Coloring Pixels
- May 1, 2020
- ToastieLabs
- 72h median play time
"Coloring Pixels" is a puzzle game where you color in numbered pixels to match a corresponding color in your palette. The game features over 1000 levels, with 90 free levels available. It also offers accessibility features such as dark mode, rebindable controls, and adjustable contrast options for a relaxed gaming experience.
Reviews
- music465 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing experience while playing. Many users appreciate the option to listen to their own music or podcasts, as the in-game soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of gentle piano music and the game's simple gameplay creates a perfect atmosphere for unwinding and de-stressing.
“The calming music and chill vibe make it perfect for de-stressing after a long day.”
“The music is unobtrusive, allowing you to concentrate on your coloring while providing a calming background ambiance.”
“This game is a great way to relax and just do something satisfying while listening to music.”
“The music is kinda trash, so I would put on your own music when playing this, or listen to a podcast, etc.”
“My only complaint is the repetitive default music.”
“The music is very relaxing, even if it sounds like the type of music that would play when your daughter dies.”
- graphics90 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and variety, featuring a wide range of pixel art styles that enhance the relaxing gameplay experience. Users appreciate the clear and user-friendly layout, although some mention issues with visibility and font readability. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's calming atmosphere, making it a recommended choice for those who enjoy artistic activities.
“Very nice, super calming and fun game with beautiful visuals!”
“The artwork is great and everything is set out in a way that's clear and user-friendly.”
“Graphics are unbelievably pretty.”
“The number one thing I hate about this game, though, is that the font is so eye-gougingly painful to look at that I find myself wanting to quit before finishing even one of the artworks.”
“I have tried to give this game the benefit of the doubt by trying to troubleshoot and work through the issues, but nothing works and all I was told in the end by the developers is that it might be a graphics card issue, but I can confirm it is not because it happens on more than one computer in my household, all with different graphic cards.”
“The graphics are fine, as the highlight are the pictures and they vary in quality, size, etc.”
- gameplay88 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simple and relaxing color-by-number mechanics, allowing players to unwind as they fill in pixel art. While the mechanics are straightforward and may lack complexity, they provide a satisfying and meditative experience suitable for players of all ages. Many users appreciate the game's accessibility features and the ability to customize settings for a more enjoyable experience.
“With its simple color-by-number mechanics, it’s the perfect way to unwind and bring pixel art to life, one square after another.”
“The gameplay is super simple but satisfying: just match the numbers to colors and watch the picture come to life, one pixel at a time.”
“The gameplay is simple, and yet very challenging and intriguing all the same; I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a nice, free time killer.”
“Honestly, there's nothing special about the mechanics for a coloring game, and the hint system for remaining pixels could be more helpful.”
“The gameplay is simple and tedious.”
“Gameplay in coloring pixels is pretty much the same for the whole free-to-play package; you color in pictures by number with a set palette of colors.”
- story41 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The reviews present a mixed perspective on the game's story aspect. While some players appreciate the rich and immersive narrative, highlighting emotional depth and character development, others criticize the game for lacking a substantial storyline, describing it as a casual experience that doesn't require much mental engagement. Overall, the game's storytelling quality varies significantly among players, with some finding it captivating and others deeming it minimal or absent.
“This game is very good with its rich storyline and immersive gameplay; it is definitely a game you should pick up.”
“One of the best games I have ever played, such a heartfelt and emotional story with some of the best gameplay I've ever seen.”
“Great game, intriguing storyline that will keep your eyes glued to the screen for hours with some unexpected plot twists.”
“☑ no story”
“✔️ no story”
“- severe lack of story.”
- grinding37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 81 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that larger canvases and complex images can become particularly boring over time. While some appreciate the calming nature of the gameplay, others find it frustrating, especially due to the lack of features like a paint bucket tool and the overwhelming number of colors in certain images. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for relaxation, but it often requires significant time investment that may deter some players.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I only play this when I have nothing better to do; the game is very tedious and boring, and some of the art just sucks to make and takes far too long.”
“My complaint with this game is that scrolling through colors can be a tedious chore.”
“The completionist in me is getting progressively more frustrated with having to return to a game that I once liked, but now find to be tedious and drowned in extra content.”
- humor11 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and entertaining, particularly through its vibrant pixel art and quirky challenges. While some downloadable content (DLC) has been hit or miss, recent updates have improved the comedic quality. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with engaging gameplay, making it a delightful experience for players.
“With a splash of vibrant colors and pixel precision, it's a hilarious challenge.”
“The funny colors entertain my brain.”
“Wish you could edit the sound; every time you get the box filled correctly, it would be funny to hear a fart noise, for example. Come on!”
“Very calming, but the pain in my wrists this has caused is not funny.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 45 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is highly praised for being completely free, with no ads or intrusive in-app purchases, allowing players to enjoy endless content without interruptions. Users appreciate the absence of microtransactions and express a willingness to support the developers financially due to the quality of the game, although some mention minor ad glitches related to DLC. Overall, the game stands out for its commitment to a user-friendly experience without aggressive monetization tactics.
“Endless hours of zen coloring for free with no ads or daily limits or anything lame.”
“No ads, and I have yet to see an in-app purchase (not that I've looked). I do hope the devs who made this have some way of making money, but they don't throw in-app purchases or ads in your face.”
“So much free content, no ads, and I want to spend money to show how much I appreciate the quality content.”
“It's always fun to get ads for a different game while the one I'd like to play is broken, again.”
“By totally free, I mean that there's not even any ads, except for the ones about the game's DLC.”
“I could imagine a bunch of ways this idea could go wrong (just check out mobile versions of the same idea with ludicrous in-app purchases and whatnot), but ToastieLabs did a fine job.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance on older hardware, with users reporting no significant lag or stuttering during gameplay. Customizable graphics settings enhance the experience, although some minor issues like music track stuttering and mouse accuracy have been noted. Despite initial glitches, the game's performance has improved significantly, leading to high satisfaction among players.
“Wonderful options to customize how you color, plenty of different pictures and categories to choose from, the DLC doesn't cost a million dollars, and I've never once had any performance issues.”
“This is a lovely little time waster that runs smoothly on my 10-year-old laptop.”
“I was so surprised by this level of optimization; it's pretty great.”
“My only complaints would be the stuttering when in-game music tracks change and the mouse accuracy is off.”
“There is zero perceptible performance difference between quality settings for me.”
“Every time the game is launched through Steam, you can choose what resolution and graphics settings you want to run the game at (low, medium, high, etc.). I like to play using the lowest settings, but I also play on an old laptop and have had no problems with lag or stuttering.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits strong emotional responses, with players reporting multiple instances of crying and deep investment in its heartfelt story. It combines engaging gameplay with a relaxing atmosphere, making it a recommended choice for those seeking both emotional depth and a calming experience. Overall, it stands out as a game that resonates profoundly with its audience.
“This game has made me cry multiple times.”
“One of the best games I have ever played, such a heartfelt and emotional story with some of the best gameplay I've ever seen.”
“You will get emotionally invested right from start to finish.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, users find the game to have good replayability, especially with the addition of new content packs and adjustable difficulty settings. While some mention limited replayability in certain modes, the potential for future updates and community submissions could enhance its longevity significantly. Many players feel that the game offers good value for the price, making it worth revisiting.
“New packs are worth the 89p, and have good replayability if you want to redo some of the pictures.”
“Updates over time have also increased the replay value of this game.”
“Most of the content is only 99 cents, but if you don't have any of it, it may affect replayability.”
“Some small replayability on color by numbers with game plus mode.”
“If they can start getting a lot of workshop submissions like Picross Touch has, this could be a game that develops almost endless replay value.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been significantly impacted by the latest update, with frequent freezes occurring every 30-60 seconds and crashes if not left idle. Users report minor glitches and hiccups, suggesting that the underlying engine may contribute to these issues, ultimately detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“I've been playing this game for a while now, but since the newest update (1.12?), the game freezes every minute or so, and if it's not left alone for 20 seconds, it crashes.”
“Now, it freezes every 30-60 seconds.”
“It also has little hiccups, almost like the music was cut into small pieces, and there are tiny glitches as it switches files.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally described as soothing and relaxing, significantly enhanced by its soundtrack. However, recent in-game animations have detracted from this calming experience for some players. Overall, the music is recommended to fully appreciate the game's ambiance.
“The game also features a soothing soundtrack that enhances the relaxing atmosphere.”
“A personal suggestion is to play with the music on; it really fits the atmosphere well. Either that or use your own—both are great.”
“Some in-game animations have been added recently and they ruin the relaxing atmosphere of the game.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game for its engaging story and strong character development, highlighting how well the characters evolve throughout the narrative.
“Awesome story, great character development!”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-written and engaging.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”