GearBlocks
- November 9, 2023
- SmashHammer Games
- 560h median play time
Get on Steam"GearBlocks" is a single-player simulation game that takes 680 hours to complete. It is an open-ended sandbox for mechanically-minded builders, allowing you to construct cars, parkour courses, and more with over 200 parts. Interact with your creations, learn to build with tutorials, and explore example constructions, all with realistic physics simulations.
Reviews
- The building mechanics are deep and allow for a high level of creativity, making it enjoyable for those who love mechanical engineering.
- The game has great potential and is actively being updated with new features, such as combustion engines, which enhance the gameplay experience.
- Once players get used to the controls, they find the game to be very rewarding and satisfying, with a strong community for support.
- The controls and user interface are clunky and unintuitive, making the building process frustrating for many players.
- There is a lack of content, such as missions or multiplayer options, which limits the gameplay experience and can lead to boredom.
- The game has a steep learning curve, which may deter casual players or those unfamiliar with mechanical concepts.
- gameplay103 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this mechanical sandbox game is praised for its depth and complexity, allowing players to create intricate mechanical systems and vehicles. While the building mechanics can be challenging and have a steep learning curve, those with a passion for engineering find it rewarding and engaging. However, some users note issues with controls and physics, suggesting that the game still requires refinement to reach its full potential.
“This game truly inspires creativity, with complex but learnable mechanics you can practically build just about anything.”
“If you are a vehicle builder, driver, crash test enjoyer, or anything involving moving parts and building, this is an awesome game. You can make it as simple or as complex as you want.”
“There's a steep learning curve, but this is easily the best game out there for making complex mechanical systems.”
“The current state, with its clunky controls and time-consuming mechanics, leads me to give it a thumbs down.”
“Game tries to emulate the scrap mechanic style of construction, but fails to bring the same functionality and ease-of-use since this game is 10 times more complex.”
“This game is not for the faint of heart; the building mechanics are really hard and to just build basic stuff requires a lot of mechanical knowledge, and I struggled a little despite considering myself decently knowledgeable.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some users report significant bugs and issues that require extensive troubleshooting, others praise it for being less buggy than similar titles. The presence of glitches and complex mechanics may challenge players, but many appreciate the game's mechanical depth and relative stability compared to competitors.
“15 hours troubleshooting just to find out one part was secretly hiding beneath another with collision on causing it to fly a million miles away?”
“This game is like Scrap Mechanic but only 10 times less buggy and way more mechanical.”
“And those constructions in promotional screenshots were created with various glitches and complicated techniques you'll need to learn.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a lack of a compelling story, with users expressing a desire for challenges, scenarios, and missions to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the absence of a narrative element detracts from the game's potential.
“There is no story to speak of.”
“The game lacks any meaningful narrative.”
“The storyline is completely absent.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game features good graphics and runs smoothly even on older hardware, such as a Core 2 Duo with 8 GB of RAM and a 2 GB graphics card.
“I game on a historic Core 2 Duo, 8 GB RAM, and a 2 GB graphics card, and the game runs well.”
“Good graphics”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, users have mixed feelings about optimization; while some note that the game's performance is generally smooth and reliable, others express concerns about potential performance issues related to the simulation of aerodynamics and the addition of propellers.
“If anything, it seems to be rather well optimized and running smoothly. Even interactions between the titular gears happen reliably, as far as I observed.”
“To be fair, aerodynamics are difficult to simulate accurately, and their inclusion could cause performance issues. However, since propellers are already in the game, some cars would really benefit from their addition.”
“To be fair, aerodynamics are difficult to simulate at least somewhat accurately, and their inclusion could cause performance issues. However, since propellers are already in the game, some cars would really benefit from their addition.”
“Horrible performance.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often leading to a negative experience that detracts from enjoyment. The repetitive nature of tasks, particularly in building mechanical creations, has prompted some users to seek refunds. Overall, grinding is viewed as a significant drawback that requires excessive time investment.
“Doing this while you're a character in the world is tedious and frustrating.”
“They make the experience of building mechanical creations tedious and annoying, which is why I've unfortunately requested a refund for this game.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, particularly noted for its effectiveness in the tutorial, which many users found to be very funny.
“The tutorial is great and filled with humor.”
“The humor throughout the game keeps things light and entertaining.”
“I love how the game incorporates funny moments that make me laugh out loud.”
