Can of Wormholes
- March 24, 2023
- munted finger
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam"Can of Wormholes" is a puzzle game where you play as a sentient tin can, manipulating worms in various ways to solve over 100 handcrafted stages. Each puzzle introduces a new interaction, and the game features unlimited undos, restarts, and a playable hint system. It is fully playable with keyboard or gamepad, and has no time-critical or simultaneous key press inputs.
Reviews
- Incredible puzzle design with clever mechanics that are introduced organically, leading to satisfying 'aha' moments.
- The hint system is innovative and effective, providing a simplified version of puzzles that helps players understand the mechanics without giving away the solution.
- The game features a rich overworld with interconnected puzzles and meta-puzzles, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging exploration.
- Some puzzles can be overly complex or require logical jumps that may frustrate players, especially if the hint system doesn't clarify the needed mechanics.
- The navigation between puzzles can feel cumbersome and may disrupt the flow of gameplay, making it difficult to explore other areas when stuck.
- A few players found the hint system too powerful, potentially diminishing the satisfaction of solving puzzles independently.
- gameplay129 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Can of Wormholes" is characterized by its clever sokoban-style mechanics that are introduced organically through level design, leading to surprising and satisfying interactions. The game features an exceptional hint system that allows players to grasp new mechanics without directly revealing solutions, fostering a sense of discovery and accomplishment. While the puzzles can become complex and occasionally frustrating, they consistently challenge players to think creatively and explore the depths of the game's mechanics, resulting in a rewarding and engaging experience.
“All mechanics surprise you and are taught just through level design.”
“The most outstanding part of Can of Wormholes is the hint system; every level has a companion level that simplifies and highlights the mechanics you need to use to solve the real puzzle without just giving the solution away, and it's genius.”
“This game excels at introducing new twists throughout the game without ever introducing new mechanics - just pushes you into using the existing tools in ways that you never would have expected.”
“As other reviewers also mentioned, resolving some of the mechanics requires logical jumps that I just couldn't make naturally.”
“And if those insight gaps happen to align with a hint that fails to reveal the mechanic... well... there's some room for bewildered frustration.”
“The game does have two puzzles that I found to be unfair, as they rely on mechanics that won't be stumbled into.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and cute design, with many users highlighting the appealing visuals and thoughtful UI touches. While some players express mixed feelings about certain aesthetic choices, the overall consensus is that the graphics complement the engaging puzzles and enhance the overall experience. The combination of beautiful visuals and clever mechanics contributes to a captivating exploration of the game world.
“The design is so tight, the visuals are so charming, and the little UI touches are so perfect that I had to buy the game to leave this review.”
“This game is filled with beautiful visuals, beautiful piano music, and a beautiful story. It's one of the best games I have ever played; it's like a combo of Squishcraft, Baba Is You, and The Witness.”
“The art style was cute and very legible, and I had lots of fun exploring new mechanics.”
“Don't be put off by the unappealing graphics.”
“I can't say that I'm one hundred percent sold on some of the aesthetic choices, but it's such solid puzzling that I find myself not caring.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be engaging rather than tedious, with a well-designed puzzle system that clearly indicates progress. The hint system effectively alleviates potential frustration, ensuring that the experience remains enjoyable without unnecessary filler. Overall, the game successfully avoids the pitfalls of tedious grinding, making completion feel natural and rewarding.
“The hint system is great if you get stuck, and the game tells you information that you'd otherwise have to do tedious trial-and-error to find out.”
“Very good puzzle design; I think throughout the entire game there were maybe only 2 or 3 puzzles I felt were tedious instead of engaging.”
“So far there's been 0 filler or anything that felt tedious.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as unexpectedly rich and engaging, enhanced by beautiful visuals and music, though some elements may feel disjointed or confusing. Overall, it stands out positively within its genre, offering a compelling narrative experience.
“This game is filled with beautiful visuals, beautiful piano music, and a beautiful story. It's one of the best games I have ever played; it's like a combo of Squishcraft, Baba Is You, and The Witness.”
“Also, some of the images feel like red herrings and don't make much sense in terms of what you do (only part of the story, I guess).”
“The story is also a bit... out there?”
“The story is much better than you'd expect from a game in this genre.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the beautiful piano compositions and minimalist sound design that enhance the overall experience, others find it less appealing. Overall, the sound design is praised for complementing the gameplay effectively.
“This game is filled with beautiful visuals, beautiful piano music, and a beautiful story. It's one of the best games I have ever played; it's like a combo of Squishcraft, Baba Is You, and The Witness.”
“The music is pretty minimalist, and it works really well. I loved the sound design, especially when doing a fancy move.”
“However, I didn't like the music that much.”
“The music is pretty minimalist and it works pretty well, but I loved the sound design: doing a fancy move?”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Can of Wormholes" is characterized by its cleverness and charm, with players frequently discovering delightful surprises that elicit smiles and laughter. The game maintains a satisfying sense of joy and amusement throughout, keeping players engaged with its witty and unexpected elements.
“Humor is the joy of noticing a thing that has been hiding in plain sight, and 'Can of Wormholes' is full of that.”
“Delightfully charming and pretty, it had me smiling, laughing, and exclaiming in shock the entire way through; it constantly has new tricks up its sleeves around every corner and generally just feels extremely satisfying to play.”
