Boxville
- September 30, 2022
- triomatica
- 2h median play time
"Boxville is a single-player Point and Click puzzle game that combines an animated film experience into its gameplay. Discover the unique stories of speechless cans living in a city of boxes, while solving sophisticated logic puzzles and riddles. Immerse in the calming design and exploration of this serene world, made entirely in Ukraine."
Reviews
- Charming visuals and heartwarming story that resonate with fans of Machinarium.
- Puzzles are well-designed, offering a balanced challenge without being overly difficult.
- Delightful characters and relaxing music create an enjoyable atmosphere for players.
- The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Lack of a manual save option can lead to frustrating experiences, such as losing progress due to accidental clicks.
- Some puzzles can be unintuitive or rely on unclear logic, making them frustrating for players.
- graphics46 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their endearing and charming art style, reminiscent of titles like Machinarium. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and adorable characters, which contribute to a relaxing and enjoyable gaming experience. Overall, the artwork is described as gorgeous and well-executed, enhancing the game's heartwarming story and puzzle challenges.
“Absolutely lovely story and beautiful graphics.”
“The art style is gorgeous, the characters are adorable.”
“The visuals are gorgeous and well done.”
“An inferior Machinarium clone, with similar mechanics and artwork, but way shorter.”
“The art style reminds me of Machinarium.”
“The artwork is so endearing - some of the puzzles were a little hard but enjoyable all the same.”
- story42 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of Boxville is a charming and heartwarming tale centered around a can man searching for his missing dog, Rusty, while assisting the quirky inhabitants of a box-filled world. While some reviewers found the overall storyline to be weak and overly reliant on visual storytelling, many appreciated its naive, fable-like quality and the beautiful graphics that enhance the experience. Overall, the narrative is described as short and sweet, making it a memorable part of the game.
“Absolutely lovely story and beautiful graphics.”
“The plot unfolds in the world of boxes called Boxville, and the protagonist goes in search of a missing dog named Rusty while helping the inhabitants of Boxville.”
“The story has a naive feel to it, much like an extended fable or children's story, which makes it very charming and heartwarming.”
“The overall storyline is weak, and the reliance on pictorial expositions of the plot is tiresome.”
“The plot unfolds in the world of boxes called Boxville, and the protagonist goes in search of a missing dog, Rusty, while helping the inhabitants of Boxville.”
“Boxville is similar aesthetically and mechanically to Machinarium while telling a short story of a can and his journey to be reunited with his dog-can, and the people of Boxville that he helps and befriends along the way.”
- music20 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for being fantastic, relaxing, and perfect for unwinding, with a delightful blend of peaceful yet energetic soundscapes that enhance the overall experience. While many appreciate the mellow background music and its suitability for both gameplay and work, some note that the soundtracks may not always align with the game's environment. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it enjoyable for players seeking a calming yet engaging atmosphere.
“The music is fantastic and perfect for unwinding after a tough week.”
“The music is delightful and the soundscaping even more so.”
“Great game to stream if you are looking for a fun calm game with great music.”
“However, the soundtracks are not natural and do not reflect the environment and ambiance.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players highlighting its heartwarming story and charming characters. Many describe it as touching and reminiscent of a fable, evoking strong feelings through its narrative and visuals, particularly the poignant moment of the red ball finding its can. Overall, the game is celebrated for its wholesome and uplifting experience, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a feel-good adventure.
“The moment when the red ball finds its can nearly brought me to tears - it’s so touching!”
“The story has a naive feel to it, much like an extended fable or children's story, which makes it very charming and heartwarming.”
“Incredible wholesome game that has a soothing, calming lo-fi feeling.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Boxville is often compared to Machinarium, featuring similar mechanics and aesthetics but is criticized for being shorter and less engaging. While the interactions feel natural and effectively convey the story, a confusing menu option led to frustration for some players. Overall, the game offers a minimalistic experience that may appeal to fans of the genre, despite its shortcomings.
“The mechanics and interaction feel natural, and while minimalistic, they get the point across. The only exception to this was the menu feature of wiping all previous progress, which I admit I did, simply because it wasn't clear enough what the button did and I was curious to find out.”
“An inferior Machinarium clone, with similar mechanics and artwork, but way shorter.”
“The mechanics and interaction feel natural and while minimalistic, they get the point across - the only exception to this was the menu feature of wiping all previous progress, which I admit I did, simply because it wasn't clear enough what the button did and I was curious to find out.”
“Boxville is similar aesthetically and mechanically to Machinarium while telling a short story of a can, his journey to be reunited with his dog-can, and the people of Boxville that he helps and befriends along the way.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny puzzles that provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the combination of a charming drawing style, relaxing music, and a lovely story that enhances the overall comedic elements.
“So, if you like the drawing style and the chilling music, you'll enjoy this not-so-long cute game with funny puzzles (not so easy, so it's challenging sometimes) and a lovely story.”
“Smart and funny.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While players appreciate the lack of repetitive tasks and tedious backtracking, many find the puzzles and solutions to be overly tedious or unclear, detracting from the overall enjoyment and turning what could be a relaxing experience into a frustrating one.
“There's nothing repetitive and no tedious backtracking, just straightforward do-a-to-pick-up-b-to-achieve-c.”
“However, most solutions and puzzles are far too tedious or unclear here, thus turning a relaxing playthrough into an annoying one.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is frequently compared to that of Machinarium, noted for its beautiful and engaging style. Players find it to be a captivating experience that effectively entertains for a few hours.
“Very similar to the game Machinarium in style and atmosphere.”
“Beautiful atmospheric game to keep you entertained for a couple of hours.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's replayability is a significant concern, with many users questioning its value and expressing uncertainty about whether they would return to play it again. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game may lack compelling reasons for repeated playthroughs.
“The game lacks any significant replay value, making it feel like a one-time experience.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The limited choices and linear storyline really hurt the replayability factor.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where players report a smooth experience without any glitches.