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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers an incredibly detailed and intricate mechanical sandbox experience, allowing players to build complex systems and vehicles from scratch.
- Once players get used to the controls, the possibilities for creativity and engineering are virtually limitless, making it a rewarding experience for those interested in mechanics.
- The developer is actively updating the game, adding new features and parts, which keeps the community engaged and excited about future developments.
- The building mechanics are frustrating and unintuitive, often leading to alignment issues and requiring players to manipulate individual parts rather than entire assemblies.
- The steep learning curve can be overwhelming for new players, making it difficult to grasp the controls and mechanics without significant time investment.
- The game currently lacks multiplayer functionality and structured challenges, which can limit the overall gameplay experience and motivation for some players.
- gameplay110 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this mechanical sandbox game is praised for its depth and complexity, offering players the ability to create intricate mechanical systems and vehicles. However, many users note that the building mechanics can be confusing and frustrating, presenting a steep learning curve that may deter casual players. Overall, it is highly recommended for those with a strong interest in mechanical engineering and creative building, despite some issues with controls and physics.
“This game truly inspires creativity, with complex but learnable mechanics you can practically build just about anything.”
“Very satisfying to build mechanical systems and see them work.”
“There's a steep learning curve, but this is easily the best game out there for making complex mechanical systems.”
“The biggest issue with this game is the absolutely appalling building mechanics.”
“They make the experience of building mechanical creations tedious and annoying, which is why I've unfortunately requested a refund for this game.”
“The current state, with its clunky controls and time-consuming mechanics, leads me to give it a thumbs down.”
- 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 and commend its mechanical complexity. The presence of glitches is acknowledged, but many players find the game to be relatively stable compared to its 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.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users noting smooth performance and reliable interactions. However, there are concerns about potential performance issues related to the simulation of aerodynamics and the addition of new engine types.
“Well featured and optimized to an incredible degree.”
“If anything, it seems to be rather well optimized and running smoothly, even interactions between the titular gears happen (as far as I observed) reliably.”
“To be fair, aerodynamics are difficult to simulate at least somewhat accurately, and their inclusion could cause performance issues, but since propellers are already in the game, some cars would really benefit from their addition.”
“Horrible performance.”
“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.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users generally find the graphics to be good, with one player noting that the game runs well even on older hardware, such as a Core 2 Duo with limited RAM and a 2GB graphics card.
“The graphical quality is impressive.”
“Good graphics.”
“The graphical quality is lacking.”
“I game on a historic Core 2 Duo, 8 GB RAM, and a 2 GB graphics card, and the game runs well.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a lack of a compelling story, with players expressing a desire for more engaging 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.”
- 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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted as being effective and entertaining, with users appreciating the comedic elements in the tutorial, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“The tutorial is very funny and engaging.”
“Can make big funny V8 go chop chop.”
