What's great
Been wanting to find a tool for focusing while I'm working on my masters degree - one that felt intentional, cute, and also incorporated features where it didn't feel like just another tab open on my browser. Living in a small town, it's difficult to find a space other than my own home where I can do computer work or reading in a cafe setting - where it feels like a communal body-doubling. Lofi.town has been a game changer - I think because there is the option to be around other folks (in this case, virtual animals) or in your burrow if you really want to. I love the option of fishing as a quick break, and being able to engage with the users around me by just putting out a little emoji. The habit tracker has also been a great inclusion, as I've been attempting to track my water intake in a more passive way (versus having an app be like "DRINK WATER!!!!!!")
And also I genuinly enjoy the lofi music playing on the app. Sometimes I'll open it simply to listen to the music and birds.
What needs improvement
Truly the only gripe I have about it is that that in the cafe area, when you toggle on the cafe background sounds - the audio used is a recording of an actual cafe that has it's own music playing in the background, which happens to be "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians. And the only reason why I know that is because it's a song that played a lot while I was growing up, and my brain latches onto the very faint but still present sound of the song! This is such a niche complaint, and yet it makes me not want to be in the cafe when I'm focusing because then I'm hearing the chorus of that song on repeat every few minutes. But I love being in a cafe environment where I can hear muffled voices coalescing into a soothing hum.
And one idea I had that would be cool (but obviously not necessary) is the option to have a community board where folks can leave notes being like, "I'm prepping for a test, if anyone who has knowledge of (topic) could meet me in my burrow to help me study!" or something similar. And then allow an option for voice-chat in those scenarios (where they are in a burrow of their own, co-working on a project) and can talk in real time about the project they are working on. I think it would work best if the open voice-chat was limited to only burrow spaces, and is only an option opened up if the person who's burrow it is is there and has the chat option toggled on.
vs Alternatives
There are other apps I've used for pomodoro and lofi music - most of which are totally fine and useable, but I often forget to use them when I get into study mode. Gamifying this particular habit seemed to be the key that unlocked my desire (and memory) to use this tool, because I'm gaining coins when I focus that can then be used to get my character a cute little shirt or more plants for my burrow. It's become a habit now to open the app, get my character settled and focused, before I start my readings and research.