JARS

About

JARS is a single player arcade puzzle game. It was developed by Mousetrap Games and was released on October 20, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Jars" is a strategy game with puzzles and elements of tower defense, where you play as Victor and explore your family's spooky basement. Your goal is to destroy all jars and protect the Sarcophagus while dealing with various obstacles and enemies. The game features a distinct hand-drawn art style inspired by classic spooky and humorous themes, with a randomized element to keep each playthrough unique.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews

story6 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The art style is endearing and reminiscent of Tim Burton's work, adding a unique charm to the game.
Gameplay is straightforward and casual, with most levels being quick to complete, making it a relaxing experience.
The game features creative level design and satisfying mechanics, particularly the bottle-breaking element that enhances the tower defense experience.

The game suffers from significant RNG issues, leading to frustrating moments where players may not receive usable minions when needed.
There are bugs and design flaws, such as minion perks resetting randomly and minions prioritizing non-essential tasks over defending objectives.
Some players find the game repetitive and lacking depth, with a need for grinding to unlock certain minions, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The story in the game is praised for its uniqueness and engaging nature, allowing players to progress casually through short levels. While the story mode can be completed in around 10 to 12.5 hours, some players express a desire for more narrative content. However, a design flaw requiring repetitive grinding to unlock certain gameplay elements detracts from the overall experience.
- “The story is unique.”
- “Jars is a lovely tower defense game, with a nice story and creative playstyle.”
- “An idiotic design decision means that you have to grind levels over and over again to be able to buy a particular minion that allows you to even attempt a mission in the third area of the whole game.”
- “I completed story mode in 12.5 hours, but it can be completed much more efficiently and likely under 10 hours if you're quick.”
- “Most levels do not take longer than two minutes to complete, so you can approach this game quite casually while still feeling like you're progressing through the story.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The graphics of "Jars" are widely praised for their endearing and creative art style, which combines a charming yet slightly creepy aesthetic. The hand-drawn visuals, complemented by spooky yet light-hearted music, enhance the overall experience, making it a standout in the casual tower defense genre.
- “I love the art style.”
- “Jars is a delightful addition to the casual tower defense game genre with its endearing art style and creative level design.”
- “Art style is quite creepy but still really well done.”
- “Striking visuals (reminds me of Krumit's Tale).”
- “Spooky and hauntingly light-hearted music adds to the hand-drawn aesthetic.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay features a standard loop that may not appeal to everyone, but it introduces some interesting mechanics that set it apart from traditional tower defense games. While there are minor annoyances, the overall experience is engaging for those who appreciate innovative twists in the genre.
- “Cool tower defense game with some interesting game mechanics that are a refreshing change from classic tower defense.”
- “There are a couple of minor annoyances that could be a turnoff for people who don't particularly like the standard gameplay loop.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized, with users reporting significant issues such as failure to load, despite extensive troubleshooting efforts. This has led to frustration and disappointment, marking it as a major drawback for potential players.
- “I was excited from the previews, but the game failing to even load despite hours of troubleshooting and trying to reach out to the developers is a deal-breaker.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music is characterized as spooky yet light-hearted, effectively complementing the game's hand-drawn aesthetic and enhancing the overall atmosphere.
- “Spooky and hauntingly light-hearted music adds to the hand-drawn aesthetic.”