Woodo

By combining different facets of an assortment of peaceful activities - colouring-in, jigsaw-puzzling, Lego-building and more - Woodo hits on a formula for pure relaxation. Its gorgeous presentation, both graphics and sound, makes it irresistible to interact with.There's a lot of repetition involved in getting into the zone, and sometimes I wished the storytelling would get out of the way and lean into the unspoken feelings that the dioramas convey without a voiceover. However, none of that was enough to snap me out of its cosy spell.

Woodo is an incredibly relaxing addition to the cozy game genre. I found myself coming home from work and spending 30 minutes winding down with this game. My brain stayed active during the puzzle elements of this game, while the music and cute dioramas kept that relaxing vibe going. The team at Tiny Monks Tale have delivered a solid game that stands out amongst the crowded cozy game genre. The game is really ideal for any age, kids will love the characters and the Pixar-Dreamworks like animation will hold their attention. While the puzzle elements may stump them a little at times, it can be played alone or with other people in the room helping point out the obvious pieces that you missed. It’s a perfect cozy puzzler you can easily get lost in for many hours.

There are a lot of cosy gamers who will love Woodo but unfortunately it never quite clicked into place for me.

While its construction and play are relatively simple, cozy, and satisfying, I also appreciate some smart design that shows an earnest effort on the part of the developers

Overall, despite some control issues and uneven pacing, Woodo is still a title I can largely recommend to players who want a few hours of calming escapism with some stunning visuals, a gentle plot, and meditative gameplay. While perhaps the result is very much style over substance, that style is so warm and inviting it’s easy to overlook a few flaws and simplistic gameplay, at least for its short runtime.

Chill and cozy 3D puzzle game in which you'll bring a world back to life with wooden figurines and pieces

Woodo isn't a traditional adventure game; it's an experience that stays with you long after you close the game.

Woodo is an excellent game for anyone looking for a relaxing experience that also offers plenty of satisfaction. Its constant ability to reinvent itself and the wealth of details in every level further contribute to making it a game that is definitely worth playing.

I guess that's the thing about games and art more generally, such works can hit you when you least expect it but most need it. Certainly in this sense, Woodo is a precious and touching labour of love that hopes to pay it forward. From a purely mechanical perspective Woodo is not especially innovative and certainly not at all challenging, but it is enormously relaxing, weapons-grade adorable and potent enough in its role as a distraction from all of the awful spectrums of crap going on in the world, that it is precisely the sort of salve that I need at this time in my life. Maybe it will be the same for you too right now and if not, Woodo will assuredly, yet quietly, earn its place at some later point in your lifetime when you need it most, like a toy from a forgotten youth left in a cupboard that you rediscover years later.

I was never the same after that summer. Gaining new friends that I frequented for years to come, although I tried to resist the change future me is grateful that things turned out the way they did. Likewise, once Foxy leaves her electronics and decides to look up at the world above, she really starts to live. To appreciate the world in new ways, to recognize that these fleeting moments will become cherished memories, to feel that life is worth living. Woodo appreciates profound storytelling as much as its adorable art style. So much for a simple puzzle game.