Assemble with Care

About

Assemble with Care is a single player casual simulation game with a drama theme. It was developed by ustwo games and was released on March 26, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Assemble With Care" is a narrative-driven game about restoring antiques and healing relationships in a sun-soaked town. Players, as globetrotting restorer Maria, complete meaningful puzzles to restore objects, meeting townsfolk and helping them reconnect through tactile gameplay, vibrant visuals, and powerful writing. The game features nostalgic charm with objects and music inspired by decades past.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,173 reviews

story1.5k positive mentions

replayability31 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and soothing soundtrack create a calming atmosphere.
Heartwarming story that explores themes of family and connection.
Satisfying gameplay mechanics that allow players to repair and assemble various objects.

Game is very short, typically completed in under 2 hours.
Controls can be finicky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Puzzles are overly simplistic and lack challenge, making the game feel more like a visual novel than a puzzle experience.

story
4,014 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The story of "Assemble with Care" is a heartwarming narrative centered around a traveling repairwoman named Maria, who helps the residents of the quaint town of Bellariva by fixing their cherished belongings. Each repair task reveals personal stories and emotional connections, exploring themes of family, relationships, and the significance of memories tied to objects. While the game is short, lasting about 1.5 to 2 hours, its charming visuals, soothing music, and engaging voice acting create a cozy atmosphere that resonates with players, making it a delightful experience despite its simplicity and predictability.
- “The game is a beautiful, short story about fixing people's old, broken objects in the sleepy town of Bellariva.”
- “Each task seems straightforward at first—fixing a clock, restoring a camera, or replacing the wiring in a neon sign—but as the story unfolds, these everyday objects become vessels for memories, emotions, and human connection.”
- “Through Maria’s gentle narration, the player comes to understand that every broken item tells a story, and every repair is an act of healing not just for the object but for the people attached to it.”
- “The story is not relaxing either.”
- “The characters are awful, and the story is constantly trying to dramatize the smallest things.”
- “The story is very simplistic and I had to turn the voice acting off because it felt like I was being read to like a preschooler.”
gameplay
1,122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The gameplay in "Assemble with Care" is characterized by its simple, tactile mechanics focused on disassembling and repairing various objects, which many players find satisfying and relaxing. However, the puzzles are generally straightforward and lack complexity, leading to a sense of monotony for those seeking a deeper challenge. The game emphasizes narrative over gameplay, often feeling more like an interactive story than a traditional puzzle game, which may disappoint players expecting a more robust gaming experience.
- “The gameplay is intentionally minimalist yet deeply satisfying.”
- “What gives Assemble with Care its emotional weight is how seamlessly it connects its mechanics to its narrative.”
- “The gameplay itself is simple but engaging, and players must use their problem-solving skills to repair the objects given to them by the residents.”
- “I bought this expecting a puzzle game where you can fix retro objects; instead, I got a visual novel with minimal gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly short (under 2 hours) and gives the impression of an unfinished product lacking finishing touches.”
- “The actual gameplay is an extremely basic disassemble/reassemble mechanic.”
graphics
930 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The graphics of "Assemble with Care" are widely praised for their beautiful, hand-painted art style that evokes a cozy, storybook aesthetic. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and charming visuals that enhance the game's emotional narrative, complemented by soothing music and excellent voice acting. While some found the gameplay mechanics a bit simplistic, the overall visual presentation contributes significantly to the game's relaxing atmosphere and engaging storytelling.
- “The visual design feels handcrafted, with its storybook aesthetic giving each object and environment a painterly quality.”
- “Set against a backdrop of gorgeous hand-painted visuals and accompanied by a calm lo-fi soundtrack, the game unfolds at an unhurried pace that feels both deliberate and, ironically, restorative.”
- “The hand-painted art style gives every scene a warm, nostalgic glow, while the soundtrack gently supports the emotional beats without overwhelming them.”
- “The graphics are nice, but the story is non-essential and not interesting, taking up way too much time in the game.”
- “While the art style and narrative charm are undeniable, the overall experience is disappointingly short.”
- “The puzzles are far too easy, the controls are unintuitive, and the story is uninspired, but the cute graphics and relaxing atmosphere make up for it.”
music
920 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The music in "Assemble with Care" has been widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere of the game. Many players found the soundtrack to be beautifully composed, perfectly complementing the heartfelt narrative and charming visuals, creating an immersive experience. While some noted that the music could be forgettable or repetitive, the majority appreciated its role in setting a cozy and nostalgic tone throughout the gameplay.
- “The soundtrack, composed of gentle, melodic tunes, perfectly complements the tone of reflection and care.”
- “The act of repairing is almost meditative, accompanied by soft background music and delicate sound effects that reinforce a sense of calm immersion.”
- “The music is beautiful, the art is gorgeous, and the story is sweet.”
- “The music was boring and repetitive; the graphics are nice and the story is non-essential and not interesting but takes up way too much time of the game.”
- “The background music was nothing special; a lot of it felt like it was created in a sound design class.”
- “The only annoying thing can be rotating the objects when the game decides to rotate it elsewhere (this mostly happens when unscrewing/screwing objects), and I did run into a little bug with the music box puzzle.”
emotional
828 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Assemble with Care" is widely praised for its heartwarming and touching narrative, which explores themes of familial relationships and personal connections through the act of repairing cherished objects. Players often find themselves emotionally invested in the characters' stories, with many expressing that the game elicited genuine feelings, including tears, as they navigated the intertwining tales of love, loss, and reconciliation. The combination of soothing gameplay, beautiful art, and a poignant soundtrack enhances the overall emotional experience, making it a memorable journey for those seeking a cozy and reflective gaming experience.
- “Cozy, fun, and heartwarming; I found myself loving the characters and rooting for them. Not only do you get to fix their most treasured belongings, but you also see what these objects really mean to them and the memories they leave behind.”
- “The repaired objects act as emotional anchors within these stories: a cassette player ties a daughter to the memory of her late mother, a slide projector brings two estranged sisters closer, and a wristwatch symbolizes time lost and regained between loved ones.”
- “Assemble with care is a beautifully crafted narrative experience that invites the player not merely to repair objects, but to mend the emotional fractures that lie beneath their surface.”
- “I wish I could recommend it, but it's just too short. You only get a dozen fixes to do and are forced to listen through a relatively boring story.”
- “However, the lack of content, the fact that the majority of the current content is boring and buggy, and the dull story all lead to an ultimately lackluster experience certainly not worth $8.”
atmosphere
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its calming and cozy qualities, enhanced by beautiful art, soothing music, and engaging storytelling. Players appreciate the minimalist design that allows for a deeply personal experience, making it ideal for relaxation and contemplation. While some find the gameplay simplistic, the overall ambiance creates a fulfilling escape, perfect for unwinding and enjoying a heartwarming narrative.
- “It's a short and pleasant experience, perfect for anyone who enjoys relaxing and narrative-driven atmospheres, and for those who seek zen games that gently engage the mind.”
- “The art style and music create such a comforting atmosphere.”
- “The game's soothing atmosphere and charming visuals make it a perfect cozy escape for unwinding after a long day.”
- “Its pacing is intentionally slow, prioritizing atmosphere over variety, which can leave players who crave constant progression feeling unfulfilled.”
- “The puzzles are far too easy, the controls are unintuitive and the story is uninspired, but the cute graphics and relaxing atmosphere make up for it.”
- “It's nothing groundbreaking but, like everything else in this game, is simply serving the purpose of establishing atmosphere.”
replayability
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
58%
30%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to play again. While some players appreciated the short, cozy experience, they felt that the absence of branching paths or additional content diminished its long-term value. Most recommendations suggest purchasing the game on sale due to its brief playtime and minimal replay value.
- “It will be a game I revisit time and time again, not because it's replayable, but just to feel the sense of peace it gives.”
- “Although it is brief, the game lends itself to replayability well because of how satisfying the mechanics are.”
- “There's not a lot of replayability, however I don't think that's a huge issue.”
- “That is the only disappointing thing, however, is that there isn't really any replayability to this game; once you're done with the story, that's it.”
- “There is no replay value whatsoever, so be aware that once the story is over you likely will never play it again.”
- “The main issue is game length, as it can be beaten in under 2 hours even if you take your time to enjoy it, and has no replayability value.”
grinding
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
29%
68%
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and lacking challenge, with many players finding the repetitive mechanics—such as unscrewing and re-screwing—frustrating. While some appreciate the charming characters and engaging puzzles, the slow pacing and bloated storytelling detract from the enjoyment, making the experience feel more like a chore than a rewarding journey. Despite these criticisms, a few players still find value in the unique gameplay elements, suggesting that patience can lead to a satisfying experience.
- “Sitting down for 2 hours in a video game and just repairing things is an unusual experience to me, and yet every bite of the cake, every mission was fun, even the ones that were a bit more difficult and slightly but not too tedious to figure out the solution to.”
- “The pacing is slow, and the overall experience feels more like a tedious chore than an enjoyable journey.”
- “It's not challenging, just tedious.”
- “The gameplay is simple but tedious at times; however, it is nothing to flip a lid over.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game's stability is mixed, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly towards the end, which sometimes required restarts to resolve. While some players experienced no significant issues and praised its performance on platforms like the Steam Deck, others found the bugs frustrating, especially in relation to controls and item interactions. Overall, while the game runs well for some, the presence of persistent glitches detracts from the experience for others.
- “Runs great on a Steam Deck.”
- “Plays great, looks great, runs great.”
- “Bug-free experience.”
- “Experienced a few glitches towards the end where I had to restart in order to fix, but it was a cute little game to pass the time.”
- “- Glitches, including one that cut off the final line in each chapter so I couldn't see or hear what was said to conclude them.”
- “The game would have been even shorter had it not been for the buggy controls that made it difficult to place and rotate parts without mucking up the entire repair job.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
28%
11%
Overall, the game's optimization received mixed reviews, with many praising the voice performances and artistic elements, while others noted significant performance issues and clunky controls, particularly when transitioning from touch screens to mouse input. Despite these drawbacks, the game runs smoothly for the most part, providing a relaxing experience for players.
- “I recommend not skipping the dialogue, as the performances are really nice and accompanied by some satisfying foley work. This is a nice, bite-sized, relaxing experience, which I'm sure achievement hunters and cozy, casual gamers alike will enjoy.”
- “The actors did a great job, creating a sense of warmth and emotion through their performance that just made the game a pleasure to experience.”
- “Other than these very minor complaints, the game runs smoothly and the puzzles were engaging and fun.”
- “Clunky and not optimized, annoying controls override any calmness.”
- “The one other complaint I have is the controls were definitely optimized for touch screens, and had some issues translating over to mouse.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and charm, with many reviewers noting that the characters reflect their personalities through thoughtful design and storytelling. Despite the game's short length, players found the character arcs engaging and well-crafted, often comparing them favorably to those in longer narratives. However, some felt that the overall character development could have been more original, as certain story elements felt familiar.
- “The story line was sweet and short; I found it quite soothing with the characters reminiscing and reflecting on themselves, and the character development of all the characters.”
- “I absolutely love the character designs, as their appearances really reflect their personalities and provide contrast to other characters within the story.”
- “The game's narrative is beautifully crafted, and the character development is top-notch.”
- “Perhaps the game’s very short length limited any character development.”
- “I feel like it's missing something, as all their stories you have heard a thousand times before with better character development.”
- “The characters are very sweet and even though the experience only lasted for an hour or so, the story arc and character developments make this a very charming short game.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky puzzles and relatable character interactions, particularly the amusing frustrations of a repairman. While the comedic elements are generally well-received, some players noted that the humor can feel simplistic and the game’s short length limits the overall comedic experience. Additionally, the controls can lead to humorous moments, though they may also detract from the gameplay at times.
- “There are small funny puzzles between the pages of the story.”
- “I found myself getting into the real-life character of an annoyed repairman yelling at the people to stop talking while I try to fix their stuff, and that was honestly kind of funny in retrospect.”
- “Game with beautiful art, story, and really funny moments, but sadly it's really short; you can finish it within 2 hours or less if you are fast.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising, as many players expected a puzzle-focused experience but found it more aligned with a visual novel format. While the assembling and repair elements were enjoyable, the game is perceived as a promotional tool rather than a standalone puzzle game, leading to disappointment among those seeking a different gameplay experience. Overall, the game feels more like a free mobile title with ads than a premium offering.
- “I honestly enjoyed the assembling aspect the most and that's what I expected from the advertisement; however, the game has more of a visual novel focus.”
- “The game feels different than what is portrayed in the advertising and what you'd expect.”
- “The concept was cool, where you get to repair the item... but you can find it in a phone game and it's free with ads.”

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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Review: Assemble With Care
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Destructoid.com
75%

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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

2-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 50 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Assemble with Care is a casual simulation game with drama theme.

Assemble with Care is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Assemble with Care.

Assemble with Care was released on March 26, 2020.

Assemble with Care was developed by ustwo games.

Assemble with Care has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Assemble with Care is a single player game.

Similar games include Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery, The Last Campfire, Old Man's Journey, Marie's Room, FAR: Lone Sails and others.

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