A Good Snowman Is Hard To Build
- February 25, 2015
- Benjamin Davis
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"A Good Snowman is Hard to Build" is a charming puzzle game where you play as a monster, tasked with building snowmen by solving puzzles. With adorable graphics, an enchanting soundtrack, and carefully designed puzzles, this game is sure to delight. The game has received numerous accolades, including being named one of TIME magazine's top 10 apps of 2016 and winning Best Character Design at Intel Level Up 2014.
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Reviews
- Charming and relaxing gameplay with a soothing atmosphere and beautiful visuals.
- Clever puzzle design that gradually increases in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge.
- The ability to hug snowmen and interact with the environment adds a delightful touch to the experience.
- The game is relatively short, taking only a few hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
- The mechanics in the 'dream world' can be confusing and poorly explained, leading to frustration.
- Controls can feel unresponsive at times, causing accidental movements that disrupt puzzle-solving.
- gameplay68 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "A Good Snowman is Hard to Build" is centered around simple mechanics where players roll snowballs to create snowmen, offering a blend of light-hearted puzzles and soothing aesthetics. While the core mechanics are easy to grasp, the game effectively introduces new challenges and variations, particularly in the second half, keeping the experience engaging without overwhelming complexity. Overall, it provides a charming and meditative puzzle experience, though some players may find the limited mechanics lead to a sense of repetition over time.
“The puzzles are short but challenging, and the game lasts just long enough to explore all the possibilities of the mechanics without overstaying its welcome.”
“The gameplay is intuitive, the animation is fantastic, overall a great little game.”
“Focuses on its core puzzle mechanic of building a snowman by rolling 3 snowballs of increasing size without unnecessary convolution.”
“The controls are absolutely awful for no reason.”
“Not a big issue, but with such a small amount of mechanics in play, you would expect it to be more refined.”
“It has a wonderful aesthetic and makes an interesting new use of the classic box-pushing puzzle mechanic, but it is tragically short; I finished it in under 3 hours.”
- graphics44 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cute art style, which complements the relaxing atmosphere created by soothing music and simple mechanics. While some reviewers note that the visuals may not be as polished as newer titles, the minimalist design and delightful animations contribute to an enjoyable and engaging experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as endearing and effective, making it a great choice for fans of casual puzzle games.
“The peaceful music, tiled map graphics, and smooth character animations are well done.”
“The simplistic graphics (shoutout to the design of the monster you’re playing as) and the game’s sound design also very much complement its comforting atmosphere.”
“Like the snowy setting, the graphics and character animation are beautiful in their minimalist design and add a cuteness that makes the game enjoyable even when a puzzle seems impossible.”
“The aesthetics are also a bit less polished than the newer Draknek games, but that's just a natural part of a game being old.”
“The visuals are simple, but I appreciated them having played a monster's expedition.”
“Graphics, basic but adorable; similar feeling to 'Thomas Was Alone', less focus on the images than the bonds.”
- music35 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing, ambient quality, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere and complementing the cute visuals. Many reviewers appreciate the minimalist piano soundtrack and dynamic music that adapts to gameplay, creating a meditative experience. While some express a desire for more variety, the overall consensus is that the music effectively contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“It's short, sweet, gorgeously painterly and with an awesome, minimalist piano soundtrack, which really helps to soothe you during some of the game's more difficult sections.”
“The game itself is very cute, the music is soothing, it's a relaxing game.”
“Pleasing aesthetics and music that ease you into a zen puzzle-solving state.”
“The music is mainly ambient.”
“Cute cartoon graphics, simple controls, a relaxing ambience and soothing atmosphere, but I didn’t like the music.”
“Nevertheless, the visuals are lovely, the sound is excellent (full disclosure: I have a soft spot for Ryan Roth's music), and the puzzles are clean and satisfying, albeit lack in number.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its warm, cozy, and calming qualities, enhanced by charming graphics and soothing music. Players appreciate the cute design elements and engaging sound effects that contribute to a relaxing experience, although some note that the music may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game creates a delightful and meditative environment, making it a pleasant escape despite its brevity.
“There's also a bunch of great little touches that give the game a warm, cozy atmosphere - you can sit on the benches, give each snowman a hug, etc.”
“A good snowman is hard to build is a unique puzzle game with a beautiful atmosphere and music that can make you close your eyes and feel as if you are on an island.”
“The simplistic graphics and the game’s sound design very much complement its comforting atmosphere.”
“The game might last someone that isn't very good at puzzles longer and be a more satisfying experience, but all this has going for it is the cute atmosphere and one challenging puzzle at the very end.”
“Cute cartoon graphics, simple controls, a relaxing ambience and soothing atmosphere, but I didn’t like the music.”
“I love the quiet atmosphere, I love hugging the snowmen after I've found a way to stack them, and even the music is pleasant and still listenable after 5+ hours.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome and heartwarming elements, such as the ability to hug snowmen and personalize them with names and outfits, creating a deep connection with the characters. Players appreciate the game's peaceful atmosphere and the emotional journey it offers, which enhances the puzzle-solving experience and fosters a sense of attachment to the game's world. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings, making it a memorable and touching experience.
“After building the perfect snowman, it gets a name, an adorable outfit, and the heartwarming option to give it a hug.”
“I love that it adds an emotional element to the characters and objects in the game, so it really grows on you as opposed to just solving puzzles and moving on.”
“I became much more emotionally closer to what was happening on the screen while proceeding through the second part.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when having to redo levels due to mistakes or poor order of completion. The lack of a map and the challenge of locating unsolved puzzles contribute to a sense of monotony, overshadowing the interesting intent behind some of the game's mechanics. Overall, while the challenges can be engaging, they often feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience.
“Also to redo a level the 5th time, just because you did certain levels in the wrong order and locked yourself out, or connected the wrong snowmen together is just tedious.”
“After I understood how tedious and unrewarding playing it would be, I regretted even taking the time.”
“Towards the end of the game it becomes extremely tedious to find the remaining unsolved puzzles because all the puzzles are in one big connected area, but there's no map or overview.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its charming and cute main character, along with amusing scenarios, such as the player's experience with a snowman blocking progress. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and whimsical elements that enhance the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
“A funny thing though, I built the last snowman right in front of the gate that you need to walk through to finish the game, so I didn't get the achievement.”
“Funny puzzle game!”
“The most enjoyable things in the beginning of a game for me were the charming, cute, and funny main character, nice animation and art, beautiful atmospheric music and sound effects, and quite interestingly developed mechanics of classical sokoban.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability, particularly when played with friends and family, thanks to its well-designed controls and convenient features. While it is relatively short, the intriguing snowman puzzles and the ability to revisit previously solved challenges in the second half enhance its replay value.
“It controls well, has a lot of convenient features built intrinsically, and holds a lot of replay value—especially with friends and family.”
“A pretty short game, but the snowman puzzles are interesting and the second half of the game adds replayability to all the puzzles that you have already solved before.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a stable experience with no significant bugs or glitches, contributing to an enjoyable and charming aesthetic.
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has received recognition for its character design, winning the "best character design award," which highlights its strong visual appeal. However, the review does not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the narrative.
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story revolves around a mission to create snowmen for a battalion of friendship, reflecting themes of connection and overcoming loneliness in a beautiful yet desolate garden setting.
“Your mission is to build snowmen for a battalion of friendship to fill the void you feel while trapped inside your beautiful, but hopelessly empty garden.”
