-App Purchases: $2–$47.99
Time Played: Less than 10 minutes
My Ratings 🎮
Game Title: 3/3 ⭐⭐
It's a cute title, but it feels a bit plain and generic.
🎨 Artwork Style: 3/3 ⭐⭐
Simple yet colorful.
🖼️ Graphics Style: 3/3 ⭐⭐
Simple 3D items and characters, with not a lot of detail to them. The style is pretty straightforward, but it fits the relaxing nature of the game.
🎵 Sound Design: 2/3 ⭐⭐
There's a simple and relaxing soundtrack to listen to while mowing grass. However, the constant popping noise from automatically collecting grass can get irritating pretty quickly.
Progression System
The progression system seemed pretty straightforward and easy to understand. As you mow, there's a white arrow behind the character pointing toward what the game wants you to do next. I didn't notice any type of tutorial while playing, which I actually found interesting. Lately, I've been thinking about certain games and whether they really need a tutorial. For instance, with match and/or merge games, once you've played one or two, you quickly get the gist of how those types of games work.
That being said, for players who do want a tutorial, it might be nice to have an option to toggle tutorial sections on or off. I personally really like when games give me that option. I did wish I could mow more grass instead of being maxed out at a mere 40 clumps of grass. Maybe the game loop could be extended a little bit here.
I did enjoy going to the different areas and discovering new flowers. Areas that needed to be unlocked would glow. Once an area was unlocked, the game screen would move toward the next unlockable area so I knew where it was. I appreciated that because it made the progression feel clear without needing a tutorial to explain everything. What I didn't like, however, was the game forcing me to take a break when there wasn't an energy or stamina bar to be seen. This frustrated me and made me not want to play the game as much. This is ultimately why I only played for less than 10 minutes.
UI/UX
The game screen is pretty open and simply designed, with small icons taking up the top part of the screen. The rest of the screen is mostly empty, except for the bottom where the mow button and an ad are located. I don't really understand why there's an ad when the game already has in-app purchases. The ad itself is also pretty off-putting and distracts from the relaxing and fun nature of the game. It also comes across as a bit greedy.
As I mentioned before, the forced breaks were another off-putting aspect of the game. Having a break forced on me, followed by an ad starting, made the experience feel less relaxing.
Final Score: 10/15 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, Cut Cut Island: Grass Cutting is a cute and relaxing little game with a simple gameplay loop that's easy to understand. I liked the colorful artwork, straightforward progression, and the way the game guides you toward new areas without relying heavily on tutorials. However, the forced breaks and intrusive ads really hurt the experience for me. I also think the mowing loop could be expanded a bit to make the gameplay feel more satisfying.
Would I play it again?
At this point, no.
The game has a nice, cozy foundation, but the forced breaks and ads were enough to make me stop playing after less than 10 minutes. If those elements were adjusted, I could see myself giving it another try.
Suggested Improvements 💡
Here are a few ideas that could help improve the overall player experience:
🌱 Expand the mowing gameplay loop
Allow players to mow more grass before reaching the limit. Increasing the amount of grass players can collect, or adding more small goals within each area, could make the core gameplay feel more rewarding.
📖 Consider an optional tutorial system
The game is simple enough that a full tutorial may not be necessary, but adding an optional tutorial or a "how to play" section could help new players while still allowing experienced players to jump right in.
⏸️ Reconsider the forced breaks
If there isn't an energy or stamina system, forcing players to stop playing can feel confusing and frustrating. Consider replacing this with a softer mechanic, such as optional breaks, rewards for returning later, or giving players more control over their session.
📱 Review the ad placement and monetization balance
The ads feel disruptive compared to the relaxing experience the game is trying to create. Finding a better balance between ads and in-app purchases could help the game feel more player-friendly.
✨ Add more moments of discovery
The glowing unlockable areas and discovering new flowers were some of my favorite parts of the game. Expanding on these moments with more visual rewards, unique areas, or small surprises could make exploration feel even more exciting.
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